Estival El Dorado Resort & Spa, Cambrils: Our Go‑To Family Favourite

After having hardly any holidays during Covid, we were so ready for some sunshine in May 2022. We decided to go back to Estival El Dorado in Cambrils, a hotel we had stayed at before and really loved. With the boys a bit older this time, and knowing what was on offer, it felt like the perfect choice for an easy, fun family break.

Estival El Dorado is set right on the beachfront and is a large complex with rooms, suites and apartments. It really does have everything you need on site: restaurants and bars, a spa and wellness centre, gym and sports areas, several swimming pools and a brilliant splash and water park.

We travelled as a family of four: myself, Louise and our two boys, Alex who was 7 at the time and Jack who was 4. We stayed in a suite, which was more than big enough for us. We had a huge main bedroom area and the boys slept on two beds made up from the sofas in the sitting room, which was also really spacious. There was an adjoining bathroom with a separate shower and a large balcony overlooking the main pool and bar area. We could not fault the room at all.

Pools, Water Park & Kids Club

The hotel has a secure kids’ club with both indoor and outdoor spaces and a different theme each day. There is no need to book in advance, you just drop the children off during the set club times, which makes it very flexible.

Most of our days were spent around the main pool. There were plenty of sunbeds and shaded seating, including cabanas, and the hotel provides pool towels in the room. Having that much space around the pool made it feel relaxed rather than crowded.

There is also a water park attached to the hotel, so we often wandered over there to let the kids (and us) enjoy the slides, lazy river and waterfalls. This is also where the daily water aerobics takes place, and where you will find the gym and spa. There is a snack bar by this pool too, so we could grab food and ice creams without having to head back to the main building. Again, there were lots of seating areas, which made life easy.

One day we tried the crazy golf on site. The course is a good size and the best part is that it is free, which is always nice when you are travelling as a family.

Day Out To Parc Samà

Another highlight of the trip was our visit to Parc Samà. It is described as a place to walk, have fun and relax, and that is exactly what it felt like. The park has a romantic, slightly old‑world feel with wide paths, exotic plants and modernist features to discover.

We took a taxi there, about 5 km from the hotel, and spent a lovely few hours exploring. There are lots of small animals around, which the boys adored. They loved the bird sanctuary with parrots and other small birds, watching peacocks strutting about, feeding deer and looking at the fish, ducks and turtles in the water. There are picnic benches dotted around, perfect for a little break and a snack. There is also a café on site, although it happened to be closed on the day we visited.

PortAventura & Ferrari Land

When we booked the holiday we had a 3‑day pass for PortAventura and Ferrari Land included, so we knew we would be heading there. We had been before when the boys were younger and were really excited to see what we could do now they were a bit bigger. It definitely did not disappoint.

We chose one of the cooler days of the holiday to go and started with Ferrari Land, as it is smaller and easier to cover. The boys enjoyed rides like the Maranello Grand Race and there is plenty to see even if you are not a hardcore car fan. We had fun trying our hand at a pit stop tyre change on a Ferrari F1 car, which was a good laugh.

After Ferrari Land we walked straight through into PortAventura Park and spent the rest of the day there. The park is split into six different themed “worlds” with a huge range of rides, shops and food outlets. Louise and I love the water rides, the boys a bit less so, but there was plenty for everyone and we all came away feeling like we had had a brilliant day out.

Evenings, Promenade Walks & Kids’ Disco

Our evenings followed a lovely little routine. After dinner, and before the kids’ disco, we would head out for a walk along the promenade. There are playgrounds spaced out along the walkway, which was perfect for letting the boys burn off any last energy. It takes around 20–30 minutes to walk from the hotel into the shops in Cambrils, so you can go as far as you like.

Back at the hotel, our two absolutely loved the kids’ disco and the kids’ club activities in the evenings. The entertainment team were fantastic with them, which makes such a difference as a parent.

The food in the main restaurant was really good, with a wide choice for everyone. The boys enjoyed being able to go up and help themselves and try different things. We particularly liked sitting out on the terrace. There is an enclosed grassy area around it, so once the children finished eating they could run around and play with their friends while we relaxed and enjoyed our meal, still able to keep an eye on them.

Why We Keep Going Back

We really love Estival El Dorado. It has everything you could want for a relaxing yet fun family holiday: great pools, loads of activities, good food, easy access to the beach and Cambrils, and plenty for the children to do day and night. Knowing it works so well for us makes it a place we are always happy to recommend and to return to ourselves.