HTOP Royal Sun Family Suites

The H TOP Royal Sun Suites is an all-inclusive apartment-style hotel housed in a six-story beige building that is basically nondescript, though guest room balconies protrude on all sides. The entrance is directly off the street. Cafe seating is to one side, where guests can order pizzas and cocktails, and large potted plants separate the area from the street. Inside, the lobby is spacious but stark, with beige tile floors, and yellow walls and columns. Two maroon sectionals provide seating for guests who need to wait in the lobby. There's nothing particularly notable or intimate throughout the hotel -- common areas, including bars and restaurants, have almost no decor and are set with simple, mass-produced, cafeteria-style furniture. The pools on the roof are tiny and can get very crowded, especially given the number of children that stay here. The hotel draws mostly families -- many from the U.K. -- looking to take advantage of the location and the extra space provided by the apartments.

The hotel is located in Santa Susanna, a coastal town in the province of Barcelona about an hour's drive from the city of Barcelona. The hotel is a five-minute walk from the beach, and the neighborhood is full of other hotels, restaurants, shops, and bars. A shopping center is within a 15-minute walk. The Barcelona airport is about an hour away by car. Santa Susanna has a train station for travelers looking to make a day trip into Barcelona. The journey takes about 75 minutes, and the train station is about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. 

Decor is basic and rather stark, with blue and beige patterned bedspreads, beige tile floors, white walls, blue drapes, and light wood furnishings. Artwork consists of a single coastal scene in the bedroom and nothing else. All accommodations are apartments, with separate bedrooms and living spaces/kitchens, and can sleep up to six people. Strangely, a twin bed is right next to the dining table adjacent to the kitchen are, which could be inconvenient if all guests don't have the same sleeping habits or someone wanted to cook an early breakfast. That would be a challenge, though, because while the apartments include a small tiled kitchen area with a cooktop, there are no dishes, pots, or pans -- just glasses. Amenities include flat-screen TVs and air-conditioning, but there is a charge for Wi-Fi and safes. Small bathrooms have a bidet, hairdryers, and shower/tub combos plus spacious marble vanities and toiletries. Balconies have cheap plastic chairs and tables, and some have views of little more than the parking lot. Noise can be an issues from neighboring rooms and from outside of the hotel.

The buffet restaurant serves all meals, and guests can opt for an all-inclusive plan, though there are restrictions and restaurant/bar timings can be irregular. The dining space is basic, with few frills, and the food is mediocre at best. The rooftop pool is small, but there's a separate kids' pool for the littlest ones. Lounge chairs and umbrellas are provided on the pool deck, and there is a bar. The sea is visible over the surrounding rooftops, and the mountains can be seen in the other direction over a parking lot. An on-site game room has table tennis, pool, and air hockey, and there's a brightly colored TV room with sofa, tables, and chairs. Neither room is particularly inviting, however. The TOP Mini Club offers a variety of activities for children in a vibrant room dominated by pink, green, yellow, and blue. Guests have access to common areas at the hotel's sister properties, and a free shuttle takes them there in high season. Wi-Fi is not free.