Trip to Spain end July

[Guest]

Hi there,

Long time reader, first time poster. I am about to head off to Spain in a few weeks for work, and I would like to go to a few of the themeparks around Barcelona and Spain.

 

I definately am going to WB Movie World Madrid, and Port Aventura.

 

I just spotted on the trip photos page another theme park called Parc de Atracciones madrid, which looks great also.

 

I've searched high and low for information on each park, but obviously quite lot of the info is in Spanish.

 

Few questions,

1.) What is the best way to get to the Parks? For example Port Aventura it seems the train is the way to go, as it has its own train station, but then i read that the station isnt anywhere near the park anyway? Any prices you have would be appreciated.

2.) Is there anywhere to get discount coupons for the parks?

3.) Could you spend the whole day at parc de atracciones madrid, or is it small?

 

I thank you very much for your help in advance, in particular with question 1. I'd love to hear of any tips on how to get to each of the parks I mentioned above quickly (and hopefully cheaply!)

 

Many thanks!

[Groteslurf]

Hi,

 

the trainstation at Port Aventura is next to the Hotel El Paso which is a 5 to 10 minutes walk from the park entrance.

No idea about the price but I read somewhere that is quite cheap if you for example take the train from Barcelona to Port Aventura.

 

PdA is not really a small park. It's comparable in size with Kennywood I think. Train connections from Madrid centre to PdA are available I know.

Also PW can be done by train from Madrid city and a combi ticket can be purchased at Atocha train station in Madrid city. I think you have to take the train to Pinto from where there is a busconnection to PW.

Although I'm not a public transport expert (we always rent a car), I hope this helps.

[Guest]

Hi Groteslurf,

Thanks for the advice, most appreciated....esp the distance about the station to Port Aventura...10 minute walk is definately do-able.

 

EDIT: I think i've worked out the trains now, how i read it is that if you catch the AVE train, you get off at Camp De Tarragona, but if you catch the regular train there is actually a Port Aventura station. I thought they were all the same thing, hence my confusion!

 

thanks again

[coasterartist]

From barcelona, go to the sants station and get your train ticket. Sants is easily accessible from the metro lines. P.S. get a t10 for the metro rides in barcelona. Buy the park ticket AND the train ticket together, its much cheaper BUT note, they do not accept credit cards, only cash. T10 pass 7e good for ten trips on the metro the ticket to port aventura 10e but its like 35e for teh trainplus park ticket. great value. The train station at port aventura is not really a station just a stop with some benches so make sure you get a return ticket. Sants station is VERY confusing especially if you dont speak catalan so please do not do like us and get on the wrong train.

 

If your in barcelona you must visit tibidabo. I am glad we did. The metro system well take you part of the way there (Using your t10 pass) then you pay 3e for the funicular to the park. the funicular doesnt take dredit card either but the park does adn will reimburse your money from teh funicular. The walk from teh metro to teh funicular is long and uphill if the trolly isnt working. Trust me the park is worth a visit, think of it like willy wonka and the chocolate factory!

[Guest]

thanks coasterartist! Some good info there.

 

Just to confirm, the T10 pass wont get me to Port Aventura, thats another ticket right? Also, do you catch the 'regular' train to Port Aventura, or the fast train? I've had a look on the RENFE site and the fast train is like 30euros return??? Did you catch the regular train?

 

thanks for your help.

[coasterartist]

Yes the t10 is ONLY for the metro trains! To get around barcelona etc. The train ticket to salou is extra and you can buy park admission the same time you buy your train ticket to salou (port aventura). Make sure its a port aventura ticket and not a general salou ticket.

 

Sorry it gets confusing but the transportation system there is very confusing.

 

Regular train! The fast train doesnt stop at port aventura, it stops about 10 miles away in salou.

[Guest]

hi everyone,

well i am currently sitting in the lounge at Hong Kong airport to fly back to sydney after a very fun trip to Spain.

 

While it was all fresh in my memory, I thought i'd give my 2 cents worth on spanish theme parks.

 

Parc De Attractiones Madrid: great little park, only about 10 minutes out of Madrid via Metro...get off at BATAN station.

 

You can also catch the cable car from the outskirts of the city to the park, which is quite nice, BUT i would recommend this simply for the fact that on the way there, you can pick up a bunch of discount vouchers for parks in Madrid (and surroundings) as they are all owned by the same company.

 

For example, Parc De Attractiones is 27.50 euros admission normally....u get a discount voucher at the cable car station where you can save 4 euros...pays for the cable car.

 

HOWEVER the main saving I got was for Parc Warner, where on the same voucher sheet from the cable car station, I got 40% off park admission, so in the end it worked out to be 21 euros admission, cheaper than Parc De Attractiones (despite Parc Warner being a much better park).

 

To get to PARC WARNER, simply go to ATOCHA RENFE and get train 3A I believe....you catch a train to PINTO, then its a simple walk down the platform to the shuttle train which takes you to the parc. I brought a ticket to Sans Martin, but I think the station for Parc Warner is the one before....at the end of the day you will know what station it is to get off at as the station is literally in the car park of Parc Warner.

 

In Barcelona, I went to Port Aventura....a good park, with the best coaster in Spain i believe (Dragon Khan) however the price was ridiculously high in comparison to Parc Warner. I believe the parks are on the same level, but it was close to 20 euros more all up.

 

To get to Port Aventura, go to ESTACTIO SANTS, which is the major RENFE station in Barcelona. They even have Port Aventura specific timetables, there are many english speaking workers at the station, you will not have any issues.

 

Admission into Port Aventura is 42 euros, HOWEVER if you catch the train and go for the combo with train included, it only costs 45 euros. Purchase it at the RENFE MEDIA DISTANCIA counters. They have Port Aventura combo deal posters plasted on the counter windows, so all you need to do is point and they will work it out.

 

Hope this helps, if anyone needs further info, i'm happy to help!

 

BTW, I can only compare the Spanish wooden coasters to the Bush Beast here in Australia (before it was shut down unfortunately) but whats the deal with the wooden coasters in Spain??? Are all new wooden coasters that rough?? I dont mind a bit of roughness in a woodie coaster, but this was beyond fun, i mean on the tomohawk coaster at Port Aventura, A KIDS COASTER, the corners were so rough, i slammed my knee cap into a bolt and cut myself....like i said, i dont expect wooden coasters to be smooth all the way, STAMPIDA at PA, that was ridiculously rough....the wooden coaster at Parc Warner, ridiculous....front or back of the train! Who made these coasters??

 

Anywho, there's my handy hints for the day, and my rant....and it helped me pass the time before i can board my plane!