I am planning a surprize trip to Tarragona for my husband so he can see a world trials bike competition. Does anyone know anything about this sport? Any suggestions on where to stay along the coastline that might be interesting? What about renting a motorcycle while there?

Kariewilson,

Sorry - can't help with the biking angle but as far as I know the main beach resort in the area is Salou.

You don't say when you'll be there but if you are going anytime in the summer months Salou will be very busy with visitors from Northern Europe - the usual Brits, Germans, Dutch & Scandinavians. I believe the resort has become even more popular over the past few years due to its proximity to the Universal Studios Theme Park.

It's perhaps too busy to have any great charm but its popularity does mean that there are plenty of hotels & restaurants. There is a good main beach (it markets itself as the "Playa De Europa&quot& also some attractive little sandy coves just outside town. There is also a typically Spanish palm-lined promenade which is pleasant for strolling along in the evening.

There also used to be some nice sleepy fishing villages in the area, Cambrils being one, but it's a long time since I've been & I wouldn't be surprised to find that it's now a bustling resort.

The area is known as the Costa Dorada so it might be worth checking that out on Google for more information.

Hope this helps,

Jim

very well said, jjboy.
you might be able to find some quaint lodging inland at www.toprural.com for that area, if you have transport.
the beaches are nice, but jjboy has said it all.

further south, ametlla de mar is a small fishing village that still holds some charater although it has become built up also. it has a nice square and cafe area down by the port. but without transport this is not convenient for you.

First of all - topping for kariewilson.

But also to ask if you have considered staying in Barcelona? It's less than an hour to Tarragona by train.

Jim

Sitges is a beach town that lies between Tarragona and Barcelona. I don't know about places to stay, but based on our daytrips to both areas, Sitges is a better beach area with nice restaurants and bars and looks more like it has better lodgings and accomodations to offer.

We are actually flying into Barcelona on April 19th and will be renting a car. We don't have to be in Tarragona until the 26th of April so will catch Barcelona before going home on the 28th. Ametlla de Mar or Sitges sounds more like us as we will try to stay far away from the theme park and crowds. We are escaping our teenagers for such a short time! Thought we might drive to Bilbao...is 5days enough time? Any other suggestions?
Thanks!!

there are some lovely wineries in the penedes area.( near tarragona/barcelona). you can google that region and find them, "freixenet, torres".. to name a few.

also rural lodgings. since you will have a car, you might even want to go north into france just across the border.