SunLodge at Camping Vilanova Park

For lazy days on the beach, head for Vilanova i la Geltrú (10 minutes' drive) or Segur de Calafell (15 minutes) or any of the little sandy pockets in between. Platja de Sant Gervasi beach (also 15 minutes) is a good bet for families as the water is calm and lifeguards are on duty in summer. A bus stops outside the campsite, taking you right into Barcelona (an hour’s ride). Souvenir shops on Las Ramblas, Gaudí’s vibrant Sagrada Família and the madcap Park Güell… they’ll keep you busy for hours. If you’re a football-mad family, the first stop has to be Camp Nou, FC Barcelona’s hallowed football stadium, which is open for guided tours. Tarragona (40 minutes) packs a punch with sightseers for its Roman ruins, seaside amphitheatre and towering cathedral – or maybe it’s straight on to PortAventura World (40 minutes) for a wild afternoon of fun on rollercoasters and water rides.