Htop Pineda Palace & SPA

The beach was great, and Barcelona was close and easy to reach by train. If your room faces the sea, though, the train is very loud. We were generally happy with our stay, but glad we didn't book full board. At mealtimes, brace yourself for the crowds. Guests seemed to push through each other in a near-pandemic rush to pile their plates high. We also got strange looks from other guests for bringing children during October half term. I'd rate the hotel three stars based on the facilities and food, whatever its advertised rating. The rooms and entertainment were fine for three stars. Restaurant staff were nice and worked hard. Breakfast was standard; we skipped lunch, and dinner had variety but was very bland. Buffet presentation looked good, but the quality wasn't there. In my opinion, they get creative with the previous day's leftovers. It's a challenge to feed a hotel this size, but I didn't expect Talapia among the fish choices, given the nearby harbour.

The staff handled my sesame allergy really well. At every meal, I told them about it and they showed me what I couldn't eat. There was plenty of variety in the food too. We spent a few days there and found the pool area pretty relaxed. The pool isn't large, but it does the job. Evening entertainment was good fun, with random games that got everyone involved. Transport was easy, and it's not far to Barcelona or other local areas.

The food was tasty, with something different each day, and the staff were consistently attentive, friendly, and ready to help. My stay was incredible and better than I expected. I'd suggest staying at least 4 to 5 days to enjoy what the hotel offers, and the all-inclusive package is definitely worth it. I'd happily come back.

We stayed four nights and couldn't wait to leave by the end. The photos don't accurately show the hotel, and we weren't keen on the area either, though that's no fault of the hotel. I'd save your money and stay somewhere else. The pool was tiny and so shallow you could barely swim. With as many children as adults, splashing made it almost impossible to use. The hotel is advertised as 'adult recommended', but it didn't feel that way. There weren't enough sunbeds for everyone, and the pool area had no shade. Our room was never cleaned, and the towels weren't changed on two of the days. Checkout was at 10am, but at 9:20 the cleaners knocked and gestured for us to hurry up. We had nowhere to stay until our 6pm pickup, so we rested on a sofa, but an older bar staff member kept telling us off, telling us to sit up, and trying to push the chairs around us. All inclusive stopped at noon on checkout day, when everything became chargeable. It also ends at 11pm on other nights, and some drinks aren't included even before then. Most staff weren't helpful, and it could be hard to communicate because they didn't understand much English. We felt unwelcome, as if we were annoying them just by being there.