Golden Donaire Beach

The food was fabulous, with a nice dining experience and plenty to choose from. Breakfast and dinner were both enjoyable, with healthy options and food for toddlers. Half board only includes water, but the bar menu was cheap. The staff were all lovely, and the hotel was pleasant to look at too. We came at the end of October for a family break with a toddler and had a great trip. The hotel is right on the beach and has what you need for a lovely stay. Our room always felt a little sandy, which I know is hard to avoid by the beach. It wasn’t quite warm enough for us to use the pool or sunbeds. We didn’t go to the entertainment, so I can’t comment on it, but there were several activities advertised each day, plus a mini disco and adult entertainment. You can hire bikes at reception. Two bikes, one with a child seat, and a kid’s helmet cost €20. It’s an easy walk to a small town with shops, cafes, restaurants, amusements and several parks. There’s also a small supermarket beside the hotel with a cash machine.

The sea and beach views were lovely, and the beach is right on the doorstep. They’re working on the promenade, but the workers kept the noise down and didn’t start until 8am. It’s a great location and we’d come back. We booked the holiday last year. The hour-long transfer from Barcelona airport was worth it to be able to fly from Luton. Our room was clean and well maintained, with daily maid service and fresh coffee and tea each day. The staff were great, and breakfast had plenty of choice. We were half board, which was more than enough. Just check the drinks menu before ordering, as the prices seem to get made up. The shower was a real plus compared with others we’ve stayed in.

I spent 10 days here and came away thinking this hotel does most things well, with some smaller improvements needed. The location is fantastic, with good disabled access to the beach. The shop across the road was friendly, dinner was easy to find with plenty of options, and the outdoor entertainment was good. There are pool options for all ages, and the balcony views over the beach, with hills and small mountains in the distance, are lovely. My room’s air conditioning worked really well, and the gym is good once you find it. The cleaners did a fantastic job every day and respected my privacy. My experience with the staff was positive, and I want to thank them, especially the excellent cleaners. I hope they don’t mind the feedback, and I wish them the best. Maybe I’ll return one day. The food needs a lot of improvement in my opinion. I ate at a few Irish bars, and their food was far better than the hotel’s. The lifts broke down a few times and may need a closer inspection. I noticed that many balconies, especially around the pool, had no lights, which could cause issues for guests. Some balconies are small, the seats are uncomfortable, and the door handles are loose and need tightening. There wasn’t much arcade entertainment, just one pool table. I’d suggest taking out the sofas near the small arcade and adding more pool or air hockey tables, since I hardly saw anyone use the sofas. The hotel signage is poor too. The gym was hard to locate, and we had to ask staff where it was.

The cleaning staff were great. My mum trying to climb into bed every night was hilarious because it was so tight 🤣🤣🤣 The room itself was okay, with a double bed, a single and a balcony. We’d booked a twin room but got a double instead, so they had to change our room. I was on holiday with my mum, so that didn’t work for us. There was a leak from the shower above, and maintenance came out twice in two days before it was finally sorted. The air conditioning was rubbish. I think it ran for about 20 minutes and then shut off for the rest of the holiday. The food was great most days, but disappointing on our last night. We were all inclusive, and the Level 1 bar had “snacks” that didn’t look very nice. Staff didn’t check the bands, so people got food for other guests who were also all inclusive. We didn’t use the outdoor pool. It took me three days to find the indoor pool, and I never did find the sauna. The bar outside just before reception had some fantastic, helpful staff who would come to your table, but on some nights I waited more than 20 or 25 minutes for someone to take my order, then gave up and left. Some staff seemed more interested in serving customers who were paying for drinks. We asked about tipping and were told tips are split between everyone. That’s a good thing, but if some staff aren’t giving the right service, I wondered why I should tip knowing they’d get a share. Anyway, we did tip. On the morning we left, I needed food with my medication. Breakfast didn’t open until 8am, and our transport meant we had to leave 15 minutes earlier, so there was no chance to get anything that morning. I had to take two bananas from the restaurant the night before.