Hotel Sorra Daurada Splash

The location is handy, with shops, restaurants, coffee shops, and the train station nearby. The rooms are a little small, but that’s not too bad since you don’t spend much time in them. Food had plenty of variety and was always hot. Sorra daurada splash is a well-run hotel, with friendly staff and a very active manager who’s often seen running things. The only real downside was other guests making noise late at night, sometimes until 1-2am, which is hard when you have little ones.

We had a great time, even though I was dreading the holiday after reading the many bad reviews on Google and TripAdvisor. I’d booked without checking them first because the photos looked decent and the price was fairly low. The hotel was very clean, the food was great, and there was choice for adventurous eaters as well as fussy ones who just wanted pizza. The salads were fabulous, with fresh fruit, cheeses, and yogurts always available. It’s a very busy hotel, and while most people were fine, there were plenty of scumbags. Meals got crowded because lots of people queued for food before finding a table. That made a long line in front of the salad bar, so I had to wait there while my partner held a table. Breakfast was my favourite, with lots of cooked meat, pastries, eggs, and fruit. Get there at 8am when service starts or the dining room gets busy with “undesirables”. Dinner starts at 7pm, but to be among the first inside you need to arrive at 6:45. The cleaners and restaurant staff kept the hotel very clean. Our room smelled damp when we first entered, but airing it out and running the AC cleared that up. The walk-in shower would have flooded the bathroom if I hadn’t put a towel down. Fresh towels were provided daily if we left the used ones on the bathroom floor. Our child loved the kids’ pool, and that area was clean too. The bar serves drinks and food by the pool, but you have to eat in the designated picnic areas. That suited me, since I didn’t want to watch people eating while I sunbathed or dodge chips on a wet floor. Staff kept the picnic spots clean and tidy. One day the bar was short staffed, with just two people serving both drinks and food. That was a management issue, as they were clearly under pressure, but stayed polite and efficient. They also had Estrella on tap. If you go out, watch for African men who may try to put a bracelet on you and then ask for money for their baby or family. Just say “No thank you” and move on. It’s nothing to do with the hotel, but may help inexperienced holidaymakers. So, if you’re not riff raff who want to eat right by the pool, or an entitled moaning minnie, you might have a good time here.

The beach was lovely and clean, just across the road, though the sand felt rough on bare feet, as if mixed with tiny stones, so wear shoes. There are lots of shops along the strip and plenty of places to eat. The weather was excellent, and it was a fantastic holiday overall. The hotel was clean and well maintained, but our room felt a bit small for four. There were two double beds pushed together and hardly any floor space, though it was fine for sleeping. The air conditioning was fabulous. The food wasn’t great for the first two days, then became very good with plenty on offer. It gets busy, so it’s best to start queuing 30 minutes before meals. All three pools were very busy, and my kids used them every day. Night entertainment was varied and enjoyable. The woman running the kids’ disco was excellent, and all the children loved her and joined in. There’s an arcade too.

The food was bland and cold. One breakfast even had ham bread, and the rooms were dirty, with dust everywhere, stained bedding, and a musty smell that never went away. The shower smelled as if something was rotting in the pipes, and the water pressure was poor. The pools were freezing, apparently unheated, and unusable even on mildly cool days. Staff treated us poorly. Most were rude and unhelpful, and made us feel like a nuisance whenever we asked for help. The AC barely worked, WiFi kept cutting out, and housekeeping skipped our room several times. Towels and toiletries were also in short supply. From arrival onward, things went downhill fast. I honestly don’t know how this place has a four-star rating. The whole stay was uncomfortable and frustrating, not worth the price, and certainly not a four-star hotel by any standard.