4R Playa Park Hotel

The pool is decent, with sunbeds around it, and there was plenty of evening entertainment during the week. Our room was a good enough size and had a nice balcony, and the shower was amazing. We were on half board, and the buffet food was nice enough. We could swap dinner for lunch, though drinks with the evening meal cost extra and weren't badly priced.

We came back after a wonderful family stay here 18 years ago, but this visit was a real disappointment. We didn't feel at home at all, despite the hotel's slogan, “We would like you to feel like your home.” Smoking seemed to be allowed everywhere. We'd booked a balcony overlooking the pool and sea, but couldn't enjoy the view or sunshine because guests below us on two balconies and right beside our room smoked constantly. It felt like the hotel was set up only for smokers, with no thought for non-smokers. Nobody asked at check-in whether we wanted a non-smoking area, and I doubt one exists. We were with our 3-year-old, and it was worse during the children's evening entertainment. People smoked between the stage and pool where the kids were gathered. I politely asked one woman not to smoke near children or to move farther away, and it turned into an unpleasant scene. A young man at the bar said smoking was allowed there. When I asked if he'd let strangers smoke beside his own child if his family didn't smoke, he simply answered, “Here everyone can smoke.” The experience left us with a very bad impression and no desire to return.

We especially liked the food selection, with plenty of tasty things at every meal, and even when the hotel was busy there was lots of room to relax by the pool. The pools were clean and spacious, good for adults and children, and the kids' facilities kept our little ones occupied all day. The entertainment team put on activities during the day and fun shows at night. Our room was spacious, spotless, and had really comfy beds. From arrival, reception were welcoming, friendly, and helpful. The bar staff kept us laughing with their humour and fun mood. The hotel is a short walk from the beach, too. We had an amazing stay at 4R Playa Park in Salou and can't wait to come back.

The 3-star rating seems fair. For the price, it's an okay resort, though there are plenty of good and bad points. The location works well for exploring the beaches, but the walk to the strip and centre is up a steep hill, so it isn't ideal if you have limited mobility. There were enough sunbeds for the demand during my stay, though not loads. Nearby BUSPLANA services go to Tarragona, the seafront and strip, Portaventura, Cambrills, and other places, which is handy. Breakfast had a good range of hot and cold food, but the hot dishes were already cold four minutes after the restaurant opened. Dinner had a decent, if limited, selection. I was half board, so drinks cost extra, and I wish dinner started at 5 or 6 instead of 7 or 7:30. Cleaning and restaurant staff were amazing, friendly, and did a great job. They deserve a pay rise. At check-in, staff were gossiping, and when we reported the broken TV, they said someone would come up and told us to wait. Nobody came in four hours, so I looked into it and fixed it myself. There are vending machines at reasonable prices, a mobility scooter charging area on floor 0, a bar, restaurant, lifts, an arcade, and entertainment like bingo, shows, and karaoke. The lifts were shaky and often had long waits. The entertainment goes on late, which isn't great if, like me sometimes, you want to be asleep before 11 or 11:30 pm. The room had plenty of storage, with a large wardrobe and shelves, plus a huge desk. At this time of year there was no air conditioning, and they'd run out of fans, so the room was hot and stuffy with the balcony door open or shut. The fridge cost €25 a week, which felt steep. There was a hairdryer, an old-looking, slightly dirty safe, two big mirrors, and plenty of towels and soap. There was only one bin, a small one in the bathroom. The room was generally clean, though there was dust in places, like above the beds. The beds were awful: rough, uncomfortable bedding on what felt like the world's hardest mattress. I might have slept better on the balcony. There was one long, firm pillow instead of separate pillows, which I didn't like. Other issues: a broken shower plug, loose sockets, confusing switches, paint stains on the toilet, no bathroom door lock, a loose shower head that kept falling and was mostly usable as a handheld, and a dirty radiator. Sea view rooms are worth paying extra for. There aren't designated smoking areas, which is unpleasant because cigarette smoke carries into many areas.