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Costa Brava- Parador Aiguablava or Hotel Aiguablava

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Costa Brava- Parador Aiguablava or Hotel Aiguablava

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Old Aug 16th, 2008, 08:05 AM
  #21  
 
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Thanks. Can you walk to restaurants or do you have to drive from the parador?
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Old Aug 16th, 2008, 08:38 AM
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ekscrunchy -- you really cannot walk from Parador to Begur. That's the only downside of the Parador IMO -- it's such a lovely location, truly relaxing. Don't know the size of your group, but we rented a little convertible (Peugeot 207, not expensive at all) while there and loved the drives into Begur and up the coast. Okay, second downside I guess as I think about this -- your wine consumption is a little limited outside of your hotel if you are the driver! Those are some gorgeous winding roads! We thoroughly enjoyed that area of Spain, hitting most of the spots identified in that NYTimes article that I was excited to see this morning (and that I see you've linked to up there). We headed to Girona after the Costa Brava and loved it as well.

Happy trip planning!
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Old Aug 16th, 2008, 01:41 PM
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Hi eks,
Since you can't walk to the town of Begur from the Parador (although it takes only under 10 min. to drive the winding roads), your only nice dining option within walking distance is the Parador's own cove side restaurant down at the small beach on the bay-the "Mar i Vent", which is quite nice. But.. it's open only during season.

The Mar i Vent was featured in a London Times article'"Spain's 22 Best Coastal Restaurants". Read it here:

http://tinyurl.com/6cclkf

You could walk (along the road) to the Hotel Aiguablava across the bay for dining, but during a 4 night stay there, I found it to be at best "banquet fare"-reminded me of Mauritania class on the QE II rather than Grill Class.

I wouldn't want to make the steep 2 km. walk along the highway from the Hotel Convent to the center of Begur either, so that eliminates the other Begur area hotel with pool.

I'm just not fond of the flat, non-descript scenery surrounding the hotels with pools at Platja de Pals, which has become kind of a Germanic holiday condo colony with little Spanish flavor.

So I would really consider the Parador in September, since it has an unbeatably spectacular location, all rooms, (even our 5 night plan standard room) have sea views, some of the bay, some of the open sea, it does have that garden pool with equally beguiling views and the alternative beach side dining. (But you'll need to email the Parador to see if it's still open in Sept.).

As for the Begur area restaurants mentioned in the NYTimes article within a short drive of the Parador, I can personally second

Sa Racassa in tiny Aiguafreda

Hostal Sa Tuna (for its fantastic arros negre)
www.hostalsatuna.com

(Both are in neighboring calas from Aiguablava).


We also liked

Primo Piatto in the Bliss Begur

Hotel-Restaurante Aiguaclara

Mas Comangau-Hotel Galena
(just a few min.s away, on road leading into Begur-great value!).

Fonda Caner is the choice in Begur for classic Ampurdán fare.

So at night, so long as you have a designated driver for those winding back roads, you won't have to venture too far for dinner.
And if you aren't up for a full meal, the bar/cafetería does serve sandwiches, salads, ham and cheese platters.

Thanks for the NYTimes article link. Now, I want Sarah Wildman's job!!!
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Old Jan 1st, 2009, 01:53 PM
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I've spent some time today reading the Costa Brava posts here, dreaming about a possible trip next fall. (Not firmly decided on Costa Brava yet, however)

Many thanks, yet again, to Maribel for all of the great information throughout this site..


Another question that occurred to me when looking at hotel sites and reviews on TA:


The tradeoff appears to be staying at one of the two hotels mentioned in the title of this thread, and having a pool and beach but having to walk into town, or staying in town and having to walk, or drive, to the beach.

So..if one stays off the beach, are there rental sunbeds/loungers on most beaches in this general area? (These are ubiquitous on the Italian beaches I've visited but I do not see the usual rows of beach chairs in the photos of the beaches on the Costa Brava..)

Also: How long would you guess that the swimming season lasts in this area? Water still warm enough to swim in late September/early October? Easy to park at beaches at that time of year?

I would also love to read any further comments about these two hotels, and any others that I should consider.

Which town makes the best base of the ones mentioned above, and here (Begur, Callella de Palafrugell, etc).



http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34826272




We would have 7 nights in Spain; would fly into Barcelona and rent a car.

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Old Jan 1st, 2009, 02:20 PM
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Hi ekscruncita,
These beaches in the area of Begur-Aiguablava are small, cove beaches and somewhat pebbly. For a sandier and more expansive beach you'd need to go to Platja de Pals, which I don't find very attractive because of what surrounds it. Platja de Pals has become a German colony with lots of rental apartments, tourist shops, and the area is flat. For me the topography isn't very interesting. I can't remember lounger rentals, but I wouldn't spend a beach day there myself. It's a popular place for families because there's room to spread out.

The beach below the Parador of Aiguablava in the Fornells Bay is small but boasts a spectacular setting in a pretty cove surrounded by pine trees. There are rentals of some sort but not sure of what (my photo books aren't with me right now). It may be diving equipment or paddle boats or whatever...
I can't remember whether they rent loungers there or not, but the desk at the Parador can tell you if you email them, or another poster will remember, I'm sure.

During June, July and August these coves (calas) get extremely busy, crowded and parking is a bear. You often have to park a kilometer away on the highway if you don't arrive by 10 am. But in mid Sept., after the school summer holiday, things calm down.

I'd say that swimming season would last until mid-September. In your email to the Parador I would ask on what date they generally close their unheated pool. They keep water in it all year round for esthetic purposes, but I don't recall when it's closed for swimming.

The "beach" at the Hotel Aiguablava hardly deserves that term-simply a tiny stretch of very pebbly "sand". Guests walk or drive down to the cala below the Parador for a better beach.

The attraction of Calella-Llafranc-Tamariu area:
the slighly larger beach areas in front of the hotels than the tiny calas around Begur and these family -friendly, less expensive, traditional family run hotels, plus lots of apartment/condo rentals.

Begur and the Calella-Llafranc-Tamariu trio are not far apart.
The Begur area appears even more "posh", there are quite impressive mansions clinging to the hillside where the monied from Barcelona have built lavish weekend retreats. I find Begur to be particularly scenic because of its hilltop location and seaviews, its castle in ruins atop the town, its palm trees, its "indiano" mansions that are being restored, its general upscale ambiance. I have my eye on the house at the end of the street before turning left to go up to the castle. Some of these homes are just gorgeous with jaw dropping views. Very exclusive real estate. Now when I win the lottery....



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Old Jan 1st, 2009, 02:55 PM
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Hi Eks..We stayed at the Parador and enjoyed it and the beach below. We had a great lunch next to the sandy beach. We were required to take half-board by the Parador but figured out that we could upgrade for a fee to far superior dinner choices. Th erooms were large with spectacular views, balconies. We would return there any time we have a chance.Make sure you stop in Figures to tour the Dali Museum.
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Old Jan 1st, 2009, 03:10 PM
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Another advantage to late September is freedom to dine wherever you want and not to be forced into the demi-pension at the Parador or Hotel Aiguablava.

HappyTrvl,
How did the supplement work? Were your added dining options beyond the Parador's dining room and its beach restaurant, Mar i Vent? Other restaurants in the area?

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Old Jan 1st, 2009, 03:16 PM
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Sorry, I didn't read your post clearly. I see you upgraded in the dining room to go beyond the set menu, to have other a la carte choices.
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Old Jan 2nd, 2009, 04:45 AM
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This is great information! Thank you!

Maribel: I don't really care about sand on the beach; we would not want to lounge out in the sun for more than an hour or two each day. But I do like to swim in the sea and will pack my water shoes. There appear to be several strong hotel contenders with each offering its pros and cons. The Aiguablava gets such wondrous reviews--I suppose one could just buy a couple of chairs in town if there are no rental opportunities on the beach.
Or perhaps by your comments above you are saying that it is impossible to set a chair down because of the rocks (??) In any case we will need a car and if we go in mid-September, hopefully we can find parking at the various coves, beaches, etc.

Ok--just to make things more difficult: I am wondering if we should split the stay between one hotel on the beach and one inland. I looked at the many choices you listed and found so many appealing possibilities. Would it make any sense to try 2 nights at the Castel d'Emporda? How is their restaurant?

http://www.castelldemporda.com/eng/index.aspx


I am going to check out some of the other ideas that you offered here, too:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35130102


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Old Jan 2nd, 2009, 11:46 AM
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Hi escrunchita,
I'm one of those who is so intrigued by wonderful lodging choices and can't decide, so I'm often tempted to split my time between two hotels. I understand that desire, but I'd only split the time if I could stay for more than 2 days in Aiguablava.

You can certainly put a beach chair down on the beach below the Parador-it's not too pebbly for that-I've walked it-I just don't remember if they rent loungers or not.

Of the inland options (we've seen most of them), I was most impressed with the Castell (but didn't dine there), the Mas Salvi (on a very private estate just outside Pals) and the less expensive, much smaller Rusticae Hotel del Teatre right outside Begur in Regencós, all 4 star properties. But Regencós is a village devoid of commerce, so one needs to drive to Begur, 4 km. east.

I wouldn't consider Mas Roig at all because it's too close to the road, and Arc de Monells didn't do it for me either, for some reason.
El Far in Llafranc is lovely (JulieV stayed there), but it's at the very top of the hill overlooking the town, next to the lighthouse. You need to drive back and forth for everything. It's run by the Mas Torrent (a Relais Chateaux), which for us, is over priced.

Hope this helps.

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Old Jan 2nd, 2009, 03:21 PM
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Maribel and Eks,
We ate lunch at the restaurant on the beach that you came to first
when walking down there from the Parador. We did not eat at the Parador's Mar i Vent; I think it was closed. Sorry I don't have the beach dining spot's name as I left my 6 weeks of travel notes on the plane. It was packed with Spaniards and wonderful.
Thanks again Maribel for your excellent help and printable guides. You made such a big difference in our trip! We spent 6 wonderful weeks in Portugal and Northern Spain (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Pais Vasco, Pays Basque, across the French Pyrenees, Collioure, to Aiguablava and Barcelona) in 2007.
Eks..we spent several hours on the beach and swam in the cove. We sat on out towels. The Parador also has a nice pool.
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Old Jan 2nd, 2009, 03:55 PM
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HappyTrvl,
Wow! What a truly magnificent itinerary you created-six weeks in my favorite spots-my dream trip! I'm so happy to know that you found the guides helpful.

eks,
I did find photos of Plaja Aiguablava and a bit more info. It's a really lovely spot. These folks give it 4 stars.
www.onbeach.com/beach/girona/aiguablava/1131


And I remembered when looking through
www.begur.org that in addition to the Mar i Vent, there are two other beach side restaurants, all of them seasonal, I'm fairly sure-the other two, Garreta and Les Acacies (do those names ring a bell, HappyTrvlr?)

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Old Jan 3rd, 2009, 03:41 AM
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Maribel that beach looks beautiful! Am I correct that this is the one accessible on foot from the parador?

Is this the same beach as the one used by the Hotel Aiguablava?

The Hotel A has a twin room with terrace, with breakfast, for 217 euro. The Parador charges 257 for a double with balcony and an additional 17 Euro per person for breakfast; their less expensive double is 171 Euro w/o breakfast..(these prices are for the mid-end September.)

And then, of course, there is the Hotel Aiguaclara...

Since we have 7 nights, we could choose one more location outside Begur..2 nights at the Castell, using that as a base to visit Figueres..(??)

As you can see, I have lots of reading and map-studying ahead of me! First up will be the always wonderful Maribel Guide!

MAny thanks!!
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Old Jan 3rd, 2009, 08:29 AM
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Eks- That is the beach we enjoyed! Our dining spot for lunch overlooked this beach too. Its an easy walk down the hill from the Parador.
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Old Jan 3rd, 2009, 10:32 AM
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Hi eks,
Yep, glad you liked the photos.

Regarding the price difference between the standard and superior rooms at the Parador-
Unless you have your heart set on the jacuzzi, there's really no reason to upgrade here, if you'd like to shave a few euros. While the top floor suites have a fresher, more lavish decor, the difference in look isn't that noticeable between the standard and the superior rooms, The four suites with enormous terrace, however, are another story!

Just write them a note saying that you want a standard twin/double on the third floor (rather than one of the -1 rooms), and you'll be fine, if you want to take advantage of the savings. Our view, right side of the hotel, was of the open sea, and it was glorious to sit out on our balcony each evening watching the sun set. I can give you our room number in a couple of days when I have access to all my records. We were on the 5 night plan (Jan.) so were given a standard room. No free upgrades here, even when the hotel is more than half empty.

I see the Parador has no special promotions in mid-late Sept. I wasn't expecting any because of its popularity and splendid setting.
(On the other hand, the Galician paradors are offering spectacular deals this fall, throwing in the bountiful buffet breakfast for free, with rates starting at 60 going up to only 110 on weekends in Baiona).

From the Hotel Aiguablava were you given a specific building for that rate quote of twin with terrace? All rooms are not created equal there, as some have terraces, but with just a bit of sea view or views of the tennis courts or garden or pool area. Because in summer they save their best view rooms for their loyal repeat clientele, we were placed in an annex above the tennis courts rather than in the main building. My friends' room did have a terrace but lacked full frontal sea views-enough of a view to be enjoyable but not as dramatic a perch as our room at the Parador.

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Old Jan 3rd, 2009, 11:06 AM
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Maribel that is more great information. I posted only the rates that I saw on the respective hotel websites; this is a good point about the Hotel A. saving the best perches for repeat guests.

We would not care about the jacuzzi at the Parador, but I do not see a double with balcony for less than 257 Euro listed on their website. From what you write, though, the standard doubles on the third floor have balconies... (Sorry for all of my confusion here..) When I write, I will ask for a standard third floor double with balcony?

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Old Jan 3rd, 2009, 11:09 AM
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EKSCRUNCHY:

It would be good if you would have read Maribels' first post on this thread before writing your last post!

"All rooms at the Parador have balconies with water view."


Perdoname, Maribel.
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Old Jan 3rd, 2009, 12:31 PM
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Escrunchita,
LOL
¡Tranquila! ¡No pasa nada!

The only rooms at the Parador that don't have those balconies are the few rooms below the lobby, down the steps (and they're not accessible by elevator). They do have picture windows with full bay of Fornells views, but no balcony.
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Old Jan 6th, 2009, 09:48 AM
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Thanks again, Maribel.

Armed with this information, I am going to make my case for a visit..I will do some more reading and return with more questions, I am sure!!
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Old Jan 6th, 2009, 09:50 AM
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If only there were a Maribel for every country in Europe....
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