The Molinos Park hotel in Cap Salou, I have been to Salou before when I was a lot younger and being a skint student after our exams my boyfriend and I decided we couldn't afford much so found us a last minute deal to Salou, knowing it's not that far away on a 2 hour flight and that it was near Barcelona and the world famous theme park - Port Aventura.
So we booked it, Cap Salou (a quieter suburb), not far from Salou, or so they said. A 3* All Inclusive hotel for a week for next to nothing. We decided to go for it.
We arrived late and were hungry, food had stopped being served for the day, which was a bit annoying but we checked in, which was fine, friendly staff and got our key, dumped the bags in the room and headed to the bar for a drink as we were parched.
My first opinion was why are all these kids not at school, it's June. I had no idea it would be so full of families in June, and these kids were not under 5. Oh well, on to the bar for a drink. It was very busy due to there being some football match on that was a must see. We got to the bar, had our lovely All Inclusive (AI) bands on and got a drink, the second you get it you realise it's watered down, cheap stuff, and I'm only
talking about the lemonade (sprite/7 up).
I don't often travel All Inclusive because in general I am quite fussy but not only that I don't think you get your money's worth unless you drink alcohol, I don't really bother and neither does my boyfriend. But considering the price we thought even being All Inclusive we could still afford the odd meal out at the price we'd paid.
The room was ok, a fair size, the usual really, not massive but not tiny either. We had a balcony overlooking the road, and another hotel, it was alright, shame there was no better views as I like to sit out on the balcony and chill but it was a bit odd sitting across from someone the other side of the road both staring at each other. The room was clean, we had clean beds, sheets and the room wasn't dusty or mucky. The bathroom was also ok, I was happy with the room.
The food was not great but edible. It was really repetitive and stuff that was out at lunch was often still there at dinner. Yuk. We tended not to bother with breakfast although when we did it seemed ok, all continental. The snacks between breakfast, lunch and dinner were not great, it was chips, burgers and that was pretty much the extent of the choice. We went out every night to eat.
The hotel isn't on a lot of land, it is quite cramped and the pool is to the side of the hotel, there isn't much space around it for sun loungers. No personal space, and I'm not a snob but if I'm trying to relax on holiday I don't want someone standing over me the whole time or sitting so close they may as well be lying on my sun bed with me.
I am a beach body, so we decided to try the beach, the hotel is advertised as close to the beach, it's not far a 5-10 minute walk, but it's not the type of beach I had remembered, miles of golden sands, it was a tiny cove, ok not tiny, small, with some sun beds on, of course you had to pay, and it was more crowded than the hotel pool. I was quite disappointed. Although it would of been gorgeous if there was only a tenth of the people there.
Cap Salou is also advertised as being very close to Salou, well it's reasonably close, but I would say bus ride close and not walking distance close, which was the impression we got from all the brochures we'd read. Anyway there is a bus stop right outside the hotel and it's easy enough to get on and get to Salou.
The reason I have horrid memories of this holiday is due to the unfortunate people we were neighbouring, we ended up having 3 different rooms, and I just wanted to go home. I like my sleep, I am not good with no sleep, I get grumpy. I appreciate everyone is on holiday to have a good time, I'm not miserable by any means, and I know staying in any hotel the walls are thin and you have to be considerate etc but this was hell.
Our first set of neighbours were a Scottish family, 5-6 of them in total, mum and dad and a heard of kids, you'd think the parents would set a good example, but no, they were encouraging their kids to stand on the balcony till about 3am screaming Scotland football chants. After two nights and complaining to the reception we were moved. Another room facing the road lower than we had been, this time next to two boys probably about 18, who had no idea what sleep was, had girls in every night and giggling, laughing, smashing stuff, in general making a hell of a lot of noise. I was upset, I just wanted a quiet night's sleep with reasonable neighbours. We weren't in bed at 9pm or anything like that but we wanted some sleep.
After complaining again we were moved, next to an elderly couple who like us just wanted an easy life, we managed to survive the last 2 nights.
The hotel staff were very responsive and every time we complained they knocked on the door and observed from outside. I don't want anyone getting the impression I like to moan, I don't really, I just wish people considered others, I always try to be reasonable and considerate to others and I don't think it's too much to ask in return.
The hotel was not as bad as the reviews I've read on trip advisor for me the people ruined it.
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Advantages: Cheap all inclusive holiday, friends staff, good food and drink selection Disadvantages: Alot of the enlgish who went to this hotel were horrid.
Ryan0524 09.11.2006 (09.11.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Los Molinos Park, Salou
Advantages: Cheap all inclusive holiday, friends staff, good food and drink selection Disadvantages: Alot of the enlgish who went to this hotel were horrid.
Ryan0524 09.11.2006 (09.11.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Los Molinos Park, Salou
Jul 7th, 2009
very helpful by (100%):
