Ponient Aparthotel Marinada by PortAventura World

"We stayed at this hotel 12 months ago like it so much thought we would return but what a disappointment has gone down hill, no decit hot drinks from behind the bar anymore, paper cups and hot drinks out of the machine, food wasn't very good and not always hot and not a lot to choose from, desert not much choice always the same, rooms were not cleaned very well, and towels were very small and thin some staff weren't very friendly ,I would not recommend this hotel to anyone, last year I wrote a good review but no way after this year people should book another hotel somewhere else we ended up eating out 5 nights out of seven"

"The hotel rooms needed an upgrade. They were basic with noticeable signs of wear and tear. The rooms did not get a thorough clean once, some days bins missed, other days towels missing or bed not touched. The same ring marks were on the bedside unit all week so were clearly not cleaned at all. Cleaning staff appeared grumpy in corridors when you saw them. Hotel bar was basic, some staff did not speak good English. No China cups for a decent hot drink instead there were paper cups for a tasteless vending machine. You had to ask for the decent english breakfast tea bags they kept under tge bar and sometimes it was a fight to get one. You couldn't even have a hot drink in the restaurant lunch or evening meal. Cocktails were awful, ready made in large 5l drums tasted vile, no attempt to even try to make a proper one. The food was bland and repetitive, not much choice for adults and the kids food was the exact same lunch or evening meal. We only ate in the restaurant on day one and ate out the rest of the week as we felt the food was awful. People genuinely struggled to fill thier plates and would walk round and round searching for something edable. Outside pool area very squashed in, the sun loungers were so close together you had to get on from the bottom end. Outside snack bar did the same basic burgers/hotdogs/pizza every day, this was also the exact same kids food served in the restaurant. Whilst the kid's entertainment tried really hard and were always smiling, it was the exact same music set and dances every single day, Which got very monotonous. Salou itself was very built up with lots of old blocks mixed in by the hotels, not very attractive. The main street down to the seafront was quite charming with lots of small shops and so called supermarkets. Mostly tat but there is a large very reasonably priced gift shop half way down. All in all I would not return here again. I didn't like the hotel and wasn't overly impressed by the area either."

"After reading a lot of reviews we prepared for the worst. Im not fussy, I’ll always find something to eat and if not, I’ll go out for food. If it’s not clean or I find a problem in the room, I’ll speak to the hotel and get it sorted, not a problem. This was not the case at the Marinada. Firstly we were welcomed at the lobby by a few of the staff, a bar man (Angel) brought us drinks whilst we waited to check in. He instantly went to our two year old and made him smile, which was amazing. Angel is a real asset to the hotel and deserves a special mention! After this we went to the room, which was clean, modern, perfect for what we needed. Bring an extension lead or socket as there’s only one plug in the room!! Next was the pool area, basic, but again, we knew this when we booked and it didn’t really matter to us being with a two year old, he didn’t need slides or anything fancy. The pool bar, snack bar was basic, but always stocked with burgers, hotdogs, sandwiches, toasties, chips, nachos, and cheese sauce! The food there was average, but perfect for a quick bite, or for hungry kids to help themselves whenever they feel like it. The drinks were good. Estrella lager, and coke and Fanta too, self serve so no waiting around. Then, it was time for dreaded all inclusive buffet situation that so many reviewers complained about. Honestly I found something great every morning afternoon and night! If you’re happy to eat decent quality Spanish food, Fish, paella, different meats, cheeses salads, veg then you will love it. If you eat beige British crap, burgers, nuggets, chips they have that too but not a lot of choice. Lamb chops, hoisin ribs, seafood paella, hake, haddock, whole prawns, mussels, entrecot steak, cuttlefish, chicken breast, chicken thighs are just a few examples of what i’ve had in the last week, and some were excellent. Manchego, salami, chorizo, Iberic ham and fresh bread and salad were available most of the time. Lots of desserts, although I didn’t really try any, ice creams, and different dessert sauces always available too. Breakfast always had traditional cooked English breakfast which was your average for Spain. But try the meats, cheeses and salads and breads available, they were great. They also had a variety of pastries, fruits and cereals, aswell as fresh pancakes and sauces. In conclusion, I believe you always get what you pay for. £450 per person all inclusive isn’t going to be the ritz you should know that before you even book. But I was honestly shocked at how good the hotel actually is after some of the bad reviews. All in all I would recommend the marinada 100% and please don’t be worried about your stay. It is clean and well presented, the food is good, the staff are all exceptional, even down to the cleaners who were always polite and asked how we were, and if we needed anything. Would 100% recommend and would definitely visit again if going to Salou."