Meeting PortAventura World at The Big Event Belfast

There are some travel conversations that feel instantly easy. You know the ones. No hard sell, no glossy brochure being waved at you every two minutes, just someone who clearly loves what they do and knows their destination inside out.

That was very much the feeling when we met Zoe Holt, Sales Manager UK and Ireland for PortAventura World, at The Big Event in Belfast.

For us at WhereWeGoing?, it was one of those lovely full-circle moments. PortAventura World isn’t just a destination we talk about from a trade stand or a supplier sheet. I’ve been to the park many times, and I still get that ridiculous little buzz when I think about walking through the gates, hearing the music, seeing the lake at Mediterrània and knowing there’s a full day of proper theme park fun ahead.

And yes, before anyone asks, Shambhala is still my favourite.

I don’t care how many times I ride it, that climb still gets me. There is a very specific moment on the way up where the park starts to fall away beneath you, the Costa Dorada opens out around you, and your brain quietly asks why you have made this life choice. Then you’re over the top, flying down that first drop, and suddenly it all makes perfect sense again.

Why PortAventura World always gets us excited

Meeting Zoe reminded us why we love talking about PortAventura World so much.

She was warm, approachable and genuinely excited about what’s happening at the resort. It’s always refreshing to meet someone from a destination who understands both sides of the conversation: the fun of the place itself, and the practical details that matter when you’re helping someone plan a holiday.

Because for most people, a trip like this isn’t just “book park tickets and hope for the best”. It’s flights, hotels, transfer times, ticket choices, meal plans, water park days, rest days, children who may or may not cope with long queues, and adults who insist they are “not rollercoaster people” until they mysteriously appear in the queue for Dragon Khan.

PortAventura World sits in Salou, on Spain’s Costa Dorada, and it’s one of those destinations that can work for lots of different travellers. Families love it because there’s something for different ages. Theme park fans love it because the ride line-up is strong. Couples and groups of friends can make a proper short break out of it.

And if you’re already heading to Salou, Cambrils or La Pineda, it’s one of the easiest ways to add a bit of adventure into a beach holiday.

More than a day at the park

The resort is made up of PortAventura Park, Ferrari Land and Caribe Aquatic Park, so it’s not just one park with a few rides and a gift shop at the exit.

PortAventura Park itself has six themed worlds: Mediterrània, Far West, China, Polynesia, México and SésamoAventura. That’s part of what makes the day feel so full. One minute you’re wandering past the lake in Mediterrània, then you’re heading into the Far West, then suddenly you’re under the huge entrance to China and Shambhala is sitting there in the distance looking both beautiful and mildly threatening.

For thrill seekers, the park has more than enough to keep you busy. Shambhala is the one I’ll always go back to, but Dragon Khan is still iconic, Hurakan Condor is not for the faint-hearted, and there are plenty of attractions that deliver that mix of nerves and laughter that theme parks do so well.

There are also newer, more immersive experiences in the mix, including rides that lean into storytelling and technology, which helps the park feel like it keeps moving forward rather than just relying on old favourites.

But PortAventura isn’t only about the big rides. The shows are a huge part of the experience too, with performances across the park covering music, acrobatics, character moments and big seasonal productions. I think that’s something people sometimes underestimate. Not everyone wants to spend the full day chasing adrenaline. Sometimes you need shade, a seat, a cold drink and something brilliant happening on a stage in front of you.

Seasons, speed and splashy summer days

The seasons are another reason PortAventura World is worth thinking about beyond the obvious summer holiday.

The resort has different celebrations across the year, including Carnival, Easter, summer, Halloween and Christmas. Halloween at PortAventura has always had a bit of a reputation for being great fun, but Christmas also sounds lovely if you want a warmer, brighter alternative to the usual winter routine.

There’s something quite appealing about swapping grey skies for lights, music, characters and theme park food.

For 2026, there are new experiences coming too. Makamanu Jungle: The Adventure Trek is planned for PortAventura Park, bringing a new adventure into the Polynesia area, while Caribe Aquatic Park is getting Coral Bay, a new family area.

That caught my attention because it shows the resort isn’t only chasing bigger and faster. It’s also investing in the bits that make a family day easier and more memorable.

Ferrari Land brings a completely different energy to the resort. It’s sleek, red, very Italian and impossible to miss. Red Force dominates the skyline, and even if you have no intention of riding it, you’ll probably find yourself staring at it for longer than you expected. It’s about speed, design, innovation and that slightly dramatic Ferrari flair.

Then there’s Caribe Aquatic Park, which is exactly the sort of place you appreciate when the Spanish sun is doing what the Spanish sun does best. It gives you a proper water park day without having to move away from the resort. Slides, pools, lazy river moments, loungers, palm trees, that holiday feeling where nobody is quite sure what time it is and everyone is slightly damp.

Staying close, slowing down and getting the trip right

One of the things I liked most from chatting with Zoe was how much accommodation choice there is around the resort.

Staying in one of the PortAventura Hotels can be a brilliant option if the parks are the main reason for your trip. Some hotels have direct park access, and the themed settings keep the adventure going after you’ve left the rides behind.

Depending on the hotel and package, benefits can include unlimited access to PortAventura Park during your stay, access to Ferrari Land, discounts for Caribe Aquatic Park and Express Passes, Dine Around options, free Wi-Fi and even shopping delivery back to your hotel.

That last one is exactly the kind of practical detail we love. It sounds small until you imagine carrying bags around a theme park in 28-degree heat while someone in your group wants “just one more ride”. Guilty!

There are also Ponient Hotels by PortAventura World, which feel like a good fit for people who want to combine park days with beach time in Salou. That’s probably where a lot of our WhereWeGoing? customers will see the appeal. Not everyone wants to be fully immersed in theme park mode from breakfast to bedtime. Some people want a few days of rollercoasters and shows, then a slower day by the pool, a wander to the beach, or an evening in Salou with no ride queue in sight.

For us, it’s also the kind of trip that works well as part of a wider Catalonia stay. We’d actually make our way from Sitges to Salou by train, which is a lovely reminder that PortAventura doesn’t always have to be treated as a standalone holiday. You can build it into a beach break, a few relaxed days on the coast, or a bigger Spanish itinerary where the theme park becomes the big fun chapter in the middle.

That mix is where PortAventura World really shines as a destination. It can be the main event, or it can be part of a wider Costa Dorada holiday. If you are feeling brave, there are coaster enthusiasts who travel from the UK to spend the day.

There are ticket options covering single-day visits, combinations with Ferrari Land, multi-day park access and summer options that include Caribe Aquatic Park, so it’s worth getting the right advice before booking rather than guessing what will suit your trip.

And this is where we get a little bit travel-engineery about it.

The best PortAventura holiday isn’t always the cheapest ticket you can find online at midnight after three glasses of wine and a sudden burst of confidence. It’s the one that matches how you actually travel.

Are you going with younger children? Do you need pool time? Are you a thrill seeker who wants Express Pass options? Are you staying in Salou anyway? Do you want a beach holiday with a theme park bonus, or are you going mainly for the rides? Are you the person who says they’ll “just watch” and then ends up buying the ride photo?

No judgement. We’ve all been there.

Why it still feels special

PortAventura World also has some thoughtful touches that are easy to miss when you’re focused on the rollercoasters.

The resort app helps with waiting times, routes, tickets, show planning and restaurant options, and there’s free Wi-Fi throughout the resort. The brochure also highlights work around sustainability, accessibility and social impact, including PortAventura Dreams Village, which supports families with children undergoing treatment for serious illness.

Those things matter. A good destination should be fun, but it should also be thinking about the people who visit and the place it sits within.

Walking away from our chat with Zoe at The Big Event, I felt genuinely excited to talk about PortAventura World again.

Not because it’s new to me, but because it’s familiar in the best way. It’s one of those places where I can picture the day before I even arrive. The first look across the lake. The sound of people screaming from a ride somewhere in the distance. That little internal debate about whether breakfast was too recent for Shambhala. The post-ride buzz. The evening tiredness that only comes from a proper theme park day.

It’s fun. It’s easy to love. It’s also more flexible than people sometimes realise.

So if PortAventura World has been sitting on your “we should really go there” list, this might be your sign to move it up a bit. Whether you’re planning a family summer holiday, a Salou beach break with a bit of adventure added in, or a full theme park escape, it’s a destination we’re always happy to talk about.

And if you ask me nicely, I’ll even help you plan the Shambhala strategy.

The best journeys are engineered, not just booked.