Dorada Palace Hotel-Aparthotel

Like many of the hotels and resorts in Salou, with their all-inclusive packages and large-scale buildings, Dorada Palace Hotel-Aparthotel packs in plenty of families and couples on holiday from the U.K., but it's definitely seen better days. There's a busy atmosphere throughout, with lots of kids running around, and interiors from top to bottom are dated. Expect to see plenty of shades of pink, granite floors, lots of oak paneling, and pots of fake greenery -- it's all very mid-90s, though clean and well-kept. As an all-inclusive property, there are plenty of large spaces for guests to gather, frolic, and relax, from the unremarkably styled restaurant and bar, to the pools, including one reserved for adults on the rooftop that's a blessedly more quiet escape.

The Dorada Palace Hotel-Aparthotel is on the edge of downtown Salou in a quiet area, with restaurants and bars a 10-minute walk away, either in downtown or along Avenida Carles Buigas. Levante Beach and PortAventura Park are both 15 minutes away by foot, and can be reached in five minutes for guests with cars. Port Aventura Train Station and Costa Caribe Aquatic Park are also a five-minute drive from the hotel. The historic town of Tarragona is within a 15-minute drive, as are Aquopolis and Reus Airport. Barcelona-El Prat Airport is one-hour by car, while Barcelona’s city center takes about 80 minutes to reach. 

Rooms come in an array of sizes and configurations, ranging from Single to Quadruple Rooms plus apartments with full kitchens and separate bedrooms. All have a simple, comfy style with marbled wood veneer furniture and a color palette that's largely neutral. There is also a good amount of seating, ranging from love seats to armchairs. Rooms and apartments have 32-inch flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and air-conditioning, but the use of safes and TV remotes require hefty deposits. All units have furnished balconies, and some offer welcome gifts (bottles of Cava and mini-cakes). Ho-hum bathrooms have speckled granite countertops alongside tile and shower/tub combos.

The Dorada has four pools in all. A small and a large pool are covered in blue tile and surrounded by plenty of lounge chairs. There's also a round kids' pool and an adults-only rooftop pool and hot tub with panoramic views of Salou. The rooftop level of the hotel also holds the Wellness Center, which offers massages and a fitness center with weight and cardio machines. International and children’s buffets are served at Dorada Palace Buffet while beer and cocktails are offered at the poolside Snack-Bar and Coffee Bar & Cocktail Bar. Full and half-board options are available, but drinks are not included in either package. Kid-friendly amenities include a playground, a free kids' club, and live entertainment throughout the day, along with a game room with foosball, arcade games, and computers for playing video games. Wi-Fi is free, but high-speed premium Wi-Fi costs extra. There's also a fee for parking.