Hotel Hostalillo by Escampa Hotels

The restaurant was the letdown for us: it was expensive, and both the food and service were poor. Luckily, there are plenty of other places to eat around this beautiful little village. The hotel itself is beautiful, scrupulously clean, and in a location we loved. The rooms were outstanding and the front desk service was excellent. There are quite a few steps down to the shore, so be ready for that. It’s great value, and we’d happily return in a minute. Definitely recommend it.

We loved the location, the lovely staff, and the very clean hotel. Breakfast on the terrace was good, with a nice range of hot and cold options. The restaurant food was so poor that we only ate there once. Parking is difficult, although we know the area and had arranged a nearby spot in advance. The noise is why we won’t come back. We’ve travelled a lot over the years and have never stayed somewhere this loud. Sleep was impossible until guests in rooms within five rooms of ours had gone to bed and fallen asleep. We heard doors banging, furniture being dragged above and below us, and people talking, snoring, and urinating next door through the thin walls. The lift shaft was irritating too. The guests were considerate when coming back late, so the problem seemed to be the rooms and their layout. I’d hate to be there with noisy guests.

The hotel looked cozy and welcoming, with nice decor and a good beach view from the bar and restaurant. But several things made our stay disappointing. We booked a balcony room with a sea view through Booking.com, and the reception confirmed that description. The balcony actually faced land and a staircase where people often passed, so we had no privacy. It also had just one chair, even though we booked it so we could sit outside together. When we asked to change rooms, we were told the hotel was full, despite it being October. We checked Booking.com and saw sea-view balcony rooms still available, so we felt misled. We’d asked for a double bed, but got two unsecured singles pushed together, with separate sheets. They kept sliding apart, and the mattresses were very hard. Sound travelled badly between rooms. Other guests woke me at 8 a.m., and a bathroom window connected to other floors through a space with pipes, making it even easier to hear noises. At 10 a.m., a cleaner knocked once and opened the door right away when we didn’t answer immediately. We hadn’t put up a “Do Not Disturb” sign, but hadn’t given permission to enter either. We had to shout to stop them coming in. The hotel should know which rooms are occupied and not let staff enter without consent. Cleaning was noisy in other ways too: we heard staff talking loudly in the corridors and dragging furniture in nearby rooms. We were also surprised by the parking charge. The hotel website and Booking.com both said private parking was available, but didn’t clearly say it cost €18 a day. We only found out at check-in, when we were told to pay or use public parking a few metres away. This was especially frustrating in October, outside high season.

The atmosphere is what made Hostalillo in Tamariu feel special to us. The staff were genuinely kind and helpful, and we felt welcome, almost like guests in someone’s home. We had a simple, very clean room with a sea view, and that view really changed the mood. The place is right by the beach among pine trees, with a lovely quiet feel. Breakfast on the terrace was a daily highlight, sipping coffee and looking over the little bay. We also liked the relaxed restaurant, with fresh seafood and good local flavors. It’s a lovely place to slow down and breathe. We loved our stay and will definitely be back.