Golden Donaire Beach Hotel

The main draw at the Golden Donaire Beach Hotel is its beachfront setting and location near a popular water park, Aquopolis Costa Daurada. There's little else that stands out here, but a sea-view pool deck, quality all-inclusive rates, and activities for children appeal to traveling families. Interiors are a mix of contemporary and dated, including rooms, though everything is largely simple (think Ikea-style wooden and plastic furniture) and clean-lined. A terrace bar, spacious pool deck, and many rooms have lovely views of the sea and beach, but rooms overlooking the pool hear more noise from poolside entertainment. Overall, this a good family-friendly pick for low-key travelers who don't mind having limited room amenities. 

As its name suggests, the hotel is located at the quiet end of La Pineda’s beach. Many families head to the nearby water park, Aquopolis Costa Daurada, which is about a 10-minute walk or three-minute drive from the hotel. Some restaurants, shops, and supermarkets are in the immediate surrounds, but travelers will have to head to La Pineda's center for a bigger selection -- it's about a 20-minute walk. Local buses and taxis are popular forms of transportation. Buses nearby can take travelers to Salou in about 10 minutes and Tarragona in 25 minutes away. Barcelona and its airport are 70 to 90 minutes away. Expect transfers to Reus Airport to take 20 to 25 minutes by car.

The 410 rooms at the Golden Donaire Beach Hotel consist of somewhat dated Standard Rooms and more modern Family Rooms. Standard Rooms are simple, featuring wooden floors and extremely basic wood furniture (no drawers), and dated linens consisting of brown-and-blue striped bedspreads and heavy blue drapes. These have simple, old-fashioned bathrooms with shower/tub combos, an array of toiletries, and wall-mounted hairdryers. Family Rooms, meanwhile, are modern and stylish, outfitted with lighter wood floors, green-gray accent walls and bed runners, and diamond-patterned walls behind beds. All, however, have furnished balconies, many of which provide lovely views of the sea. On the downside, those overlooking the pool may suffer from noise due to entertainment below. Standard amenities consist of small desks, chairs, wall-mounted flatscreen TVs, and closets. The two-bedroom Family Rooms add sitting areas with couches. No mini-fridges or kettles are provided, and safes require a fee. Wi-Fi is free, but lots of guests complain the signal doesn't reach rooms. Air-conditioning is provided from June to September.

With its family-friendly focus, it’s no wonder that the bulk of the amenities at the Golden Donaire Beach Hotel are aimed at keeping families with young kids in tow satisfied. There is a daily program of entertainment aimed at all ages, such as water volleyball, bingo, and dance and singing performances. Evening entertainment can go late. Many guests choose the all-inclusive package, which includes meals at the well-reviewed international buffet restaurant, snacks during the day, and non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks until late at the bar (including some international-brand liquor). While on-site, most guests congregate around the outdoor pool and separate kiddy pool and hot tub, which are set in a deck with ample loungers, umbrellas, and sea views. An indoor heated pool and sauna are also available. A small game room has a few arcade-style games and coin-operated rides, and there are billiards and air-hockey tables dotted around terraces.