Reviews of Albatross Apartments, Salou, Spain

I have just returned from these...

Overall Rating:

2/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2008

Tour Operator:

Booked Independently

Submitted By:

Mrs L Ross

Comments:

I have just returned from these apartments and would not go again. Air conditioning costs £110 euros for 2 weeks and you also have to pay £110 deposit for breakages. We didn't notice until halfway through our holidays that one of the white plastic chairs on the balcony was broken (it was propped up in the corner with the table jammed up against it) and stupidly didn't report it. On leaving we were charged 20 euros for the broken chair. They wouldn't listen when we said we hadn't broken it. The apt was in need of modernisation and the cleaners didn't sweep the floors/mop them once whilst we were there for 2 weeks. Our apt had a terrible smell when you went into the toilet but the smell did go away after a few days. Sheets didn't fit the beds properly and the sheets and towels were old and worn. They appeared at our door at 5 p.m. one night and gave us the bedding to change the beds ourselves. They didn't rinse the bath or clean anything and you were given 1 roll of toilet roll every 2 days - we spoke to various guests who had gone out and bought their own! There was a brush and mop in the toilet so maybe we were supposed to clean the flat ourselves. We were above the bar but there wasn't much noise because all apartments have shutters. The bar/restaurant in the apartments was excellent serving good food. Not enough sunbeds for the amount of apartments and there is also a few residential apts. Guests queued in the morning to put their towels down - some guests actually put their towels down the night before. The location of the apartments was good with a slight hill to reach them. If you went out of the back of the hotel there was a lovely beach - it was ok going down to it but the steps getting back up were very steep.

Of all our holidays, this has to...

Overall Rating:

1/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Sep 2008

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mrs G Deadman

Comments:

Of all our holidays, this has to be the worst accommodation we've ever stayed at.

The apartment had a pull down bed, with dangerous metal bits sticking out of it.

Self catering? They're having a laugh!

The pool is unheated and freezing.

The staff are totally indifferent, except when it comes to getting your STRUCTURAL damage deposit back, especially if you're British. You have to lay out £80 odd when you check in, NOT explained by First Choice. These deposits date back many years when some Brit lager louts stayed in Salou. When it comes to claiming back your deposit, we had to wait while they checked our room (we are in our late 50's!) for structural damage!!!!!!! A German couple standing next to us got their money back immediately...no check. 20 minutes later, we got the money back. NEVER would we go to the Albatross again.

after booking these apartments i...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2008

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr I Mcintosh

Comments:

after booking these apartments i checked some of the reviews and i have to admit i was not looking for anything special, but when we arrived myself ,wife and two daughters aged 15 and 10 were pleasantly surprised ,although the apartment was basic it was clean and had a great view overlooking the sea and as my youngest commented it was only a base to sleep and sometimes eat in. downstairs at the pool although a bit cold it was quiet and refreshing in the morning and a bit busier around 4ish when the sun came round. downstairs at big Als you get a big plate of various dishes and although good we found a little pub up the road called the Brittania which served great food and had a great homely apmosphere , ran by sue and ken it had quizzes, games ,and they always had time to sit and join in with people. we purchased 14day passes for port adventura but to be honest a 3day or 7day pass would have been better as you queue quite a bit during the day we went a couple of times at night which was a lot better as there was no queuing about 9.30 till closing time at 12.00 when there is a great display before heading home on the local bus (around 6.50 euros for four) we tried to avoid the main beach as it was packed and we found 3 small beaches 2 mins from apartments which were hilly to get to but worth it. overall we had a great stay in a good resort and great apartments and i would recomend it ian mcintosh. edinburgh

Salou itself is very hilly....

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

May 2008

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Ms Ba Carr

Comments:

Salou itself is very hilly. Especially if you have a buggy or pushchair and older people in the group but, the coastline and beaches are wonderful and the sea is enticing. Not a lot to do in the evenings though. In fact not alot to do in the daytime once you come off the beach and now that the pound has lost in value against the euro I would reccomend staying full board or all inclusive. That said the apartment we stayed in was a double bedroom place with seperate lounge, kitchen and bathroom. Lovely big balcony with sea views that was kept very clean. If you just want a chill out break this is the place. But, beware the hills everywhee you go and take plenty to keep the kids amused!!

Went to Albatross for the 3rd...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2007

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr S WILKINSON

Comments:

Went to Albatross for the 3rd time and it was just as always - fabulous! Great location and a real friendly atmosphere. Staff always the same - charming and brilliant, especially Mr Liverpool in Als Bistro - quality! They always remember you which is nice. Explore Tarragona (a cultural delight) and charming easy going Cambrils - Salou aint bad neither - No nasty young yobbo brits just good clean fun.

Good location, close to three...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2007

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr D Costello

Comments:

Good location, close to three beaches. Hotel good, Big Als bistro also very good with good food and entertainment.



The two owners Al and Derek good hosts and will help with any queries you have about parks etc.



Nice walk into town centre along the seafront with lots of handy bars to have a pit stop!



Beaches very safe for kids, though people who have difficulty walking may find the steps on and off the beach hard going.



There is a bus service to all parks etc just over the road as well as a little train which also stops outside the hotel.



The hotel provides a luggage room for when you book out which has a shower/toilet facilities.

We had a great holiday here....

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2007

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs L Brackenridge

Comments:

We had a great holiday here. The accommodation was great, although a bit noisy at night. We paid extra for the air conditioning which was great, we were able to shut the windows at night and that helped to keep out some of the noise. Food in the bistro was great too. Pool was great although area round the pool could have been bigger for the size of the accommodation. Favourite restaurants in the resort were Sinatras and Rio Grande - food was amazing!! Portaventura is just out of this world, well worth a visit. Would definitely go back.

This holiday was excellent, had...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2007

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Miss J Sims

Comments:

This holiday was excellent, had tears in my eyes carrying my suitcase out to airport.



Weather 30 - 34 degrees every day, apartments clean, spacious, friendly reception staff.



But best of all Big Al's Bistro on bottom floor. Entertainment fab, friendly, great food, great prices, please go to Al's famous barbecue, and taste them chicken kebabs, it was excellent especially the live parrot show when they were riding roller skates, amazing.



Pool - small but nice, service to the tables, location just nice as its 5 mins off the edge of main promenade so not right in the hustle and bustle but you do have the choice, if I had my way it would have been an all inclusive in the Albatross instead of self catering.



I’m so depressed, home for 1 day, watching the rain pouring down the window, when I could be there, oh dear.



Supermarket joined on to the apartments where a lot of souvenirs were cheaper than main Salou; cap Salou only 15 mins walk the other side of hotel across a smaller promenade.



Please, please if you are British you will love these apartments, so down to earth and friendly, had deposit back, no problem, but beware it will cost 80 pound deposit when you get there, but I done my homework on hotel so expected it.



Salou in itself, great, very busy, more family's than anything, Portaventura was nice, but I wouldn't go there again, had 7 day pass for price of three.



Done 2 days there as every ride was 1hr wait, Spanish kids just push past and pretend they don’t understand you saying “back of queue" conveniently, apparently it was their start of their 10 week summer leave at 20th of June so wrong time really, most rides are so mad, smaller kids age approx up to 8/9 not tall enough.



Must take train ride there as it picks up everywhere and drops off right outside gates, where buses drop off down road and its one big trek in heat off bus.



Went to Aquapolis rather than the Caribe water park next door as so many people preferred Aquapolis, lovely day out, worth the money, you can even swim with the sea lions, and have photos taken professionally there, plenty of photographers everywhere there which you can buy 5 Euros each or less for more.



Beaches clean, graffiti put me off when going on transfer on bus, I thought oh dear, but when arrived at Salou it wasn’t like that, airport bit small not like Cardiff, but then if Wales hasn’t got the weather it’s got the best airport.



Lots of bars, clubs to visit, just sorry didn’t have time for Barcelona football stadium, and the shops but such an eventful week, just had to do some relaxing by pool and keep eating that excellent food they were serving.



Hope this is all you need to know, big thank you to Big Al and Kim from the bistro bar for making our holiday, if I go back to Salou again, it’s there I will be staying, gracias Albatross, hasta la vista.

Just returned from Salou after a...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Sep 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Miss J JAZZ

Comments:

Just returned from Salou after a week at the albatross. overall a cheap and cheerful holiday, lots of good restaurants and bars, more shops that you can get round although all selling the same tacky things geared at tourists, have a look at the artists drawing the portraits really good for around £35, the Chinese man near the little fair rides is probably the best ,we were told we couldn’t buy a one day pass to Portaventura but you can in fact many of the bars etc offer free entry tickets if you buy 2 pints of lager ha ha no problem for our group of 6 which gave 3 of us a free day out great...Uncle Sam’s the American dinner is cheap and the portions are typically American big...were as cippys next door good to and really friendly staff. Beaches were ok although loads of steep steps would be a problem for some as would the hilly areas that Salou has. I had read some reviews before we went and was dreading it after reading some comments but we were all pleased with everything best of all only a ninety min flight no delays a great last min cheap deal and still hot....

We found the accommodation very...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2004

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr A Gilbert

Comments:

We found the accommodation very good, and I know it as been updated ,they were building an indoor pool at the time. There were 4 adults and 2 children in our party, and the room was brill as for the balcony it was massive.



I have just been looking at the pictures of the apartments on the internet, and to me it looks as if they have made it even better. The food was great, service you could not go wrong the bar staff looked after us very well, never waited for a drink as soon as you walked in it was their brill.



I would recommend this hotel to anyone. We will be visiting the apartments this year in June for meals and hoping to catch up with the staff in big Al’s bar. Thanks albatross for a great 2weeks holiday, see you soon.



From Steve, Alan, Jackie, Lynda, and the kids.

Last year I stayed with my mum,...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2006

Tour Operator:

Airtours

Submitted By:

Miss H.M.G.B Barker

Comments:

Last year I stayed with my mum, sister, cousin and my mums boyfriend, for two weeks. I thought the rooms were a good size and the rooms were bright.



I had fun at the bistro bar, big al and his wife were really nice and they made our holiday even better because we felt welcome. Even though I had to walk up a hill to get back to my apartment from when I had been up town, I still didn't mind because I enjoyed the walk.



I am coming again this year at the end of June with two of my friends, for two weeks again! Can't wait until I get their. Thanks for having me last year. Xo

The staff in the Bistro bar of...

Overall Rating:

6/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Oct 2005

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs T Bradshaw

Comments:

The staff in the Bistro bar of these apartments called big Al’s are a rating of 10 for me and my family, to me the Bistro Bar made the stay at the Albatross great.



The food is superb and the service second to none, Thomson reps were not available most of the time and i was advised by the bistro staff of great places to visit and what was worth the money, the staff at the albatross were ok if you needed them, but we felt the staff in the bar were very helpful in all aspects of information we needed to ask. I would go back but only if the Bistro bar was open with the same people that run it now.


"Guys give yourself a well earned pat on the back"


Teresa, Kevin, Kayleigh.

Salou the resort was first class...

Overall Rating:

6/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2003

Tour Operator:

JMC Holidays

Submitted By:

Mr C Young

Comments:

Salou the resort was first class with a great beach and many small beaches too.



The theme park is great for kids although I advise buying a weekly or even fortnightly pass as there is to much to do(and too much waiting for the rides) to do it all in a couple of days. Bars to go to are flower of Scotland if you are Scottish (as we are).



Couldn’t go to many bars due to kids. Accommodation was basic but ok. Small bar but entertainment was put on by the bar staff when they didn’t need too so was much appreciated. Apartments were a bit of a walk from centre of resort but bus and taxi seen us all right.



Overall Salou is first class and we hope to be back soon.

Went to albatross on 21/10/05....

Overall Rating:

5/10

Board Basis:

Self Catering

Date of Holiday:

Oct 2005

Tour Operator:

Holiday Nights

Submitted By:

Mr P Legate

Comments:

Went to albatross on 21/10/05. If you are fit then this is the place for you, nice walk to town centre, but walking back with a belly load of food and drink is a nightmare, apartments good we had a 2 bed lots of room, this was just a half term break for my 3 children, after missing spain for 5 years the only things that have changed is that there are not many Spaniards left in Salou, the euro has killed the place.



Salou is the place to visit if you like egg and chips and a mug of tea but not for me Blackpool in the sun springs to mind. beaches are nice, Barcelona is an eye opener you must visit the nou camp stadium. A cheap holiday to get there but not to stay there, unless you want to cook the whole of your break then is this a break I ask.