Estartit Holidays And Hotels Estartit

L'Estartit Costa Brava 2023

2023-08-22T12:59:00.000+01:00

Being back in L'Estartit for the first holiday in 15 years was strange. Nothings changed! It's exactly the same. Anyway I digress.

If you are thinking of L'Estartit as a possible holiday destination, I thought I would give you a bit of background to this beautiful place.

L'Estartit was once a small fishing village that became popular in the 1950s and 1960s when the Costa Brava was first put on the map and like many coastal resorts on the Costa Brava saw a boom in construction that overtook the original village.
One reason to holiday in L'Estartit is its fantastic beach running several kilometres south past the mouth of the river Ter, which flows through Girona, and down towards Sa Riera.
Tourists holidaying in L'Estartit tend to come from France, the UK and Ireland, as well as Germany and Holland and as well as staying in the many private holiday apartments and villas there are a number of hotels and campsites.
While it is true that much of L'Estartit consists of rather charmless holiday homes, the heart of the village does still retain much of its charm and that combined with a gloriously long beach make it a fantastic holiday destination for families.
The town has a large marina focused on leisure boats and during the summer there is much activity in the marina area.
Just a kilometre or so off shore are the Medes Islands, an archipelago that has enjoyed protected status since the 1990s to allow the regrowth of coral and marine life in the area. Traffic to the Medes Islands is controlled and nothing may be taken from there. Diver numbers are strictly controlled and divers must pay a small tax for the privilege of diving there. The result is some of the best diving in Spain, let alone the Costa Brava.

Hotel Panorama L'Estartit

2009-02-19T16:58:00.010+00:00

Hotels Estartit - Hotel Panorama L'Estartit

L'Estartit Hotels are famous for their hospitality and the Hotel Panorama is no different. This modern well maintained hotel is fast becoming one of the most popular hotels in Estartit.

The Panorama is one of a handful of L'Estartit Hotels that have prime location on the sea front. This bright, airy, modern hotel sits literally only 50m from the beach.

Hotels Estaritit - Hotel Panorama Details

Rating 3 Star
Floors 8
Rooms 154

Swimming pool Indoor And Out
Swimming Pool Bar
Sauna
Jacuzzi
Fitness Room
Internet
Garden
Parking
Bar
Restaurant
Play room

Please note pets are not allowed in the hotel.

Hotel Rooms

The rooms are bright and airy and well equipped. Each of the hotels rooms comes with satellite television, telephone, and personal safe.

The bathrooms are clean and well appointed. There is a bath and shower, and ample mirrors. Shaving points are also included (remember your adapter).

Each room has a balcony over looking L'Estartit or the beach.

L'Estartit Hotels - Feed back

There are many sites out there reviewing L'Estartit Hotels, but not many that give you the truth about each and every L'Estartit Hotel. That is the thing to keep in mind, I have visited the L'Estartit Hotels in question and spoken to the hotels guests and staff. And the Panorama Hotel is no different.

Hotel Panorama L'Estartit - Whats Good

This is a very spacious and modern hotel that allows for a relaxed and calm atmosphere. Everything that you could reasonably expect from a 3 star hotel is here, in fact the indoor pool would not be out of place in a 4/5 star hotel.

The hotel tends to attract either young families or older couples which means rowdy behaviour is virtually unheard of, even in the height of summer.

The food in the restaurant and buffet is of a good standard, if a little unadventurous, catering mainly for the British holiday maker.

The evening entertainment varies between novelty acts, live music, and karaoke. During these times the bar is the focal point of the hotel.

Hotel Panorama L'Estartit - What's Bad

Whats bad? Well not much actually.

The main draw back I found is that if you have a room that faces away from the beach or pool, you tend to get a lot of noise from the busy street below.

I also have to say that if you are in your 20's/30's you may find the bar and entertainment not to your taste.

Other than that I think most people will have a great holiday if they choose this hotel.

Conclusion

L'Estartit Hotels are generally of a good standard, and Hotel Panorama L'Estartit is right up there with the best. If you choose this hotel I am sure you will not be disappointed.

If you have been to L'Estartit on holiday and stayed in any of the many L'Estartit Hotels please feel free to leave your review in the comment section below. For now thank you for visiting us and reading the review of Hotel Panorama L'Estartit

Hotels L'Estartit

2009-02-18T12:23:00.013+00:00

Hotels Estartit

Hotels Estartit are likely to be less busy now, especially when it comes to British tourists. Although lower visitor numbers normally means lower hotel room prices, this year will be different. With the Pound at an all time low against the Euro, deals in Hotels Estartit will be hard to come by. However, that is where we hope we can help you.

Don't let the opening paragraph worry you too much, hotels Estartit still offer great value for money. As most L Estartit hotels are small, family run establishments, they can offer levels of service and customer care that many five star hotels would be jealous of. They can also adapt quickly to changes in the market. This means there are still great deals to be had on both short and long term bookings. As for the location of most L Estartit hotels, it just could not be better.

L Estartit Hotels - The Location

Estartit is picturesque ex-fishing town, with long Golden beaches and warm gentle seas. Around the harbour are numerous small restaurants and cafe's serving excellent local produce. If, like me, you love fish, then you are in for a real treat, the fish restaurants in Estartit are first class and great value.

If souvenir shopping is your thing, then head to Santa Anna Street. Here you will find the usual tourist fodder, but you will also discover traditional Catalonian gift shops selling pottery and lace.

Estartit is tailored more to families than to the singles tourist market, so if you are looking for lots of night clubs this might not be the place for you. However, lots of young people do take activity holidays in Estartit, drawn to the first rate diving, sailing, and fishing available locally.

Hotels Estartit- Where To Stay

There lots of hotels to choose from in Estartit, to numerous to go into detail here, but here are some brief, and basic, details of some of the L Estartit hotels we will be reviewing next time.

Hotel Miami
Hotel Flamingo
La Pineda Euromar
Club Torre Vella
Bon Sol
Hotel Tropik
Jardins Del Mar
Hotel Aries
Hotel Illes

I hope you will join us next time when we will be reviewing each hotel and the facilities on offer. L Estartit hotels have something for everyone, whether you are on a budget, looking for all-inclusive, chique, or exclusive, there is definitely one of L Estartit Hotels for you.

Walking Holidays Spain | Walks In Spain - But Where

2008-07-12T11:50:00.021+01:00

Walking holidays in Spain are a great way to see the country and experience things that no other holiday can provide. The thing that has changed recently is that a lot of people are now taking walking holidays in Spain, that would never have considered a walking holiday a couple of years ago. This years walking enthusiast, could well have been last years beach bum.

This growth in the number of novice walkers, has lead to an increase in the number of guesthouses and hotels in Spain, that organise guided walks, to suit all ages and abilities. So the only problem is where to visit.

What I have decided to do is pick a couple of regions of Spain that I have visited and see where it goes from there. As I said in my last post, the only reason I am talking about walking holidays in Spain is because of an email I received. Therefore, if I am to write more posts on; walking, trekking, or hiking holidays, I need to see how much interest there is. Anyway, I promised to give you some details so here goes.

Asturias

Asturias is a region in the north of Spain and is a walking enthusiasts paradise. This part of Spain is mountainous and heavily wooded which combine to make some of the most stunning scenery you will see anywhere, a beautiful destination for any holiday.

The two major towns in the region are Oviedo and Gijon. If you go to Gijon in August make sure you check out the cider festival, remember to bring your favourite hang over cure.

Cider and not wine is the preferred drink in this part of Spain. As for the food, what can I say except delicious. You might be surprised to find that the food has more in common with northern cuisine than Mediterranean. The food is hearty, which probably has something to do with the terrain and lifestyle of the people. Believe me you will be glad to sit down to a plate Fabada Asturiana (stew) after a long walk.

Catalonia

I couldn't talk about walking holidays in Spain and not talk about Catalonia, after all Estartit (the main subject of this site) is a Catalonian town.

If walking up and down mountains is not for you, then this region of Spain could well be what you're looking for as long as you stay in the south of the region.

Catalonia sweeps down from the Pyrenees and along the east coast. Probably most famous for its rugged coastline and sandy beaches, this area has long been popular with tourists. The Costa Brava, Costa Tropical, Costa Daurada, and the Costa del Garraf, are well known to the package holidaymaker, but there is so much more to be discovered if you travel a little inland.

Things To Check Out

I thought I would share some of my favourite places to visit in the region. If you enjoy history then you really must make time to visit the Roman ruins at Tarragona, and the monastery of Montserrat.

For art and architecture lovers the Dali museum in Figueres and the La Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona are both worth checking out.

Festivals are a big part of Spanish life, and are a topic all on there own, but there is one festival that is celebrated in every town and village, and that is the midsummer's eve festival, a real fun time in every town.

Walking holidays are not all about walking, but it is the main constituent of the holiday. For a successful walking holiday you will need a good trail to follow, which takes in places of interest and variety of views. A walking holiday in Spain is no different and that will be the topic of my next post.

If you are going on a walking holiday in Spain, or have just come back, please let me know. I will post the next article again soon, for now thank you for reading Walking Holidays Spain | Walks In Spain

Walks In Spain | Walking holidays Spain

2008-07-07T09:44:00.017+01:00

Walking holidays Spain

Walking Holidays In Spain - Walking holidays, trekking holidays, hiking holidays are becoming more popular and the Spanish Tourist Board is seeing a large increase in the number of people looking for walking holidays in Spain. If you are one of the people looking to take a Walking holiday in Spain, or a trekking or hiking holidays in Spain, please read this post and leave a comment.

I received an email on one of my other sites looking for information on walking holidays In Spain and I thought it might be of interest to the people that visit this sight.

People take walking holidays for a number of different reasons, health, to see a country from a different perspective, or just to be more active than they are in their normal lives.

I know many people look down on others that like a more active holiday. I even had one friend who liked outdoor activities, including walking and hiking, described as a tree hugging, left wing hippy. I think that some people still see walkers and backpackers as wearing woolly hats and walking shoes, with grey socks pulled up to the knee. Until you've tried exploring a place on foot, you don't know what you are missing.

When you go on you next holiday to Spain just try leaving the beach for the day and having a walk around, you will be amazed at what you find. For those of you that think I'm trying to send you on a ten-mile trek up a mountain relax, just try exploring the back streets of the resort you are staying at. Even if you have been to the same place year after year, if you take a walk you are guaranteed to find somewhere you didn't know existed.

For those of you that are not averse to exploring a place on foot, but are not up to a full blown walking holiday in Spain, take a car or bus to the nearest town away from the tourist area and have a walk around. By doing this you will find some really interesting places.

I myself have been on a walking holiday in Spain, but I must admit that I am no expert on walking holidays, trekking holidays, hiking holidays or what ever you want to define them as. However, I do know Spain and have stayed in some stunning places.

If you are interested in a walking holiday in Spain, and have a region of Spain in mind, let me know in the comments below and I will give you the details of places you can stay at that have organised walks.

If you are a regular visitor to this site, or have come to this site looking for information on Estartit, I apologise for this post being off topic.

Anyone interested in taking a walking holiday in Estartit, or the Costa Brava in general, should look out for the next post. I have been contacting some of the places I have stayed at in the Costa Brava to see if they still have guided walks. When the emails come back I will let you know the details.

For now, I would appreciate anyone who has taken a walking holiday in Spain, or is about to take a walking holiday in Spain, letting me know in the comments section below, as I am trying to gauge how much interest there is in the subject.

If you are the owner of a hotel, guesthouse, or villa, and you can cater to the needs of the walking and hiking community, let me know and I will publish your details.

For now thank you for taking the time to visit this site and for reading Walking Holidays Spain and watch out for the video on Walking In The Pyrenees. I will talk to you again soon.

Estartit Holidays | Apartment, Villa, Hotel, Or Paella

2008-06-19T10:24:00.010+01:00

People come to this site looking for information on Estartit. Estartit Holidays was started to supply the answers to what its like to holiday in Estartit. When I check the stats for this site the biggest number of searches is for things like Apartments In Estartit, The Festamar, The Barracuda, Festa Sol, Villas To Rent In Estartit, and so on, but there are more obscure searches as well.

Over the last week several people gone to Google and typed in, 'What can I buy in Estartit?' I thought it was a strange thing to searching for, but hey different people need different things. What puzzled me more was why go to all the trouble of finding this site and then not ask the question you want the answer to? For those of you new to this site, there is a little comment link at the end of every post/article. If you want to know something about L'Estartit, just ask. I promise to answer as best as I can.

If you were one of the people looking for 'what can I buy in Estartit' I will try to answer you now, and if you are looking for something specific let me know.

Estartit relies on tourism for its living and 90% of everything it does or sells is geared towards the holidaymaker. So, as you can imagine, there is a lot of tat for sale, and usual souvenirs. There are however a couple of interesting shops in Santa Anna Street.

Firstly, to all you smokers out there, there is a traditional tobacconist that sells nothing but cigarettes and tobacco at very low prices.

Just a few shops further along there is a perfume outlet that sells a wide range of designer perfumes and aftershaves.

If you are a budding chef and fancy trying your hand at making paella, I have just the place for you. On the left as you come into the square from Santa Anna Street, is a shop that sells a wide range of paella pans.

Most people who holiday in Estartit go there for the sun and sea, there are though some among you that go for the activities. If this is you, and you have the money, there are a number of shops on the seafront that sell everything from scuba diving gear to wind surfers. If, you are really, really rich, why not head down to the harbour and pick yourself up a yacht?

There some of you lucky enough to have enough money to buy the ultimate holiday treat.

Buying a holiday home in Estartit? If you are thinking of buying a villa or apartment in Estartit, then you are going to be spoilt for choice. There are a number of estate agents in Estartit, the is even an English one at the north end of the sea front, all of them have a large number of apartments, houses, and villas to rent or buy. Even just walking around, you will see a number of apartments and villas for sale. So, whether you are looking for a second home, a holiday home, or just a property investment such as a holiday let, you might need more than two weeks to go around them all, so book into one of the many hotels in Estartit and enjoy your stay. Talking of walking I hope to get some feedbck from you all on Walking Holidays In Spain

Previous Post Estartit Holidays|Miami Apartments Estartit

Estartit Holidays|Miami Apartments Estartit

2008-06-16T09:57:00.008+01:00

The Miami Apartments, are actualy listed as one of L'Estartit hotels, have been a popular choice for holidaymakers since they were built in 2002. If you are looking for holiday accommodation that is close to the beach and amenities then the Miami Apartments are for you. The Miami Apartments are situated just 200 meters from Estartit's beautiful golden beach.

The Miami Apartments comprise of 1 and 2 bedroom apartments that sleep 2/ 4 people or 4/6 people, with price's starting at less than 30 euros in low season.

The apartments themselves come with everything you would expect:

The bedrooms have 2 single beds and ample wardrobe space. (Bedding and towels are all supplied)

The bathrooms are clean and bright and are equipped with toilet, bath and shower.

The kitchen has everything you require for a self-catering holiday, fridge, oven, microwave and washing machine all come as standard.

In the lounge you will find the usual furniture including a sofa bed and satellite TV. Each apartment also has balcony terrace.

Outside there is a large swimming pool and a kiddie pool. The sun terrace is well equipped as far as sun-loungers go.

If you have children they will be well entertained. There is a children's play area, pool table, darts, and a must have for all children these days, Internet access.

As far as far as entertainment for adults is concerned, the Miami Apartments are not found wanting. In the evening there is live music, bingo, quizzes, and karaoke. If you are a sports fan there is no need to worry about missing any of the action while you are on your holiday, because in the bar there is a large plasma screen for your use.

The staff at the Miami Apartments are friendly and always on hand to help make you holiday as good as it can be.

There is a reason the Miami Apartments are so popular and that is because everything you need for a great holiday is here. If you are interested in booking the Miami Apartments for your holiday, you will find details on how to go about it at the top of the page.

If you have any questions please go to the comment section below. Until the next time thank you for reading Estartit Holidays: The Miami Apartments

Previous post Estartit Holidays | Holidays To The Costa Brava

Estartit Holidays| Holidays To The Costa Brava

2008-05-24T13:42:00.006+01:00

Thinking of a Holiday on the Costa Brava? - The Costa Brava is located on the north east coast of Spain. The region stretches from the French border all the way down to Barcelona. If you are looking for the traditional spain, a walking holiday in Spain, or just a holiday away from the beach, then a Costa Brava Holiday is for you.

Estartit is a beautiful place, but it is only one of many picturesque towns and villages, to holiday in, while on the Costa Brava. If you are willing to get out and about there is a wealth of places to explore, from the stunning vertical cliffs of Begur, to the medieval hamlet of Pals, there is something for everyone.

Looking for the traditional Spanish village? Then it has to be Calella Palafrugell. Calella Palafrugell is a stunningly beautiful, whitewashed village, set in spectacular landscape.

I like to combine fine food with pretty views and if you’re like me there are two places you should definitely visit. Peretallada, is a quaint village, with a wonderful choice of restaurants, serving great Catalan cuisine.

A little bit to the north of L'Estartit is L’Escala, a delightful fishing village. If you take a stroll to the end of the promenade you will find some fantastic seafood restaurants.

Just as a side note, if you’re looking for a great beach try Cala Montgo. Situated close to L’Escala, Cala Montgo is a lovely sandy beach set in a large cove.

The Costa Brava is a stunningly beautiful region and I have only briefly touched on some of the places to visit. There are so many wonderful places I haven’t mentioned here like: Llafranc, Barcelona, Gerona, Lake Banyoles, and Besalu, but I don’t want this post getting too long. Just chose one of the many Costa Brava Hotels and go exploring.

In the future I will try to go into more detail on each of these attractions.

Please feel free to leave a comment about this post. Until the next time thank you for reading Holiday On The Costa Brava on Estartit Holidays

Previous Post Estartit Holidays|Barracuda And Festamar Apartments

Estartit Holidays|Barracuda And Festamar Apartments

2008-05-23T15:35:00.010+01:00

The Festamar Apartments and the Barracuda Apartments are neighbours, but they are completely different in terms of atmosphere. The Barracuda Apartments, as regulars to Estartit call them, are actually the Festa Platja Apartments. So what's the deal?

The answer is quite simple. The Fausto Group own and run the Festamar Estartit while the Festa Platja Estartit is privately owned and run by Barracuda Holidays. The buildings might be similar in look and design, but the type of holiday they deliver, to you the customer, is completely different. However, lets look at similarities first.

Both apartment complexes' are of comparable size and layout. Each block has it's own pool and sunbathing area. The individual apartments are again much the same, in terms of layout, facilities, and cleanliness. The big difference comes in the number of visitors to each.

I should mention that what I am about to say is being written before Estartit's 2008 holiday season has got into full flow. However, if the last five or six years, are anything to go by, then the following details will still hold true.

The Festamar is at least twice as busy the Barracuda and relies on Thompson/Skytours for most of its business i.e. package tours, as many Estartit Hotels. This means that most of the guests tend to be families. The Festa Platja, on the other hand, relies on Barracuda Holidays for its business. From my observations, the Barracuda has a more diverse customer base. One reason for this might be that they do not rely on the package holiday trade. So what does this mean for your holiday experience?

Well as I have said before in the following posts Estartit Holidays|Festamar Review and the earlier post The Festamar Estartit the Festamar Apartments can get very busy, some might even say manic. This is not to say you will not have a great time if chose to stay here, but its probably not best suited to the single person or couple. I for one have always had a great family holiday here. If you have children I can almost guarantee that they will make friends during their stay.

The Barracuda Estartit by comparison is tranquillity itself. The pool is nearly always empty and the Barracuda Bar is a lot less packed. All in all, I would have to say that if you are looking for a quiet holiday, this is the place for you.

So if you are looking for an Estartit Family Holiday, you have a choice to make. If your children are very young or you have a baby, and are looking for a bit of peace, then it has to be the Barracuda. On the other hand, if you want your children to go off and make friends, or want somewhere with a bit more life, then it has to be the Festamar.

You can book the Festamar Apartments Estartit through your travel agent. To stay at the Festa Platja you have to book through Barracuda Holidays.Com

This has been a somewhat rushed post, but I have my reasons. If you are looking for apartments in Estartit watch out for the next post. Until then thank you for reading Estartit Holidays|Barracuda And Festamar Apartments

Estartit Holidays|Festamar Review

2008-05-17T09:15:00.008+01:00

Estartit Holidays| Festamar Review - Want to know what the Festamar Apartments are like? The Festamar's food, bar, entertainment, and rooms are all reviewed here.

To review the Festamar Apartments is easy. However, as those of you that have read the articles on this site before, will know, the Festamar holds a special place in my heart. That said, I still think I can be objective. Before we start I just want to clear up a small point, some brochures will have the Festamar listed as a L'Estartit Hotel. I only mention this as it may cause some confusion if you are trying to find it in the brochure.

The building itself, consist of 1 and 2 bedroom apartments on three floors. The 1 bedroom apartments sleep 2/ 4 people, while the 2 bedroom apartments sleep 4/6 people. There are two single beds in each bedroom, and a pullout bed in the sitting room.

All the accommodation comes with a cooker, fridge, kettle, and toaster. All the, pots, pans, plates, and cups etc, are of course also included. Everything you need to go completely self-catering is supplied. A breakfast bar separates the kitchen from the sitting room.

In the sitting room there is a table and six chairs, a sofa bed, and a cupboard, useful for extra storage. A set of glass patio doors lead from the sitting room on to the balcony. The balcony itself has the usual plastic patio furniture.

The bathroom has what you would expect, toilet, sink, and a bath with shower attachment. There is a large mirror on one wall with power points for shavers etc. Note: remember you will need a travel adaptor to use any electrical appliances.

Apartment Overview

Good Points

The apartments are quite spacious, clean, and well equipped.

Bad Points

The hot water boiler does not hold enough water for more than one shower. Which means a family can have a hard time getting everyone ready.

If you are bringing young children to the Festamar, keep a close eye on them when they are on the balcony, to me, the guardrail seems a little low.

Dinos - Food, Bar And Entertainment.

Dinos is the heart of the Festamar, its where everything takes place.

Food - The food in the Festamar, to me, is its one really weak spot. The menu is all geared to what the Spanish think the English eat. This basically means chips with everything, and not particularly well cooked. If you want an English breakfast, take my advice and go next door to the Barracuda.

Dinos Bar - Dinos Bar is where all the onsite entertainment takes place. In the high season, the bar itself can get very busy, don't worry you usually don't have to wait to long, the barstaff are very quick.

Entertainment - The entertainment itself generally takes place on the patio, beside the pool. You can expect the usual mix of live acts, karaoke, and bingo. All the entertainment is organised and hosted by Roy, who seems well liked. Although, after a few visits to the Festamar, things can get a bit samey, it is worth watching out for the live acts.

During the day the main draw is the swimming pool. Although the pool is quite large, it soon fills up. At times it can be to wild, with all sorts of inflatable being used. If you have young children it might be wise to restrict them to the baby pool, as there is no lifeguard on site.

Location

The Festamar Apartments location could not be better; it's literally only 100 meters from the beach. And wow, what a beach. Two miles of wide golden sands.

Outside the Festamar Complex is a good range of restaurants and bars. There is also a supermarket on the corner, where you can buy everything you need.

L'Estartit Town - L'Estartit (to give its Spanish title) is about a mile walk along the promenade.

The Verdict

I love the Festamar, because it was the first place I stayed at in Estartit. I also know a lot of the staff. However, I do know its down sides too.

1 - It can get very noisy, especially in the high season.
2 - The seagulls can wake you up as early as 5am
3 - The food on site is not great to say the least.
4 - I know some people, who stayed on the street side of the complex, had
trouble with noise and the light from neon signs.

There are probably a few more things that people will find irritating (please feel free to leave your story in the comment section) but overall I still think it’s a great place to stay for a family holiday.

If you have stayed at the Festamar let me know what you think. For now, thanks for reading Estartit Holidays| Festamar Review

Festamar Estartit - Costa Brava Holiday

2008-05-02T11:56:00.012+01:00

The Festamar was the first place I stayed in Estartit (and my first Costa Brava Holiday), so it holds a special place in my heart. Unfortunately, I have had to change this post from the one I intended to write. It had been my intention to tell you all about the Festamar Apartments and how to get there, the prices etc. However, it appears that Skytours have dropped the apartments from their holiday brochure. So where does that leave us holidaymakers?

Well, if you’re like me and the majority of visitors to L’Estartit on the Costa Brava, you’re going to find it harder to arrange a package holiday to the resort. Lets face it most of us book our Estartit Holiday through a travel agent. Who needs the inconvenience of trying to organise; flights, transfers, hotel accommodation, kids clubs and so on. That’s not to say that you cannot book everything yourself, you can, its just extra hassle. I’m still checking with tour operators and travel agents to see if any of them have the Festamar Apartments in their travel brochure. If any one reading this has seen the apartments in this year’s brochure, please let me know.

How to book the Festamar Holiday Apartments direct.

To book the direct just go to Festamar.com

On the home page select (En) icon at the top of the screen to translate the page into English. On the left hand side of the screen you will see the online reservation box. Select your check in date and check out date then hit search. On the next page there are a number of options for apartments and villas, the top two apply to the Festamar. The top box shows the price for the 2/4 Person Apartments the second box is for the 4/6 Person Apartments, the price shown is per apartment not per person. If you like the price shown just fill in the number of children and adults and hit select. The next page is where you fill in your payment details.

How to get to Estartit, Costa Brava from the airport – Taxi

If you want to book a taxi from the airport to Estartit just email the Festamar at festamar @ arbresa.es and they will arrange one for you. You will need to give them your flight details and the number of passengers. The price is normally between 60-70 Euros.

How to get to Estartit, Costa Brava from the airport – Drive

Take the AP-7 motorway from Gerona on the L’Escala-bound carriageway.
When you get to L’Escala, take the road to Torroella de Montgrí- L'Estartit. The distance from Gerona to Estartit is about 40km.

Flights to Gerona
If you are going book your own flights then the cheapest seats I have found are with Ryanair. Normally they have four flights a day going to Gerona depending on which UK airport you fly from.

At the moment Ryan air has FREE return flights to Gerona, all you have to pay is the taxes and baggage charge.

As I said at the beginning, this was not the post I intended to write but I hope it was of some help. When I have found out what is happening, with to regard to the Festamar, I will write a more comprehensive post.

To read a Festamar Review Just click the link

For now thanks for reading Festamar Estartit - Costa Brava Holiday on Estartit Holidays. Can I also thank those who took the time to read the Bloggerunleashed post.

Golfing Holiday | Estartit Golfing Holiday

2008-04-07T16:31:00.012+01:00

Looking for a golfing holiday? Or are you just hoping to play a few rounds of golf, while the family is on the beach? L’ Estartit doesn’t have a golf course of its own, but there is one just up the road at Pals. As Pals Golf Course is only 15 minutes away, I guess, we could justifiably say this is the local course. However, what makes Estartit great for a golfing holiday is its location, right on the beach, and close to several golf courses. Most of L'Estartit Hotels will have details on the local courses.

Platja de Pals Golf Course is a 6222 meter par 73. It is an internationally renowned course, in fact it was voted in the top 100 courses in Europe. As for the setting it could not be more perfect.

Of all the courses on the Costa Brava, this has to be the prettiest. Hundreds of pine trees line the fairways, making for very scenic views.

The Pals golf course itself is fairly level and smooth. The greens are slightly raised and generally defended by bunkers. I think even the novice will find reading the greens quite easy. That’s not to say they are dead flat, they do have gentle slops and dips, the thing I found, was that the ball did tend to play true.

The one thing I would watch out for is the trees'. Although pretty to look at, they do present a natural hazard. The branches do tend to over hang some of the fairway, so watch your driving. The less I say about that the better.

All in all this is a great golf course. I would think no matter what your level of skill you will enjoy a round at Platja de Pals.

There are other Golf courses on the Costa Brava close to Estartit. I have listed a couple below, with travel times from Estartit
Estartit.

Serres de pals Golf Course = 12 Mins

Emporda Golf Course = 8 Mins

Costa Brava Golf Course = 35 Mins

Mas Nou Golf Course = 35 Mins

Girona Golf Course = 35 Mins

Peralada Golf Course = 45 Mins

Torremirona Golf Course = 50 Mins

PGA Catalunya Golf Course =50 Mins

As time goes by I will add details of all the courses listed above. I will also try and give more of an insight into the facilities of each venue, and also try and give a flavour of the surrounding area.

For now thank you for reading Golfing Holiday |Estartit Golfing Holiday on ‘Estartit Holidays’

Previous post Estartit Family Holiday Day 2

Estartit Family Holiday Day 2 - Activities

2008-03-19T11:52:00.021+00:00

Hi. In the last post Estartit Family Holiday Day 1 we talked about a relaxed, sort of lazy day. In this post we will look at what there is to do in Estartit if you fancy something a bit more active. The thing to remember when reading this is that I am trying to give a flavour of the place, rather than specifics. That will come later with the review posts.

So, your up, fed, and ready to go, but where to. Well, as were on the coast it has to be a day with a nautical theme.

Lets face it the kids love the beach and splashing about in the sea. With that in mind why not stop off at one of the many swimwear shops and pick up some snorkel sets.

That’s one of the great things about the Mediterranean Sea, in this part of Spain, it’s crystal clear. Your children will have great fun trying to catch the little fish that swim feet from the shore.

If you would like to watch the fish, but would prefer to keep your feet dry, then why not head down to the harbour in Estartit and take trip on a glass-bottomed boat. These boats sail out regularly during the day. They sail around ‘Las Islas Medas’ (The Medas Islands) and along the coast. On the way back, you can go down stairs and look through the boats glass bottom.

This unique feature of the boat, allows unrestricted views, of the colourful coral and fish, which live in this protected archipelago. This is truly a worthwhile trip, and could be the unforgettable experience of the holiday. For other Costa Brava sites worth a visit read The Costa Brava

If you do think about taking this cruise, around the islands, there are a couple of things to bear in mind.

1 Pick a calm day. If the sea is a bit rough it tends to whip up the silt, on the seabed, spoiling the views from the bottom of the boat.

2 If, you wear shorts on the day, you may find it a bit chilly, as it can get a bit windy around the islands.

3 Don’t take the trip if you have a stinking hangover. This is one tip I will personally never, never, break again.

When you get off, everyone is normally hot and ready for some refreshment. There is a great ice cream parlour on the corner, between the marina and Santa Anna Street. They serve ever flavour of ice cream and sorbet you could possible imagine. My kids love that shop.

If letting someone else sail you around is not adventurous enough for you, why not consider going it alone.

(Depending on the age of your children) You could try hiring your own boat. For a bit more speed, it has to be a Jet Ski. On the other hand if wind power is your thing then why not try mastering a dingy or wind surfer. You could even go canoeing. All of these things are available for hire at the Estartit Marina. (Subject to training, age and experience) Please also check if you are covered under the terms and conditions of your Travel Insurance.

It is even possible to explore the coral of the ‘Las Islas Medas’ archipelago by scuba diving. However, that’s a whole subject on its own.

Any way that’s enough for now. In future posts each aspect of this article will be explained in more detail. If you have experienced any of this, or even just visited Estartit, please leave a comment, it would be great to hear from you.

Until then thank you for reading Estartit Family Holidays Day 2 - Activities

Previous Post Estartit My Arse

Related Post Estartit Holidays 2008

Estartit Holidays | Estartit My Arse

2008-03-14T12:08:00.011+00:00

A site about Holidays In Estartit Spain. Why a post called Estartit My Arse? Well, for those of you outside the UK it’s not easy to explain. However if you read on it will become clear.

On the second day of my last holiday in Estartit Spain, I was sitting in the bar at the Festamar, drinking a cold San Miguel, when a man tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and was confronted by a Jim Royal look-alike (For those of you outside the UK, Jim Royal is character from a comedy show). I knew he wasn't on a walking holiday in Spain, that was for sure.

This bearded, pot bellied, man that I had never met before, started to moan. Watching him standing there in his skin tight Speedos and grey vest (which was originally white, complete with tomato and barbeque sauce stains) complain to anyone who would listen, gave me a great insight into why the English abroad have such a bad reputation.

The poor barman, seeing possible trouble, came over and tried to plicate him. He had no chance. Jim was having none of it. He wanted the manager. Curiosity got the better of me, so when the bar man left to get his boss, I had to ask.

“What’s the problem?” (Oh God, Why did I ask).

“I’ll tell you what the problem is pal. This place doesn’t sell English beer. I haven’t had a decent cup of tea since I arrived, and don’t even get me started on their so called English breakfast”

I thought about nodding in agreement so he would just go away, but his whole attitude annoyed me. “But this is Spain” I said. Somehow thinking that my statement would make him realise where he was. No such luck!

He prepared for the next part of his speech by putting his hand down his Speedos and re-arranging his bits.

“Well, I’m English. My family is English. Everyone here is English. They should realise that, and make sure they have English beer and food, not all that Spanish rubbish. As for the staff, they’re all Spanish. Spanish! How are you meant to understand them?"

I was about to tell him Spain was the ideal place for Spanish people to work, when the manager appeared. Now, when I tell you Jim did not pause for breath for the next ten minutes, its no exaggeration. He complained about Spain. He complained about Estartit. He complained about the Festamar Apartments. He even complained about chips! I’m not joking. The lack of chips (Fries) had apparently ruined his holiday.

The manager just stood there smiling, waiting for him to finish. Was Mr Royal about to finish? No way. He was just building up to his climax. Once again he returned his hand to his Speedos, this time (luckily) he pulled out a ticket to the weekly barbecue.

“See this”. He said, thrusting the ticket under the retreating managers nose. “This cost me fifteen euros. Fifteen euros, and no chips? Rice and Salad, who wants that with a barbecue? I’m not happy, so what are you going to do about it?”

I think the manager was going to stand his corner until Jim tried to shove the ticket into his hand. The manager recoiled in horror, remembering where the ticket had been retrieved from. Taking his wallet out, he refunded the fifteen euros.

Jim turned to me, and with air of triumph and said. “That’s how you treat these people….Estartit My Arse!”

Looking at the manager I just shook my head and went back to my beer, feeling like I should apologise on behalf of the whole English nation.

Thank you for reading Estartit My Arse on Estartit Holidays

Previous Post Estartit Family Holiday Day 1

Estartit Family Holiday Day 1

2008-03-11T14:10:00.016+00:00

If you are looking for the ideal family holiday then Estartit Spain has it all. From one of the longest golden beaches you will ever see, to the wooded hillside, to the quaint cafes and bars, Estartit has charm by the bucket load.

You can lie on the uncongested beach soaking up the rays, while watching your children paddle in the crystal clear sea. Then, why not take a stroll along the promenade to the marina. Here, you will find a large number of restaurants, where you can eat great food, while watching the yachts go by.

After lunch why not do a spot of shopping. Santa Anna Street leads from the marina to Estartit’s town square and is lined with small gift shops. You can buy the usual L’Estartit beach towels, L’Estartit hats and L’Estartit plates. However, you can also purchase a large range of traditional Catalonian crafts. If when you have finished buying souvenirs for everyone at home, you feel tired from all the walking, shopping, and the heat, take a rest in the town square.

Tapas bars ring Estartit Town Square. You can sit down at one of the tree-shaded tables and enjoy a cold glass of sangria and watch the children playing on the church steps. After a couple of glasses, you might decided, to take the children back to your accommodation for a nap and maybe a well-deserved siesta for yourself. After all the night is still to come!

After the sun goes down you will probably start to think about dinner. No matter what your taste, Estartit has something for everyone. If you want to try the local cuisine, there are waterside restaurants serving paella and a vast array of excellent seafood dishes. Because Estartit Costa Brava is in Catalonia, you can also experience Catalonian delicacies in the many tapas bars. If this type of food is not to your taste don’t worry. Estartit also has a large variety of restaurants serving chicken and steak. There are pizzerias, Chinese, and fast food outlets, there is even an Indian restaurant.

Maybe, if this was your first day in Estartit Spain, you might want to go back to your villa, apartment, or hotel and get the children to bed. Then, pour yourself a tall cold drink, pull up a chair on your balcony or patio, and watch the sun set over the sea.

Don’t worry if the sort of day I have described seems to quiet for you. In my next post Estartit Holidays Day 2 I will talk about the many activities that Estartit and the surrounding area has to offer. Walking Holidays, Sailing, Diving, and much more. Until then, happy holidays.

Thank you for reading Estartit Family Holiday Day 1 On My-Estartit.

Previou Post Travel Insurance A Holiday Must

Travel Insurance A Holiday Must!

2008-03-10T13:34:00.012+00:00

Travel Insurance is not the most glamorous of subjects. It is probably not the first thing you think of when booking a holiday. However, you should give Travel Insurance as much thought as any other aspect of your trip. I know what your thinking, Travel Insurance is boring, it’s just another expense, the travel agent will take care of it, and so on. Well, give me a couple of minutes and you might see how important Travel Insurance is and save some money into the bargain.

The reason for writing this post, apart from the fact that this a site is about L’Estartit, which means travelling for most of us, is that I have both good and bad experiences when it comes to Travel Insurance. Let me give you a couple of personal examples of what can happen and you might understand why I am writing this article.

Example 1
My parents were on short break in Sitges when my Father had a heart attack. He had a private room in hospital for the three weeks of his recuperation. When he was discharged he was flown home to England in an air ambulance. The insurance company paid for his stay in hospital, the treatment and the flight home.

So the problem? For my Father there was no problem, the service he received was first class. My mother, on the other hand, is a different story. As you can appreciate, my Mother wanted to stay with him while he recovered. The trouble was, their policy did not cover her extended stay. Her hotel and all other expenses for that three-week stay had to be paid for by her.

Example 2

A friend of mine goes to Spain regularly for both business and holidays, so he has an annual travel insurance policy. He has been with the same company for five years and had never made a claim. That was until last year.

While on a business trip to Barcelona, he had his money, camera, passport and phone, stolen form a safety deposit box in his hotel room. You would think that there would be no problem making a claim on his insurance, right? Wrong, his policy only covered safety deposit boxes, if they are housed in reception. As his box was in his room, he was not covered. This is worth bearing in mind as many of the hotels in Estartit allow public access to deposit boxes.

So, having given you these examples you might be thinking what was my point. Well, my point is that I strongly advise you to look more carefully at what is not covered by your holiday insurance, than what is, before you purchase it. This brings me to another point.

If you are going to book your holiday to Estartit with a travel agent, they will try to get you to purchase travel insurance through them. Do not do it! Generally, it is between 5 and10 times less expensive to purchase your policy separately. Last year I saved £168 on my holiday by doing just that.

I hope I have not dampened your holiday mood. However, it is worth remembering…

You never appreciate Holiday/Travel/Home Insurance until you need it.

Have fun in the sun and thank you for reading Travel Insurance A Holiday Must!

Previous Post Estartit Holidays 2008

Estartit Holidays 2008

2008-03-08T14:55:00.022+00:00

Are you thinking of going on Holiday to Estartit this year (2008)? Well, if you are this is the site for you. Over the coming weeks and months I intend to put as much information about Estartit Spain on this site as humanly possible. I want to help you and your family (if you're going with one) to have a great time. However, before we get started I want to be honest and say that I like Estartit. I have been going there for a number of years. When I started going to Spain my children were young, now unfortunately my eldest is old enough to vote. So, as you can imagine, my wife and I know the hassle involved in the whole holiday process. We know nearly all Estartit Hotels We have also seen the good and sometimes bad side of Estartit as a holiday resort.

So, with that in mind where do I start? Well I suppose I had better start with the kind of holiday you are looking for. Generally I would have to say that L'Estartit is a quiet place, having originally been a fishing port.

In the 1960's and 70's it grew as the British discovered the package holiday. The whole of the Costa Brava hospitality trade exploded, as this part of Spain became the main destination English tourists. However, things change in the 80's with the rise in popularity of the Costa del Sol, the whole of the North East of Spain saw a drop in visitor numbers.

Today, this difference in visitor numbers is vast. To prove a point, try getting on a beach in the Costa del Sol or Benidorm in August! Then, if you could, go down to the beach in Estartit.....wow room for everyone.

Sorry I have rambled on a bit. The point is this is a quiet place, no skyscrapers, only a couple of night clubs in the whole resort and generally not much yobbish behaviour. So who does come here? Well, in the package holiday market it is mainly families,(Read) Estartit Family Holiday Day 1 However, Estartit also attracts people looking for:

Camping Holidays
Diving Holidays
Sailing Holidays
Fishing Holidays
Golfing Holidays
Walking Holidays

Walking Holidays In Spain is a subject I will cover later in the year, the rest I will try to write about in the near future.

This brings me to my next point. If your ideal holiday in Spain consists of, going to nightclubs, getting smashed on cheap larger, and then sleeping all day, then this is not the place for you. The nightlife in L'Estartit is mainly centred on couples and families. Good food and then a drink in a bar over looking the marina, seems to be the popular choice for couples, while families tend to go to the apartment complexes with entertainment.

From experience I have to say that L’Estartit (as the Spanish would say) is a great place for a quiet family holiday. In future posts, I will try to give you all the information you might need before booking your holiday. As this was just meant to be an introduction to this site I will sign off for now. Check back soon.

Thanks for reading Estartit Holidays 2008 on My-Estartit…..Happy Holiday.

Related Post Estartit Family Holiday Day 2 - Activities