Whilst you are waiting for some replies Cidermonster, why not check out some reports HERE

Kath x

Hello Cider. Hope you've had a good Christmas. My it's quiet on here during these winter months!

I have been to Blanes 3 times, each time I've coached it with Sunways (Manchester based company). I really like Blanes. It's not a huge resort but has 2 areas to it - the old town and then the Los Pinos area which is newer. That's where all the big hotels and campsites/caravan parks are.

All the shops and markets are in the old town. There are loads of bars and restaurants and an attractive marina area. The promenade is lovely too but the beach pebbly.

I can't comment on Tossa as I've never been but would reccomend Blanes to couples without young children. Other than the beach, there's not much for them.

Well, as a couple without kids, it sounds perfect for us!

Which campsite did you stay at?

I've been to Tossa twice and Blanes about 8 times now: It is now my favourite resort. Tossa is lovely, fairly quite at night, loads of decent restaraunts, and a lovely place to just stroll around. The old town is on the hill:it looks like a Castle, this is really nice to amble around. Buses go to Lloret from main Bus Station on edge of town, Boats pull up onto beach a go to the other resorts to the South. A good resort if you want a laid back holiday with little nightlife.

Blanes is very nice and very Catalan. The main Town is a lively "working" Town as is the harbour with it's daily fish auction in the afternoons: you can observe the auction from a balcony area that has a bar, free admission. Again plenty of decent restaraunts along the sea front and in the town. The botanical gardens are a treat and well worth a visit. Not to many British people about, seems to be less British in the last couple of years. I always stay at the Hotel Boix Mar, a very nice family owned and run place. Loads of big campsites in the Los Pinos area, can't comment on them as I have never stayed in them. Whichever resort you choose, I don't think you will be dissappointed, especially if you want to avoid a Lloret style resort..no offence to Lloret, but it is a bit lively at times!

Thanks Mark,

We would be looking to go either early or late season (Usually mid-May or late-September) so it should be pretty quiet i would imagine

We've really enjoyed Estartit in the past, but even early season can get a bit chav-ish at times now, and after going to Calella DP last September, it just felt so much better, and Tossa and Blanes kinda remind me of CDP in a way ... that little bit quieter. I certainly wouldn't fancy Lloret at all given what i've read in the past!!

It will more than likely be campsite for us, as being Veggie i tend to avoid hotels as they really just don't have a clue!!

Went to La Maisa at the begining of Sept with Siesta holidays........fantastic time. Very Spanish/european, which was nice. Swimming pools were good and not too crowded, nice restaurant and very cheap. Supermarkets on your doorstep.

Bus station 5 mins walk away. Train to Barcelona, very cheap.

We are off to Castell Montgri this year but I'd go back to La Maisa like a shot.

Oh yes, there's a Lidl nearby

Is La Maisa in Blanes then? That's a different site from the one Club C have, but thanks for the advice on the resort ... i like the idea of cheap travel into Barca, as i'd like to spend more time there independently ... bored of organised tours by now! I also like the idea of a more european resort, Calella DP felt like that too, whereas although i like Castell Montgri, it can be a bit 'Brit in the Sun' in peak times!

Nowt wrong with Lidl, there's a nice handy one at Castell Montgri too

We stayed at La Masia in Blanes. I think it is right next door to the one Club C use. We loved it there. It's a big site, 2 very nice pools, 2 restaurants, a good shop with bakery not forgeting the internet access
The site is very well maintained and clean. Security check people as they enter the site, especially in the evening, to make sure they are staying on the site. The main restaurant has unbelievable daily specials on offer. We were last there in August 06 and regularly had the half chicken, chips and salad with a litre of beer or cola included for 4 euros!!
Only one negative.....slow and miserable bar staff. Average age about 17! always looked like they didn't really want to be there.

Sounds nice, but going with Siesta would have to be a LAST resort for me!!

We have been to Blanes twice. Both times we camped at La masia. First time in a tent and second in a mobile home. A first calss site that has very good securtiy and keeps out the riff raff! Blanes is a very Spanish resort. There are British pubs if you like that sort of thing and a few Dutch and German bars as well (German ones are best if you can attempt the lingo). As you travel towards the harbour it gets more Spanish. There are proper markets (not touristy ones) and shops. Try the Bahia restaurant on the front. Good food, good prices and a friendly welcome especially if you have kids.

The beach is shingle so not a bucket and spade job but if you go past the ehadland to the North there is a really good sandy beach (name escapes me) easy to reach by road or by the water taxis which run up and down the coast. These also will take you to other resorts such as Tossa and Lloret (if you like Britain abroad) or to Callella.

The train from Blanes will drop you in the middle of Barcellona for just a few quid right at the top of the Ramblas.
We love it.

cm, lifestyle holidays are there too and another brit firm (can't remember).

Bus from the terminus takes you to the train station, you can get a bus/train return to Barca for about 9 euros. I think we should've got off the train and changed once in Barca because we ended up by the port.........bottom and left of las ramblas

When we stayed at La Masia we were with Solaire Holidays.

Having done a wee bit of research, Blanes looks like a place i might just enjoy. Not as busy or 'British' as Estartit, similar in more ways to Calella DP ... looks like there will be plenty of nice walks, lovely coves and beaches to explore, and a handy Train into Barca is also very tempting

Getting tempted to book a holiday now, always eases the pain of returning to work after Xmas and New year!!

the only downside (if that is the right term)to blanes (la masia) compared to CDP, is the lack of evening entertainment on site. If you don't mind sitting outside your accom fine, but there are a few hotels and pubs outside the main gate that have entertainment.

We have been to both Tossa and Blanes.

We were in Blanes in yr 2000, and it was ok. We went in early September, but IMO, there wasn't a great deal to do. There were some nice restaurants though, and the beach wasn't too crowded that time of year. However, we went back there two years ago in early July and thought it was very very quiet and hardly anyone was there, and there wasn't a great deal open. We were staying in Tossa at the time and soon left Blanes and got the bus to go to Lloret. I figured this was because it was a lower season though. Personally, I wouldn't go again.
Tossa, however, in that same year was lovely. In the first week it was reasonably quiet, but plenty of shops and restaurants were open, there is even a restaurant with a michelin star there, although we didn't try it as my husband is fickle. The area around the old town was beautiful, had a lovely atmosphere, and had lots of little pathways to explore, and there were lots of restaurants. Although I recommend the ones in-land rather than the ones over-looking the sea. However, we found a great steak restaurant ran by some English people which was superb, it's actually reasonably famous, but I can't remember it's name. The steaks were lovely!!
There was only one night club that I remember, but we didn't bother as many of the bars opened til late. There were two english bars, as I recall.
The second week was much busier, although it wasn't mad. A really nice place and I'd go again.

It is a handy base to go if you want to go to Barcelona, although it was awkward if you went there straight from Tossa, as you had to catch the coach and specify what time you want to come back. This was annoying as we got back at the right time and the coach left without us and we had to wait for the next one (they wanted to charge us until I told them the coach had left early).
We had been to Barcelona before, from Blanes on the train, which was more convenient, but the buses stopped quite early from there to get back to Tossa. If we did it again, I would go on the train and stay overnight in Barcelona and come back when the buses from Blanes were still running. Things may change in peak season. The tourist office is next to the bus station in Tossa, and they will explain all the times for you.

Have a look at www publiblanes net for up to date news and pictures in Spanish & Catalan. Scroll down the main page to see the damage to the Promenade after some recent storms: "El Temporal"