Cambrils is located in the Spanish region of Catalonia on the Costa Dorada. The town has developed as a modern, international tourist destination whilst managing to retain the charm of a traditional Spanish fishing village. Its three biggest attractions are without doubt its golden beaches, its fabulous seafood restaurants and its proximity to the Universal Studios Port Aventura theme park. The resort is at the south western end of the Costa Dorada (known locally as the Costa Daurada). The name literally means "Gold Coast", taken from the endless miles of fine, golden sand which stretch north east beyond the city of Barcelona to the start of the Costa Brava. Cambrils is still a working fishing port and you can see the day's catch being landed and auctioned in the early evening. The town's seafood restaurants are renowned throughout Catalonia and the Spanish come to dine here from far and wide. Unlike Salou, a totally modern resort dedicated to the pleasure of international visitors, parts of Cambrils are still very Spanish in character with narrow, cobbled streets, ancient buildings and typical tapas bars. You can pick up some great bargains and wonderfully fresh fruit and veg at the street markets, enjoy one of the many traditional fiestas which take place throughout the year or watch the famous Catalonian Sardana dancing during the warm summer evenings.

Merging with Salou and La Pineda to the NE to form one continuous resort some 10 mls long, Cambrils is well kept and tidy, with largely modern buildings in the tourist areas. Just outside the resort is Universal Mediterranea, a full-blown theme park modelled on Busch Gardens in Florida, featuring 5 themed areas (Polynesia, Mexico, China, the Wild West and the Mediterranean) and a large water park.

Suitable for all age groups, with a wide variety of entertainment. Most popular with middlemarket families.

The combined resort area is dominated by apartments, many of which are residential and not let to tourists; most hotels and apartments are 2- or 3-star category, and the majority are in the budget range. Universal Mediterranea theme park boasts 2 themed 4-star hotels.

A splendid choice, from wide and sandy, such as Playa de la Pineda and Poniente Beach, to small coves like Playa Capellans. On the coast road between Salou and La Pineda are dozens of small, rocky, isolated coves. Universal Mediterranea has its own section of beach, 2 mls from the theme park (a shuttle service operates from the park hotels). All beaches are kept extremely clean; some have been awarded the European blue flag.

A wide range of shops in the combined resort area as a whole, from typical souvenir stalls to high-class boutiques, leather shops, perfumeries, supermarkets etc. A flea market is held every Mon in the "old" centre of Salou.

Daytime: water sports such as pedalloes and windsurfing; big amusement park near Salou marina; go-karting just outside the resort; one of the biggest water parks in the region at La Pineda. Nightlife: hundreds of pubs, music bars, discos, flamenco bars and nightclubs in wider resort area, many of which stay open till the early hours of the morning.

Something to suit everybody. British pubs, pizzerias, burgers, Chinese, Spanish tapas bars and quite a few classy restaurants.

Frequent bus service to Tarragona, Salou and Reus, every 15 to 20 mins. Trains to Valencia and Barcelona every 2 hrs. Normally no problems in getting a taxi, apart from perhaps weekends and in the early hours of the morning, when night clubs and bars close.

Half day: Tarragona for its cathedral and port; Bonivista, with its popular flea market. Full day: Barcelona for shopping and sightseeing; Montserrat has a basilica, funicular and Codorniu "champagne" cellars; Andorra for duty-free shopping; Peñiscola has a castle, plus boat trips on the river. Universal Mediterranea theme park can take 2 to 3 days to explore fully.

In NE Spain, on the Mediterranean coast. 75 mls SW of Barcelona, 7½ mls SW of Tarragona, 5 mls S of Reus and 7½ mls S of its airport.

On a SE-facing coast backed by flat terrain with distant mountains 25 mls inland.

Website: www.turcambrils.info

Airport : Reus
Airport Code: REU
Flight time from ther U.K.: 2 hrs