Aparthotel Ciutat de Palol

It’s about a 15-minute walk to the town center, with plenty of large and small shops and good restaurants. A lovely marked bathing beach is around five minutes away on foot. Most guests seemed to be Spanish and French holidaymakers, which I take as a good sign for this hidden gem on the Spanish coast, especially for Scandinavian visitors. The facilities are fantastic, and the staff in general were service minded. The kids had lots to do, from arts and crafts to sports, and the large pool had plenty of space with no scramble for sunbeds. Receptionists, activity leaders, waiters, and lifeguards were fantastic throughout our stay. But one rude breakfast attendant really soured the last morning. He scolded us for sitting at a table, though he’d had plenty of time to direct us elsewhere if that was the issue. When we left the restaurant, he shouted something in Spanish that I couldn’t understand. From the other guests’ reactions, I assume it wasn’t pleasant. I’ve traveled a lot and eaten in countless restaurants, but I’ve never encountered such a rude attendant. Put that one rotten apple aside and the place is fantastic.

The pool and the overall atmosphere were fantastic. It’s a lovely place in the park, three minutes from beautiful beaches, with bars and restaurants an easy walk away. Our one reservation is the rooms: the cheap decor and furniture didn’t feel up to four-star expectations. Everything else was great.

The rooms aren’t especially modern, but the beds are good and they’re cleaned every day. Several beaches are within walking distance. It’s a really nice place in a quieter part of town, yet the lively area with lots of restaurants is still an easy walk away. The park-like layout, with trees all around the pool, is lovely.

The bathroom pipes had a bad smell, and the air conditioning was loud. Our ground-floor room faced a road with traffic and noisy people, so I couldn’t get enough sleep during my holiday. Breakfast only ran from 9:00 to 11:00, which made it impossible for me to plan an early outing. The hotel staff did nothing to make us feel satisfied. This didn’t seem like a 4-star hotel, and I wouldn’t recommend it. If you stay here, expect to wait until 9 am for breakfast and be ready for sleepless nights.