Résidence Pierre & Vacances Port Barcarès Catalana

We've been familiar with this complex since 1995, and have watched it get worse over the years. The reception staff are friendly and helpful, but the rest is very dated. There is no internet at all, the apartment bathrooms are in deplorable condition, and the stairwells and other shared areas are falling into disrepair. The roofs leak and the facades are dilapidated. Staff say the apartment owners or co-owners have stopped paying their annual utility bills, and the complex is expected to change hands again in the coming years. Getting around is difficult. There are too many stairs, no elevator, and the mezzanine apartment layouts don't suit seniors or small children. Depending on the time of day and how security feels, you may have to stop 200 meters from your apartment, making it quite an ordeal to load or unload a vehicle. It's not a pleasant holiday option for seniors or international guests. The concrete-encased pool is drab and now seems more like a public pool, apparently to save money and/or bring in revenue. The many rules are strictly enforced: no flip-flops, no swim trunks, and loungers cost exorbitant rental fees. It feels like only a matter of time before an investor buys the whole complex, demolishes it, and redevelops the site.

The apartment was abandoned-looking, filthy, and in deplorable shape. With prices this high, they could put some money into renovations. It was one of the worst stays we've had, extremely dirty, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

There’s no air conditioning in the rentals, and the pool hours don’t match the holiday season. Nights are noisy too, with the seagulls.

A lovely setting for a family trip with children, and there's plenty to do.