Estival Maramar

The service was dreadful, and whenever we raised a problem we were passed off to someone else. Staff barely understood English, which isn't their fault, but the hotel shouldn't hire staff without English. The bar staff were also unpleasant, huffing and puffing if we asked for more than two drinks. On our departure day they refused to serve us because the rooms had changed over, even though reception had said we could use the services until we left. Our room looked lovely when we arrived, but the floor had blood-coloured stains. Reception said they'd tell maintenance to add cleaning them to the list. The next day the room had been cleaned but the stains were still there. We also reported ants. A staff member came with pest spray but didn't know how to use it. The ants were coming from behind an uncleaned couch, with crumbs left by previous guests. Three days later there were still a few ants. Some towels were dirty, cups had lipstick stains, and plates and utensils weren't washed properly. I had to check two or three plates to find a clean one. Several toilets, including accessible ones, wouldn't lock. The hotel advertises daytime and evening activities for kids, but not one happened. Water activities and the mini disco never took place. Screens advertised different adult entertainment each night, but there was a singer every night except Friday, when there was a magic show. When I complained, staff said it wasn't their department. One night we were told we couldn't watch football because there was entertainment, even though both had been on during the rest of the week. That night happened to be Spanish themed. The food was basic and awful most nights. Breakfast was the usual slapped-together Spanish stuff, with pastries the only decent part. Dinner and tea were mostly the same, with just one or two changes. Much of it was lukewarm, and the plates were dirty. We couldn't eat out because there was nothing nearby. The hotel is stuck in a housing estate, with the nearest shop a 15-minute walk away. The walls felt like plastic, so we could hear everything next door and in the corridor. Getting to Salou meant taking a train or taxi, and the taxi cost 80-95 euros. Overall, it was an awful hotel for the 4-star price of £1762.

The town is quiet and beautiful, and the hotel is right by the beach. It seemed mainly to attract Spanish visitors and felt safe and calm for families. There are some lovely restaurants and bars nearby. The hotel itself is modern, spacious, and beautiful, with fantastic 5-star food.

The hotel has plenty going for it: it's right on a beautiful beach, has a great pool area, and even a lovely adults-only rooftop pool. The centre is about a 10-minute walk away, with a few shops and restaurants. There's little immediately around the hotel apart from villas and apartments. The daytime entertainment was just about okay, but the evening shows were really poor. The nearby bars had Spanish-only entertainment, with no tribute bands or similar. It's just been completely refurbished, so it's a great hotel, but there are some things to know if you're considering a stay. It's mainly a Spanish hotel and caters to Spanish guests first. The food is varied and there's plenty of it, but unless you get it as it comes out, it often isn't kept hot. Our group had to microwave it on many occasions. We were told, 'the Spanish like it that way.' We were all-inclusive, yet had to pay extra for tea and coffee, milk, and sugar in the room, even though those were free at the bar. And making tea seemed to be a mystery here. They really didn't know what counts as a cup of tea or how to make one. They also had a system where you swapped a token for a glass around the hotel so you'd bring it back for refills. It simply didn't work. The place has a lot of potential. I got the impression many staff were new and still learning, so I'm sure they'll sort things out. If you want somewhere quiet to unwind and enjoy a Spanish place that hasn't caught up with British package holidays, it's perfect. If you're after more nightlife, look elsewhere.

The staff were friendly and really helpful, and the hotel and room facilities were clean and in good shape. It’s close to the beach, too. There was a wide choice of food, though some of it could have been tastier. The coffee wasn’t great, and when things got busy the plates served from under the warming lamp weren’t warm.