A travel agents review of Salou
I recently spent a week at the Ponient Marinada in Salou in July 2026, travelling with my wife and our two children, and overall we had a really enjoyable family holiday.
From the moment we arrived, we found the hotel to be clean, friendly and welcoming. The staff were pleasant and the hotel had a good family atmosphere. Our room was clean and comfortable, and the hotel is in a really handy location for getting out and about around Salou.
One thing we particularly enjoyed was the food. We’ve all been on holidays where you’re eating the same thing every day, but that wasn’t our experience here. There was plenty of variety at mealtimes, with enough choice that everyone in the family could find something they liked. Obviously, not every dish will suit everyone, but we thought the selection was more than good enough for a family holiday.
The snack bar was also handy during the day. You had the usual family favourites — burgers, chips and nuggets — but there were also pizzas, fresh fruit and other options, which was a nice touch. Drinks were varied and perfectly fine too.
Review of Salou
For us, Salou is a great choice for a family holiday. There are beautiful sandy beaches, a long promenade, plenty of shops, restaurants and bars, and loads to keep children entertained. Salou has more than 9km of coastline, including the main family-friendly beaches and smaller coves.
If you have children, we’d definitely recommend a day at PortAventura World — although be prepared for the heat and queues in July! The combination of the theme park, beach and resort means you can easily mix busy days out with relaxing days around the pool or on the beach.
Our tip would be don’t spend the whole holiday around the hotel. Get out and explore Salou, walk the promenade in the evening, head down to the beach and try some of the local restaurants. There are also plenty of activities and excursions available if you fancy doing something different.
Would we return to Salou and this hotel?
For a family of four, we’d happily recommend the Ponient Marinada. It’s not a luxury 5-star resort, but if you’re looking for a clean, friendly, family-focused hotel with plenty of food choice and a good location, we had a great experience.
Chris is the manager of our Cullercoats branch - pop in to see him or give the branch a call on 0191 464 7298.
