The Costa Brava is a fantastic option for a family holiday in the sun, with the relatively short flight time from the UK, the impressive beaches and the huge number of resorts and hotels welcoming hundreds of thousands of British visitors every year.

Matt from the marketing and content team recently spent time on Spanish soil with a break at the ApartHotel Costa Encantada in Lloret de Mar and shares his reasons why you might want to consider the 4* hotel for a break of your own…

"It seems like an age since the last time we were able to take an overseas holiday as a family, with our planned trip to Gran Canaria back in 2020 one of the millions of breaks that had to be cancelled as COVID-19 took hold.

"Whilst a UK break to Cornwall last year was enjoyable, there is something different about hopping on a flight to head for sunnier climes and a week on the Costa Brava felt well overdue by the time it came around.

"The near endless media reports on issues at UK airports meant there was an air of trepidation as we headed for Manchester, but the fact we were booked on an early flight worked in our favour with only minimal delays at check-in - thanks largely to the fact that the self service terminals had still to be opened.

"Once checked in, security was cleared with relative ease and minimal delays before heading into departures. Terminal 2 at Manchester continues to undergo extensive work with a raft of new facilities having been put in place although not everywhere was open at the time we were travelling.

"After a short flight with Jet2 to Girona, we were greeted by our private transfer to take us to the hotel, which sits in the Fenals district a short walk outside the heart of Lloret de Mar.

"That makes it a great base from which to explore the town without being too busy, with the main beach in Lloret and the smaller Playa de Fenals beach both within walking distance.

"Despite the fact we were an early arrival, our room was ready and waiting for us - being located in Block C with views out across the swimming pool. The one bedroom apartment was basic but ticked the boxes in terms of what we needed as a family - with two sofas converting into single beds for the kids alongside the bed in the bedroom. Kitchen facilities were also available, with the bathroom featuring a shower over the bath.

"The pool itself was one of the major draws of the hotel, with three inter-connecting pools outside alongside a smaller one with slides for children. An indoor pool was also on site, albeit not open during the peak summer period.

"The hotel was also home to both a spa and a gym, albeit with neither being used over the course of the week.

"The children’s pool was ideal for smaller kids with seven pirate-themed slides of different sizes, whilst the main pools were surrounded by plenty of sun loungers on which to lie back and take in some rays.

"Notably, the pool only opened at 9am every day, with security staff in place to prevent people from saving a space before that time. Whilst that might sound extreme, it meant you didn’t need to worry about heading down after breakfast to discover that the prime spots had gone.

"The entertainment team were on hand throughout the day to offer various activities, but were never pushy if you weren’t interested.

"A pool bar opened daily at 10am, whilst self serve drinks - including beer and sangria - could be accessed from the snack bar from 11am through to 6pm daily. That was particularly handy when the pool bar got busy - perhaps having ore staff available would be advisable.

"Dining was available in a single restaurant, with both indoor and outdoor seating. There were plenty of options for each meal throughout the week, with live cooking stations alongside an expansive buffet with both hot and cold dishes. There were certainly no complaints about the food offered and, unlike on some previous breaks, there was never the feeling that what was available was 'samey'.

"If there was to be one niggle, it was that the main entertainment on an evening didn’t kick off until 21:30, which was getting late for those with smaller children - although there was an early children’s session on an outdoor stage that took place before the restaurant opened for the evening at 19:00.

"Our package included unlimited access to the Water World park, which was around ten minutes away by taxi. The large waterpark featured attractions to suit all ages and was a great day out - although there were plenty of hills to reach the most high-speed rides at the back of the park.

"Whilst the main aim for our break was to simply relax by the pool, we also took the chance to head up the coast to Tossa de Mar on a Dofi Jet boat - a trip that could be booked via the Jet2 rep but which we sorted direct with the company on a walk down to the beach.

"The boat ride, which included a stop to look through the glass bottom, was a great way to explore another popular Costa Brava destination and well worth the €70 for a family of four.

"After a week of lying back enjoying the sun, it was time to return home and the trip back to Manchester passed without drama - with security and baggage reclaim cleared quicker than ever.

"For a family, the Costa Encantada ticked all the boxes and comes highly recommended for anyone looking for some summer sun with the children in tow."