Seville Splendors: A Family Adventure in Spain's Vibrant City

Photo by Joan Oger on Unsplash

{This is a collaborative post}

Seville, the heart of Andalusia in southern Spain, is a city steeped in history, culture, and a vibrant way of life. With its stunning architecture, lively flamenco performances, and mouthwatering cuisine, Seville is an ideal destination for families seeking an enriching and memorable experience. In this guide, we'll explore the many splendours of Seville and how you can plan the perfect family adventure in this captivating Spanish city.

Planning Your Seville City Break

Choosing the Right Time to Visit

Seville enjoys a Mediterranean climate, which means mild winters and hot summers. To make the most of your family adventure, consider visiting during the spring or autumn months when the weather is pleasant, and the city is less crowded. Summer can be scorching, making outdoor activities less enjoyable, especially for young children.

Exploring Seville Vacation Packages

To streamline your trip planning, explore Seville vacation packages offered by various travel agencies. These packages often include accommodations, guided tours, and admission to popular attractions. It's an excellent way to ensure a hassle-free experience for the entire family.

Family-Friendly Accommodations

Choose accommodations that cater to families, such as hotels with family suites or vacation rentals with multiple bedrooms. Having a comfortable and spacious place to stay is essential for a relaxed and enjoyable trip. Look for options that provide amenities like swimming pools, childcare services, and easy access to public transportation.

Must-Visit Attractions for Families

Seville offers a wealth of family-friendly attractions that will captivate the imagination of both parents and children.

1. The Alcazar of Seville

Step into a fairytale by visiting the Alcazar, a stunning palace complex with enchanting gardens. The intricate architecture and lush greenery make it a magical place for kids to explore. Be sure to arrive early to avoid long queues.

2. Plaza de España

This magnificent square is a must-visit for its iconic semicircular building, bridges, and colourful ceramic tiles representing different regions of Spain. Take a leisurely stroll, rent a rowboat on the canal, or simply enjoy the breathtaking architecture.

3. Parque de Maria Luisa

Adjacent to Plaza de España, this park offers a relaxing oasis for families. Kids can run freely, and you can enjoy a picnic amidst beautiful gardens and fountains. Don't forget to visit the whimsical Plaza de América within the park.

4. Seville Aquarium

For a unique and educational experience, head to the Seville Aquarium. It's a great way for kids to learn about marine life and the importance of conservation. The interactive exhibits and underwater tunnel are sure to fascinate.

5. Isla Mágica

If your family craves adventure, spend a day at Isla Mágica, a theme park in Seville. With thrilling rides, water attractions, and entertaining shows, it's a fantastic place to create lasting memories with your children.

Cultural Experiences for All Ages

Seville is steeped in culture and history, and there are plenty of opportunities for your family to immerse yourselves in the local way of life.

Photo by V2F on Unsplash

6. Flamenco Shows

Introduce your family to the magic of flamenco by attending a live performance. The passionate music, intricate dance moves, and colourful costumes will leave a lasting impression on all family members.

7. Cooking Classes

Learn to prepare traditional Spanish dishes as a family. Cooking classes in Seville often cater to children, making it an interactive and delicious experience for everyone. Bond over paella, tapas, and churros.

8. Horse-drawn Carriage Ride

Explore the historic city centre in style with a horse-drawn carriage ride. Children will delight in this unique mode of transportation while taking in the sights of Seville's charming streets.

Dining Delights

Spanish cuisine is renowned for its diverse flavours, and Seville is no exception. Embrace the local culinary scene with these family-friendly dining options.

9. Tapas Exploration

Introduce your family to the joy of tapas, small plates perfect for sharing. Head to local tapas bars and let everyone sample a variety of dishes, from patatas bravas to jamón ibérico.

10. Chocolaterías

Indulge your sweet tooth at Seville's chocolaterías, where you can enjoy churros dipped in thick, rich chocolate sauce. It's a favourite treat for kids and adults alike.

11. Family-friendly Restaurants

Seville offers numerous restaurants with kid-friendly menus and a relaxed atmosphere. Look for venues that offer paella, grilled meats, and other dishes that cater to various tastes.

A Taste of Seville's Festive Spirit

Seville is renowned for its vibrant festivals, and if your family's visit coincides with one of these celebrations, you're in for a treat. The Semana Santa (Holy Week) and Feria de Abril (April Fair) are two iconic events that offer a unique cultural experience. During Semana Santa, the city comes alive with processions, music, and religious fervour. Families can witness these moving events together, providing an opportunity for cultural understanding and reflection. Similarly, the Feria de Abril transforms Seville into a lively fairground filled with colourful tents, dancing, and traditional costumes. Children will love the fairground rides and the chance to immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere.

The Warmth of Sevillanos

One of the most delightful aspects of visiting Seville with your family is the warm and welcoming nature of the locals, known as Sevillanos. They have a reputation for their friendliness and genuine hospitality, making it easy for families to feel at home in the city. Sevillanos are often accommodating to children, and you'll find that your family is embraced with open arms in restaurants, parks, and attractions. Don't be surprised if your children are greeted with smiles and kind gestures as they explore this charming city. This warm reception adds an extra layer of joy to your family adventure in Seville, creating heartwarming memories that you'll cherish for years to come.

Conclusion

Seville is a city of splendours waiting to be explored by families seeking a unique and enriching adventure. With its captivating architecture, cultural experiences, and delicious cuisine, Seville offers something for every member of the family. By planning your Seville city break carefully, exploring Seville vacation packages, and prioritising family-friendly activities and accommodations, you can create cherished memories that will last a lifetime. So, pack your bags, immerse yourself in the beauty of Seville, and embark on a family adventure like no other. ¡Viva España!

A Well-Needed Break - Reasons to be Cheerful #R2BC

I am so thankful that we got to have a few days away last week during half-term. We've been lucky this year with a couple of short breaks to Yorkshire and then Kent, where we stayed in AirBnB's and they were both lovely, but what I have realised is that when we holiday in the UK we don't rest properly. We do things, we go places, I tidy the house etc etc

Last week we headed to Spain for just 4 nights and I wondered what it would be like. Would it feel as if we've only just arrived and then had to leave again?  But no, it was excellent and we all felt thoroughly relaxed by the end of it.

We stayed at the airport the night before and had an early flight, so we were by the pool of our hotel by 10.30am and this gave us an extra full day. The hotel was fab and the rooms were ready by 1pm, so we could get unpacked and back down by the pool in no time at all!

I'd definitely recommend Salou for an October half term break as the temperature was between 21 and 25 degrees each day, and yes I picked up a bit of a tan and needed sun cream! The only downside is that the swimming pools in the hotels are not heated and as such are cold, no scrap that, they are truly freezing!

By the last day both my girls got brave and spent a few hours in the pool, it was lovely to see them having fun with some lovely girls they met.

It was a very low-key holiday, with a bus trip into the neighbouring resort, lots of long walks, coffees out, finding the local cats, games of cards, time spent chatting, reading and enjoying a cheeky Baileys each night.

It was also Salou Independence day whilst we were there and my hubby went to see the night parade with pyrotechnics and the girls and I joined him the next day to see the day parade, with bands, massive puppets, a giant eel and a very scary canon!

I'm thinking this October half-term holiday could become a thing! It was so much cheaper than other times of the year, but next time I would have to find a heated pool!

The Facilities and Services at Playa Montroig Camping Resort

This is the second part of a review of our recent holiday to Spain to stay at the Playa Montroig Camping Resort with Eurocamp. You can find post one here and that is all about our stay with Eurocamp and their fabulous accommodation and attentive service. This post is about the facilities at the Playa Montroig Camping Resort.

We arrived at the parc at about 1pm and received a friendly greeting from the Playa Montroig staff. They informed us about logging onto the wifi, gave us some information sheets about opening times and events taking place whilst we stayed and then sent us off to the Eurocamp reception. I was pleased to see there was a security guard at the gate and entry and exit barriers to monitor who was on the parc. If we had had a car with us we had a sticky permit to display for the duration of our holiday and we also had an identity card to prove we were staying there.

Staying at Playa Montroig Camping Resort with Eurocamp

You might have seen me excitedly sharing that we were off to the Playa Montroig Camping Resort on the Costa Dorada, Spain with Eurocamp and now we are back it is my pleasure to share with you how our holiday went. 

This is the first part of two posts about our holiday away, I've split it into a post about the Eurocamp accommodation and one about the Playa Montroig Camping Resort facilities and services.

Rather than leave you in suspense as to whether we liked staying with Eurocamp, I'll give you the headline quotes from my kids first and then get into the full review -

Miss M "where are we going next year with Eurocamp Mum? I love it! Can we try a new camp with even more pools?" 

Miss E "I've had so much fun Mummy, I don't want to go home but I'm so tired as I've had so many late nights!" 

JJ "I've really enjoyed chilling on the deck of our mobile home in the shade with my iPad. Oh and the pool is pretty cool too but does it have to be so hot in Spain?"

A bit about us

We are a family of 5, two forty something adults, a 13 year old (tech-mad) boy and near 10 year old twin girls. This is the first time we have ever taken a European campsite holiday. For the first 11 years of life with children we always holidayed in the U.K. and stayed at places like Butlins and Haven or hired a house in a seaside town. Then last year we took our first abroad holiday staying in a hotel and the kids loved the outdoor pools in the sunshine so much we wanted to do it again but we had found being in a hotel on a half board basis a bit restrictive and we wanted the freedom of self catering, hence trying out Eurocamp.

Visiting Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain with Children

Last August we took our first holiday abroad as a family and we had an amazing time. So amazing in fact that we are again this year heading back to the Catalonia region of Spain and will be enjoying a holiday with Eurocamp at the Playa Montroig Camping Resort in Miami Platja, Costa Dorada.

One place that I expect we will visit again will be the beautiful historic city of Tarragona. it is the capital of the Catalonia region and a real gem to visit. There is such variety and depth in this city that became a UNESCO World Heritage site in November 2000 when it recognised 'The Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco' (modern-day Tarragona) for its importance as a major administrative and mercantile Roman city.

Visit the Tourist Office
Tarragona is such a big and diverse city there are four tourist offices across the city for you to visit. Either plan your visit out using the internet in advance or arrive at one of the offices and let the very helpful staff advise you how to fill your day.

Make sure you check out the calendar of events in advance as there is so much going on in Tarragona from an international fireworks competition to Tarraco Viva (that looks to raise awareness of ancient Roman history) to L'Home dels Nassos (the man of the many noses) festival. In September you may be lucky enough to be there for the festival for the Patron Saint of the City - Santa Tecla,

Easy Guide to Choosing your Overseas Family Summer Holiday

{This is a collaborative post}

When Winter really hits and the gloomy weather arrives there is always one thing I want to do and that is book a holiday to look forward to in the Summer months. Up until last year that had meant a UK based holiday as we felt (at that time) it was the easier and more affordable option with younger children. Having now holidayed in Spain last year I think perhaps we had our blinkers on and should have been considering holidaying abroad with the kids from a much earlier age, as it truly was the best holiday ever.

Of course, this means that we can't go back to UK based holidays because as much as I love our coastline and think we have some magnificent places to visit you just can't guarantee the weather and seeing the joy on the kid's faces from spending every day in the pool last year is too much for me to ignore.

So this year we are heading off to Playa Montroig Resort on the Miami Platja, Costa Dorada, Spain with Eurocamp and we can't wait. I've heard so much about Eurocamp over the years and I hadn't investigated them as I didn't think they'd be for me as I don't do camping but wow, they have so much more than camping available. We are heading off to stay in a rather luxurious mobile home with a decked terrace for al fresco eating and drinking on those balmy evenings. I just can't wait and I'll be sharing more about our holiday choice in the months running up to our holiday in May but for today this post is about helping you select your ideal summer holiday too.

Review: Cala Font Hotel, Cap Salou, Spain

Last month our family took our first holiday abroad. Of course the hubby and I have travelled abroad dozens of times but the furthest the kids had ever been was Jersey and we felt it was high time after a really tough start to the year for us all to kick back and have some proper relaxation.

We've always been really lucky and had many UK based holidays and short breaks; my blog has been immensely useful for securing those but I did find this year that nothing beats the complete difference of being abroad. That hot weather makes you feel like just completely chilling out, not visiting theme parks, historic houses or trekking round towns. Just laying on a sunbed, reading a good book, having a wonderful swim and eating fabulous food.

Thank the Lord we absolutely fell on our feet when we booked the Cala Font Hotel via Thomsons. We were quite late to book our August break as it was only June that I proposed the idea of a jaunt abroad to my husband but my research on Trip Advisor and other online forums definitely paid off. I'll start by saying that we would highly recommend the Cala Font Hotel in Cap Salou and at the moment we are considering if we will return again next year. I say considering as we are wondering if it would be good to try a new resort or country for variety but we are being heavily swayed by the lure of coming back to a hotel that we know provides everything we need to a very high standard.

Reasons to be Cheerful: Viva La España

We've been back from Spain nearly a week now and what a magnificent holiday we had. It was the kids first one abroad and the first time my husband and I have been on an abroad beach holiday for 13 years. It was well needed!

We stayed at the Cala Font Hotel in Cap Salou, which is about a half hour walk from the busy resort of Salou on the Costa Dorada. We would highly recommend the hotel and Cap Salou as a quiet family resort and it was an added bonus that the transfer from Reus airport is only about 30 minutes.

We really took advantage of being able to fully relax and hours were spent by the pool, in the pool, in the sea and relaxing generally. Our rooms had wonderful views over the pool and out to sea and we'd find it hard to fault anything.

As my reasons to be cheerful this week I'll share with you some photos from our holiday.

The view from our balconies

Our First Family Holiday Abroad

Our family is away in Spain at the moment. It's the kids first holiday abroad and I've not been on a package holiday since I was pregnant with JJ in May 2013. We hadn't intended to be a family who just holidays in the UK but that was sort of the way things have panned out. We got JJ his first passport in 2006 when he was three and said we would go abroad the next year, of course I then fell pregnant with the twins in November 2006 so that put paid to that plan as neither my husband or I could bear the idea of taking two babies and a toddler on a plane and into the blazing sunshine.

Once the girls were both out of pushchairs and nappies we considered going abroad again but by that time we were having great family holidays in the UK and the kids are really active so I couldn't imagine them enjoying a holiday where they just sat by the pool. I know I've asked JJ many times over the years if he fancies an abroad holiday and he always looks horrified and says no, he enjoys the hustle, bustle and organised activities of holiday camps and places like Butlins in the UK.