Photo TR : Halloween at Port Aventura

[Groteslurf]

On Octobre 31, we flew to Barcelona for a few days of holiday at Port Aventura.

Hotel entrance to the park. Next update will have park pictures in it. I promise

Very close to Stampida

Bridge to the park.

Hotel lobby

Entrance to the hotel main building.

Central plaza at the hotel where the evening entertainment is taking place.

More hotel.

This year Hotel Burn was also in the new hotel because when the opened the new hotel on July 17, they closed the El Paso hotel. IMO a bit strange. So they open a new hotel in the second half ot the high season, and they close one of the other hotels ??? Didn't they have enough bookings to keep the El Paso open ? I hope their marketing guys know what they are doing.

Although the Hotel just opened, it is really very well themed.

The Mansion from the front

This is all hotel.

We had to check in in the Mansion.

The Mansion holds the most luxery rooms of the Gold River Hotel and also the hotel lobby is really great.

The train station which actually also holds standard Gold River rooms.

The Mansion

The hotel is in fact themed as a western village. It really is MUCH better than the other Port Aventura hotels. At the train station we had to park our car.

As we booked our first night in the Lucy Wang Mansion, we got a special key to drive our rental car to the Mansion at the back of the hotel.

Hotel main building

Gold River hotel entrance

We wanted to stay for 3 nights at the new Gold River Hotel which opened last July. But ..... it was the last weekend of the summerseason before the park would only open up during the weekends till the X-mas period. So we ended up in a 'complicated' situation that the hotels were closing randomly. The first night we stayed at the Lucy Wang Mansion of the Gold River Hotel. The next day we stayed at the Port Aventura hotel becaused Gold River closed. The last night we stayed again at the Gold River hotel (not the mansion this time) because the mansion and the Port Aventura hotel were closed..... Eventually this turned out quite well because this way I'm able to show you pictures of 3 hotels . So the first night we had to go to the Gold River hotel.

Yeeeeaaaaahhhh !

Almost there.

Taking the tunnels on our way to Port Aventura.

[larrygator]

Wow, this completely escaped me that Port Aventura opened this hotel complex and closed Hotel El Paso. The old hotel was very nice, but this place looks amazing. Below is a background of the hotel.

 

Hotel Gold River

You are about to go back 200 years in time when you go for a walk in Sullivan, the most beautiful city of the Far West.

 

In 1803 Lucy Callaghan found a site of gold next to the Gold River. Originally a settlement around a gold mine, over time Sullivan turned into a prosperous town that nowadays receives its guests with all the glory of the Far West.

 

In Sullivan you will find a range of glorious buildings (hotels) such as the great City Hall, the imposing Opera House, the majestic Lucy’s Mansion, the original huts of the miners, River Bungalows, The Old Train Station or even the cemetery where homage is paid to the towns most illustrious citizens.

 

In total, there are 502 rooms of all types for its visitors, 4 pools (one of them is a private pool for Lucy’s mansion), 4 restaurants, 3 bars, 1 shop, 1 minimarket and a children's club.

 

An entire city where you can lose yourself in the 19th century And with all the advantages of the hotels of PortAventura!

 

The story of Lucy Callaghan

 

As the sun rose on a beautiful day in 1803 the Callaghan family set off on a trip to Santa Fe. However, Lucy, who was the youngest of the family, had a different destiny in store for them. Halfway through their trip, she found some shiny stones next to the Gold River: She found gold!

 

The Callaghans stayed in the area, and three years later founded the town of Sullivan. The richness of the area quickly attracted other intrepid gold hunters in search of their fortune. Bit by bit the small village turned into a prosperous Victorian town whose splendour illuminated the Old Far West.

 

Until today the hospitable Sullivan is a perfect stop for adventurers visiting the area.

 

 

[Groteslurf]

^ El Paso is only closed temporary I think. Hopefully they will have sufficient bookings next year to run all 4 hotels.

 

I'm also confused now. I was thinking all the time that the Mansion was called Lucy Wang's Mansion. But when I read the background you looked up, it is Lucy Callaghan . I took a look at the park website, and it is obviously called Lucy's Mansion. I have no idea at all where I got Wang from

[larrygator]

OK, having the Hotel El Paso temporarily closed makes more sense.

[ohiocoasters]

Wow those hotels look incredible! Now if only CP would build a hotel on Point that is that awesome.

[Groteslurf]

After discovering the Gold River hotel, we went into the park on Saturday afternoon.

We had it with those crowds so we went back to the hotel. Next update : more Gold River Hotel pictures including room pictures.

Very 'nice'.

Another maze, no express entrance, waiting rows exceeding 3 hours ...... so we didn't do this maze.

As said the park was PACKED.

I was really glad the park put those electronic things randomly in the park. So we didn't forget where we were.

Food and show inside

And in the meanwhile we walked into Mexico.

Maze entrance. This maze is actually very short and not worth the wait.

Very long train.

It certainly was. Luckily we had express passes. Even with this pass, we still had to wait about 20 minutes to enter.

Is the waiting row for the Diablo maze ???????

What's going on here ?

Entrance to the drop tower

It used be one of favorite coasters.

Chinese wall & Dragon Khan

I would love to have this in my garden but since it didn't fit into my suitecase, we decided to leave it at the shop.

Chinese Woodpecker family.

Chinese Halloween theming

After a short walk, we ended up in China. God I love themeparks for that.

After Jurassic Parc at USO, Polynesia at P.A. is my favorite themed area at any park in the world.

Selva del Miedo/Jungle of Fear. Still the best halloween maze IMO. But considering the crowds that day, we decided to do that maze on Sunday.

It isn't clear to me anymore what the role of Universal in Port Aventura is.

'Buy or die' shop.

The exit of Baco. Isn't that great ? Exiting a coaster & ending up in the wine shop.

Frontrow of course.

but we had Lucy's Mansion whristbands and could enter the express line with no wait.

Regular line was 2.5 hours ...

Baco )

Port Aventura IS beautiful.

So we mostly walked around, did a lot of shopping and only rode a few attractions.

That day it was probably the most crowded park visit in many years for me.

Port Aventura clearly has a Sesame Street lisence. Sesame Street was everywhere throughout the park.

and shows

Halloween decoration everywhere

Damn, it was REALLY crowded.

[oriolat]

Hotel El Paso closed mid-season when Hotel Gold River opened to go through an extensive refurbishment. Hopefully next season all 4 hotels will be open and full.

 

BTW, you were lucky to have Express passes for all the major rides (bar Hurakan Condor). Apparently, those days PA hit capacity and had massive queues for everything.

 

Still, I wish you had a good time and enjoyed the new hotel, which looks amazing.

[Groteslurf]

^ We definitely enjoyed the new hotel.

 

Next update with more Hotel Gold River pictures.

Time to leave the hotel and move to the Port Aventura hotel but first we go again to the park in the next update.

The breakfast was awesome.

Private Mansion breakfast.

Next morning.

We decided to eat at the buffet restaurant that evening. And that's the only negative point of the hotel. The food was ok, but the restaurant was VERY white. It felt like being at a hospital.

At 7 pm, there were some apetizers served and a glass of Cava.

Lucy's Mansion

One of the hotel bars.

More Gold River swimming pool pictures.

A room with a view.

And a toilet in the shower

Very spacious bathroom.

And we're in our Mansion room.

Private Mansion swimming pool

In the back of the hotel, there are also bungalows with a fully equipped kitchen.

Suddenly I wanted to drink a Red Bull.

Going to the Port Aventura Hotels is always amazing : one moment you're in an extremely busy themepark, the other moment you're in a very quite hotel.

From the bridge to the hotel, we had a good view on the Caribe waterpark, which wasn't open unfortunately.

Back to the hotel Gold River

[hansrubens]

Awesome pictures of the new hotel. I really need to go back to port aventura next year.

 

I hope you didn't broke anything in that shiny new bathroom.

 

 

 

----Hans

[ginzo]

Wow, I normally think that the Old West theme is really boring. But Port Aventura did an excellent job here.

[Groteslurf]

Awesome pictures of the new hotel. I really need to go back to port aventura next year.

 

I hope you didn't broke anything in that shiny new bathroom.

 

 

 

----Hans

 

No Hans, I didn't

[Groteslurf]

Next update.

 

Morning visit to the park.

about which you will learn much more in the next update.

before moving to the Hotel Port Aventura ....

One last walk through the hotel to our car ....

EVil Betty

Again 2,5 hour row for Baco.

Beautiful Raco del Mar.

I almost forgot.

27 days of X-mas this year in the park.

Tukiti Splash was closed aswell.

The theming is so awesome.

Aloha !

Thank you for reminding me.

Teacups in chinese spells Teacups.

Business as usual. Again endless rows at the mazes.

Templo was closed.

Before checking in into our next hotel, we first visited the park again in the morning.

[Groteslurf]

On to the Port Aventura Hotel

Next update will be again a park update.

Hotel entrance to the park.

The buffet restaurant at this hotel is much cosier than in the Gold River hotel.

More hotel

Once stayed in that room for a few nights.

I love hotels with an own map.

Central plaza of the hotel.

Baco is almost in the hotel.

And also view on the swimming pool.

Second balcony which was very spacious.

Having stayed in the Mansion, the rooms in this hotels are very basic.

And second balcony

First balcony

Bedroom

We could check in immediately and our room was ready.

Lobby

Entrance

We've stayed already about 50 nights in this hotel, but it's always nice to arrive at this hotel.

[milst1]

Groteslurf, is there a fast pass or q-bot or the like for those not staying at the park hotels? We're going this weekend. Thanks!

-Martin

[Groteslurf]

^Yes, there is if I'm not mistaken. I've always stayed on property so never had to buy it seperately. I think you can buy the express passes at the main entrance. There are different types of passes if my information is correct. The regular/cheapest one gives you entrance to the rides only 1 time and Baco is not included. Only the most expensive express pass gives you unlimited rerides and express entrance to Baco.

Have fun this weekend.

 

I'll try to have my next update online this evening.

[thrillrideseeker]

WOW! I must say this park looks amazing!! It is simply beautiful!! There is so much theming, and sheer beauty to this park! I love it! Ohh and I love how Baco looks! And the pools, has anyone else noticed how the pools are full all the way to the edge? Usually here the pools have like a foot left till they are full! I loved it! I cant wait for the next update!

~Matthew

[Groteslurf]

Time to go back to the park on Sunday afternoon.

But also much cosier. Next update : yet another Port Aventura hotel.

Time for another buffet dinner at the Port Aventura hotel. The buffet over there is not only better ...

"Buy or die" shop.

The row for maze started at the exit of same maze. I can assure you the maze is VERY long. At 9 pm one could still decide to start waiting. Estimated exit time 1130 pm. While the park closed at 8 pm

Attempt to capture the atmosphere in the maze.

After in total 2 hours and 45 minutes of waiting, standing, sitting, hanging, ... they opened the maze 45 minutes earlier than scheduled.

Where we still had to wait 2.5 hours till the scheduled opening of the maze. It is a bit bizar that the maze only opens at 9 pm, because the park and all attractions close at 8 pm !

After 1 hour, the opened up the actual waiting row.

Without a doubt the best halloween maze in Europe.

And the dive element on Khan from a distance.

Tami Tami was right next to the waiting row.

Selva del Miedo/Jungle of Fear maze was scheduled to open at 9 pm. 3.5 hours earlier we wanted to check out where the waiting row would start. Much to our surprise there WAS already a row !! After 30 seconds thinking what we were going to do, we decided to start waiting aswell.

Sun was going down very early

Today the express entrance for Diablo did what it was supposed to do : being an express entrance.

Unintented halloween theming

Dragon Khan from a distance

Baco roll

See what I mean

I almost wanted to start taking pictures for another poll : Sexiest lollypop girl.

Port Aventura hotel park entrance.

[Groteslurf]

The next day we had to change hotel once more because this time the Hotel Port Aventura was closing.

Next update : Salou, Golf & Beach Club

Empty parking lots

And overview pictures from the hotel's top floor.

Some more hotel pictures.

The view from the room could have been better. Much better !! We were nearly the only guests in the hotel and still they put us in a room with such a view.

Very standard.

The room.

The park was closed on weekdays now so no need to worry about parking space on the hotel's parking.

The hotel lobby is pretty impressive.

And we're at the reception of the Hotel Gold River. As the Mansion was closed, we would stay in the hotel's main building this time.

Some last pictures of the Port Aventura hotel

But first breakfast with our Sesame friends

[Groteslurf]

Next update : Salou, Port Aventura Golf & Beach Club and more.

One more update to follow.

The beach club was closed but looks really nice.

After some more driving we arrived at the Port Aventura Beach Club

Although I'm not into golf (I played it once when I was on course in the UK, and I remember I only managed to get grass flying through the air without even touching the ball ), but I found the landscaping really amazing.

There is also a brand new convention centre.

It took us about 10 to 15 minutes of driving from the Port Aventura hotel to the beach club. All on this new road completely within the resort.

I was really impressed how long and well landscaped the new road was.

I was so glad my wife gave the green light to leave Salou 'down town'. As I had noticed on the resort map a new road from the Port Aventura hotel, through the golf all the way to the Beach Club.

It's really a terrible place to be. If Port Aventura wasn't that close, I would never ever be in Salou.

At every single shop at Salou, the same shit is sold.

Shopping street

I hate shopping at Salou. Most of the shops look like this.

The boulevard at the beach is in fact the nicest place to be at Salou.

Salou beach. In fact I've never been to Port Aventura so I've never (or maybe better, I never had to) experienced the sensation of an overcrowded beach at Salou. The beach like on this picture, I in fact appreciate.

[Groteslurf]

Final update

Last picture of this TR. Hope you enjoyed.

Hooray for Cava.

We decided to eat at the Opera restaurant in the evening. Of course we were all alone but really enjoyed the food. Definitely the best food at the resort.

When we checked in at the hotel in the morning, there was a russian family behind us arriving and they didn't know that the park was closed. As a matter of fact, we saw at 10-11 am also several spanish cars in front of the closed parking gate. Although I didn't plan when I bought my planetickets 1 year ago to stay at Port Aventura while the park was closed, we at least knew the park would be closed on our last day over there.

Empty hotel lobby

The (empty) bar.

The storm and empty far west hotel was in fact quite special. It was just like you imagine a desolate western village and as the ones you sometimes see in movies. See next post for a short movie impression.

We were except for a few other couples and familties, the only hotel guests at the whole resort.

After some more shopping at the nearby sportshop, we ended up again at the Hotel. It was quite stormy in the meanwhile.

[Groteslurf]

Desolate Hotel Gold River.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJFfN7yQNPM