Travel routes are akin to ancient chronicles that described the stages of discovering new lands and understanding the world order. Is it possible to explain the crazy desire to visit new countries every year with the fantasy-free need to spend your summer vacation somewhere - you can relax without leaving thousands of kilometers from home. But every year people pack their bags and headlong into new experiences. Flight, bus, exotic landscape, intricate seaside serpentine. The end point of the trip is the hotel Don Juan Lloret 3. Spain, Costa Brava is a popular tourist destination of modern Columbus and Magellan.
Resort location
The name Costa Brava was given to the northeast coast of Catalonia at the dawn of the 20th century. The journalist Ferran Agullo y Vidal figuratively titled a local history article about these places - rocky, wild and beautiful. Until the middle of the last century, when the caudillo of Spain, Generalissimo Franco, designated the region as a tourist attraction,coast continued unhurried life of the Spanish hinterland. The first tourist invasion of the Mediterranean resort by vacationers from Great Britain and West Germany fell on the 70s. In the coastal strip, the rapid development of recreation infrastructure began. In 1972, in the town of Lloret de Mar, the Gran hotel Don Juan 3 was built. Spain sought to place itself on a par with the world's main tourist destinations.
The city of Lloret de Mar is famous for its ecology. There is not a single industrial enterprise in it, and even the railway runs far from the resort streets. The surrounding Navarre Mountains prevent the penetration of coastal winds, and this affects the formation of a mild, warm climate in the resort enclave. The development of tourism in the last 70 years has become the main focus of business development in Lloret de Mar. In place of aristocratic mansions, hotel complexes, vineyards appeared, and fields gave way to entertainment and gaming establishments. Hotel Don Juan 3is one of hundreds scattered in picturesque neighborhoods, among souvenir shops, shops and restaurants located on narrow winding streets.
Hotel
The hotel complex is located in three buildings (6-7 floors). The reconstruction of the buildings carried out in 2014 improved the internal amenities and comfort of the Don Juan Lloret 3 hotel (Spain). Reviews of guests testify to the full compliance of the complex with the level of 3 stars. 850 standard double rooms (16 m2) and 14 single rooms (14 m2) in full swingtourist season take up to 3 thousand tourists. In addition, 9 comfortable rooms are designed for people with disabilities. Facilities and furnishings are consistent with generally accepted hotel service standards:
- Beds. Linen is changed twice a week and towels are changed daily.
- Central air conditioner.
- Bath or shower.
- Heating.
- Telephone and satellite TV.
- Balcony.
- For tourists with children, a baby cot is provided in the room free of charge.
On the territory of the complex there is paid access to the Internet in wired and wireless (wi-fi) connection configurations. The room, at the request of residents, provides for the installation of a safe.
There are 2 outdoor fresh water pools and a heated indoor pool for use from October to May. For business meetings, you can rent one of the three conference rooms. There is a reading room, car rental, a lounge, a TV room and a shopping gallery at the disposal of the guests. On a paid basis, the Don Juan 3hotel offers guests the use of parking and qualified medical care, as well as massage services.
Hotel buildings are interconnected by internal passages, which increases the convenience in using the services provided by the hotel.
Entertainment
Although vacationers prefer to spend their free time onbeach, excursions or in urban entertainment complexes, the hotel's leisure structure is constantly ready to receive guests. Free aerobics and aqua aerobics - for people who do not want to lose their fitness even during the holidays. Non-traditional for Russia petanque, the national Provencal game with balls. Free archery and a pneumatic shooting range is an attractive opportunity to travel centuries into antiquity and test the accuracy of the eye and the firmness of the hand. Animation, which has become a tradition of Mediterranean recreation, includes separate programs for daytime and evening entertainment of guests and a professional evening variety show. And besides this, Gran hotel Don Juan 3 (Costa Brava) offers an expanded set of paid services for an interesting pastime: slot machines, billiards and a tennis court.
For guests with children, there are separate offers to help parents diversify the leisure time of little travelers. The hotel has a children's playground, a disco for young guests, and an animation program. The outdoor pool has a safe children's section. The club operates from June to September. Family tourism is highlighted as a priority for the development of the Don Juan Lloret 3 hotel (Spain). Parents' feedback on the level of staff training and the quality of services for children is unequivocally positive - the hotel does an excellent job of organizing family holidays.
Food
Catering at the Don Juan 3hotel is noted by vacationers only on the positive side. The choice of dishes is extensive, and the quality of the products is not satisfactory. And the number of places where you can have a quick bite or a hearty lunch is sufficient to avoid creating queues during the busy summer period: 3 restaurants with international cuisine and a buffet, an open bar with a seating area and a snack bar on the terrace near the pool (open in summer season). By purchasing a ticket to Don Juan 3 (Costa Brava), the tourist independently chooses the meal plan during the holiday.
- ВВ - the hotel provides a bed and breakfast at the disposal of the vacationer (bed and breakfast). Meals are organized (in overwhelming cases) as a "buffet". The choice of dishes with this scheme varies (depending on the country and hotel), but it has been noticed that in the Mediterranean it is more plentiful compared to the countries of Central Europe.
- HB - half board consisting of breakfast and dinner. It is organized, as a rule, in the form of the already mentioned "buffet" and additionally includes non-alcoholic drinks. The purchase of alcohol is subject to an additional charge.
- HB+ - An extended half board option that includes free alcohol, mostly locally produced.
- FB - a complete meal plan in which the vacationer receives breakfast, lunch and dinner. An extended offer is indicated by a "+" sign and adds paid alcoholic drinks to FB.
- AI - all inclusive, which has already become familiar to travelers (all inclusive). The service offers the possibility of multiple meals without limiting the number and range (including alcoholic beverages).
- RO - budgeta scheme that does not include meals at the hotel Don Juan Lloret 3. Suitable for people who do not stay in the room and use the hotel solely as a place to sleep.
Tourists with children share positive feedback about the children's menu developed by the restaurant's chef, and adherents of vegetarian food celebrate the section of Mediterranean cuisine prepared especially for them.
Sea and beach
The story of Catalan beaches is a separate topic in the description of holidays in Don Juan 3. The Costa Brava is famous for its pristine coastal recreation areas and crystal-pearl water. The length of the coastline of the central city beach of Lloret de Mar is 1500 m. The locals tell legends about the caravans of ships of the ancient Romans and Iberians who stopped on the hospitable coast to enjoy the peace and quiet of these places. The equipment of the city beach corresponds to the prevailing ideas about the organization of marine recreation: rental of sun loungers and umbrellas, catamarans and yachts, fast water skiing and diving. At the height of the high tourist season, the beach is noisy and crowded, the Costa Brava is a familiar holiday destination for Spanish and European youth.
For older people, another beach is better - Fenals, which is not visited by noisy youth companies. It is surrounded by rocks covered with pine trees that provide protection from the wind. The sea, like the rest of the coast, is clean. The entrance to the water on the 700-meter stretch of Fenals beach is steep, without shallow water. Deep water starts as early as 2-3 metersafter the coastline. There is also a pier for sightseeing boats that run between the nearest cities.
For the rest of parents with children, Sa Boadella beach is preferable - 250 meters of coastline surrounded by virgin forest. There are no noisy companies and dangerous entertainment. The gentle entrance to clear water allows parents not to worry about children frolicking in shallow water. Some disadvantage is the presence of nudists on the outskirts of the beach, who have chosen a secluded and picturesque stretch of coast.
A distance of 400 meters separating the hotel Don Juan Lloret 3 (Costa Brava) from the nearest beach, vacationers walk along the picturesque shady street of medieval Lloret de Mar among souvenir shops, bars and small shops selling the necessary on vacation goods.
Attractions
The history of the coast of Catalonia and the city of Lloret de Mar, where the Don Juan 3 hotel is located, is of interest. The history of the origin of the city has not yet been unraveled and is covered with a veil of secrecy. The name Lloret was first mentioned in chronicles dated 966. Until the 18th century, Lloret de Mar survived as a minor coastal settlement. In 1778, after a royal decree allowing free trade, the inhabitants of the city established shipping routes from America to Europe, and later succeeded in shipbuilding. At this time, rich mansions appeared, destroyed during the restructuring of the city in the XX century.century. But the tourist infrastructure has not swallowed up the thousand-year-old architectural and cultural heritage of the proud Catalans.
A postcard image of Lloret de Mar, built between 1509 and 1522, the Church of St. Romano is located a few blocks from the Don Juan 3 hotel. Guest reviews consistently focus on visiting this monument of Catalan Gothic art.
From the windows of the hotel complex one more attraction of the city is visible - the Romanesque chapel de les Alegries, built in the 11th century. In its original form, only the bell tower has survived to our time.
The beauty of small towns with an ancient history is that during a walk a tourist is immersed in an atmosphere of genuine antiquity. Walking through the narrow streets of Lloret de Mar, it is difficult to pass by Can Zaragossa, the oldest building in the city. Originally the home of the poor (built in 1317), it was later rebuilt into a luxurious summer residence. Today, an exhibition is shown here that tells about the history of the Iberian people.
Active life
Architectural monuments are not the only thing that can interest guests of the Don Juan 3 hotel in Lloret de Mar. A variety of entertainment and excursions will satisfy any claims of vacationers.
- Pina de Rosa Botanical Garden. Founded in 1945. The collection includes 7 thousand species of plants. The collection of prickly pear (cactus family) unites 600 species - this is a unique, the best collection in the world. Visiting Piña de Rosa withFebruary to October, tourists witness the flowering of cacti.
- WaterWorld. Opened the doors to the first visitors in 1985. WaterWorld was a pioneer in the field of water amusement parks in Spain. There are 15 attractions on 140,000 sq.
- A 15-minute drive from Lloret de Mar is another water park - Marineland. In addition to water activities, it has a dolphinarium, which hosts performances of trained sea lions and dolphins.
- For lovers of fishing, sea or river fishing trips are organized.
Culinary Journey
A trip on vacation is comparable to a small personal discovery of the world in all its manifestations. Knowledge of the gastronomic civilizational component is an indispensable condition for every trip. And Mediterranean cuisine deserves careful study and tasting of tourists who have chosen the Don Juan 3 hotel. Spain has long been famous for its culinary delights, and the menu of restaurants in Lloret de Mar confirms this.
A few blocks from the hotel complex is Bagua - a restaurant that combines modern restaurant philosophy and traditional Catalan culinary school. A spacious hall, an open terrace, jazz music create an unobtrusive backdrop for enjoying delicious local cuisine.
Da Paolo is Italy's culinary island nestled on the Spanish coast of the Mediterranean. Traditional pasta, pizza and truffles. Stunning Italianfresh vegetable and seafood salads. And it's nice to meet the sunset on the open terrace overlooking the sea, enjoying the freshest tiramisu or orange strudel.
Chinese food lovers will enjoy Free WOK restaurant, and for Latin American gastronomic enthusiasts, Rodizio Papalus - barbecue, lamb with vegetables and charcoal beef is recommended.
Over 200 bars and restaurants open their doors to tourists, creating a festive and carefree seaside atmosphere.
From Spain as a keepsake
The trip is remembered in unpretentious knick-knacks, reminiscent of a carefree holiday at Don Juan beach 3. Original Mediterranean souvenirs will organically fit into the interior of a Russian home.
- Figurines of bulls and bullfighters. An absolute favorite among recognizable Spanish symbols. The resort buys exact copies of posters advertising bullfighting. Tourist's name can be entered in the list of bullfighters.
- Castanets. Amazingly stylish and sophisticated. It is difficult to become a virtuoso in the use of this instrument, but even one sound is enough to awaken the flow of Catalan memories.
- Spanish fan. Made from lace, plastic, wood. With images of nature or genre scenes. On a hot day on the coast, it saves from the sweltering heat, and in the Russian winter cold it can warm you with warm memories.
- Leather or ceramic items. Spanish artisans conquered the world with their originality and artisticvariety of these products.
- Knives. Another national pride of Spain recognizable in the world. They are made in various forms: from noble blades inlaid with precious metals to paper knives, which are exact copies of famous works.
- For fans of Spanish football clubs, a whole scattering of souvenirs - T-shirts, caps, scarves with the symbols of popular football teams.
- And for gourmets who want to extend their gastronomic holidays after returning home, it is recommended to pay attention to jamon (raw-cured ham), cheeses, amazing olive oil and wine. The range of edible gifts is complemented by spices, tea and delicious Spanish sweets.
Souvenirs will help keep in memory the impressions of another journey recorded in the personal chronicle of human knowledge of the world. Another geographical point studied: Spain, Costa Brava, Lloret de Mar, Don Juan 3 hotel. Photos and souvenirs are like trophies acquired during another tourist victory.
Road to the sea
The most convenient way to reach the Costa Brava is by air. Flight from Moscow (Domodedovo) to Barcelona airport lasts 4 hours 35 minutes. Further, tourists use the services of bus operators. Flights to Lloret de Mar from the airport depart every hour, travel time is 1 hour 30 minutes. In addition to regular buses, minibuses and light taxis operate on the route.
