PortAventura Hotel Gold River

Saloon-style wooden buildings and statues of cowboys lead up to the PortAventura Gold River, a sprawling attempt to create a Wild West-style village just outside of Salou. The hotel is designed for young families with children wanting somewhere fun and convenient to spend their holidays. The hotel’s lobby is found in the large, brick City Hall building, where in a great glass atrium, wicker chairs are clustered around a large and ornate water feature. Pass through the lobby to find a grandiose set from a Spaghetti Western, complete with clapboard shop-fronts and a non-functional watermill. Restaurants vary in style, from a charming, garden-like buffet restaurant, to a more elaborate Grand Opera restaurant with crushed-velvet seats, marble-effect pillars, and baroque gold cornices. Rooms, meanwhile, are more subdued in the themed decor, instead coming off as attractively old-fashioned (think quilted bedding and floral artwork). Notable downsides here include reports of mediocre food, maintenance issues, and long lines at park attractions.

Guests staying at the PortAventura Gold River are likely to be there for one reason: the PortAventura Park. Offering several rides and roller-coasters for all ages, the park is a fun and family-friendly attraction just a couple minutes' walk from the hotel. Salou, however, is not within walking distance of the hotel. The town itself is a fifteen-minute car ride away, where guests can find a number of shops, restaurants, and beaches. Drives to Reus Airport are about the same distance, while Barcelona-El Prat is between an hour and 90 minutes away by car. PortAventura has its own train station, and trains to and from Barcelona-El Prat take roughly an hour.

The PortAventura Gold River offers a wide array of rooms, which vary a bit in terms of decor. Most rooms are spacious and bright, decorated in a somewhat frilly, though attractive old-fashioned style consisting of wood floors, white wood furniture and wrought-iron headboards, quilted bedspreads, plaid curtains and armchairs, and floral artwork. Standard and Superior Rooms have desks, flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, mini-fridges, electronic safes, and modern bathrooms with shower/tub combos, wall-mounted hairdryers, and bulk toiletries.Deluxe Callaghan Rooms are located in a separate annex of the hotel with its own lobby, exclusive breakfast buffet, and free minibar drinks. These rooms are decorated in a similar manner to the Standard Rooms, albeit with more knick-knacks and ornate furnishings.Located around the grounds of the Gold River are a number of River Bungalows, which embrace the Wild West theme a bit more. They're outfitted in half-wall wood panelling, wood floors, and exposed wood-beam ceilings, plus more rustic wood furniture and cowboy-themed wall decor such as horseshoes and spurs. These bungalows sleep between four and six, and offer kitchenette facilities, including a two-ring hob, mini-fridge, microwave, sink, and dishwasher. 

The most notable amenity here is that guests get free unlimited access to the PortAventura Park, as well as discounted access to the Costa Caribe Aquatic Park and one-day entry to Ferrari Land. Guests can skip the often-lengthy queues in the park by scheduling their ride visits by using a discounted service offered at reception. Guests are able to pay for access to the parks, and anything that they buy there using their room keys. However, be aware that many past guests have noted the parks can get crowded and have long lines.There are two restaurants specifically at the Gold River -- the Opera House and the Grand Hall. Opera House serves an a la carte menu composed of international and Mediterranean cuisine for dinner, while the Grand Hall provides buffet-style service for both breakfast and dinner. On the downside, guests generally find food average and overpriced for the quality. Those staying in Callaghan rooms have access to an exclusive buffet breakfast in their building. Light snacks and drinks are served in the Lobby Bar, and full meals, snacks, and burgers can be found at the poolside River Bar. Two outdoor pools are on-site, including two sizable freeform adults’ pool and one kiddy pool. A spa is available for massage treatments, but there's no fitness center at this hotel. A kids' club hosts daily activities and has a playground, plus there is live family-friendly entertainment each evening. Property-wide Wi-Fi and parking are both free.