My family wants a beach vacation this summer.

We've never been to Spain, and we've also really wanted to visit Barcelona.

Any ideas on how to combine a trip with a few days in Barcelona and then a nearby beach resort?

Or should we just stay put and enjoy beaches IN Barcelona?

And... how easy or difficult is it to get to Mallorca?

We are a family of 4 with two older teens.

Thanks a bunch!!
dina

Barcelona has a wide sandy beach with all facilities, so you can go swimming after you have done some sightseeing.

http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...n-beaches.html

For a really beautiful beach, you may go to Tossa de Mar or Cala Sa Riera (Begur).

Avoid Lloret de Mar!

You might use Google Earth for a flight over the coast.

IMO, no need to take the ferry to Mallorca. The Costa Brava is beautiful enough:

- Cap Roses
- Cadaques
- Figueres

Be sure to rent a car for a couple of days after you have left Barcelona.

You might be interested in my trip report on Barcelona and Costa Brava:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35086408

Sounds to me like your family wants a vacation at the beach and not miss seeing Barcelona while in you're in the vicinity -- yes? If so, I would not stay in Barcelona and use its beaches, which are the kinds of beaches one typically finds in urban coastal cities.

My favorite town on the Costa Brava is Calella de Palafrugell. You might find this useful.


http://www.costabrava-rentals.co.uk/

And just so you know, it's possible to take an overnight ferry between Barcelona and Genoa in Italy, which means that you can take a train to anyplace on the Italian riviera.

PS: I believe that Ryan air runs regular cheap flights from Reus, not far from Barcelona, and I would assume there are cheap flights in and out of Barcelona's airport.

My impressions of Rosas on the Costa Brava was that it was terribly built up with modern development, and Cadaques, while pretty, is isolated and just about as far from Barcelona as you can get without crossing into France. Figueres is not on the beach.

Sorry, I did not mean Roses, I meant Cap de Creus. It is, like Cadaques and Figueres, a place for sightseeing, not a beach.

If your "older teens" are male, they will very much enjoy these beaches since they are 'top optional' if not entirely 'top free'.

Perhaps the older teens are lesbians or gay or have maturity.

Hi,

If you want to stay within Barcelona and still enjoy from beaches, then it´s recommended to visit Barceloneta.

This way you can stay within the city, save time and still enjoy from some of the best beaches of the area.

Carlos (Oh-Barcelona)

Dina: You might consider spending a few days in Barcelona and then heading north to the Begur area, which includes the town that Zeppole mentioned above, Callela de Palafrugell.

I am also considering this area for a future trip and got many helpful responses on a thread that I will link below, in case some of the information is of use to you. I have visited this area (from Cadaques, a few years ago) and it is truly beautiful:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35109813

wow -- thanks so much to everyone for your thoughtful responses!!!

i have been so busy the last few days, didn't even have time to check back. i will check out all of your information this weekend, and i'm sure be back with more questions!!

escrunchy -- i was just having fun reading your old trip report to san sebastian and the basque region. now my husband is thinking that we should consider that area for beaches. (I think he is tempted by nearby Bordeaux, as he is crazy about Bordeaux wine.)

The thing i failed to mention before is that we are trying to save money by using points at a starwood location. There is the Le Meridien in Barcelona (and another about 30 minutes south call the Le MEridien Ra on the beach?). and then there's the Maria Christina in San Sebastian... There's also a couple of starwoods outside of Palma in Mallorca.

Thanks again!!
dina