Noja is a brilliant place, we are going back this Saturday for our 3rd year at Playa Joyel campsite. Admittedly the weather is not as reliable as the south or the islands but if you want somewhere with fantastic beaches, and wonderful scenery away from the boring over populated costas then it's a great place. If you are willing to put up with the odd day of rain then it's worth the trip. The best webstite to check it out is www.nojatodacosta.com, the local town website. You would probably be best to hire a car as there are some brilliant places within driving distance, the Guggenheim in Bilbao and the Basque Country and the Picos de Europa Mountains, and from Pedrena 10mins from Noja you can cathc the ferry across the bay to Santander which itself is a good place to spend an evening. We've got 3 kids and this year we have relations and friends going so we'll have 12 altogether.

we took a touring caravan in summer 2007 and deliberatley stayed away from from playa joel, although we did visit it to make sure we had made the right decision - and for us it was!

This site is enourmous with a very lively late night feeling ( I would thing teenagers love it !). we felt all the pitches were very small and extemely close together.

However - good shops, direct access to beautiful beach , walking distace to the town and lots of entertainment and huge playarea for the kids- if you want lively this is the place for you.

we stayed in the stunning playa de omybre area about an hour from santander in the opposite direction to noja.

Overall the weather was good but extremely changeable ,so a little frustrating at times- just get to the beach - clouds, go shopping or site seeing because of poor weather and the sun comes out !!!! But not so hot that it's unbearable - just right for the age of your children.

Whole area had beautiful beaches but be sure to take a phrase book when out and about most still don't speak alot of English

good luck and happy hols

Hi guys ,

I'm irish and lived in Santander for a year. Cantabria is all fab-definitely a place for discerning travellers. The weather is generally very good by irish standards in summer and if not Santander has a very good maratime musseum/aquarium. Also Cabarceno Zoo is considered one of the best in Spain. aingealpcsp@eircom.net if I can answer any questions for you. Beir bua, Aingeal