Just back: Universal Mediterranea!!

[Selina]

Just back from a week at Universal Mediterranea in Spain. For anyone interested, we really enjoyed it. We stayed at the El Paso on-site hotel and this gave us FOTL to most rides and attractions. The theming was similar to IOA except everyone's Spanish!! At the hotel we enjoyed a superb all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet included in the price of our accommodation and a similar evening buffet was available every night plus nightly entertainment on an outdoor stage by the pool. The park is split into 4 countries - Wild West, Mexico, China and Polynesian with themed rides in each section. Fave ones: Grand Canyon Rapids: similar to Busch Gardens, Silver River Flume, Tutuki Splash - splash ride on a volano island, Sea Oddysey - battle with sea monsters, large rollercoaster - Dragon Khan - 8 inverted loops with an initial drop of 120km per hour and a G-force of 4 - actually I chickened out - maybe next time!!! , Tempo del Fuego (similar to Poseidons's Fury), a crazy wooden coaster called Stampida to name just a few. Next door to the park was Costa Caribe - a fabulous Caribbean water park - every 20 mins a siren would sound and giant waves would begin in the large pool area, there were numerous water slides and a lazy river with single and double tyres which you took on the slides or river. Guests staying at the El Paso or the other on-site hotel had unlimited access to both parks - so we would sometimes hit Universal in the morning and when it turned hot, Costa Caribe in the afternoon. Nearest beach : Salou a 20 minute walk away. Very impressive wide front lined with palm trees and lots of restaurants. More Spanish than English - it was obviously a popular resort with the locals!! I haven't really done the park justice - lots more to see and do including various shows, characters - popeye, olive oil, woodywoodpecker, pink panther, cowboys, shops, and more.

We booked our holiday through "Bridge Universal Mediterranea" and the price included a free car transfer too!!

Definitely going again inbetween our Florida trips!!

 

[wee-haggis]

Your trip sounds fabulous. Do you have any photos to post?

 

[Selina]

Yes, I'll sort through them and post some up tomorrow.

 

[MsPennieLane]

Glad to hear you had a good time. We went a couple of months ago and had a wonderful time too. Come to think of it, I never posted my last day out there - oopssieeee!! Can't wait to see your photos.

Anz

 

[KayleeUK]

Sounds like a lovely time was had

Can't wait to see the piccies.

Just moving this over to our Community Board, it will be great if you can post some piccies there.

 

[Astrid]

Sounds like you had a great time!

I've just ordered the Bridge brochure - thanks for the tip!

Astrid

 

[kazzie]

Hi Selina,

We were there the same time!I returned on Saturday after a 5-night stay.It is our third trip there in as many years,so we obviously love it too! We stayed at Hotel Port Aventura.I can only reiterate what you have said about it being an excellent trip

Do Bridge travel still only use scheduled flights and fly into Barcerlona?I know it is only an hours drive or so from Barcelona but you can fly with Ryanair direct to Reus which is less than 15 mintes from the resort!

Wasn't it mega hot?The previous two trips we have been in August and it wasn't that hot

 

[aupton]

dear selina
this sounds ideal for an in between florida trip, especially for my teenagers !
please advise on prices . was it an expensive holiday ? How much were the buffetts and what did you get included in the holiday price ? i feel very ignorant . i only knew about this park when i saw it advertised on tele a few weeks ago ! disney land paris can ususally costs us 1.000 pounds for five days !!that is for four od us . i look forward to hearing from you .

 

[Selina]

Hi....yes Bridge was scheduled to Barcelona but it was a rather nice drive and although an early flight - we arrived at 12.30 pm so were able to spend all afternoon at the theme park.

For 6 days - 5 nights - total cost was about £1000 (2 adults and 2 kids)- that included flights, 2 queen-bed room en-suite and all you can eat breakfast buffet (hot english available at 4 euros extra pay as you want it - but quite honestly we found the selection of cereals, breads, fruit, hams, cheeses, pastries, muffins, etc - was more than enough and only the other half wanted occasional cooked breakfast), also included a free car transfer from airport to hotel and from hotel to airport. It was very simple to navigate the way out the airport and in less than a couple of mins, we were on the dual carriageway. Also included (if staying at the on-site hotel) unlimited access to both theme parks. Evening meal - hotel was 16 euros per adult and 8 euros per child at the hotel. But it was well worth it - all you can eat dinner buffet with a superb salad bar, selection of main courses - chicken, steak, pork, you name it it was there, pizza, veggie things, different spanish specialities, and the dessert section was varied and delicious and it was all you can eat - you could go as many times as you liked!! Prices at the theme park about the same for evening meals - cheaper in Salou. Also at the hotel another pizza and pasta type restaurant if you were not hungry enough for the buffet and it worked out about 10 euros cheaper including the wine.

I should mention that during the high season - Costa Caribe Water park is only available for one day then you have to pay - but we were slightly out of season - though the weather was mid to high 70's - so warm enough to enjoy it - and the access unlimited! In high season unlimited access to Universal still stands.

We opted for a litre of Sangria at 8 euros with our evening meal at the buffet dinner (about £6).

Hope that helps. If you go to Yahoo and type in Universal Mediterranea, Port Adventura - you can see it on the web!

 

[aupton]

Thank you so much ... that was SO informative ...
thanks.

 

[Claire4dpins]

Thanks for your report as we have thought of visiting - I just wonder if it will be suitable for me as I am a 'certifed coaster chicken'??
I will do Big Thunder, Splash Mountain & Mission Space - to give you an idea - but not coasters like RRC, TOT & Space Mountain.

Do you think I would enjoy it & have enough to do?
Thanks for any opinion,
Claire

 

[XAVIER]

There is only one BIG metal rollercoaster (Dragon Kahn) and one huge wooden one (Stampida).

All of the rest of the park you could do. There is a runaway train like thunder mountain and a couple of "Splash" rides like Splash Mountain.

You would really enjoy it.

 

[alexandra uk]

Would you say its better than Disneyland Paris ?

 

[nuttytart]

I have just booked and have done it DIY. I am flying with BA and staying at Hotel Port Aventura for 11 nights. After reading all of the above, I am not sure if I have done the right thing. Is that too long to be in one resort?

This is our first time to Spain in 12 years and previously have been alternating between Florida and Centerparcs so am really not sure what to expect. Plus I have always done self catering and taken the minimum of clothes possible as I have used the washing machines in villa/complex to wash and rewear. HELP!

For those of you who have been out there, where do I wash my clothes or will just have to take the extra suitcases full of clothes as so not to worry about the washing bit?

All help and tips would be greatly appreciated.

Also I am driving from Barcelona, so good instructions from anyone out there would also be appreciated.

Thank you and look forward to hearing from you all.

 

[kazzie]

Hi,

The lack of washing facilities is something I pointed out to the hotel! There are none! You can have clothes laundered which is ixpensive but there are no washing machines

I took travel wash and hand washed stuff and had to put it around the room to dry.They ask you not to hang things over the balcony but many people do and I did too.I figure if they think clothes hanging over balconies is unsightly and 'lowers the tone' which I agree it does,they should provide somewhere for pople to wash and dry clothes So be prepared.

I forgot to buy a travel iron at the airport and phoned through to guest services last month to ask to use one and they DO NOT have an iron for guets to use,guess what you can pay and have your clothes ironed! That is fine for guests who want to but I think it's pretty mean not to have any irons for guest use.

Lastly,although a 4* hotel the hotel rooms do not have tea/coffee making facilities.The second time I went I took a travel kettle and 2 cups,T Bags etc. in the room and could have tea & coffee anytime!

Hope this helps

 

[SimonB]

Dragon Khan - what an amazing Rollercoaser.

Worth going just for that!!!!

 

[Sasha Jade]

We went to Salou last year (last 2 weeks in July) and we loved Universal and I even went on Dragon Khan, when we got off it, my daughter said the photos not very good, so I told her that if she wanted a photo then it would have to be that one as I wouldn't ride it again...lol. We loved Stampida though and went on that a lot of times, but our favourite was Tutuki, one time we went on, the other one was just coming down and we got caught in the tidal wave, I have never been so wet!!!.
I booked through Cosmos and we stayed in a lovely 3* hotel in Salou, I booked on the 3rd July and we flew out on the 15th July and it cost us £400 each for 2 weeks.
Through Cosmos we booked a jeep adventure that takes you up in the hills and also a safari/water park not far from Salou and we also enjoyed a sunshine cruise on a catamarran which was lovely, we went to a little market and on the way back we stopped at a beach where there were games on the beach for adults and kids.
This was an excellent holiday and we flew into Reus which is only 15 minutes from Salou and we are considering going back there next year.