04 April 2024 , 10:12
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An amazing theme park in Europe has been dubbed "better than Disneyland" thanks to the short queues for its ride despite the five million people who visit it each year.
PortAventura, in Salou, Spain, gets about one third of the visitors that Disneyland Paris does, but those who do make it down to the sun-drenched theme park almost always leave as big converts.
It is built around different theme hotels which transport guests into different worlds, all while offering four and five star luxury. If you fancy a far west theme, Hotel Gold River and Hotel Colorado Creek are your four star options. Caribbean and Mediterranean styled lodgings are also on offer. The themes continue in the park itself, where the map is broken down into different areas based on different parts of the world, reports the Express.
The theme park is home to lots of water based rides ((Image: Publicity picture))Mediterrània is the area at the main park entrance and includes the Furius Baco ride - a launched wing coaster which takes thrillseekers on a rapid journey around a sun baked vineyard. In Far West world a river rapids ride and log flume transport riders to the dusty era of cowboys saloons. This area also has a duelling wooden racing coaster as well as a junior one which intertwines with it to allow the younger guests to feel part of the fun.
Polynesia is the tropical area of the park and features a swinging ship ride, and other water based attractions. Many of the water-based rides are closed during the winter months, so make sure to check this online before you book if you're planning a trip earlier in the season.
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The Mexico area is mostly themed around ancient history and features temples and statues which sit between spinning rides, a family-friendly coaster that takes you through a mine network and a mirror maze. The main attraction in the area is Huracan Condor, one of the tallest drop tower attractions in the world. Unlike most others, standing up to experience the plunge is possible.
China is the biggest themed land of the park and boasts two large coasters. Dragon Khan has been operating since the park opened in 1995 and features eight inversions. Shambhala is the park’s newest rollercoaster standing at over 75m tall and hitting speeds of close to 80mph.
One of the big draws of the park is Ferrari Land which opened in 2017. It is home to Europe’s tallest and fastest rollercoaster, the mighty Red Force. It rises to an impressive 112m tall and has wind whistling to speed of 112mph. By way of comparison, the UK's tallest rollercoaster will soon be Thorpe Park's Hyperia, which will stand at 72m and take riders to 80mph when it opens in May.
The Ferrari ride is themed around an F1 car and looks to replicate the feeling of acceleration during the straight launch track. Spectators can watch their brave loved ones be taken to punishingly fast speeds from a spectator stand that makes you feel like you're at a racetrack.
PortAventura is great for kids ((Image: Publicity picture))One person from Sydney, Australia, said on TripAdvisor: "For us, it was all about the rides, and we were not disappointed. We stayed at the Gold River Hotel and accessed the park quickly and easily. The queue times were very acceptable - the maximum wait time that we experienced was about 30 minutes - and well worth it, it's better than Disneyland."
Another visitor from County Durham said: "This is much better than Disneyland Paris, the rides were super fun with short bearable queues (15-30mins). This park is well laid out and features many rides suited for all types of thrillseeker."
Getting to PortAventura from the UK is fairly easy and quick. Return tickets from Liverpool Airport to the nearby Reus are currently available for just £34 this month. Entry to the park costs £48 for adults and £42 for kids when booked online in advance.
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