Catalonia Gardens

An absolute dive. To get the keys you have to go to another building about half a mile away. Then you get there and, oh my god, Fawlty Towers has nothing on this place. Shocking, shocking, shocking. Avoid at all costs if you can.

The apartment smelled so bad when I walked in that I couldn't decide whether to leave or leave. The fridge was broken, and some of my lamb chops went off. Pool hours were awful, just 12-8 pm. At night it was impossible to sleep because it was incredibly hot, with no air conditioning and fans blowing air as hot as magma. I haven't been this hot since my honeymoon in Egypt. The kitchen utensils were greasy and dirty. I can't remember a worse stay, and I wouldn't recommend it.

For the price, this apartment was very convenient, with everything clean and in its place. The bathroom was sealed and very clean, and the room had a view of the pool and golf course. There's a kitchen with a fridge, oven, plates, glasses and cutlery. It was a 10-minute walk to the beach and five minutes to the center. A €100 deposit is required, but it was returned without any problem. The apartments are managed elsewhere. There was no TV, Wi-Fi or air conditioning. We went in May, and nobody told us the pool was closed for renovation. That should have been announced, and not knowing about the pool work was what I liked least. The hotel is good for its price, though you can't expect five-star accommodation.

For a family of five going to PortAventura, the place worked perfectly for our four nights. We found the apartment very clean, despite earlier reviews calling it dirty. The pool was clean too, thanks to the person who cleans it each morning, and the beach is 500 meters away, a 2-3 minute walk. There's no parking, but it's easy to find a spot in front of the residence. There's no TV or internet, but you can use the pool or go to the beach. Sheets and towels are provided, which is appreciated. Cooking basics are there, but there's no coffee maker or espresso machine. The keys have to be collected on the next street, after 5 pm because the room is cleaned before then. You need to book directly with them rather than through Booking.com, where it costs 80 euros compared with 60 euros through reception. You also need to be okay with noise: lots of people rent the residence to party, with French guests among the Spanish residents.