Latest news with #CostaDorada
The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I went to one of Europe's biggest theme parks with more than 40 attractions and record-breaking rollercoasters
WITH my eyes screwed tightly shut, I brace myself for the plummet. Suddenly, I'm being hurled an agonising 76 metres down a sheer drop, approaching terrifying speeds of 83mph before being thrown through a helix loop. 4 4 When it's all over, I can barely recall what had just happened. This is Shambhala, one of Europe's best hypercoasters, found at PortAventura World on Spain's sizzling Costa Dorada. The theme park is celebrating its 30th birthday this year but, judging from the spine-tingling ride I'd just been on, the park is far from slowing down. In fact, it is positively thirty and thriving. Boasting some of Europe's fastest and most exciting thrill rides, top-class waterpark Caribe Aquatic, Ferrari Land, and five on-site 4H and 5H hotels, this was a birthday party invite I couldn't turn down. With GCSEs done and dusted and school out for summer, teens Poppy and Charlie were raring to let their hair down. Armed with our Unlimited Express Passes (an essential extra if you want to hit every one of the park's biggest rides, among more than 40 attractions), we literally hit the ground running. And it was the best £54(ish) we could have spent. In under an hour we had been left rattled racing each other on wooden coaster Stampida, cooled off in the Grand Canyon Rapids and been blown away by multi-dimensional dark ride Uncharted and eight-loop coaster Dragon Khan. Luckily the park is not just bold, it's also beautiful, with lush landscaping across the six themed lands of Mexico, Polynesia, China, Far West, Mediterranea and SesamoAventura, where we could recover from the adrenaline rush and soaring temperatures. Martin Lewis warns about strict passport rule that could see you board your flight - only to get sent home on arrival My favourite was the Far West, where I could live out some of the Westerns I spent my childhood watching with my dad, moseying like outlaws through town and shooting targets, before picking out costumes in the Saloon Bar for a hilarious photo memento. Even the teens threw themselves into the dressing-up box, donning petticoats as saloon girls. Their adrenaline highlights were Shambhala and Red Force. After happily watching them ride the former three times in succession, they finally persuaded me to strap my creaky, menopausal bones in. I think I was actually transported out of my body and into the mythical kingdom of Shambhala for the duration of the ride. So when it came to visiting Ferrari Land, a must-see for petrolheads and F1 fans, I decided to get my kicks on terra firma by speeding round the Maranello Grand Race track in a mini toy race car, while the girls tackled the legendary Red Force alone. 4 As the tallest and fastest rollercoaster in Europe, it did not disappoint. Carts climb 112 metres before plummeting at a 90- degree angle, with an incredible launch system that reaches 111mph. For the first time in two days, my hyper-excited giggling girls were left absolutely speechless. All this adrenaline-fuelled fun can build up quite the appetite, and thankfully — unlike many UK theme parks — the dining options are varied and excellent. We enjoyed a leisurely lunch overlooking the Mediterranean harbour at Raco de Mar — feasting on melon and parma ham, burrata, truffle cannelloni, crispy calamari and mussels served in a delicious sauce. Electrifying twist The park has plenty of quality fast food, too, if you're keen to maximise ride time, but we were more than happy to have a break from the heat and adrenaline. Another great lunch and dinner spot can be found in the Far West, at The Iron Horse restaurant. There's a special 30th Anniversary burger on the menu that completely steals the show. The excellent grub wasn't limited to the theme park either. We'd opted for half-board at the 4H Wild West-themed Gold River Hotel and took full advantage of the vast buffet breakfast each morning. Dinner was also excellent, with fresh seafood and grill options. The dining hall can get quite busy, but we managed to find a lovely, quiet spot to eat outside each night. Aside from the food, the hotel itself is a non-stop Wild West adventure from the breathtaking atrium to the surrounding cabin accommodation brilliantly disguised as a frontier town. Anyone staying at one of the theme park hotels also gets private early access to the park and tickets to the main park and Ferrari Land are included in the price of your stay. You may not need early access, though, thanks to PortAventura's extended opening hours for the anniversary, which means the park remains accessible until 11.30pm. I'd barely finished my dinner before the girls were dragging me back to hit the rides again. The park is totally transformed after dark, with each world glowing against the night sky. Hurtling through darkness on rollercoasters adds an electrifying twist. Of course, it wouldn't be a 30th birthday bash without fireworks, either. And the nightly spectacular Fiesta Aventura is guaranteed to wow, featuring a fabulous illuminated parade, a spectacular drone display and fireworks extravaganza. It was the perfect end to one hell of a wild ride.
The Sun
01-07-2025
- The Sun
Toddler dies after ‘after being forgotten' inside car in Spain during 35C afternoon
A TODDLER has died after being 'forgotten' inside a car in Spain -amid a horror heatwave which has seen temperatures surpass 35 degrees. The boy, believed to be aged around two, was left inside his dad's car on an industrial estate in the Costa Dorada town of Valls near the east coast city of Tarragona. 3 3 3 The alarm was raised around 3pm on Tuesday afternoon before firefighters rushed to the vehicle. When they arrived, they found the youngster's dad beside the child with the car door already open. They tried to revive him with help from emergency medical responders who arrived soon after. The responders practised CPR on the toddler before discovering he had gone into cardiac arrest. Efforts to save his life were unsuccessful - and he was tragically pronounced dead at the scene. A police probe into the horror accident has been launched. It is unclear if any arrests have been made yet, but police questioned the parent shortly after the ordeal. Police sources said the toddler's dad had arrived for work at around 9am and allegedly forgot the child in his seat in the back of his car, the Daily Mail reported. A horrified colleague is believed to have alerted the dad around six hours later - after passing by the car on the industrial estate and spotting the child inside. Detectives are now reportedly working on the theory that the child died from heat exhaustion and dehydration after being left in the vehicle in 35 degree heat. Psychologists have also been brought in to provide the toddler's family with counselling. More than 100 deaths since Saturday have been linked to Spain's first summer heatwave. .
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Toddler found dead 'after being forgotten' in car in Spain during 35C afternoon as heatwave grips Europe
A toddler has been found dead after being 'forgotten' inside a car in Spain as temperatures soared to 35C during a horror heatwave affecting southern Europe. The boy, believed to be aged around two-years-old, was found inside his father's car on an industrial estate in the Costa Dorada town of Valls at 3pm Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters were the first to reach the scene and attempted to revive him with help from emergency medical responders who arrived soon after. The boy had been removed from the vehicle and taken into an area with air conditioning where his dad worked while he and colleagues waited for help to arrive. After carrying out CPR on the young boy, they discovered he had gone into cardiac arrest. Efforts to save his life were tragically unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police sources revealed the toddler's father had arrived for work at around 9am and forgotten the child in his seat in the back of his car. A horrified colleague is said to have alerted him some six hours later after passing by the car on the industrial estate and spotting the child inside. The unnamed dad was quizzed by cops this afternoon at a local police station but it was not immediately clear if he had been formally arrested. Detectives are reportedly working on the theory that the child died from heat exhaustion and dehydration after being left in the vehicle in staggering 35C heat. Psychologists have been pulled in to provide the youngster's family support following the tragic incident. More than 100 deaths since Saturday have been linked to Spain's first summer heatwave. Health warnings have remained in effect across several European countries with the worst levels of heat felt in southern Europe. Punishing temperatures were forecast to reach 40C in Paris and are set to stay unusually high in Belgium and the Netherlands. The abnormally hot weather 'is exposing millions of Europeans to high heat stress' with temperatures in June more typical of July and August, said Samantha Burgess of the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. This June is likely to among the five hottest on record, it said. Barcelona's Fabra Observatory reported an average temperature for last month of 26C, breaking records since books were started in 1914. The previous hottest average for June was 25.6C in 2003. The same weather station said that a single-day high of 37.9C for June was recorded Monday. Barcelona is usually spared the worst heat in Spain, thanks to its location between hills and the Mediterranean in Spain's northeastern corner. But most of the country has been gripped by the extreme heat. 'We are seeing these temperatures because we are experiencing a very intense heat wave that has come early in the summer and that is clearly linked to global warming,' Ramón Pascual, a delegate for Spain's weather service in Barcelona, said on Tuesday. Pascual added that the inhabitants of the Mediterranean region are not being helped by the rising sea temperatures, which greatly reduces any cooling effects of a nearby body of water. Spain's weather service said that recent surface temperatures for the Mediterranean near the Balearic Islands are between five-to-six degrees Celsius higher than average. 'With water surface temperatures from 26 to 30 Celsius, it is difficult for our nights to be refreshing,' he said. Spain's national average for June of 23.6C was 0.8C hotter than the previous hottest June in 2017. It was also that first time that June was hotter than the average temperatures for both July and August. Spain also saw a new high mark for June established on Saturday when 46C was recorded in the southern province of Huelva. The streets were scorching as well in Spain's capital, with Madrid forecast to reach 39C, as people tried to keep cool by drinking refrigerated drinks and sticking to the shade. But the hot nights offered little relief. 'Today is very bad, but yesterday wasn't any better. So we're just surviving,' said Miguel Sopera, 63. 'At night it's impossible due to the terrible heat.' But Tuesday's tragedy was not the first of its kind. In May a boy aged nearly two died in the town of Linares in the Andalusian province of Jaen after being found trapped inside a car in eighty degree heat. It later emerged the youngster had been forgotten inside the vehicle by his OAP foster father. The man, named only as Rafael, made a public apology through his lawyer for leaving little Juanjo inside his car after forgetting to drop him to his nursery and driving back home with him. The court investigation into the youngster's death is still ongoing. In April a three-year-old child died after his 39-year-old aunt 'forgot' to drop him off at nursery and left him sleeping on the back seat of her car in searing heat in Brazil. She went to work and only realised six hours later what she had done when she returned to the vehicle on a lunch break - alerting police and firefighters who rushed the youngster 'in a bad way' to hospital where he suffered fatal cardiac arrest. The tragedy happened in the city of Sao Jose de Rio Preto in the province of Sao Paulo. Detectives said at the time they had launched a manslaughter probe.
The Independent
09-06-2025
- The Independent
WIN! A couples beach holiday at a relaxing, adults-only resort in the Costa Dorada
Need an escape from the noise and stress of everyday life? Want to soak in the tranquil sea views, picture-perfect beach and relaxing amenities at the four-star Golden Costa Salou resort in Costa Dorada (known locally as Costa Daurada) instead? We've partnered with Jet2holidays, who are giving one lucky couple the chance to win a seven-night break at this stunning hotel, which is part of their Adults Only range. Expect peaceful sunbathing and swimming at the choice of two outdoor pools, or uninterrupted lounging at the indoor pool. You can also enjoy even more R&R at the resort's spa, making the most of unwinding in the sauna and steam room ahead of your massage or treatment. Delight in daily entertainment or chill out, cocktail in hand, at one of Golden Costa Salou's bars. If you want to add a touch of adventure to the calm, the hotel isn't far from the almost 4km stretch of Vila-seca, la Pineda Platja beach, perfect for romantic strolls, and visiting an array of restaurants, cafés and bars – catering for every taste. Costa Dorada has 50 miles of beaches (including 26 Blue Flag beaches) with golden sands and calm waters, as well as great watersports from kayaking and paddleboarding to snorkelling and scuba diving on offer. When you've had your fill of action, head back to recuperate in your stylish Premium Room. For your chance to win a seven-night stay at Golden Costa Salou, for two adults on a bed and breakfast board basis, fill in your details in the form below. Terms and conditions*: Competition closes 23.59pm BST 7 July. A seven-night holiday for up to two adults in a premium room on a bed and breakfast basis at the 4* Golden Costa Salou in La Pineda, Costa Dorada. This prize includes return flights for up to two people from any UK Airport from which flies to Reus (Barcelona South) Airport (REU) and allows for the duration of the holiday advertised, transfers to and from the overseas airport and the hotel and one free item of checked baggage of up to 22kg per person. This prize must be booked by 20 July 2025 and must be completed between one of the following bands subject to availability (including all return travel): 28/07/2025 - 04/08/2025 03/09/2025 - 16/10/2025 20/04/2026 - 21/05/2026 01/06/2026 - 17/07/2026 27/07/2026 - 03/08/2026 01/09/2026 - 22/10/2026 Find out more about Jet2holidays packages – including 22kg baggage per person and return transfers** and your choice of two to five-star hotels – online at Jet2holidays. Right now, myJet2 members can also save £100 per person† in The Big Jet2 Sale too (correct at original publish date). *T&Cs apply, see for more details **Unless otherwise stated †£100 per person off holidays for myJet2 members departing until 15 November 2026. myJet2 members will need to be logged into their account at the time of booking for the discount to automatically apply. Book online, via our app, through our call centre or with your travel agent. Please note the discount is not applied to children travelling on a free child place. Terms and conditions apply, please see for details. If you can't see the form, please click here
The Independent
04-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Independent
Take a culinary tour of the Costa Dorada: from traditional eats to haute cuisine
Stretching along the Mediterranean, the Costa Dorada (locally known as Costa Daurada) is not only beautiful but has a reputation for seriously delicious cuisine. Thanks to its proximity to the water, seafood is a highlight. But its mountainous inland terrain also offers up a wide variety of meat and vegetables, as well as a wonderful terroir for a wealth of wine varieties. What's more, with Jet2holidays flying to the Costa Dorada from 12 UK airports and a range of two to five-star accommodation, it's easy to plan your next culinary adventure. Jet2holidays is always giving you more, to help make planning and booking as smooth as possible. That goes for the PayPal Pay in 3 interest-free payments** option, as well as the 22kg baggage and 10kg hand luggage, and return transfers† that are included. Look out for Free Child Places***, and infants under two go free‡. From great eateries and foodie experiences to the best local dishes to try, here's what you can look forward to on your gastronomic travels… Delicious traditional dishes Begin your travels with a journey around some of the region's most delicious traditional dishes. Like xató; originating from Tarragona, it's made with escarole (similar to an endive), tomato and salt cod or tuna, and served with a sauce made from almonds and ñoras (dried peppers).Another popular fish-based dish is suquet de peix, a tasty stew which features a variety of seafood and vegetables. Meanwhile, many menus also offer the likes of arròs caldós, a soupy rice dish, rossejat, a seafood pasta dish, and mar i muntanya, which combines seafood and meat, reflecting the region's 'sea and mountain' cuisine. You'll find all these, and more, in local restaurants in some of the region's most charming locations, all around Costa Dorada, or look out for them on the menu at one of the restaurant options at your Jet2holidays hotel. Fabulous foodie experiences Time your visit for a calçotada, a festive Catalan gathering held between November and April, where people celebrate the harvest of calçots (a type of large, sweet onion). It's usually served grilled with romesco, sauce, accompanied by meat and wine. For a truly authentic experience, head to Valls, the birthplace of the tradition. Olive oil is also a revered ingredient in the Costa Dorada; going back to ancient times, olive cultivation is a key part of the region's Mediterranean heritage. Centres, museums and historical mills offer tours combined with tastings, walks among olive groves and gastronomic menus with lashings of olive oil. Head to the Olive Oil Interpretation Centre in Vandellòs, located in an old olive mill, where you'll observe everything about the production process, from harvesting to bottling. Or follow the Priorat olive oil route, which offers 26 different experiences aimed at discovering and tasting the finest extra virgin oil. There's even an olive oil cycling route, which meanders through the region of Baix Camp, just 20 minutes from Tarragona. It produces one of Catalonia's most famous olive oils under the DOP Siurana. Finally, don't miss a trip to the nearby village of Riudecanyes, dotted with many olive trees that are over 100 years old. The world of wine (and vermouth) The Costa Dorada promotes enogastronomy, the art of pairing wine with food, so you'll always have something delicious to drink alongside your meal. The whole area, particularly the DOQ (Denominació d'Origen Qualificada) Priorat region, is known for great wine, especially robust reds. But you'll also find fabulous red, white and rosé wines from the Designations of Origin Montsant, Tarragona, Conca de Barberà, and Penedès. Embark on a wine trail through Priorat, to discover grape varieties such as Carignan, Grenache and Grenache blanc. Take tours through vineyards, learn about the wine-making process and, most importantly, enjoy tastings. Close to Priorat area, Conca de Barberà, produces light red and fruity rosés; while closer to the coast, Penedés is famous for its sparkling Cava. Moreover, the Costa Dorada – particularly the elegant city of Reus, birthplace of legendary architect Antoni Gaudí – is also known for vermouth, a sweet, aromatic fortified wine flavoured with botanicals, herbs and spices. Find out more at the city's Vermouth Museum, dedicated to the culture of this unique drink with a collection of over 6,500 items related to it. Then set out on the Reus Vermouth Route. This features dozens of establishments which either serve it or are connected to its history, including its incredible modernist architecture. Eateries for everyone The Costa Dorada brims with producers and professionals who pride themselves on showcasing the region's gastronomy. Many also make sure they only offer local products – known as the 'Slow food kilometre zero' initiative. You'll also find plenty of fantastic restaurants which serve locally-sourced dishes which prioritise local and organic farming and use seasonal ingredients. This way, you're connected to tradition and authenticity by what's on your plate. If you're looking for even more elevated cuisine, head to Cambrils – known as the gastronomic capital of the Costa Dorada, with two Michelin-starred restaurants alone. Or you could venture to Salou or Cornudella de Montsant for some out-of-this-world fine dining. At your Jet2holidays hotel, make sure you delve into the diverse cuisines and speciality dishes on offer, as well as the ever-changing live chef stations and in-house pop-ups. And if you're planning to take a taste of the Costa Dorada back home, make sure you visit local producers for excellent sweets, jams, rice, vinegar, hazelnuts and more. There's also a wealth of great places for families to eat out. Head to Salou for fab ice cream parlours, ideal for hot, sunny days, or to Cambrils for buffet-style eateries, where every family member can choose exactly what they want. Reus has a selection of brilliant local markets, such as the Mercat Central and the Mercat del Carrilet, where you can purchase traditional produce, from meats and cheeses to delicious bread, to take to the beach for the perfect picnic. With Jet2holidays, you can book your trip to the Costa Dorada with lots of package perks thrown into make getting away even easier. From a low £60 per person deposit*, PayPal Pay in 3 interest-free payments** , 22kg baggage and 10kg hand luggage per person to return transfers†, it's all included. Families can make the most of Free Child Places***, while infants under two go free‡. And with flights included and the choice of two to five-star hotels, Jet2holidays is always giving you more. For more Costa Dorada travel inspiration, and to find and book your ultimate holiday, visit Jet2holidays. Plus, right now, myJet2 members can save £100 per person§ in The Big Jet2 Sale (correct at original publish date). *On bookings made ten weeks or more before departure. Full payment required by balance due date. **Spread the cost over three interest-free payments. Available when booked online, for holidays under £2,000, departing within ten weeks. ***One free child place per two paying passengers. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply, please see for further details. †Unless otherwisestated. ‡Applicable for all infants under the age of two years on the date of return. Infants are not entitled to a flight seat (they must be seated with a parent or guardian) or a 22kg baggage allowance. §£100 per person off holidays for myJet2 members departing until 15 November 2026. myJet2 members will need to be logged into their account at the time of booking for the discount to automatically apply. Book online, via our app, through our call centre or with your travel agent. Please note the discount is not applied to children travelling on a free child place. Terms and conditions apply, please see for details.
