Hi. In the last post Estartit Family Holiday Day 1 we talked about a relaxed, sort of lazy day. In this post we will look at what there is to do in Estartit if you fancy something a bit more active. The thing to remember when reading this is that I am trying to give a flavour of the place, rather than specifics. That will come later with the review posts.
So, your up, fed, and ready to go, but where to. Well, as were on the coast it has to be a day with a nautical theme.
Lets face it the kids love the beach and splashing about in the sea. With that in mind why not stop off at one of the many swimwear shops and pick up some snorkel sets.
That’s one of the great things about the Mediterranean Sea, in this part of Spain, it’s crystal clear. Your children will have great fun trying to catch the little fish that swim feet from the shore.
If you would like to watch the fish, but would prefer to keep your feet dry, then why not head down to the harbour in Estartit and take trip on a glass-bottomed boat. These boats sail out regularly during the day. They sail around ‘Las Islas Medas’ (The Medas Islands) and along the coast. On the way back, you can go down stairs and look through the boats glass bottom.
This unique feature of the boat, allows unrestricted views, of the colourful coral and fish, which live in this protected archipelago. This is truly a worthwhile trip, and could be the unforgettable experience of the holiday. For other Costa Brava sites worth a visit read The Costa Brava
If you do think about taking this cruise, around the islands, there are a couple of things to bear in mind.
1 Pick a calm day. If the sea is a bit rough it tends to whip up the silt, on the seabed, spoiling the views from the bottom of the boat.
2 If, you wear shorts on the day, you may find it a bit chilly, as it can get a bit windy around the islands.
3 Don’t take the trip if you have a stinking hangover. This is one tip I will personally never, never, break again.
When you get off, everyone is normally hot and ready for some refreshment. There is a great ice cream parlour on the corner, between the marina and Santa Anna Street. They serve ever flavour of ice cream and sorbet you could possible imagine. My kids love that shop.
If letting someone else sail you around is not adventurous enough for you, why not consider going it alone.
(Depending on the age of your children) You could try hiring your own boat. For a bit more speed, it has to be a Jet Ski. On the other hand if wind power is your thing then why not try mastering a dingy or wind surfer. You could even go canoeing. All of these things are available for hire at the Estartit Marina. (Subject to training, age and experience) Please also check if you are covered under the terms and conditions of your Travel Insurance.
It is even possible to explore the coral of the ‘Las Islas Medas’ archipelago by scuba diving. However, that’s a whole subject on its own.
Any way that’s enough for now. In future posts each aspect of this article will be explained in more detail. If you have experienced any of this, or even just visited Estartit, please leave a comment, it would be great to hear from you.
Until then thank you for reading Estartit Family Holidays Day 2 - Activities
Previous Post Estartit My Arse
Related Post Estartit Holidays 2008
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Estartit Holidays | Estartit My Arse
A site about Holidays In Estartit Spain. Why a post called Estartit My Arse? Well, for those of you outside the UK it’s not easy to explain. However if you read on it will become clear.
On the second day of my last holiday in Estartit Spain, I was sitting in the bar at the Festamar, drinking a cold San Miguel, when a man tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and was confronted by a Jim Royal look-alike (For those of you outside the UK, Jim Royal is character from a comedy show). I knew he wasn't on a walking holiday in Spain, that was for sure.
This bearded, pot bellied, man that I had never met before, started to moan. Watching him standing there in his skin tight Speedos and grey vest (which was originally white, complete with tomato and barbeque sauce stains) complain to anyone who would listen, gave me a great insight into why the English abroad have such a bad reputation.
The poor barman, seeing possible trouble, came over and tried to plicate him. He had no chance. Jim was having none of it. He wanted the manager. Curiosity got the better of me, so when the bar man left to get his boss, I had to ask.
“What’s the problem?” (Oh God, Why did I ask).
“I’ll tell you what the problem is pal. This place doesn’t sell English beer. I haven’t had a decent cup of tea since I arrived, and don’t even get me started on their so called English breakfast”
I thought about nodding in agreement so he would just go away, but his whole attitude annoyed me. “But this is Spain” I said. Somehow thinking that my statement would make him realise where he was. No such luck!
He prepared for the next part of his speech by putting his hand down his Speedos and re-arranging his bits.
“Well, I’m English. My family is English. Everyone here is English. They should realise that, and make sure they have English beer and food, not all that Spanish rubbish. As for the staff, they’re all Spanish. Spanish! How are you meant to understand them?"
I was about to tell him Spain was the ideal place for Spanish people to work, when the manager appeared. Now, when I tell you Jim did not pause for breath for the next ten minutes, its no exaggeration. He complained about Spain. He complained about Estartit. He complained about the Festamar Apartments. He even complained about chips! I’m not joking. The lack of chips (Fries) had apparently ruined his holiday.
The manager just stood there smiling, waiting for him to finish. Was Mr Royal about to finish? No way. He was just building up to his climax. Once again he returned his hand to his Speedos, this time (luckily) he pulled out a ticket to the weekly barbecue.
“See this”. He said, thrusting the ticket under the retreating managers nose. “This cost me fifteen euros. Fifteen euros, and no chips? Rice and Salad, who wants that with a barbecue? I’m not happy, so what are you going to do about it?”
I think the manager was going to stand his corner until Jim tried to shove the ticket into his hand. The manager recoiled in horror, remembering where the ticket had been retrieved from. Taking his wallet out, he refunded the fifteen euros.
Jim turned to me, and with air of triumph and said. “That’s how you treat these people….Estartit My Arse!”
Looking at the manager I just shook my head and went back to my beer, feeling like I should apologise on behalf of the whole English nation.
Thank you for reading Estartit My Arse on Estartit Holidays
Previous Post Estartit Family Holiday Day 1
On the second day of my last holiday in Estartit Spain, I was sitting in the bar at the Festamar, drinking a cold San Miguel, when a man tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and was confronted by a Jim Royal look-alike (For those of you outside the UK, Jim Royal is character from a comedy show). I knew he wasn't on a walking holiday in Spain, that was for sure.
This bearded, pot bellied, man that I had never met before, started to moan. Watching him standing there in his skin tight Speedos and grey vest (which was originally white, complete with tomato and barbeque sauce stains) complain to anyone who would listen, gave me a great insight into why the English abroad have such a bad reputation.
The poor barman, seeing possible trouble, came over and tried to plicate him. He had no chance. Jim was having none of it. He wanted the manager. Curiosity got the better of me, so when the bar man left to get his boss, I had to ask.
“What’s the problem?” (Oh God, Why did I ask).
“I’ll tell you what the problem is pal. This place doesn’t sell English beer. I haven’t had a decent cup of tea since I arrived, and don’t even get me started on their so called English breakfast”
I thought about nodding in agreement so he would just go away, but his whole attitude annoyed me. “But this is Spain” I said. Somehow thinking that my statement would make him realise where he was. No such luck!
He prepared for the next part of his speech by putting his hand down his Speedos and re-arranging his bits.
“Well, I’m English. My family is English. Everyone here is English. They should realise that, and make sure they have English beer and food, not all that Spanish rubbish. As for the staff, they’re all Spanish. Spanish! How are you meant to understand them?"
I was about to tell him Spain was the ideal place for Spanish people to work, when the manager appeared. Now, when I tell you Jim did not pause for breath for the next ten minutes, its no exaggeration. He complained about Spain. He complained about Estartit. He complained about the Festamar Apartments. He even complained about chips! I’m not joking. The lack of chips (Fries) had apparently ruined his holiday.
The manager just stood there smiling, waiting for him to finish. Was Mr Royal about to finish? No way. He was just building up to his climax. Once again he returned his hand to his Speedos, this time (luckily) he pulled out a ticket to the weekly barbecue.
“See this”. He said, thrusting the ticket under the retreating managers nose. “This cost me fifteen euros. Fifteen euros, and no chips? Rice and Salad, who wants that with a barbecue? I’m not happy, so what are you going to do about it?”
I think the manager was going to stand his corner until Jim tried to shove the ticket into his hand. The manager recoiled in horror, remembering where the ticket had been retrieved from. Taking his wallet out, he refunded the fifteen euros.
Jim turned to me, and with air of triumph and said. “That’s how you treat these people….Estartit My Arse!”
Looking at the manager I just shook my head and went back to my beer, feeling like I should apologise on behalf of the whole English nation.
Thank you for reading Estartit My Arse on Estartit Holidays
Previous Post Estartit Family Holiday Day 1
Estartit Family Holiday Day 1
If you are looking for the ideal family holiday then Estartit Spain has it all. From one of the longest golden beaches you will ever see, to the wooded hillside, to the quaint cafes and bars, Estartit has charm by the bucket load.
You can lie on the uncongested beach soaking up the rays, while watching your children paddle in the crystal clear sea. Then, why not take a stroll along the promenade to the marina. Here, you will find a large number of restaurants, where you can eat great food, while watching the yachts go by.
After lunch why not do a spot of shopping. Santa Anna Street leads from the marina to Estartit’s town square and is lined with small gift shops. You can buy the usual L’Estartit beach towels, L’Estartit hats and L’Estartit plates. However, you can also purchase a large range of traditional Catalonian crafts. If when you have finished buying souvenirs for everyone at home, you feel tired from all the walking, shopping, and the heat, take a rest in the town square.
Tapas bars ring Estartit Town Square. You can sit down at one of the tree-shaded tables and enjoy a cold glass of sangria and watch the children playing on the church steps. After a couple of glasses, you might decided, to take the children back to your accommodation for a nap and maybe a well-deserved siesta for yourself. After all the night is still to come!
After the sun goes down you will probably start to think about dinner. No matter what your taste, Estartit has something for everyone. If you want to try the local cuisine, there are waterside restaurants serving paella and a vast array of excellent seafood dishes. Because Estartit Costa Brava is in Catalonia, you can also experience Catalonian delicacies in the many tapas bars. If this type of food is not to your taste don’t worry. Estartit also has a large variety of restaurants serving chicken and steak. There are pizzerias, Chinese, and fast food outlets, there is even an Indian restaurant.
Maybe, if this was your first day in Estartit Spain, you might want to go back to your villa, apartment, or hotel and get the children to bed. Then, pour yourself a tall cold drink, pull up a chair on your balcony or patio, and watch the sun set over the sea.
Don’t worry if the sort of day I have described seems to quiet for you. In my next post Estartit Holidays Day 2 I will talk about the many activities that Estartit and the surrounding area has to offer. Walking Holidays, Sailing, Diving, and much more. Until then, happy holidays.
Thank you for reading Estartit Family Holiday Day 1 On My-Estartit.
Previou Post Travel Insurance A Holiday Must
You can lie on the uncongested beach soaking up the rays, while watching your children paddle in the crystal clear sea. Then, why not take a stroll along the promenade to the marina. Here, you will find a large number of restaurants, where you can eat great food, while watching the yachts go by.
After lunch why not do a spot of shopping. Santa Anna Street leads from the marina to Estartit’s town square and is lined with small gift shops. You can buy the usual L’Estartit beach towels, L’Estartit hats and L’Estartit plates. However, you can also purchase a large range of traditional Catalonian crafts. If when you have finished buying souvenirs for everyone at home, you feel tired from all the walking, shopping, and the heat, take a rest in the town square.
Tapas bars ring Estartit Town Square. You can sit down at one of the tree-shaded tables and enjoy a cold glass of sangria and watch the children playing on the church steps. After a couple of glasses, you might decided, to take the children back to your accommodation for a nap and maybe a well-deserved siesta for yourself. After all the night is still to come!
After the sun goes down you will probably start to think about dinner. No matter what your taste, Estartit has something for everyone. If you want to try the local cuisine, there are waterside restaurants serving paella and a vast array of excellent seafood dishes. Because Estartit Costa Brava is in Catalonia, you can also experience Catalonian delicacies in the many tapas bars. If this type of food is not to your taste don’t worry. Estartit also has a large variety of restaurants serving chicken and steak. There are pizzerias, Chinese, and fast food outlets, there is even an Indian restaurant.
Maybe, if this was your first day in Estartit Spain, you might want to go back to your villa, apartment, or hotel and get the children to bed. Then, pour yourself a tall cold drink, pull up a chair on your balcony or patio, and watch the sun set over the sea.
Don’t worry if the sort of day I have described seems to quiet for you. In my next post Estartit Holidays Day 2 I will talk about the many activities that Estartit and the surrounding area has to offer. Walking Holidays, Sailing, Diving, and much more. Until then, happy holidays.
Thank you for reading Estartit Family Holiday Day 1 On My-Estartit.
Previou Post Travel Insurance A Holiday Must
Travel Insurance A Holiday Must!
Travel Insurance is not the most glamorous of subjects. It is probably not the first thing you think of when booking a holiday. However, you should give Travel Insurance as much thought as any other aspect of your trip. I know what your thinking, Travel Insurance is boring, it’s just another expense, the travel agent will take care of it, and so on. Well, give me a couple of minutes and you might see how important Travel Insurance is and save some money into the bargain.
The reason for writing this post, apart from the fact that this a site is about L’Estartit, which means travelling for most of us, is that I have both good and bad experiences when it comes to Travel Insurance. Let me give you a couple of personal examples of what can happen and you might understand why I am writing this article.
Example 1
My parents were on short break in Sitges when my Father had a heart attack. He had a private room in hospital for the three weeks of his recuperation. When he was discharged he was flown home to England in an air ambulance. The insurance company paid for his stay in hospital, the treatment and the flight home.
So the problem? For my Father there was no problem, the service he received was first class. My mother, on the other hand, is a different story. As you can appreciate, my Mother wanted to stay with him while he recovered. The trouble was, their policy did not cover her extended stay. Her hotel and all other expenses for that three-week stay had to be paid for by her.
Example 2
A friend of mine goes to Spain regularly for both business and holidays, so he has an annual travel insurance policy. He has been with the same company for five years and had never made a claim. That was until last year.
While on a business trip to Barcelona, he had his money, camera, passport and phone, stolen form a safety deposit box in his hotel room. You would think that there would be no problem making a claim on his insurance, right? Wrong, his policy only covered safety deposit boxes, if they are housed in reception. As his box was in his room, he was not covered. This is worth bearing in mind as many of the hotels in Estartit allow public access to deposit boxes.
So, having given you these examples you might be thinking what was my point. Well, my point is that I strongly advise you to look more carefully at what is not covered by your holiday insurance, than what is, before you purchase it. This brings me to another point.
If you are going to book your holiday to Estartit with a travel agent, they will try to get you to purchase travel insurance through them. Do not do it! Generally, it is between 5 and10 times less expensive to purchase your policy separately. Last year I saved £168 on my holiday by doing just that.
I hope I have not dampened your holiday mood. However, it is worth remembering…
You never appreciate Holiday/Travel/Home Insurance until you need it.
Have fun in the sun and thank you for reading Travel Insurance A Holiday Must!
Previous Post Estartit Holidays 2008
The reason for writing this post, apart from the fact that this a site is about L’Estartit, which means travelling for most of us, is that I have both good and bad experiences when it comes to Travel Insurance. Let me give you a couple of personal examples of what can happen and you might understand why I am writing this article.
Example 1
My parents were on short break in Sitges when my Father had a heart attack. He had a private room in hospital for the three weeks of his recuperation. When he was discharged he was flown home to England in an air ambulance. The insurance company paid for his stay in hospital, the treatment and the flight home.
So the problem? For my Father there was no problem, the service he received was first class. My mother, on the other hand, is a different story. As you can appreciate, my Mother wanted to stay with him while he recovered. The trouble was, their policy did not cover her extended stay. Her hotel and all other expenses for that three-week stay had to be paid for by her.
Example 2
A friend of mine goes to Spain regularly for both business and holidays, so he has an annual travel insurance policy. He has been with the same company for five years and had never made a claim. That was until last year.
While on a business trip to Barcelona, he had his money, camera, passport and phone, stolen form a safety deposit box in his hotel room. You would think that there would be no problem making a claim on his insurance, right? Wrong, his policy only covered safety deposit boxes, if they are housed in reception. As his box was in his room, he was not covered. This is worth bearing in mind as many of the hotels in Estartit allow public access to deposit boxes.
So, having given you these examples you might be thinking what was my point. Well, my point is that I strongly advise you to look more carefully at what is not covered by your holiday insurance, than what is, before you purchase it. This brings me to another point.
If you are going to book your holiday to Estartit with a travel agent, they will try to get you to purchase travel insurance through them. Do not do it! Generally, it is between 5 and10 times less expensive to purchase your policy separately. Last year I saved £168 on my holiday by doing just that.
I hope I have not dampened your holiday mood. However, it is worth remembering…
You never appreciate Holiday/Travel/Home Insurance until you need it.
Have fun in the sun and thank you for reading Travel Insurance A Holiday Must!
Previous Post Estartit Holidays 2008
Estartit Holidays 2008
Are you thinking of going on Holiday to Estartit this year (2008)? Well, if you are this is the site for you. Over the coming weeks and months I intend to put as much information about Estartit Spain on this site as humanly possible. I want to help you and your family (if you're going with one) to have a great time. However, before we get started I want to be honest and say that I like Estartit. I have been going there for a number of years. When I started going to Spain my children were young, now unfortunately my eldest is old enough to vote. So, as you can imagine, my wife and I know the hassle involved in the whole holiday process. We know nearly all Estartit Hotels We have also seen the good and sometimes bad side of Estartit as a holiday resort.
So, with that in mind where do I start? Well I suppose I had better start with the kind of holiday you are looking for. Generally I would have to say that L'Estartit is a quiet place, having originally been a fishing port.
In the 1960's and 70's it grew as the British discovered the package holiday. The whole of the Costa Brava hospitality trade exploded, as this part of Spain became the main destination English tourists. However, things change in the 80's with the rise in popularity of the Costa del Sol, the whole of the North East of Spain saw a drop in visitor numbers.
Today, this difference in visitor numbers is vast. To prove a point, try getting on a beach in the Costa del Sol or Benidorm in August! Then, if you could, go down to the beach in Estartit.....wow room for everyone.
Sorry I have rambled on a bit. The point is this is a quiet place, no skyscrapers, only a couple of night clubs in the whole resort and generally not much yobbish behaviour. So who does come here? Well, in the package holiday market it is mainly families,(Read) Estartit Family Holiday Day 1 However, Estartit also attracts people looking for:
Camping Holidays
Diving Holidays
Sailing Holidays
Fishing Holidays
Golfing Holidays
Walking Holidays
Walking Holidays In Spain is a subject I will cover later in the year, the rest I will try to write about in the near future.
This brings me to my next point. If your ideal holiday in Spain consists of, going to nightclubs, getting smashed on cheap larger, and then sleeping all day, then this is not the place for you. The nightlife in L'Estartit is mainly centred on couples and families. Good food and then a drink in a bar over looking the marina, seems to be the popular choice for couples, while families tend to go to the apartment complexes with entertainment.
From experience I have to say that L’Estartit (as the Spanish would say) is a great place for a quiet family holiday. In future posts, I will try to give you all the information you might need before booking your holiday. As this was just meant to be an introduction to this site I will sign off for now. Check back soon.
Thanks for reading Estartit Holidays 2008 on My-Estartit…..Happy Holiday.
Related Post Estartit Family Holiday Day 2 - Activities
So, with that in mind where do I start? Well I suppose I had better start with the kind of holiday you are looking for. Generally I would have to say that L'Estartit is a quiet place, having originally been a fishing port.
In the 1960's and 70's it grew as the British discovered the package holiday. The whole of the Costa Brava hospitality trade exploded, as this part of Spain became the main destination English tourists. However, things change in the 80's with the rise in popularity of the Costa del Sol, the whole of the North East of Spain saw a drop in visitor numbers.
Today, this difference in visitor numbers is vast. To prove a point, try getting on a beach in the Costa del Sol or Benidorm in August! Then, if you could, go down to the beach in Estartit.....wow room for everyone.
Sorry I have rambled on a bit. The point is this is a quiet place, no skyscrapers, only a couple of night clubs in the whole resort and generally not much yobbish behaviour. So who does come here? Well, in the package holiday market it is mainly families,(Read) Estartit Family Holiday Day 1 However, Estartit also attracts people looking for:
Camping Holidays
Diving Holidays
Sailing Holidays
Fishing Holidays
Golfing Holidays
Walking Holidays
Walking Holidays In Spain is a subject I will cover later in the year, the rest I will try to write about in the near future.
This brings me to my next point. If your ideal holiday in Spain consists of, going to nightclubs, getting smashed on cheap larger, and then sleeping all day, then this is not the place for you. The nightlife in L'Estartit is mainly centred on couples and families. Good food and then a drink in a bar over looking the marina, seems to be the popular choice for couples, while families tend to go to the apartment complexes with entertainment.
From experience I have to say that L’Estartit (as the Spanish would say) is a great place for a quiet family holiday. In future posts, I will try to give you all the information you might need before booking your holiday. As this was just meant to be an introduction to this site I will sign off for now. Check back soon.
Thanks for reading Estartit Holidays 2008 on My-Estartit…..Happy Holiday.
Related Post Estartit Family Holiday Day 2 - Activities
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