Estival Park Salou

The Estival Park Salou is a huge resort spread across manicured grounds that draws tourists from across Spain, France, and the U.K -- including families and couples -- with an extensive range of entertainment, activity, and relaxation facilities. The vibe is busy -- almost like a small, self-contained town, and Spanish-style decor includes tile floors and a warm color palette of rusts, browns, and yellow hues throughout. The lobby's pale yellow walls provide a sunny contrast to wooden furnishings and terra cotta floors, while decorative pieces range from gilded mirrors to Chinoiserie vases to tapestries on the walls. A deep navy ceiling is speckled with star-like lighting and large windows fill the space with light. Interiors are a bit dated, but overall the hotel is a passably fine holiday option, and offers a wealth of options for guests, including a kids' club, all-inclusive options, easy beach access, and multiple busy pools.

The resort has 968 guest rooms and 150 self-catering apartments, making it an attractive option for the European tourists that flock here in droves. Room configurations include Standard, Family, and Duplex Rooms as well as Suites and Apartments, the latter of which can sleep up to six people and have full kitchens. Room decor has a vaguely Mediterranean look, with terra cotta tiling and varnished wooden wicker furniture, but the look is dated overall, and includes patterned bedspreads and upholstery, off-trend pastel color palettes, and fabrics that go above and beyond the call of matching (i.e., the drapes match the couch cushions match the bedspreads, and so on). There are some token pieces of framed art on the walls, which at least keeps things from looking as barren as rooms at many similar properties in the region. Bathrooms feature terra cotta tile flooring, wall-mounted hairdryers, bidets, and shower/ tub combos. All rooms include free toiletries, air-conditioning, mini-fridges, and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, but no tea- and coffee-making facilities. Some rooms offers balconies or terraces with sea views. In-room Wi-Fi and safes are only available for an additional fee.

Like many of the mega-resorts in this part of Spain, there are plenty of on-site features to keep guests busy and occupied. Dining options include three buffet-style restaurants, four snack bars, a piano bar, nightclub, wine cellar, and a tapas bar. Many offer some type of nightly entertainment, though food quality and entertainment quality vary. All-inclusive options are available. The hotel offers several outdoor and indoor pools, plus three pool bars and sundecks lined with lounge chairs. Be advised that even during shoulder season visits, the pool chairs can be a hot commodity and hard to secure. The on-site spa facility is contemporary and stylish, with a heated pool, hot tub, Turkish bath, and sauna, plus massage and beauty treatments, and even a hair salon. The modern fitness center is massive, with free weights, plenty of treadmills, and stationary bikes, plus there's a squash court and outdoor tennis court. There's a children's park, kids' club, kids' entertainment, and shallow areas at the pool for children as well. The front desk operates 24/7 and offers services such as currency exchange, car hire, and dry cleaning for a fee. Wi-Fi and on-site parking are available for an additional charge.