Hotel GHT Neptuno Tossa & Venus SPA

Once we found the place, it turned out to be a real treat, and the staff couldn't have been more helpful. One staff member spoke English, which helped, and one lady was always smiling. We arrived in early May, and liked the strict no-reserving rule for poolside furniture. There were very comfortable double sun loungers with padded beds, muslin screens and a four-poster look, spread around the gardens. Some had double balconies, while the rooms themselves were small but usable and the balconies very small. The pool view made up for it. Food was excellent. Breakfast had variations on a full English, plus cereal and fruit, and we tried all three. Tea was always English breakfast tea, though Spain only has UHT milk, so ask for cold milk. Orange, mango and pineapple were real. Dinner was better than at other places we've visited, with soup and rolls or croutons to start, plenty of salad, and chicken, beef or fish most nights, prepared as things like burgers or meatballs. The bar prices were good. I tried cocktails for the first time, including a blue lagoon, green lagoon, strawberry daiquiri, pina colada and mai tai. I usually drink Strongbow, and they sell it for 3.8 euros, though most of the staff hadn't heard of it! There's entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays, perhaps more later in the season. Some acts were very good, one less so. Tossa is lovely, with a good castle, small shops, cafes and restaurants. The glass-bottomed boat tour went right into caves and then switched on its outside lights, wonderful. It cost 11 euros for two adults to go to lloret de mar, which is bigger and has more shops. The catamaran trip is a must if you're young at heart: it set off from shore to Titanic music, we swam with the fish, then danced a bit on the way back. Tossa experience took us in a 4x4 into the local hills for beautiful views. We had a lovely two-week holiday ahead of our 40th anniversary on August 2nd. We got our money's worth and then some.

The staff were friendly, multilingual and helpful, and we'll definitely come back. It's a great hotel for families and also for couples who don't mind some noise from kids. All three meals are buffet style, with plenty of food and excellent quality, and the prices are the sort you can find in Spain. The rooms have decent air conditioning and Wi-Fi, as well as good closets and bathrooms, though the lift could use an update. The pool is a good size, with sunny and shaded spots to relax, plus a large chess set and ping pong table for extra fun. Tossa is such a great, peaceful holiday spot that it's hard not to give the experience an excellent review.

The pool was fairly small, but it never got too busy and we could usually find deck chairs or loungers. I liked the four-poster-style loungers and how they were spread through different parts of the gardens. We did run into lots of mosquitoes. The staff were brilliant, and the location near the old town and beach was great. Our room was basic but clean. It only had one plug socket, with no kettle and no free use of a fridge or safe, so keep that in mind if booking. Although the hotel was advertised as smoke-free, people could smoke on balconies, by the pool and in outdoor eating areas, where ashtrays were provided. I'd assumed smoking was prohibited throughout the premises, but I was wrong. Meal times were later than I expected, breakfast 8am-10am and dinner 8pm-10pm, though that's normal for Spain. There was a good variety of food, and we never went hungry. If you have young children, there isn't much for them besides the pool and a table tennis table. Overall, a pleasant stay.

The family room worked really well for us and our toddler, who still naps now and then. A divider separated the double bed from the two singles, and we had two balconies. Everything was within walking distance. A couple of things caught us out. Dinner on the all-inclusive plan started at 8 pm and felt hectic with so many hungry guests, while breakfast was much better. The outdoor pool was too cold for us to use, and the indoor one cost 12 euros for 45 minutes, with children not allowed because it’s part of the spa. We’d thought both pools were included in the hotel deal. If you’re bringing a car, reserve a parking space ahead of time. There are only a limited number, and the car park was already full when we visited just off season. From memory, parking was about 15 euros a day.