The best hotels in the Catalan Pyrenees for families with children
A getaway to the Pyrenees, among many other things, is synonymous with fresh air, excursions through the forest, good views, picnics by the river, chasing butterflies, looking for snails and counting flowers of different colors. Or at least that's how it is for the little ones! For those families with children who are planning a family getaway to the mountains, I present five perfect hotels to go with children, located in the Pyrenees, in four very familiar areas of Catalonia: La Cerdanya, La Garrotxa, the Camprodon Valley and the Núria Valley.
In the selected hotels you will find children's furniture, recreation rooms, parks and gardens, large family rooms and restaurants with menus designed for children; all this to make your family getaway pleasant, easy and comfortable. Oh, and if you have animals at home, you will like to know that most of these hotels accept pets.
La Garrotxa: Hotel La Perla
Olot, La Garrotxa
As it could not be otherwise, I start my recommendations for family getaways with Olot and La Garrotxa, where I spent all my summers and holidays when I was a child and which has currently managed to captivate me to live with my own family.
At Hotel La Perla everything is designed around family tourism so that the little ones feel at home: it has a playground right in front of the hotel, a recreation room inside, special menus for the little ones and themed family rooms of the Olot showbiz characters -- if you have the chance, don't miss the Festes del Tura (around September 8). In addition, a five-minute walk from the hotel you have Parc Nou, a beautiful, leafy and quiet municipal park.
In La Garrotxa you will find endless activities and excursions to do as a family. My favorites: ride by car through the Fageda d'en Jordà, have a snack at the Fuentes de Sant Roc, climb the Montsacopa volcano, cycle along the Carrilet greenway, explore the Croscat volcano, discover the interactive Xenacs forest and continue the walking excursion through the Gorgs of Les Planes. For the more adventurous, you can also see the Pyrenees and the volcanoes from the sky with a hot air balloon flight.
Vallter y Valle de Camprodon: Hotel La Coma
Setcases, Ripollès
Halfway between the Vallter 2000 ski resort and the beautiful town of Camprodon is Setcases, and there, the charming rural hotel of La Coma. The Hotel has a fabulous garden with a slide and swings where children will be able to play to their hearts' content and an indoor heated pool. It also has ping-pong tables, petanque, a spa with children's massages, jacuzzi and sauna, and a cozy recreation room with board games, billiards, sofas and a fireplace. If you like golf, you will love the La Coma hotel: they have a putting green and also a mini-golf. In addition to family rooms, they also have apartments with kitchens, ideal if you are looking for flexibility and space.
The Camprodon Valley is beautiful at any time of the year. In addition to walking through Camprodon, Molló and Setcases, your getaway with children can include a visit to Molló Parc where the little ones will have a great time seeing the animals of the Pyrenees: bears, deer, squirrels, wolves and marmots, among others. From Setcases, you can also go up to the Vallter 2000 station, twenty minutes from Setcases. Skiing and sledding in winter and walking excursions the rest of the year, including the possibility of taking the resort's chairlift that is open in summer to take you to the top of the resort comfortably.
Vallter y Valle de Camprodon: Hotel-Spa Grèvol
Llanars, Ripollès
And without leaving the Camprodon Valley, I present to you another fabulous hotel for a family getaway. This is the Hotel Grèvol Spa, a charming hotel located in Llanars that will surely be the devotion of the whole family. It has an indoor pool, a playground, a large garden in which to play and run and a very spacious indoor recreation room with board games, billiards, table tennis and table football. And to relax, the hotel has an excellent spa and thermal area.
In addition to a visit to Molló Parc, as I mentioned a little above, you can also take the opportunity to visit Camprodon and its surroundings and take excursions on foot or on horseback; From the Hotel Grèvol itself you can book a horseback riding excursion. A couple of ideas for a walking excursion: the Gorg de Malatosca in Sant Joan de les Abadesses and the Camprodon Fountains route.
Vall de Núria: Hotel Els Caçadors
Ribes de Freser, Ripollès
The Hotel Els Caçadors is at the gates of La Vall de Núria, in Ribes de Freser, a town from which the cog train leaves for Núria. A great hotel for a family getaway to the Pyrenees. It has a large recreation room where the little ones (and not so little ones) will have a great time if the weather is bad outside or they have to stay at the hotel to rest: board games, table football, billiards and television; all surrounded by tables, armchairs and a fireplace that welcome moms and dads and groups of friends who want to be close. And when bedtime approaches, head to the La Lluna Room, a new relaxation space, with soft lighting and lunar decoration, that will fascinate and relax children and adults alike.
You can get to Ribes by car and also by train from Barcelona (Puigcerdà Line). Núria is one of the most family-friendly destinations at any time of the year. Staying at the Els Caçadors Hotel you will have free entry to the Ludic Park (open all year) and the Cau de la Marmota, with many activities and workshops for children: climbing wall, tubbies, zip line, balance games, ball pool and trampolines , nature workshops, makeup and costumes, origami, gardening and much more.
If at home you like to go on excursions, from Núria you will discover an endless number of paths with different levels of difficulty. In winter, you can also ski, go sledding and go on snowshoe excursions.
La Cerdanya: Hotel Del Prado
Puigcerdà, La Cerdanya
And to close the list of recommended destinations and hotels to go with children, a hotel in Puigcerdà. The Del Prado hotel is surrounded by a garden with a fantastic playground and also has a heated swimming pool in summer, tennis court, and recreation room. If you have pets at home, they can come with you since the hotel accepts animals.
Your family getaway to La Cerdanya should include good plans such as: going ice skating in Puigcerdà, taking a horseback riding excursion, cycling, walking around the Puigcerdà lake, playing golf, relaxing in the natural Roman baths of Llo and Dorre, fly over La Cerdanya in a balloon, take a Quad route or hang from the trees in the La Molina Adventure Park. If it is winter and snow accompanies your getaway, you will be very close to the ski resorts of La Molina and La Masella. Although my favorite is Les Angles, in the French Pyrenees: wide, easy slopes and less crowds! (Les Angles is 40 minutes by car from Puigcerdà).
