Costa Daurada or Pyrenees
 

We have a week after a Barcelona week. Want a place not too far away and have narrowed it down to these 2 places. Any recommendations? We're going in May or June. Thanks.

It really depends what you like. Me, I love the mountains, and I particularly love the Pyrenees. Have a look at Boi?

We really like visiting small villages, strolling around, sampling food, wine. Although we love the ocean, we're not really beach people.

trying,<BR>Given your likes, I'd choose the Pyrennes, hands down. Some of the tourist developments on the Costa Dourada are quite overdeveloped, kind of concrete jungles of characterless highrise hotels/apt. buildings, although Roman Tarragona is very interesting as is the interior-the route of the Cistercian monasteries.<BR>But so many Pyreness villages have a great deal of charm, particuarly the valley of Boi, as Sheila says, which serves as the western entrance to the gorgeous National Park of Aiguestortes, the Val d'Aran further north (villages of Arties, Salardu, Bagergue, Escunhau are particularly cute). And closer to Barcelona there's the lovely Cerdanya, at the foothills of the Pyrennes, an area from Camprodon to Seu d'Urgell, that's also a great region to explore. Great food, atmospheric towns, truly beautiful scenery and a spectacular cogwheel train ride from Ribes de Freser to the Sanctuary of Nuria-unforgettable.<BR>Have fun!

Hi<BR><BR>Stay at somewhere like Estartit.<BR>Smallish, marina, old town, beaches.............. and close to the mountains. You can also visit some coast tourist spots if you need nightlife.<BR><BR>best of both worlds ?<BR><BR>Peter

Thanks for input. We only have two choices in Pyrenees as we're taking a week of our time share-they are in Formigal, Huesca or in Canillo, Andorra. Are either of these close to the places you recommend Maribel?

Costa daurada is beautiful if you enjoy sitting on a very mediocre crowded beach watcning oil tankers pass by. I have visited much of Spain and found this by far be the worst. It is overdeveloped, overcrowded, and horrid..we visited la pineda, not far from salou. Would rather stay at home than go again!

Reading this thread with interest as we were planning on spending a week in Costa Dorada after Barcelona! Helen, I am horrified by what you say and since I have not finalized my plans yet, I would be interested in hearing more about your bad experience! Did you travel around the area or just stay on the beach? How long were you there? Maribel..is this also your opinion of Costa Dorada?

Helen,<BR>I'm afraid I share your opinion of Salou.<BR><BR>trying,<BR>Between Huesca (city?) and Formigal, I'd choose the latter, although it's further afield from Catalunya, located in the Aragonese Pyrennes. The scenery around the Parque Nacional de Ordesa nearby is breathtaking, you'll be near the lively and interestng city of Jaca, and you can make forays into Bearn, France from there.<BR><BR><BR>Andorra is for cheap, duty free shopping (Andorra la Vella is the Ginza of the Pyrennes-a giant electronic goods bazaar), cheap skiing and wild apres ski scene (kind of the Ibiza of the Pyrennes) and spa treatments at the giant Caldea "water paradise" at Escaldes.<BR><BR>Hope this helps.

canuck,<BR>Sorry I didn't see your post while writing mine. No, I don't care much for the Costa Daurada-much prefer the northern Costa Brava around Pals-Begur-Aiguablava-Calella de Palafruguell-Tamariu-Llafranc. The inland area of the Tarragona province I liked much better, and I enjoyed travelling the triangle route of the Cistercian monasteries, but I don't know this area very well. Just my very highly subjective, personal opinion though based on a short visit...

Thanks everyone. I have done some searching and the timeshare is in Formigales. But it seems to be really far from the wonderful spots you indicate we should see - it's 2.5 hrs. from Jaca, Arties, Salardu and Boi, Seu d'Urgell!! Is there any nice areas, villages that are closer to Formigales?<BR>Also, it seems to be about 5 hr. drive from Barcelona...is this a "good" drive? ie. after an overseas flight? Thanks.<BR>

Further to my previous post, we stayed in a good 4* hotel, which was fine(in la pineda). Outside of hotel was bland, not at all spanish, not nice beach, and oil refinery very near. This was good compared to Salou, which was worse(slot machines, kareoke, fish and chips, fairground.) please bear in mind that we are a married thirty something couple with no children.We could find nowhere in vicinity to have a really good meal, the cambrils was about 1/2 hour ride away, and was a little better.

Trying,<BR>Please don't try to do that 5 hr. drive after an overseas flight!! After an overseas flight, my max. length of drive would be 2 hrs. tops. I'm sorry, trying!-thought you were referring to El Formigal which is next to Sallent de Gallego, about 30 min. north of Jaca. Could you tell me where Formigales is located?-not sure...<BR>Thanks,<BR>Maribel

Hi Maribel and trying,<BR>there is a very small place (around 60 inhabitants) called Formigales in the Sobrarbe, in Huesca.<BR>I think that the time-sharing has to be in Formigal. I would really choose the Formigal place. Nice change from Barcelona, good scenery and good walks (the Midi d´Ossau, Ordesa, Pau for a country change), a spa in Panticosa.<BR>I´d recommend you to get the LP Hiking in Spain guide. It has some great itineraries for that zone.<BR>And in Jaca, a new restaurant, Lilium, nouvelle cuisine with a twist. And the desserts are to die for.<BR>Rgds, Cova

You mention Andorra - La Seu d'Urgell is fairly close to here I think. Not sure what else but you might want to consider Andorra?

Now I'm really confused. The website for the condo says it is in Formigal, Huesca. It's part of the Intervalworld group...The other one is in Canillo, Andorra. I just want to be close to the nicest villages and towns if I'm going to be here for a week!

I made the rash move of looking at a map, and it looks terrific. I have a copy of the Rough Guide to the Pyrenees which I recommend thoroughly. Unfortunately, I've lent it to someone.. but I think it's online.

Hi trying,<BR>after reading what you are your preferences, and seeing that you plan to go there after Barcelona, I´d stick with Formigal. It will be quiet, because the ski season is finished and the summer season is not yet fully on, but if you have a car, you can move around and enjoy lots of beautiful places. From the Bearn, as Maribel mentioned, to places like Ordesa National Park, San Juan de la Pe&ntilde;a, the castle of Loarre, Jaca and its romanic cathedral (and very good pastries) ...<BR>A couple of sites to let you think :<BR>http://www.formigal.com/<BR>http://www.pirineo.com/<BR>Rgds, Cova<BR>

Hi Cova,<BR>Thanks for the tip about Lilium in Jaca-have put it on my list. I just found tiny Formigales in my Michelin atlas, between Graus and Ainsa. Can't imagine why there would be a time-share there, but you never know. <BR><BR>Hi Trying,<BR>If your time share is indeed in El Formigal then go there, as Cova says. We've gone from Pau in the Bearn across the border to Sallent-Formigal easily. You'll have lots of majestic scenery up there, and to the east you'll find Torla, which is the western entrance to the Ordesa Park, for wonderful walks. The drive from Biescas to Torla on the very serpentine N260 is unforgettable. Also the valleys of Hecho and Anso to the west of Jaca are quite picturesque. And the old fashioned spa in Panticosa is like going back in time. There's enough to see and do in this area for a good long while. And as Cova says, you'll be arriving after the ski season and before the summer crowds arrive. <BR><BR>Hope we haven't confused you more!<BR>Maribel<BR><BR><BR>

Bless you Cova and Maribel! It's no wonder I'm confused. When I was putting "Formigal" into the search engine for Mapquest, it would use "Formigales" as the starting place. But if I put in "El Formigal", it gives me the correct spot! It is in fact about an hour from Jaca and Torla, 15 mins. from Panticosa. But when I put in Bearn, France, it shows it to be 12 hrs. away! As well, Graus is 3 hrs. and Ainsa is 2 hrs. Also I found more info on the website - the timeshare looks fairly basic. No pool etc. But if you good people think that's where I should go, this is a place I will now seriously consider. I just wish I could find someone who has stayed at this timeshare!

Hi trying,<BR>Formigal is a basically a ski resort. It was built during the Sixties to accomodate the spanish skiers (and some Brits ... ) There are quite a few apartments, hotels and alpine chalets. One of the hotels has a swimming pool (I don´t remember if it is the hotel Formigal, the hotel Tirol or another), but quite likely it will be close in May, June. As I told you, you will be there between seasons. <BR><BR>The good thing is that you can do a lot of things around. Pau is very near, maybe 70 kms away (check with http://www.viamichelin.com ), and with the Euro, it is easier than ever. If you want to have an active holiday, there are many small companies who specialize in rafting, mountain-bike, walks ... If not in Formigal, in the small village of Sallent de Gallego.<BR><BR>I think that although basic, it will be a refreshing change from a big city as Barcelona. If you don´t mind telling me the name of the timeshare, I might find someone who has stayed there. I stayed at a couple of aparthotels two years ago (mind you, it was winter, and I was there to ski).<BR>Rgds, Cova<BR><BR>Ps. Some useful links<BR>http://www.jaca.com<BR>http://www.altogallego.com<BR>http://www.panticosa.com<BR>http://www.valledetena.com<BR>http://www.panticosa-loslagos.com<BR>http://www.formigal.com<BR>http://www.serrablo.org<BR>http://www.orensanz.org/<BR>http://www.aragonesasi.com/huesca/sabinani.htm<BR>http://www.valledetena.com.cpn<BR>http://www.valledetena.com/gorgol<BR>http://www.pirineo.com/naturalezayaventura<BR>http://festivales.aragon.net<BR>http://usuarios.tripod.es/namaro/yesero.htm<BR>http://www.aragonesasi.com/huesca/yesero.htm<BR>http://www.ctv.es/USERS/pyrene/sallent.htm http://www.aragonesasi.com/comar03.htm <BR>

Thank you so much cova - your information will keep me busy for the next few days to be sure! The timeshare is with Intervalworld and on the website it says Edificio Monteski 22640 Formigal, Huesca, Spain...<BR> "Somni Aragon&eacute;s (I think this is the name of the timeshare?) is situated in the Spanish Pyrenees, near the French border. Ski lifts are just 400 yards away and in the summer the area is very good for hiking. A variety of restaurants, bars, entertainment, and outdoor sports available locally in season. Southern French towns such as Lourdes are within easy driving distance."

Hi again, trying,<BR>I think you might need to expect rather basic accomodations in your time share. Many of these Spanish ski resort apts. have been around for quite a while, and they can get a lot of wear and tear during ski season. <BR><BR>While I haven't stayed in one in El Formigal (we stayed in the summer at the charming little Hotel Almud in Sallent), I've experienced one in Cerler, a couple of valleys to the east, and it was just basic. Just don't want you to be disappointed. If top-of-the-line amenities or little luxuries are important to you, then you probably should choose another property. If they're not, as cova says, you'll find plenty of wonderful activities in the area to keep you out and about. It's been a while, but I don't recall seeing anything in El Formigal that looked terribly luxurious, like some of the newer alpine chalets in the Catalan ski resort of Baqueira-Beret or those in US resorts like Aspen/Vail. Don't know what your time share experiences have been. Just a thought...<BR><BR>I think you'd enjoy dinner at the Restaurante Mingo in nearby Escarilla, about 12 km. down the A136 towards <BR>Biescas.<BR><BR>We did the drive from Pau to El Formigal in about 1 1/2 hrs.<BR><BR>Have fun whatever you decide!<BR>Maribel

Hi trying..this is an interesting post as I have timeshare with Intervalworld but have only used it in Orlando and mexico. I looked thru their book and see in the book they have a property listed in Viella, Lerida and another one listed in Barcares France, both within about 2 hr. drive from Barcelona. The one in Viella might be a little more convenient to some of the places mentioned here. And the one in France is in the Languedoc region which is supposed to be beautiful. I think with Intervalworld you will get a much better accommodation on the coastal areas in Europe where they are competing with the highrises etc. But you might want to check out the one in Viella. And maybe people here can recommend if it is a better location than the Formigal one.

Hi trying,<BR>I haven´t heard of a Somni Aragon&eacute;s place in Formigal, so probably it is the name they use to advertise it. I have also found a Somni Aran&eacute;s in Viella, and this one will probably be the timeshare previously mentioned.<BR>Maribel is right in that the accomodations will be simple. This is the one in Formigal :<BR>http://www.tri-timeshare.com/BlueBook/Resort.asp?ResortID=ES188<BR><BR>and this is the one in Viella :<BR>http://www.tri-timeshare.com/BlueBook/Resort.asp?ResortID=ES185<BR><BR>I think it is really up to you. I would probably choose Formigal, but merely because I like more Aragon that the Vall d´Aran.<BR><BR>Good luck,<BR>Cova<BR>

Sorry but I don't think Viella is the same as Vielha and Vielha is in Lerida?? In any case Viella or Vielha is a lot more than a couple of hours from Barcelona! More like 5-6 hrs. from my map? France timeshare seems to be closer

I am so totally confused but you've all been very gracious! Is it Viella or Viehla? Is it El Formigal or Formigales? Aragon or Vall Aran? I have a lot of work to do! And now France is in the loop and it actually looks interesting! I've never been to that region of France. Maybe a week in Andalucia, 3-4 days in Barcelona and then my last week in France is the ticket. It does seem a lot closer to Barcelona where I'll be flying in and out of. I am sorry to be so tiresome but my head is spinning and I will visit the bookstore this weekend to get a good map of Barcelona and north and southern France. You've all been perfectly wonderful with your advice and thanks.

Hi trying,<BR>Viella and Vielha is the same place. It is located in the Vall d´Aran (or Aran valley), a valley located in the north of the Lerida province, in Catalu&ntilde;a (or Catalunya in the catalan language). I am not sure if Vielha is in Catalan or in the Aranes language, but Viella is the spanish version of the name.<BR>Aragon is another region in Spain, like Catalu&ntilde;a, Andalucia, the Basque Country or Galicia. Formigal is located in the north of Huesca, the north province of Aragon.<BR>If you were to go to Formigal, you would drive the motorway (toll) A2 from Barcelona to Zaragoza, and from Zaragoza to Sabi&ntilde;anigo (past Huesca city) you would have a toll-free motorway. From Sabi&ntilde;anigo it´s only around half an hour to Formigal.<BR><BR>None of the places that have been mentioned (Formigal, Viella, Canill&oacute; in Andorra, Languedoc (exactly where?) in France) are less than 2 hours from Barcelona. In fact, I would say around 5 hours.<BR>Check it with :<BR>http://www.guiacampsa.com<BR><BR>Rgds, Cova

trying,<BR>Ditto to all that cova has just explained!<BR><BR>Of all the time share properties of the Intervalworld group mentioned above, the Andorra and the "Barcares" locations are actually the closest to Barcelona, about 2 hrs., provided that the French time-share in is indeed in the town of "Le Barcares" (Pyrennes Orientales district of the Languedoc-Roussillon, sometimes referred to just as French Catalonia) in southwestern France. Le Barcares and Andorra seem to be more or less the same distance from Barcelona, but Le Barcares is on the coast (above Perpignan) and near the superhighway, so the driving would be easier, faster, the weather much warmer and the property probably nicer.<BR> <BR>Viella in the Spanish province of Lerida is at least 4 hrs. from Bcn, then El Formigal in the Huesca province, at least 4 1/2.<BR><BR>I use either<BR>www.viamichelin.com<BR>www.guiacampsa.com www.shellgeostar.com<BR>to calculate the distance and driving times. For me the Michelin is the most accurate, as I find the guiacampsa driving time estimates often quite fast for American drivers.

Hmmm...I did love Provence when I was there and always wanted to go back! Could I get the best of both worlds here - Barcelona, Andalucia and Languedoc region of France all in one trip?? And yes, Maribel the timeshare is described as on a small island right off the coast of Port Barcares in Langedoc. This thread has indeed been incredibly helpful - I've gone from Costa Daurada to Formigal and now perhaps I'll go to France! Whew! You folks have been incredibly patient. Thanks very much.