Hotel Best Punta Dorada

Best Punta Dorada was a lovely base for our family holiday, and we'd gladly return to the region. We were two adults with our one-year-old, staying from May 31 to June 5, and would put the hotel at about 8-9 out of 10. The setting is quiet, without nearby noisy bars or nightlife. Little coves with showers make up the beaches here, rather than big crowded resort stretches. Salou is around a 15-minute walk away, with some beautiful viewpoints along the way. Our main frustration was the evening music. On most nights except Sunday, there was live music by the pool from about 9:00 PM until 11:00 PM. It carried loudly into our sea- and pool-facing room. Since our child was already asleep, we often ended up spending the evening away from the hotel. The lobby made a great first impression, bright, spacious, and modern. The receptionist who welcomed us was friendly, as was everyone else we met. The travel agent's requests were all in place: a higher-floor room with sea view, a cot, kettle, slippers, and extra rubbish bags, which came in handy with a small child. With a crawling toddler, we pay close attention to cleanliness. The room had a few cleaning shortcomings when we arrived. We weren't too surprised, since we'd seen similar housekeeping standards in other Spanish hotels. We cleaned the floor ourselves; the rest was reasonably clean, though not thoroughly done. Housekeeping came daily and changed towels regularly. When we asked them to pay extra attention to the floors, they really tried. We appreciated how willing staff were to help with polite requests and sort things out. Meals were a highlight, especially lunch and dinner, with lots of choice. Some dishes came round again, but there were different meats, pizzas with varied toppings, and freshly cooked choices such as burgers, wok dishes, and fish. There was seafood, salad, and soup too. The fruit was consistently fresh, sweet, and excellent: watermelon, pineapple, melon, oranges, and grapefruit, which we enjoyed at every meal. Some desserts tasted too sweet and a little artificial, though that's a matter of personal taste. Restaurant staff were helpful and attentive, and the chefs tried to accommodate requests. We especially liked the drinks, including the excellent sangria. We'd read comments about dirty dishes, and did sometimes find small food traces or lipstick marks on glasses, plates, or cutlery. That can happen with industrial dishwashers, but it would be nicer if items were checked more carefully before being used again. It's unpleasant to have to hunt for a clean plate or glass. The pool area was comfortable, with free sunbeds always available and umbrellas easy to add for shade. A large daybed could be reserved for an extra €10 per day. The water was cool, which felt refreshing on warm days. Thank you for a lovely stay. Despite the evening noise, we had a wonderful holiday and would absolutely recommend the hotel to other travellers.

This was our second time at this wonderful hotel, and it really deserves five stars. The rooms, presentation, food, and staff were all fantastic. Huge thanks to Jonathan at reception for everything he did for my family, and of course to the brilliant barman FRANKIE. I can't say it loudly enough, it's the best hotel ever.

After a day of sightseeing and walking more than 20 km, I sometimes just wanted to get to bed early and relax. That was hard because the bar downstairs had very loud parties, and usually it wasn't possible to sleep until around 11:30 PM. The shower was another problem: every 30 seconds the water swung from scorching to freezing. I complained at reception, but got nowhere. Staff just smiled and said that's how it is. Cleaning was okay, with daily service, fresh towels, and the cleaning ladies replacing what we needed. The meals under the "Everything Included" option were varied and really tasty.

The location is quite remote, with little around it, though that suited the kind of holiday we wanted. The rooms and sea view were up to a very good standard. Food was average at best, especially for a 4 star.