Apartments in Calonge

Calonge, in the Baix Empordà, offers a quiet base for exploring the Costa Brava without the bustle of the larger centres. In the HotelsCasa listing you'll find eight apartments, with an average price of 141 euros per night and a minimum of 75. The average category is around 3.4 stars, so don't expect great luxury, but rather functional, well-located accommodation. The offer is spread between the old town, the Sant Antoni de Calonge area (the beach) and some inland urbanisations. If you want to walk down to the sea, look in Sant Antoni: that's where most of the apartments are, with a seafront promenade, beach bars and supermarkets close at hand. The old town, on the other hand, gives you a village atmosphere, a weekly market and home-style cooking restaurants, but you'll have to take the car or the bike to the beach (about three kilometres). Urbanisations such as Treumal or Cabanyes are quieter and have gardens, ideal if you're travelling with children, although you depend on the vehicle for everything.

The main difference between areas is noise and proximity to the water. Sant Antoni is the practical option: you have everything on foot, but in July and August there's activity until late. The old town is more authentic and cooler in summer, with narrow streets that provide shade, but parking can be a nightmare. The urbanisations offer peace and often a communal pool, in exchange for a hill to get back home. As for price, the 75 euros per night appear mainly in May, June and September, outside high season. July and August rise considerably, and many apartments require stays of one week. If your dates are flexible, look midweek: long weekends push the rate up.

To get there, the most comfortable option is the car. From Girona, you take the C-65 to Llagostera and then the C-31 towards Sant Feliu de Guíxols; or the AP-7 exiting at Calonge if you're coming from Barcelona. By train, the nearest station is Caldes de Malavella, about 25 minutes away by taxi or bus. Once there, getting around without a car is complicated: there's a bus line linking the town with the beach and with Palamós, but it runs every hour or more. Before booking, check whether the apartment includes a parking space, because in summer parking in Sant Antoni is expensive and difficult. Also check whether the kitchen has a dishwasher or washing machine, and whether the final price includes sheets and towels, which aren't always included. Lastly, confirm whether the pool is for exclusive use or shared with other buildings, and whether they accept pets, just in case.