Residence Del Mar Emotion

We were placed beside a construction site, with machinery noise and excavators in view from morning to evening. Some guests may get sea or mountain views, but ours was the construction panorama. When we asked to move, no other room was offered, even though rooms seemed available online. The response felt like a lesson in accepting what you get. The bathroom also had no lockable door, which made privacy awkward with family around. The room phone didn’t work either, so every problem meant going down to reception, and the bathroom drain was leaking. The place itself is clean, stylish, reasonably priced, and right by the sea. It just didn’t make up for the rest of the experience.

The staff were genuinely lovely and helpful, and the price felt reasonable, which is why I’ve given it 3 stars. Still, we wouldn’t come back. If we’d known what it was like, we’d probably have picked somewhere with more atmosphere and nearby amenities, like Park Plaza Verudela, which seems livelier and more convenient for families. The main surprise was how isolated Residence Del Mar Emotion is. We expected to walk to cafés or restaurants, but there was essentially nothing nearby. Having a car saved us a lot of trouble. We skipped breakfast when booking because it seemed overpriced, and felt the same once we arrived. It was around €15 per adult and €7.50 per child, which felt excessive, especially since children don’t eat much. It gave the impression that the room price was kept attractive and the hotel made up the margin on food. With no nearby alternatives, you’re left paying or cooking for yourself, which we had to do on holiday when we’d rather not. It’s marketed as a four-star resort, but to me it felt more like three stars. The furnishings were basic, the sheets felt rough and cheap, and the kitchen hob controls were unresponsive and hard to use. On arrival I was inclined to rate it lower, but the value for money and especially the staff brought it to 3 stars.

The rooms were comfortable and the location worked well for us, especially since we had a car and planned to spend most of our time at the resort. But the washroom lock in our deluxe apartment was a real problem with two couples sharing. We raised it several times, and nobody followed up or fixed it while we were there. That was disappointing.

The resort is very nice, clean, and has a generous breakfast, but the staff seemed young, inexperienced, and slow. Also, watch your booking carefully: we paid for a third-floor room facing the pool and beach, but were moved to the ground floor with a parking view. They wouldn’t let us complain, offer a discount, or change rooms.