Tarragona Travel Forum

My parents recently retired and I was thinking of treating them to a cheap week's holiday in Tarragona, flying out to Reus. The trouble is, both of them are getting on a bit and are nervous about travelling. On the other hand, both of them like the seaside and ancient ruins so Tarragona seemed a good choice. But when I looked on the Internet I discovered there is a big petrochemical complex nearby and that over a hundred tourists were roasted a few years at a campsite when a propane road tanker ruptured. A friend of mine who works in industry tells me the BASF refinery and several others are flooded after recent heavy rains (I don't mind parents getting "well-oiled" providing it's with alcohol!). Should I just scrap the idea and settle for somewhere else or go ahead and hope they have a blast?

If in any doubt, which it seems you are, then scrap it.

Take a cheap flight to Granada and see the Alhambra and all the other sites there.

Thanks Doofus - it sounds like a much better bet.

Tarragona is a pleasant small city. Lovely seaside promenade and the best Roman remains in this part of the Peninsula. Don't knaw about the consequences of the flooding (it rained in a few hours about the 30% of the YEAR average rain... so it was really unusual). When are they travelling? I doubt they see consequences of the flooding in a few days (if any in the city). You can go to Tarragona and don't even notice there is a petrochemical complex there, it's near the city, not in the middle of it! And the horrible accident at the campsite was at least 25 years ago, when the road conditions and the regulations about transport of dangerous substances were quite different than now. The accident was because the truck slipped on a curve of the road and crashed into the campsite. It could happened anywhere else. But now it's much diffcult as this kind of trucks are not allowed to use certain roads. Anyway, no one can gurarantee complete safety, anywhere, right?

You can keep seaching Internet for positive aspects of Tarragona, there are many. And many possibilities for daytrips around the area.

Agree with the aswer above that Granada is an amazing place. Could be a good alternative (totally different)

Yep, KJ - you are right about the rain - seven and half inches in just three days! - that's a quarter of what wet old Manchester gets in a whole year.

You know what they say - accidents will happen (especially in Spain). I suppose it's all part of that carefree, devil-may-care Spanish psyche.

There was an accident 25 years ago and someone worries about visiting the place. Yes, maybe it's part of "that carefree, devil-may-care Spanish psyche" but I found this ridiculous. Never happened a seriuos accident in the UK, right?
I hate generalisations, but precisely here in Catalonia the "carefree psyche" is more the exception than the rule.

I suppose everyone has his or her own views on relative risks. Speaking for myself, spending a holiday anywhere near a petro-chemical complex would make me nervous (and Tarragona's is one of Europe's biggest). That is what must have encouraged the GAL terrorists to plant a few (smallish) bombs there a few years ago. Tarragona is also where Mohammed Atta met fellow fanatics before that "flying trip" to New York. Throw in Catalonia's accident-prone nuclear reactor in nearby Vandellòs for good measure and you begin wondering about the exclusion clauses in your travel insurance. Maybe it's time to ask the Romans to take Tarraco back from the natives and really sort things out...

I undestand your point. But if each time I plan a trip I exclude places with terrorist threads (actual or present), dangerous industries, possibility of natural disaters, etc. I would stay home forever. Or better I commit suicide... as I probably live in a "dangerous place" anyway.

Of course no one have to travel to a place that don't like or feel uncomfortable. Anyway, the world is plenty of other places to go. But I've friends living happily in Tarragona, I've been there many times since I was a child, and I know many visitors who enjoyed the place. Maybe we all took unnecessary risks. I just think you are speaking as if Tarragona was a kind of polluted terrorist nest. And that's so far from reality.

I think the point the questioner put was the concern for her parents and not for herself. That does make decision making much different.

All accidents aside... there were actually more chemical fires in UK last year than Spain. I should know, I work in the business.

But as Isa said, Tarragona is a nice city, with some of the best Roman sites around. I worked here for 5 months back in 2003 and am now in my second month of a 8 month assignment.

We did get a lot of rain last week, but the clouds parted and the water levels went back down. Honestly most people who lived higher on the hill didnt even know the extent of rain received, but either way, it is all behind us now.

I've had many friends visit, many of which are well travelled. Tarragona is always at the top of their list for favorites. As it is also with me. I was at the beach yesterday afternoon and the water was a bit cooler than usual, but the clarity was great.

tarragona is a great city , yes all the above have happened but hey! who cares your on holiday , isn,t it surposed to be two weeks when you chill from the events of the world, i dont even buy a newspaper or listen to tv... tarragona has yes a cemical plant , but it do,s have excellent beaches fantastic historical sites, brill shopping and that wonderfull care free spanish life that is some how missing in england i say go there!!!!!!!. you,ll love it.

Tarragona would be a good choice for an elderly couple, situated fairly well with really good public transport links too. They could get a bus into the city of Reus,see some great architecture and fantastic shopping, or a bus down the coast to La.Pineda / Salou / Cambrils.

I arrived in Salou on the Thursday, two days after the floods and the only sign of it was in low lying roadside fields. The council had done a great job in restoring the beaches and roads.

The refinery was a bit daunting as we drove from the airport, but that was on my first visit, back in 2000. I've visited the Costa Daurada another four times since then.

I'd reccomend the Tarragona area to anyone.

Tarragona is a fabulous place for a break. It has industry on one side but its a really nice city to explore and chill out - I head there several times a year. Its only a few miles from Reus too. (Cheap by busif you have the patience - taxi can be a ripoff)
Torredembara is only 10 mins up the coast by train - lovely beach and tapas bars.
Great choice if you don't like tourist resorts!