Ponient Hotel Dorada Palace by PortAventura World

"Could not fault the hotel. Service was very good. Food was good. Rooms are nice. Entertainment was good. Poold are nice. Had a family holiday of 10 people. The only thing I would say is that the paving around the pool could be updated. Also I think they should get rid of the mud/grass area by the small childrens pool to stop mud getting every where."

"Dorada Palace Hotel, Salou – My Honest Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Dorada Palace, 4-star hotel – let’s begin! Firstly, Dorada Palace has mixed reviews across Facebook, TripAdvisor and other platforms, and everyone’s experience is different. So, here’s mine! 🏨 The negatives – let’s get these out of the way! I’ll start slightly negatively here, but honestly, I don’t think this hotel quite meets the 4-star standard. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very nice, modern hotel. However, I feel it falls short in a few areas that could easily be improved. 🎮 The arcade The arcade is quite dated and basic. My son tried to play table football (Futbolín) with another boy, but unfortunately, there was no ball available to play with! The ping-pong table is also on an uneven surface, meaning the table itself isn’t level. 🪑 Outdoor furniture The furniture around the pool area could do with an upgrade. The tables and chairs near the bar are quite basic, with several tables being uneven, either because of the ground beneath them or broken table legs. The sunbeds are also fairly basic. In my opinion, a few improvements to the outdoor furniture would make a noticeable difference and help bring the hotel closer to the 4-star standard. 🛏️ The room We stayed in a standard one-room accommodation with two beds, the second of which pulled out from underneath the sofa. It did the job! The shower was lovely and hot, fresh towels were provided daily, and the room was cleaned and the bedding changed every day, as you’d expect. There was a slight sewer-like smell in the room at times. However, as you walk around Salou, you’ll notice that this smell can occur in other areas too, so I’m not sure how much control the hotel has over it. Our room was apartment-style, with a fridge, cooker and cupboards. However, there were no plates, bowls or cutlery provided. We were all-inclusive, so this didn’t affect us, but it’s something worth knowing if you’re considering a self-catering stay! Right, I’ve been a bit negative there, so let’s move on to the positives, because there are plenty! 👇 🎢 Location and transport The hotel is in very close proximity to PortAventura Park, which is a massive bonus if you’re visiting with children! The hotel offers a complimentary shuttle bus to the park and back. Just be aware that the service doesn’t operate throughout the entire day, so it’s worth checking the timetable before planning your trips. 🏊 The swimming pools There’s a good variety of pools available: * A pool aimed at younger children and babies. * Two decent-sized pools for everyone to enjoy. * A rooftop pool and jacuzzi on the sixth floor, exclusively for adults. The main pool can get busier, but there’s another pool towards the back of the hotel that was often much quieter during our stay. It was great to have that alternative! The adults-only rooftop area is also a nice extra for those looking for a little peace and quiet. 🧹 Cleanliness and sunbeds I’ve read various reviews mentioning cleanliness issues and people rushing to reserve sunbeds early in the morning. However, that wasn’t really my experience. I regularly saw cleaners going around the pool areas, and the dining areas were constantly being cleaned. In my opinion, one of the problems is guests leaving food lying around. Pigeons then come along, eat the leftovers and make a mess! There are plenty of bins available, so I think guests also need to take some responsibility rather than automatically blaming the hotel for every cleanliness issue. As for the sunbeds, I suspect this may be more of an issue during peak summer. We had no problems finding sunbeds during our stay, which was during the school holidays, with temperatures around 25°C. Of course, everyone’s experience will differ depending on when they visit! 🍔 Food and drinks The poolside bar offers food throughout the day, including fries, burgers, hot dogs and a variety of salads. It’s handy to have these options available around the outdoor eating area without having to head inside for every meal. The buffet restaurant, however, is very basic. That said, if you’re travelling with fussy children or picky eaters, there should generally be something available for everyone. There’s a variety of food on offer, although I wouldn’t describe it as anything particularly special. There were a few occasions when I noticed empty trays, but I also saw staff replenishing them as and when they could. It’s worth keeping your expectations realistic when it comes to the food, but I don’t think you’ll necessarily struggle to find something to eat! 😊 The staff I’ve spoken to staff members several times with various queries, and they were always happy to help. The restaurant staff were also very pleasant. They showed us to our table and were approachable throughout our stay. Overall, I had no issues with the staff whatsoever! 🎉 The kids’ entertainment – the highlight of our stay! Now, for the best part of our stay: the children’s entertainment! The entertainment team were absolutely wonderful. They put on a mini disco at 9 pm every evening. Yes, sometimes it’s the same songs, but the entertainers turn up with the same enthusiasm and energy every single time! My 7-year-old wasn’t too sure about joining in at first, but by the end of our stay, he was singing and dancing along. I watched the mini disco on most nights, and it was lovely to see how happy and enthusiastic the entertainment team were. They made an effort to involve the children and even the adults! My son also took part in a darts game and won. I think one of the entertainers was called George, and I’d particularly like to mention him. He was always smiling, happy, energetic and enthusiastic – exactly what you’d want from someone working with children! What really stood out was that, after the darts tournament had finished, he and another member of the entertainment team stayed behind to play darts with my son. They could easily have packed everything away and moved on to the next activity, but instead, they spent another half hour playing with him. As a parent, that was genuinely lovely to see. It’s those little moments that can make a holiday memorable, and I really appreciated the time they gave him. A huge thank you to the entertainment team! ❤️ The only photo of the hotel I have is of the roof top pool and Jacuzzi!"

"Unethical hotel regarding people with disabilities. Even after showing the official credentials, the manager, Pau, apologized by saying that the hotel was not subscribed to that "benefit," comparing the necessary adjustment for people with disabilities to a promotion that they may or may not subscribe to... Anyway, it is a shame about that lack of empathy because the hotel is fine, maybe not for a 4-star because it is already a bit old, but it is a good price when I look for a bargain."