Review date: 27 September 2008 - A HotelStreet visitor from Manchester, UK wrote:-

Review title: "Wouldn't Go Again, Ever!"
Travel date: September 2008
Well, me and my five friends, all 25 and 26 years old, have just returned on the 27th September from this hotel. We originally booked to go to Santa Susanna and stay at the Los Pinos hotel but Sun4udirect.com overbooked the hotel and moved us to the Pineda Palace in Pineda de Mar.

The hotel itself is quite nice, rooms are a decent size and the maid service is very good with them coming everyday. They have a nice jacuzzi and sauna which you have to book, like everything else (which I'll get to), but you have the room to yourself and or your party. The outside pool area is OK. We noticed a very odd smell from the pool side though, which wasn't very pleasant and the pool does have a bar, however, if you are all inclusive you can only have a drink from it, nothing else unless you pay.

Our group did go all inclusive and the drinks were pretty good, especially the measures of alcohol. You could get two each at any one time and you could have any local produce, of which there was loads of selection including cocktails of the day.

Now for the downside of the hotel. The food in the restuarant was OK but nothing more. It was pretty much the same everyday with one or two changes. Everything seemed to have tuna in it, which was quite bizarre. Quite a lot of the hot dishes were actually cold and the meat dishes. We had a couple of chicken dishes that we sampled to find they were completely uncooked. We did all find something to eat out of the selection each day but we were on most occasions less than satisfied.

The hotel staff were quite rude and not over friendly but maybe that was because we were English, as the entire hotel was filled with Dutch and Spanish holiday makers and they made their feelings apparent for us British, most of the time making us feel completely unwanted and it got quite embarrassing for us towards the end of the week.

We wanted a lively area, so that we could go out to the bars and clubs in the evening once we had made full use of our all inclusive board. However, that unfortunately was not how it ended up being. Pineda de Mar is very, very, very, very quiet. There are no bars and no clubs and literally nothing to do. There are other hotels that you can go in but all were about as exciting as ours. The Pineda Palace's idea of entertainment left a lot to be desired, especially when the staff ask you to join in with the entertainment and then do nothing but throw insults and discriminate you because of your nationality in front of the rest of the hotel, which is something else we experienced.

The hotel was full of people 60+ and that is no lie. As soon as the time hits midnight, the bar shuts, the lights are off and you are almost ordered up to your room, told be quiet as it's bedtime and if you make any noise, you are told you will be thrown out. The walls are so thin, you are then too scared to do anything in case you end up in trouble. As a group of young adults, not wanting to cause trouble but simply have a good time on holiday, we found it awful.

The beach is lovely and clean and the water is beautiful. I've never swum in the sea but for the first time ever, I spent quite a while in it. It was crystal clear and warm. The only downside again is that the beach is shingle and very tough on your feet and the current is very strong and after a couple of metres, the water is very deep and it can be hard to get back to the shore.

I feel I should also mention that the hotel does require you to book everything in advance, from using the spa, to going on trips and even pre-booking your snacks the day before, which was also quite amusing seeing as you had to guess whether or not you'd be hungry and at what time it would likely be. I am a mum of three and this was my first holiday with friends away from my family but I found Pineda de Mar just too quiet and wouldn't even recommend it for a family holiday. I would say it is suitable for the more mature people without kids or even as far to say pensioners only but definitely, definitely, definitely not for anyone wanting to have a bit of fun and even a sniff of a night out.

Review date: 09 November 2007 - A HotelStreet visitor from Glasgow, Scotland wrote:-

Review title: "Nice Hotel On The Sea Front"
Travel date: October 2007
A nice hotel, rooms very good, food not bad, staff a bit dour, hotel very near railway station and all in all a good hotel.

A ward of warning - the majority of rooms have a nice sea view but I noticed some with a brick wall view.

I had a good autumn holiday and would go back to the Pineda Palace.

Review date: 11 April 2007 - A HotelStreet visitor from Bedford wrote:-

Review title: "Pineda Palace"
Travel date: April 2007
I booked a five day break for my husband and I, which turned out to be a miserable time.
It started by the mini bus driver taking us on just over an hours journey, which was meant to be 20 minutes. We booked in Lloret de Mar but were taken to Pineda de Mar. We told the driver who discussed it with the hotel, but was told we would have to stay there overnight and we would be moved the next morning. We obviously did not unpack.

We went back to reception (as told) the following morning and were told to come back lunch time. We went out walking for three hours, came back and were told "come back this evening". We went back in the evening (still not unpacked) and were told "you cannot be changed unless you go to a three star hotel (not in Lloret de Mar) without a balcony”. We decided, as we were getting nowhere, to stay.

On the last of the five days, we were told we must be out of the room by 10 a.m. and our bus would pick us up at 6 p.m. As we were half board, we assumed we could have lunch that day as 6 p.m. was too early for dinner. We asked reception if that would be OK and were told "no more food for you - you have had breakfast and no more". We felt like naughty school children. We then asked if we could just go to the snacks area and have a bread roll, and again were told "no more food for you - you must not go to the snacks area".

As the weather was not good, we stayed around the hotel for the day and by 6.15 p.m. I had to ask reception if they had any idea why the bus was late. I was told "It has nothing to do with us you should have made sure your bus was going to turn up".

By 6.25 p.m. the bus arrived and we were glad to go and we would never want to return there again. The staff (including the manager) were most unhelpful and on some occasions, rude. From previous experience, I would rate the hotel three star and certainly not a four star.

Review date: 01 June 2006 - A HotelStreet visitor from Wishaw wrote:-

Review title: "Fantastic Hotel"
Travel date: May 2006
My husband and myself had a weeks all inclusive in the Pineda Palace and it was one of the nicest hotels we have stayed in. The hotel is spotless and the staff very warm and welcoming, highly recommended to anyone.

Review date: 08 May 2005 - A HotelStreet visitor from Dundee wrote:-

Review title: "Pineda Palace"
Travel date: April 2005
My husband and I booked a weeks all inclusive stay through Globe span on the internet about seven weeks before we went. We paid £540 for us both, which we thought was a good deal (we later found out that other people had got the same holiday for £360 booking a week ahead through local travel agents Thomas Cook, so if you want a last minute deal, the internet may not be the cheapest option).

We had emailed the hotel beforehand to see if we could pay extra to upgrade our room. What we asked for was a high floor with a sea view. We were told that they would do their best to accommodate us but that they did not reserve specific rooms for guests and that we could contact our tour operator to see if they could help us. We took their advice and emailed Globe span. In fact we emailed them on numerous occasions but they obviously were not interested in getting back to us. Why should they, they had already been paid in full and that was that!

The flights were on time and comfortable. Plenty of leg room which is quite unusual. The plane was a bit shabby but got us there fine. Staff very polite and helpful. On landing and collecting our luggage, we went to find our rep. There was only one rep for the whole flight so things were very slow, though to be fair, efficient enough. The transfer time was about one and quarter hours to our hotel, though longer for others at other resorts.

On arrival at the hotel we were escorted in by the rep, by the way his name was Joe. He was pleasant enough, though on the journey from the airport to the hotel he did not give the usual advice and commentary that you come to expect from reps.

We checked in to the hotel and were given our room number which, by the way, was room 111. I said to the receptionist that we have hoped to have a high floor with a sea view if possible and told her that we had booked the holiday seven weeks in advance and had emailed the hotel three times to discuss this, and that we were happy to pay any additional supplement. All of this was to no avail. We were told that we could not have another room as the hotel was full and that they could not guarantee what floor you would be on etc. We then got our pictures taken for the card that you are given as an all inclusive guest and made our way to our room. (I had asked the receptionist if our room was quiet and she said yes. Please do not trust anything they say, as it was above the bar and restaurant area so obviously this was not going to be the case).

We apprehensively opened the door. The room was absolutely fine, until we opened the curtains and found someone looking into our room from a block of resident flats about fifteen feet away. This, coupled to the fact that there was a canopy which rose above the whole first floor area and basically obliterated any sort of view that you could have had. We went straight back down to the reception and said that there was no way we were spending our weeks holiday in that room. The receptionist said that we could not be moved. I would not accept this so she went and got someone else who turned out to be the reservations clerk. She also said we could not be moved. This all went on for a while before we had had enough and asked to see the manager. To cut a very, very long story short, we got moved the next night to a room on the sixth floor, not a sea view, but we were more than happy with the room. The moral of the story is ignore the stroppy reservations clerk as she on more than one occasion had some shouting matches with the other guests, but ask to speak to the manager who will sort out any problems. A quiet unassuming man, we actually thought he was the caretaker at one time, until we saw him in action doing his rounds.

The hotel itself is very clean, good maid service and staff generally polite and helpful. Food was always of good quality and well cooked. The only trouble was there was not much choice, definitely seemed to cater more for the Spanish guests. Most nights we did find something to eat, if only chips and salad. Sometimes the soup left a lot to be desired. If you enjoy fish you will be fine as it is on the menu every night. In the restaurant some drinks are available, though it is advisable to take your drinks in from the bar as you will be charged for certain drinks. It is allowed to take drinks in from the bar, so you won't get into trouble for it. Snacks are served in the restaurant area only. These are limited. The only time we used this was on the last day and we found British sausages (you don't get these served at breakfast though) chips, beans and burgers.

At the bar local drinks and draught coke etc are free, but if you want branded drinks, they are available at a supplement. Beware if you are not all inclusive as hotel prices are very expensive - for a brandy and coke it was four euros 70 cents. Even soft drinks are dear. Drinks, including tea/coffee, are available from 10.00 am to midnight.

The pool is on the top floor of the hotel. We never went in but every one who did commented, normally in no uncertain terms, on how cold it was. Plenty of sun beds upstairs at pool area, but really uncomfy as no pads on them. Drinks available at pool bar served in plastic glasses, probably for safety reasons. There are toilets at the pool area around the side, two porta loos, but clean enough and saves having to go back to your room. Nice view from rooftop balcony, though be very careful if you are sitting outside the hotel on the bottom level, as when we were having a drink, a ball came flying down from the roof and just missed hitting us.

Breakfast is served from 07.00 am to 10.00 am, lunch from 01.00pm to 02.30 pm and dinner from 7.00 pm to 9.30 pm. Snacks are served at various times.

The beach seemed clean enough, though we never went down there ourselves; other guests seemed to enjoy it. As it was still very early in the season, Pineda was very quiet, what shops they did have sold all the usual tat. On Fridays there is a market outside the hotel, but to be honest, it was not that great. We had looked forward all week to spending some money, but ended up spending nothing.

Just outside the hotel along to the left is the train station which is really handy. We got the train to Barcelona for the day and it cost five euros 70 cents each for a return visit. Barcelona is great, very busy with lots to do. We got on the tourist bus, which cost 17 euros each for the day or you could have a two day ticket for about 21 euros. You basically can get on and of each of three buses which are split in to different coloured zones, each covering different places of interest. You are also given an information guide and a book of discount vouchers. Please be careful where you get of the train, we were told to get of at Sants, but it is actually the stop before that which is the main one for Barcelona. We also visited Santa Susanna and Blanes, both of which we enjoyed. When you get of the train at Blanes there are buses which take you in to the town centre, or you can ask for directions and walk, it is not that far.

Whilst we were on holiday the weather for the time of year was brilliant and overall we had what we came for, which was a relaxing break and to spend some quality time with each other. The hotel was nice but to be honest it was more three star than four. People expect different things when they are away on holiday and standards vary. Personally we would not return to the same hotel, but that does not mean we would not recommend it as it did have many positive qualities.

By the way the entertainment was varied and actually more enjoyable than we thought it would be, bearing in mind that there was not much else open so early in the season it was actually welcomed.

Please also be aware that Globe span are very strict on luggage allowance. On the way back people we had met were nine kilos over and were charged 63 euros for it. There was no option to take anything out their cases. BE VERY CAREFUL, they would not accept credit cards or British money, it was euros only.

Happy hols.