Detailed review by jl132
jl132
Manchester, United Kingdom93%
For five years I was "forced" to go on holiday to Spain. Four times to the same place, in the same hotel in Salou. Salou you can only party and drink, most people seem to think. We, I and my parents went in the after season to this coastal town on the Spanish Costas. The atmosphere is than better in my eyes and you have less of the ‘riots’ in the summer. One time we decided to go in the summer. This time with friends, not the parents. It's fun to do and recommend it to young people. Low season is more for all ages. I went four times to the Royal Hotel Da Vinci, and I know the ins and outs of the hotel by now though.
The hotel
If you would see the hotel separate then it would be a impressive, large white building with the hotel name on it. On the side it has the logo of the chain (Best Hotels). There are around the building the necessary trees and they put down a red carpet at entrance with a glass roof. This all seems wonderful and do not get me wrong, it is. Only in Salou there are a hundred more of these buildings, so it does not really stand out.
The entrance is elegant, the huge glass roof and the red carpet gives you really the idea you are walking into a luxury resort. If you are inside you only need to walk straight on to get to the reception. The area consists of an entrance hall where they used marble. Everything gleams here and I feel every time I stay impressed. In five years time, not much has changed. In fact, everything shines exactly the same.
Service
The service is always very important when I visit the hotel, I want to be welcomed friendly and want fast service, but I’m not a pushover and when they are understaffed for some reason I can understand because I'm on vacation, so no stress.
The Reception
The reception desk of the hotel is like an oiled machine. The service here is as it should be with no extras. You will be helped and that's it. I think it's a pleasant way, I don’t somebody who’s tries to hard at the reception to help me. I do miss here a smile or two.
Restaurant
In five years time there has not changed much. Staff speaks little English and seems to be always busy with something. It’s a buffet and is something is finished they make sure it’s replaced with the minute.
Room service
I used once the room service and that was a very good experience I must say. I had a bottle of champagne delivered. Brought by a Spaniard with a cheerful smile and a pink bow around the bottle. Nice job and a positive thing.
Rooms
I myself have stayed in two types of rooms and the hotel offers a total of three main types.
Studio four
All four person rooms have a balcony. I have stayed three times in this room and all the times with a balcony. The rooms are not extremely big, but if you look at the price / quality looks you get what you paid for. When you walk in you have to the right to the bathroom (with bath and shower). Walk straight on and you have a living area with sofa bed (for the third and fourth person). Here are two chairs, a sofa, TV, closet, desk and of course the kitchen. Reasonably spacious and seats four people during the day. It is located next to a double room with plenty of space for clothes, with a TV, desk and chair. The balcony can be accessed via the living room.
Studio two persons
Here I stayed once and was happy about it. It is similar to the previous type but only the living room is a lot smaller. The disadvantage is that these rooms do not always have a balcony, you can still specify your preference but that does not mean anything. It had a comfortable bed. You also have this room in separate beds variant (the twin room).
Facilities
Bar Cafe: On the first floor, you'll find the bar. During the day you can go here for a game of pool, snooker and pinball. The evening you can go here for entertainment, drinks and fun. Very spacious with comfortable chairs. The bar operates normal prices (read: € 2 euros for a normal pint of beer) and numerous beverages. Including a few local drinks that I can not recommend people with weak stomach. This bar is so well regarded in terms of live music and other entertainment that people from surrounding hotels are often present. A big plus!
Restaurant: Situated opposite the bar and spacious with lots of use of marble. The service I have already discussed and is therefore a bit disappointing. About the food I have nothing to complain. It offers full and half-pension (a difference whether or not including dinner) and I can recommend to have full pension. The food is in buffet form, so you can pick when and how much you want. All meats and fish are clearly explained with a sign. This will prevent you ever eat something that you don’t want. Many choice of fruit. Big plus!
Pool: The hotel has its own pool with plenty of room to swim laps. There is also a pool for the children among us. What I find annoying is that many guests have their own seat "claimed" early in the morning to lay out a towel. The hotel has a U-shape and is around the pool
Other facilities: free WiFi internet access, children's playground, parking, luggage room behind reception, lockers, tours, sunbathing area.
Conclusion
Of course I'm pleased with this hotel otherwise I would not choose to come here for four more times. There are downsides, such as the fast service at the restaurant, but they are nothing compared to the positive points that I mentioned in the review. Very nice I think that you get for the same price an kitchen and other facilities compared to another hotels who doesn’t have these things. For current prices it's best to surf www.besthotels.es. The prices are similar to the other hotels nearby, but the facilities here are better. The bar is cozy and has lots of entertainment, from music to magic. I recommend this hotel to anyone from young to old. In the low and high season. Da Vinci Royal is affordable, clean and has lots of facilities with additional amenities to the apartment.
Best Da Vinci Royal7
