Keeping the Kids Happy on a Luxury Holiday in Spain
There's no doubt that the Spanish love their culture, and many tailor-made holidays in Spain choose to focus on the impressive art and stunning architecture, but for those with families this isn't always ideal. While some of the cultural attractions will appeal to children and be educational, most kids will want some excitement and thrills from their trip, so you need to ensure your luxury holiday in Spain has variety.
The good news is that a luxury holiday in Spain can be tailor-made to appeal to both cultural grown ups and children who want a little more excitement. The country is host to some excellent theme parks, and here are the more memorable ones for you:
PortAventura
PortAventura is possibly the most famous theme park in Spain. Family holiday makers often visit here, and it's no surprise when you consider exactly how much the park offers visitors. Just an hour outside of Barcelona, it was built by Universal, the Tussauds group - who were also responsible for the legendary Alton Towers in the UK - and Anheuser-Bushe, so there is some good heritage there!
The park itself is divided into 5 themed regions, each with its own unique style and feel. There are many superb rides which are well worth the queuing time, but amongst the best known are Dragon Khan (an imposing roller coaster dating back from when the park was first opened) and Furius Baco. When the latter opened last year, it was the fastest roller coaster in Europe hitting a speed of 83.9 miles per hour!
Terra Mittica
While most luxury holidays in Spain won't take you towards Benidorm where this theme park is based, it's worth going a little out of your way. Terra Mitica is a park themed on 5 different regions: Egypt, Greece, Rome, Iberia and the Greek Islands. Now in its 8th year, the park offers a great selection of rides and live shows guaranteed to keep the children happy. Perhaps the most impressive thing about the theme park is that it offers something for all ages - there are even smaller replicas of the adult rides for children too young (or too fearful!) to try them!
Isla Magica
This theme park's slogan, "Diversión sin límites" ("fun without limits") is very fitting, and this fine mixture of rides, live acts and cinematic shows is a great choice for family holidays in Spain, especially if you're staying around the Sevilla area. Much like the other theme parks mentioned above, Isla Magica is divided up into zones: the Indies, Americas' Gatweay, Amazonia, The Pirates' Den, The Font of Youth and El Dorado. Each zone has its own brand of themed shows and rides which really bring the character of the place to life.
Parque Warner
Based in Madrid, Parque Warner will be familiar to anyone who has been to a Warner Bros. themed park in the past. Here you'll find all kinds of attractions designed around Warner's films. Batman: The Escape and The Riddler's Revenge will have a familiar theme to fans of the films and comic books, as will Superman: The Ride. It may not have quite the standard of rides that some of the others here, but the licensing is perfect for the film-loving kids, and the convenient location means that Madrid holidaymakers with children should definitely consider it.
When planning a luxury holiday in Spain, it would be amiss to rule out the fine art and culture, but if travelling with children be sure to provide them with some of the thrills and spills that only a theme park can provide. A tailor-made holiday in Spain can appeal to people of all ages, so make sure yours has the variety!