10 independent reviews for Catalonia holiday, cycling and relaxation
Reviews for Catalonia holiday, cycling and relaxation
Carol Gray review 11 Jul 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Cycling in the beautiful Catalan countryside and coastline. The views along the coast are spectacular and the medieval villages very picturesque.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The scheduled cycling is VERY leisurely but Mark was flexible with the itinerary to meet the varied cycling requirements/abilities of our group.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The accommodation is owned by local people and the restaurants and shops in Palamos are mainly locally owned and run so we felt that our money was going into the local economy. It was possible to travel by train from Manchester to a town nearby to Palamos, which I did, so it is feasible to avoid the environmental impact of flying.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Overall the holiday was lovely. Mark and Shelley are extremely welcoming and helpful and they sorted out any issues immediately as well as being responsive to our varying cycling needs. The accommodation is comfortable and very convenient for the bustling town centre, safe sandy beaches and varied restaurants which are all a few minutes walk away.Vincent O’Sullivan review 9 May 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The cycle around Palou-Sator plus lunch in Ma-Pou. Also the fact that our accommodation was in such a nice local area. And Mark and Shelley were so personable and obliging at all times.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Mary Mills review 26 Jul 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Every day was memorable. Cycling through sunflower and rice fields, arriving at gorgeous medieval villages and lovely beaches. The house is excellent, very well equipped and located and very spacious. The bikes and equipment were excellent. Palamos itself is great. It has a very long sandy beach and a nice, safe and welcoming atmosphere. There is a lot to see and do in the area that we want to go back for more!2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The holiday is totally flexible and you can do as much or as little cycling as you want. The cycling is easy and even though it was hot, we managed to do most of it.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We cycled or walked everywhere. We shopped at the great fruit and vegetable Market in Palamos, the Olive Farm, Fish Museum and the Vineyard and ate in the local restaurants and cafes. The house facilitates recycling with the provision separate boxes/bins for rubbish.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent and would highly recommend it. Mark and Shelley were absolutely lovely. So helpful and well organised in every way. The four of us thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.Leah Allen review 19 Jul 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Riding through & visiting the medieval villages2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Pack light.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We definitely helped with supporting the local economy. By not renting a car & only get about with our bikes we kept things environmentally low impact.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Wonderful, 10 out of 10.Sara Bodey review 24 Aug 2017
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
We particularly enjoyed the cycle route through the medieval villages, which goes past orchards and rice fields too. The whole team were great.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It was very hot in August, although still possible to cycle. There is a fabulous little cafe on the same street as the house in Palamos - Cactus cafe - which caters for vegan and vegetarians, this was great as my daughter is vegan and I wasn't sure what our options would be.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, we didn't drive, we shopped and ate locally. We bought gifts at the jam museum. We also did the travel via train (eurostar and high speed TGV to Girona from Paris) which worked well4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A great option for a family holiday with teenagers - enough to do but no pressure if they decided they didn't want to.Sarah Slade review 30 Aug 2016
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The last night, when we walked back along the beach from an excellent restaurant in Santa Antoni. There were live bands, dancing and warm, happy people everywhere. The perfect end to one of the best holidays ever.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Pack a good pair of walking shoes or sandals because the walks are excellent! Alan and Viv are great hosts who go out of their way to make sure you have an excellent holiday.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We shopped in local shops and ate in local restaurants. We also walked, cycled, or used public transport wherever we could.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Margaret Steventon review 19 Oct 2015
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Vivian dropped us off in the middle of beautiful countryside with our maps and directions and we cycled around the ridiculously pretty medieval villages of the area then were met by Alan and whisked "home" at the end of the day -perfect !!2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't worry if you go off the beaten track - just enjoy it !!!3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes - ate and drank out and about......cycle power only on our travels so not a huge environmental impact ...4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent - beautiful accomodation, spotlessly clean and with lovely extra thoughtful touches by Vivian and Alan. The bicycles were perfect - very comfortable and trustworthy.Jane Edwards review 26 Jun 2014
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
There were many memorable parts of the holiday - arriving on the first afternoon to find a beautifully home-cooked meal (and wine) in the fridge ready for us to heat up, cycling for miles along the coast, seeing the medieval villages, having sangria at the local bar, shopping in the market for fresh fruit and vegetables, relaxing by the pool - there were too many memorable things to list!2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
This holiday is really flexible in terms of how much or how little cycling you do. The house is absolutely lovely, so even if you didn't want to do much cycling it's still a great place to relax. However, we found that we wanted to do more than was suggested, and Alan helped us to plan alternative routes, and suggested other places we could go. We have teenage children and weren't sure if they could cope with a full-on cycling holiday where you go from place to place, so this was perfect for us because we were based in one place but there were many points to cycle to. The children loved it and this holiday has definitely made us keen to do more cycling as a family.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Because cycling is your only transport, you do everything on the bikes - shopping, going to the beach, exploring, so in that sense it does have a lesser impact on the environment than if we had rented a car. I think that the holiday did benefit the local people because in the village where we stayed, we shopped and ate and so contributed to the local economy.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We've been on a number of holidays as a family, but I have to say that this was my favourite ever one. Because you tailor the cycling to suit yourself, it's the perfect combination of relaxation and activity. We all had a brilliant time and I can't thank Alan and Vivian enough for the warm welcome we received and the thoughtfulness they demonstrated while we were there. They are super hosts and really did think of everything we might have needed.Lisa Kirkhope review 14 Aug 2014
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Alan and Vivian, the hosts, were friendly and so welcoming but not intrusive. You felt like friends by the time you left. The town of Calonge is pretty and the Townhouse is so comfortable and well appointed. Alan looked after the cycling part of it, providing us with plenty of information, maps and the bikes.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The market at Calonge on a Thursday morning is an amazing riot of colour, smells and sounds. The lunchtime menus are excellent value for money and the food is pretty good too!3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We did not have a car with us and there was no need for one as all amenities were easily available within walking or cycling distance. With the exception of supermarkets, all the shops seemed to be independently/locally owned. We were encouraged to visit a local winery (Mas Eugeni), where we met the owner who was a really interesting guy and of course bought the local wine.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was an unexpected delight. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anybody. It’s perfect for a simple chill out holiday (just a couple of miles on the bike down to the local beach of St Antoni de calonge) or an active holiday doing longer cycle rides or mixture of both.matthew spencer review 21 Apr 2014
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Cycling through almond orchards in sun and seeing children's excitement at exploring the Spanish countryside2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes it was a low impact hol in a solar heated apartment.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very highly. Fantastic apartment. Great introductory cycling with interesting routes and very well supported by Alan and Vivian.Holiday Reviews
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