Review date: 04 August 2008 - A HotelStreet visitor from Preston wrote:-

Review title: "Pokey Podium"
Travel date: August 2008
Now, I've stayed in Salou only once before and perhaps was spoilt by a recently renovated hotel in the south west of Salou but I don't think I'm being unfair on the Podium.

It's an ageing building which seems oddly crammed in between the rear grounds of two large complexes on the block. It's accessed via a cul-de-sac which seems always full in peak season so parking is a nightmare (and in the surrounding streets) but I'm sure this is the case generally in the area. There appeared to be an underground car park but it didn't appear available to us.

Reception were friendly and helpful. We had booked self catering and having climbed the heavily chipped stairs, found a reasonably sized room with bedroom and bathroom. The problem was the apartment was grubby, ageing and in our bathroom the sink was leaking and the bidet cracked and wobbly. In addition there was a recurring stink from the plumbing over the first two days. On reporting the problems to reception, the smell was fixed without a visit (suspect a blockage further up the line) but the sink and bidet remained.

The kitchen area was small but would have been OK had it been equipped with any sort of cutlery. There were pots, pans and some crockery but no tea towels and no cleaning utensils but, more importantly, no cooking utensils. It was also important to put away the fold out bed to allow enough space to get the table out and seat four at it.

The Podium is surrounded on one side by empty ground and on the other by a recently extended pool area from a neighbouring complex, suggesting the Podium is not long for this world.

On the good side, it's very close to one of the busier parts of Salou and Burger King was at the end of the road!

Review date: 15 July 2008 - A HotelStreet visitor from Northern Ireland wrote:-

Review title: "Podium Apartments - Well Worth Staying At!"
Travel date: June 2008
We went to stay at the Podium Apartments in June of 2008 for a fortnight and as a couple with two teenage boys and a nine year old boy, we had a great time. The apartments are well maintained, bright and have an excellent air con system in each of the rooms. We had a two bedroom apartment and it had more than enough room to cater for us.

The staff were extremely friendly and in particular the bar staff Omar and Monty ensured everyone enjoyed themselves. We spent most of our time at the pool side and indeed had a job getting our sons to come out of the pool, even when it was getting dark.

The Podium is far enough away to avoid the street noise (Salou is so lively) yet is only a few minutes walk to the main streets if you do want the craic! 'Charlie Chaplin's' and 'Christie's' are venues worth visiting for lively music and shows and the 'Boathouse' and 'Chippy' for very tasty food. Ten out of ten for service, value for money and friendliness at the Podium.

Review date: 26 May 2007 - A HotelStreet visitor from Ireland wrote:-

Review title: "Podium Apartments Need A Face Lift"
Travel date: May 2007
These apartments are not very suitable for kids and is very badly run. Entertainment is poor you have to go elsewhere each night to find it. While staying there, the bar man was giving everybody back wrong change more than once or twice. Was reported and nothing was done about it. Also, while staying there, the rooms were not keep clean, beds were not changed for the week we were there. Pool was dirty. Overall it was awful. Will not be going back, that's for sure.