Camping Estival Vendrell Platja

The pool area is lovely, with plenty of sunbeds, and there's free Wi-Fi. You can rent bikes, though they're very old. The little supermarket stocks basics but closes during the day. We also got a kitchen welcome pack with washing-up liquid, a sponge, a cloth, and similar items. In the evenings, the Trenet turistic stops right in front of the campsite. The rules felt very strict. Our kids, aged 3 and 4, weren't allowed to play with a light ball in front of the bungalow. Is the sound of crying kids better than happy ones? The pool area doesn't allow food, drinks, or water toys, apparently nothing at all. Our old tropical bungalow had no bathroom shelf for toiletries, and there was only one chopping knife, which didn't cut. The reception didn't give much information. The restaurant's mojito was made with syrup and Sprite, so don't try it.

The location is great, right opposite the beach, and the promenade is good for cycling. The town, with basic shops, is about a 10-minute walk away. There was a nice restaurant, a shop, and laundry on site, plus helpful staff, hot clean showers, and a lovely warm pool, 21 degrees in early May. It's a huge site with excellent facilities, but we went out of season and it was packed with school groups. There were 60 kids in the pool, which was awful, and the restaurant got loud and chaotic. They were noisy until after 11 every night. There was train noise day and night too. It gave us a sense of peak season, and that wouldn't suit us.

We had an awesome holiday and would definitely return. The campsite was tidy, check-in and checkout were easy, and the pool was good, though on some days the water felt cold, especially at the slides. There was evening entertainment in Spanish, which was fine for us and helped give the place a holiday feel. The beach is just a few minutes away on foot. Our stone mobile home was good enough, with towels and made-up beds. The air conditioning worked well. Once the boiler ran out, though, the shower water went cold, and the wet curtain stuck to you, which we could laugh about. Calafell centre is a 20-minute walk, or you can take the train outside the campsite for €1. Barcelona is just under an hour away by car, and Tarragona about 25 minutes. There's a playground and a soccer cage where our oldest could play. The Spanish kids were rude and swore, and they couldn't stand losing, which was a shame.

I only found this place because bad weather sent me looking for somewhere to stop on my way to Gibraltar. It turned out to be a lucky find. The resort sits beside a beautiful beach with palm trees, and it's so large it has its own streets. There are different grades of accommodation; I chose a bungalow and had plenty of room for all the gear on my motorcycle journey to Africa. The air conditioning made it a refuge during the extreme heat and when the bad weather came through. What made me feel most welcome was the reception team. The man and woman working evenings were especially friendly and deserve a raise. I felt welcome from the day I arrived throughout my stay. A real hidden gem, highly recommended.