Portaventura
Salou has one particular family-friendly claim to fame. It is home to PortAventura World (portaventuraworld.com) – the adrenalised oasis which ranks as the most visited theme park in the whole of Spain. Those of a nervous disposition should probably steer clear; those who love to strap in and spiral around should be entirely at home. Attractions include the idiosyncratic wooden rollercoaster “Stampida”, where twin carriages “duel” with each other on parallel tracks – and “Tutuki Splash”, a volcano-themed flume ride. Better still, guests who book into one of the resort’s on-site properties enjoy unlimited entry to the park over the course of their stay.
The details: A seven-night getaway to the four-star Hotel Gold River, flying from Stansted on May 29, starts at £3,708 in total – including bags, transfers and breakfast – through Jet2 Holidays (0800 408 0778; jet2holidays.com).
Tenerife
The largest of the Canaries is also happy to whirl and twirl its visitors. Not least at Siam Park (siampark.net), a zone of giddy excitements on the Costa Adeje, on the south-west flank of the island. Here, the signature experience is the “Tower of Power” – a vertical-drop extravaganza which sees riders plunge 28 metres when a trapdoor opens. Tantalising or terrifying? Perhaps decide once you’ve checked into the nearby Sheraton La Caleta Resort & Spa, and made a call on whether you really need to leave this five-star joy, with its four restaurants.
The details: A seven-night half-board stay at Sheraton La Caleta Resort & Spa, flying from Bristol on April 9, starts at £4,787 in total, with Destinology (01204 208 371; destinology.co.uk).
Summer
Asturias
Just as you don’t necessarily need a powdery beach for a Spanish getaway with children, so you don’t have to fly to the south when the north has enticements galore. KE Adventure Travel is well aware of this, serving up “On The Tapas Trail” – an eight-day “family active holiday” in the mountains which shape the top edge of the country. The Picos de Europa may not have quite the height and heft of some of Europe’s more celebrated ranges, but then, you don’t want too much altitude if you are planning a week of trekking, cycling and canyoning with younger travellers.
The details: Two editions of this particular trip are slated for this summer (July 24-31; August 7-14) – from £1,025 per child and £1,095 per adult, not including flights (to Santander). Although this is an energetic holiday, it is suitable for kids aged eight and up. See more at KE Adventure Travel (01768 773 966; keadventure.com).
Pyrenees
If the idea of a week in the mountains really excites, then you might also aim for Spain’s northernmost edge. Explore will happily facilitate this with its “Family Pyrenees Multi-Activity Adventure”, which reaches for the rooftop in Aigues Tortes National Park. This is an eight-day affair of white-water rafting on the River Noguera, and mountain-biking in the Montgarri valley.
The details: Three departures with Explore (01252 240 688; explore.co.uk) are slated for July (plus a further two in August) – from £1,267 per adult, from £1,173 per child (including flights). The minimum age for participation is seven; the average child age 14.
