Ponient Dorada Palace by PortAventura World Reviews

For a start beware of booking with trip. I booked for me and my 3 boys 14, 12, and 10 years old. When I got to the hotel they told me there would be an additional charge of 1500 euros for my 2 younger boys. So if the price looks cheap on trip please check with the hotel. As a single mother this was a terrible blow at the start of my holiday. The room was unclean, the hotel claims to had had a massive refurbishment however the only changes was the colour scheme in the living area of the room. The bathroom was the same as last year when we stayed with one addition, it was unclean. The main wardrobe in the living room had no hangers, I asked at reception and was told there was non to be had. There are now drawers in the apartment. They have taken away a cabinet under the tv and replaced it with two round tables that really serve no purpose. Even the dressing table had no drawers. There are two tables either side of the bed but no cabinets with drawers. I went to get a glass from the kitchen only to discover that the entire kitchen was devoid of equipment. Again I asked reception to be told I had to request the kitchen equipment. When the plates, etc arrived the cleaning lady dumped a box containing everything on the floor in the room. Not really what one would except from a “4” star hotel. The room was only cleaned every day at around 3pm. The floors were never washed, I had to ask for clean sheets, The bed wasn’t made properly and the bathroom never touched. I found out from one of the cleaning staff that there are only 10 cleaning staff on a morning and the 1 on an afternoon the poor staff couldn’t. It is impossible to get sunbeds at the pool. On a morning people start lining their bags containing towels at 7am then the pool is supposed to open at 9am. I went down a few times at 8.45 only to find the doors open and all sunbeds reserved with towels even though it states on the website that it is not permitted to reserve beds. Also the numbers of sunbeds at the pool is less than half of what it was last year when I stayed. The food in the restaurant was disgusting, absolutely full of grease, the children’s food was atrocious me and my kids tried eat there three times but couldn’t eat a thing. I complained to the manager but he was very rude and shrugged his shoulders when I explained the problem. I will not return to the hotel, I love Salou but not that terrible place. It is most definitely not a four star hotel. I wouldn’t even give it a two star. Photos of the bathroom. Example of the way the beds were left and the cleaning staff leaving sheets to do the work myself.

Everything is fine, this is the first time we've seen such a meager breakfast, there's nothing!!!!

Everything clean and good service

I liked the hotel a lot but communication with travel agencies was very slow

We came here as a couple, the hotel is really for families unfortunately, but great for families, food was good, staff great very friendly, if you want sunbeds then be prepared for that not to happen, from 9am when the pools open, the larger pool area all the sunbeds will be gone within 2 minutes, we found this very funny watching people race for the sunbeds, our room was spacious, air conditioning working well, beds okay to sleep on, entertainment was okay, but the kids entertainment was great, well done to the staff there, even in the 30 degree plus heat, down side for us, was of course not being able to go for a swim in the pool and chill there due to lack of sunbeds available, there is a roof top pool which is not a swimming pool, but great for adults just wanting to chill, over 18's only up there, and the road next to the hotel extremely busy all day and night and very loud traffic noise. The beach is only a good 10 minutes away at a slow pace of walking which is brilliant, plenty of shops/cafes/restaurants, all good priced, we would not return to this hotel but that only due to being mostly for families not older couples wanting a chilling holiday.

First time away for many years and the hotel was spotless. Maybe a bit far out of the way for my mum with mobility issues but we were able to hire a scooter close by. We booked park tickets and taxis to the locations from the front desk with ease. The only downfall we had was there wasn't much in the way of entertainment for the kids or finding out where the mini club takes part or is located. Then my nephew who has severe egg and nut allergies the dinning team tried to help us as much as they could with food for breakfast and dinner. The rooms were spacious and clean and the cleaning team were available anytime we needed anything extra.

I booked this hotel online directly,but didn't get a confirmation email.Emailed the hotel several times to see what the issue was as payment was still pending.It took 4 days to get back to me to tell me it had not been confirmed.So after that it was re-booked at the same price and everything was fine until we arrived.We waited 40mins in the queue for reception to be told our booking was made by the hotel for May and not April!!Another 30mins of sorting out the hotels second mistake to our booking at 10pm with a 4 year old child.We arrived at our room and noticed there was no cutlery,glasses,plates,cups,nothing at all so notified reception the next morning.In fairness when.we got back to our room that day,they had left all the items we were missing in our room,in a box for us to put away!!Now I've been to many hotels but I don't even think faulty towers would expect this off anybody!The hotel is lovely but was let down by a few incompetent staff who sure shouldn't be working in the industry.

Just home, had a lovely time. Just 10mins walk from the beach,lots of shops and supermarkets around. We had a great room with the balcony overlooking the main pool and the entertainment. Hotel was really clean, we had no issues. We had tickets included for portaventura and bought discounted tickets for the waterpark there which was great. The only thing I think would of been better regarding this was that there weren't enough shuttles back and forth, there is none in the afternoon which would of been better just a few going in the morning and a few coming home from 7pm onwards. If your there early especially with the kids it's a long day having to wait til the first shuttle back and esp if that shuttle is very busy. We ended getting a taxi which was fine, only around 10euros, it's less than 10mins away, though I would have appreciated more shuttles. The same for if u want to go later in the day so you can stay later to see the shows at the very end there are none if the afternoon or evening to take you there. It makes for a long day when the kids are tired and hot and moaning all day. It might of been nice if there was more information in the hotel about the local area maps, things to do but I appreciate that probably because it's linked with the theme park they maybe dont allow any info about elsewhere. There is good chat pages on Facebook for asking for hints and tips on where to go and such. Watching people running for the sunbeds in the morning is quite funny, though ridiculous that these people then go away for hours and you can't get a space. We normally came down later or after we had been out and about and normally got a chair or a sunbed to put our stuff down on and then moved spaces when they became available. Buffet was good, lots of choice, we were full board, got fruit juice, water, coffee in the mornings but lunch and dinner just got wee glasses of water, I appreciate that they want you to buy other drinks instead but maybe a bigger glass would of been fine but you could go up refill as much as you wanted. There is washing machines and dryers u can pay by card or on an app which is handy as it tells you how long you have got til it's done. Overall really good experience and would easy go back. Enjoy!

We stayed from 13th July to 20th July and had a fab week away. 2 adults, a 9 year old and 12 year old. We all enjoyed our stay. Hotel was super clean and staff very friendly. All greeted you with a warm welcome and smile. Check in for us at 11.30am was super straight forward and easy, our room was ready on arrival. We stayed in room 326 and had a lovely view of portaventura from our balcony. The room was bigger than we thought and bathroom very big. Perfect for our family of 4. Kids did have to share the 2nd bed but they are small enough so it was fine. Free shuttle to and from portaventura was very handy and a 5 min walk down to main strip and beach made for perfect location. Breakfast food was just as you would find in any hotel. Something for everyone. Evening I struggled a little but I am fussy. My husband managed to find something most nights and we ate out twice. The sunbed situation is mad (as it is in every hotel ive stayed in in spain) however we went down to the back pool most days after 10am and sometimes in afternoon after we had been out for the day and got a lounger or chair no problem.. overall we loved our stay here and would defo return more for the nice hotel and location close enough to everything but far enough out from noise of main strip

This could be a really good hotel but: 1st night families sitting in the main indoor bar, kids, parents grandparents and 2 in a wheel chair chatting and playing cards as the bar staff just turned off the lights and told us all we had to leave. People were bumping in to tables and chairs. I asked why and was told the bar is closed and the cleaners were here to clean. The next night in the outside bar we were told at 11.50 to leave. There was a large party from Belfast wanting another drink.Once again lights out but they refused to move. The barman from inside came out and shouted at the outside bar staff for serving them then stormed away (highly entertaining for those watching).If you are out at the bars and restaurants and come back to the hotel you can't get a drink or just sit inside or out as the outside areas are locked of at midnight and not re-opened till 9.00 am when there is a whacky race to get a lounger. You are treated like a child and basically told to go to bed. No kettles in the room, staff have a wee smoking area but paying customers don't. The next night whilst standing in the slowest bar queue ever the same bar man halved the queue and told all inclusive people that the bar was now shut even though they had been standing there.At this point I was now fed up and demanded that he served people in the queue. At first he refused but eventually did. This guy just seemed to pick a time as he saw fit. I asked at reception on 3 occasions to speak to a manager but was ignored. Remember, if you arrive on a late flight there are no facilities after 12. When you leave after 11 am check out you have to pay 6 euros for a locker to store your case. This wants to be rated as a 4 star but there are too many things that are not right. I felt that rules and processes were there to suit the staff and not the customer, make your own mind up if this hotel is for you. This is the first time in over 40 years that I have done a review.

Just back after a 10 night stay been to Salou loads of times but my first time going half board I usually go self catering when I got an apartment I thought great only to be greeted with not even a spoon or plate in the kitchen area no kettle no toaster nothing if I was all inclusive I would have understood this I had breakfast and dinner on the half board so couldn’t even make a toastie at lunch if I wanted I like to eat out in the evenings so asked could I swap dinner for lunch was told no so paying for half board was a waste of money for me. As I said I have booked for next year so know now what to expect but I do think these things should be in the apartment without having to hire them or ask at reception for utensils food is ok at breakfast staff are lovely a nice smile to greet us in the mornings to show us to our table. I loved the location of the hotel and the pool area very central and lovely staff that work hard the cleaners never seem to stop our apartment was spotless the sunbed situation is the same as everywhere else I’ve stayed get up early queue and run 🙄to be honest there’s not enough beds for the amount of people staying there I thinking allocation of sunbeds per room would be a better idea it can be crazy. I can’t comment on entertainment as I was out in the evenings. All in all I had a great holiday and booked again as soon as I got home just a few things that I thought weren’t great but I’m looking forward to coming again next year 😎

We did a week here in July with our 2 year old toddler. Positives: -The buffet food selection was great, but gets a little repetitive -All staff members were nice -The rooftop adult only section is really nice and wouldn't look out of place in a 5 star luxurious hotel Negatives: -The fact people have to queue up for beds and have to sprint out at 9am to get one is beyond ridiculous. I'd say half of the beds are barely even used throughout the day. To make it better, there should be a policy where you can only reserve a bed for a maximum of one hour. This would mean there are more than enough beds for people to use throughout the day -Invest in better evening entertainment

Spent 12 days here and enjoyed my stay staff are professional and friendly had to ask for clothes airer as my one bed apartment didn't have one and it was delivered within 10 minutes Food was lovely a great variety I spent every evening out so couldn't comment on evening Entertainment The choice of two swimming pool area's and the adult only rooftop meant I always had access to a sunbed The hotel is very Clean and maintained to a high standard and is located close to shops and a short distance to the beach and portaventura. I would definitely stay here again

Positives with the hotel are that the staff are very professional, the room was clean and the location is good - short transfer time from the airport, close to the beaches and restaurants. The negatives. The communal areas (pool, restaurant) are cramped, very very noisy. There is absolutely no opportunity to relax. It’s a sprint at 9am to get a sunbed, and easily half sit unused, other than a towel on them, for the majority of the day. The food at the restaurant and pool bar is plentiful and probably a 7/10, but you will be surrounded by rowdy families (I went with two young children who know how to behave), booming iPads/phones and people piling their plates sky high with food that they then leave scattered across the table. The staff earn every cent of their wages dealing with the chaos. Other small negatives, €2 per pool towel, €6 for a locker to store your case after check out. Salou itself is not somewhere I’d go back to, the area seems to have no real cultural aspects/ you could be anywhere. It is noisy. The beach area is clean, but very very busy.