I have stayed at the Hotel Portaventura 4 times with my family, and can heartily reccommend it. Sure it has some minor issues as you would expect from a hotel of this age and popularity, but the overall experience of service, food, sleep quality etc is excellent.

As with all hotels at some point we have had to move rooms (one particular stay the room was above a kitchen and particularly smelly) but our room was changed without fuss and of equal quality. If you dont like a particular room because of the view/noise, then the hotel are always happy to move you to somewhere better (subject to space of course).

Reception are always happy to greet you and help, all the restaurants are excellent food and service, even the small pizza place. Plus of course the bonus of getting straight into the Portaventura park with no queues, and the quiet swimming pools in the hotel.

If you want a quiet retreat with no noise, this is not the hotel for you. If you want a comfortable base with good food, access to the park, free parking and a good base to explore the local area, then this is perfect. Oh and the kids will love the evening entertainment.

When asked what the Children wanted for Xmas this year they asked if they could go to Disneyland Paris, as we had done this previously around the Xmas time. I priced it up and Disney was not viable but looking at options found Portaventura were offering half price deals and the warmer weather was very appealing.

We arrived at the resort at midday and booked in straight away and told our room was available. A quick unpack and straight into the park, which was right next door to the hotel.

The hotel was very functional, with free wifi in reception, and the room was clean but a bit cramped. As a hotel it was not that impressive, but as a base for Portaventura it was perfect.

We ate breakfast each day which was a good buffet offering hot and cold food and we also ate in the restaurant of an evening which was very nice and reasonable prices.

PortAventura hotel right next to the theme park with its own private entrance is a great hotel to use for a short visit to the park. The rooms are clean and spacious and have great views over the pools or water features that run right though the hotel. Breakfast was well presented and enjoyable.

A few minor points to consider.
The hotel is spread over a large area and can be a walk to get anywhere
English does not seem to be a key language

Apart from this a great family holiday resort.

There is only one reason why you would stay at this hotel - because it gives you free access to the theme park.

Here are are list of things this hotel is NOT

Quiet, intimate, chic, classy, well run, well designed, comfortable, close to everything, with great views, with friendly helpful staff.

Here is a list of things the hotel IS

Next to the theme park Port Aventura.

So don't come here for good food -it is OK but mostly luke warm. Don't come here for proximity to the centre of Salou - it is on the outskirts.

Most hotels have a lift in the lobby and stairs next to the lift. Not this one. The lifts are randomly placed throughout the buildings and the stairs are no where near them. So if you go to the lift and then think "oh it is only one flight I'll walk" forget it! The stairs are miles away and none of them bring you to the lobby. I would not want to get caught in a fire in that place.

TIP: Go to the next town over called Cambrills and hire biles from the grumpy old man just up from McDonalds and have a ride around the clearly marked cycleway along the coast. Dead flat and a lovely ride. Allow about 3 hours.