Camping Castell Montgri Estartit, Costa Brava, Spain

Castell Montgri resort has three swimming pool complexes. We had climbed to the highest, La Bassa pool: small, deep and cool. It was where the teens chose to hang out, chucking each other in from around the stunning waterfall, diving from the ledges or simply 'chilling' around the café snacking on fries and mayonnaise. Whatever their choice they were certain of one thing. Few of us parents would make the trek that far away from the main resort on a regular basis.

Freedom! We, along with most adults and, to be honest, a fair few of the youngsters as well, made camp each day around the colossal Panorama pool complex at the centre of the resort. Still high enough to command dramatic views of the sea some three miles away, the site was the heart of the complex, by day lively with poolside fun, come evening alive with entertainment from live shows to dancing. Not that you couldn't find your own peaceful escape from the bustle during the heat of the day. Those of us who wanted to sun worship a little removed from the splash and sounds of the pool chose to lounge on a grassy bank just a minute's stroll from the water's edge.

Ah bliss. But then again we expected nothing else from this part of the world. We had chosen Castell Montgri and the Spanish resort of Estartit for ease. Set close to the French border and close to the Pyrenees, the area was easy to reach with a short flight with Ryanair from Bournemouth airport to Gerona (Girona). We could also have taken flights with Flybe from Southampton to Perpignon. Our hire car, arranged with ease through carrentals.co.uk, was we thought very competitive and with the added advantage of a pick up from Gerona Airport and drop off in Barcelona city where we intended to spend the last few days. (A cheap bus journey from Barcelona train station to Gerona Airport completed our travelling).

The 44-mile drive to Estartit from Gerona takes an hour and a half and prepares you for the escape to come. For unlike some of its neighbours - Lloret de Mar, Tossa de Mar - Estartit is rather low key and rather relaxed. We had chosen to stay at the resort of Castell Montgri - named after the castle clearly visible atop a nearby hilltop - because it seemed to offer an ideal mix of facilities and possibilities.

Our chosen hosts were Thomson Al Fresco. The well-known holiday giants have come late into the market for mobile home resort holidays. As such they have been able to benefit from some of the hard lessons learnt by others. Thomson, we were to discover, offer an up-scale resort experience for families. Their sites provide the latest in mobile home luxury with spacious, well appointed accommodation. To help with the heat of the day all of the Al Fresco homes in Italy, Languedoc, Aquitaine, Cote d'Azur, Portugal and - delightfully - Spain offer air-conditioning. Bliss.

As Al Fresco implies, there's also an emphasis on being outdoors and the Thomson experience means a spacious decked veranda to every home, just the place to enjoy breakfast, lunch time escapes from the sun under your parasol, and of course the perfect spot to sit and enjoy those warm evenings by candle light (Al Fresco homes in Northern and Central France offer full-sized patio heaters).

We found our mobile home - a Vivaldi - extremely clean and well maintained. On arrival we were met by our Thomson hosts who ensured we settled in and had everything we needed to start our holiday. The Thomson crew were never intrusive, but did drop by from time to time to check all was well. Their base on the resort was a centre for information on activities on the site as well as in the town and farther afield. Although our resort did not have an Al Fresco Kidz club, there are several on offer at sites used by Thomson. However, Thomson did provide a large chest of free games equipment to borrow.

Although our daughters have now grown into picky teenagers - they loved the site by the way - we were impressed by the child safety standards set by Thompson. The mobile homes were toddler-friendly and Thomson also provide if required children's wrist bands to help in the unlikely event youngsters become lost around the site. Had we chosen to there was no need to leave the site. Castell Montgri boasts three pool complexes, one with fabulous waterslides. Activities during the day included mini golf, tennis, trampoline and bouncy castle, football and three children's playgrounds. In the evening there was dancing, dining and movies in the open air on a giant screen. The range of food was impressive, from take-away to al a cart restaurant.

Estartit sea front was just a thirty minute walk away, although there was plenty of beach front parking if you chose to drive. The beach is spectacular, as are the views around the wide bay. The harbour provides boat trips for sight seeing and all manner of diving. Our Thomson reps were able to arrange tickets.

Farther afield, Barcelona is 87 miles away and well worth a visit if only for a day. The Greek and Roman ruins of Escala are 25 miles away, and the more modern delights of the Aquadiver waterpark are 24 miles drive. By the end of our break despite so much activity on offer we found we were rested and relaxed. Our daughters had made a host of new friends and described the resort and our holiday as one of the 'best ever.' There can be no higher praise.

Factbox:

Thomson Al Fresco can be visited on line at www.thomsonalfresco.co.uk. Contact Thomson Al Fresco on 0870 166 0366 for bookings and enquiries. For independent car hire visit carrentals.co.uk. For flights visit www.ryanair.com or www.flybe.com