Hotel Bon Repos

The hotel was good value and we had a lovely stay overall. Reception staff were good, and the swimming pool was nice, with plenty of sunbeds and umbrellas if you got there in the morning or late morning. The air conditioning worked well, which was great in the heat, and breakfast and dinner were good. There are games in the play area for 1€ each, and a mini club, which we didn't need. The animation was poor, though. There was one young woman, sometimes two, who were very nice, but it would be good to have more for adults as well as children. We stayed for a week last summer with the kids. The rooms are small and the bathroom is old. They provided small shampoo and soap only on the first day. Towels were changed and replaced only when we asked. The excursion to the Lighthouse was frustrating because the hotel didn't explain what it involved. We'd heard hotel staff would take us on a shortcut, and the Lighthouse is only 15 minutes' walk from the hotel, so we planned to go with them. They didn't mention how long the route might take, about an hour and a half, that we should bring water in the 35 degree heat, or that it could be hard for young children, older people, or anyone who struggles to walk. My husband has a disability in one leg, and I was scared he could fall while we were climbing. If we'd known, we'd have gone by ourselves. When we got back, we were exhausted and stopped at the first restaurant for a drink. I appreciated that the hotel arranged the trip for free, but they need to communicate, by talking or writing. We hadn't seen the trip in the cupboard either. We only heard about it when we asked reception, and even then they said the meeting point was on the beach, not in the hotel hall. That's why I give three stars, though the stay itself was lovely.

Calella is a wonderful base for getting around, and the staff were nice. But our room was dusty and grimy, and the cleaning service was subpar. The buffet food was mid, and the walls are so thin you can hear everything. People yelled and screamed at all hours, which made the stay even more insufferable. Some kids threw things from balconies. One time water hit my sister and drenched her whole body. We told the front desk, but they did nothing.

The staff worked hard to keep everyone happy and relaxed, and the food was amazing, made with good fresh ingredients. Some dishes did appear across different days or meals, presumably to avoid wasting produce, but there was a wide selection and always something new to choose. They often cooked at live stations, and there was a fairly broad range of drinks, all included. It was a really relaxing holiday, one of the most relaxing I've had. The location worked well for gift shops and supermarkets, and the beach was a short walk away, about as far as it is from nearly all the other hotels in that area.

The pool was okay, but when my daughter was struggling and shouted for help twice, the lifeguard was looking at his phone. I rushed over, slipped on the plastic floor, fell backwards and nearly knocked myself out. I still reached her before he even looked up. He never checked if we were okay. Another holidaymaker did. We won't stay here again. Most staff gave the impression we were a burden, and seemed to serve Spanish guests first even if they had arrived after us. It would be nice if they smiled. The transfer dropped us two streets away without telling us where to go, so after delays we were left at 4am asking another hotel for help. Food was mostly cold and there wasn't much for children. My daughter mostly ate plain pasta and chips. All inclusive only allowed two snacks. The hot dog, if you can call it that, the hamburger that had seen better days, chips, crisps if you were lucky, and toasties were the options. The rooms were fine, but the walls were paper thin. Spanish guests had loud shouting conversations in the corridors at midnight, with doors slamming, kids running around, shouting, screaming, and banging on doors. It went on for 30-45 minutes, and you could hear conversations and TVs through the walls. Not great when you're travelling with children and want a decent sleep. There was no entertainment apart from a 'disco' one night, with only Spanish songs. It felt like a private party we weren't invited to. It was a cheap last minute getaway, but not the relaxing break I'd hoped for.