California Garden

1 reader found this review helpful

Have just got back from this Hotel 4 days ago and had a fabulous time! I do not agree with any of the negative comments regarding this Hotel.
The Hotel itself is very modern and clean and has a great pool area. The Food was fantastic - Lots to choose from however the menu does get repeated every seven days. Even my 6 year old who is quite a fussy eater enjoyed the food.
The evening entertainment is quite average but it's normally the same where ever you go. The daytime entertainment was better, a lot going on for the kids such as mini golf and water polo. A lot of people mentioned the staff were rude but they were not. They may have come across that way but they made a fuss of my daughter and were very friendly when spoken to. I think the language barrier may have been why some of the staff came across rude.
The Hotel is in a fantastic Location, 5 mins walk to a supermarkiet, 10 mins to the shops and 10 mins walk to Port Adventura. I have to say that yes there was a lot of noise outside the Hotel in the evening but we did not hear a thing once the doors to the balcony were closed even though there was a night club across the road. We all slept straight through everynight.
Overall we had a fantastic time the only negative comment I have was that our transfer dropped us off at the Apartments side of the hotel so we had to walk through the pool area with our cases but that aside it was brilliant and would definatley go back again with the family!!

1 reader found this review helpful

After reading the reviews before we weny we were a bit concerned especialy as our 6 year old grandaughter was coming.
On arrival we were pleasantly surprised as the hotel was very clean and modern.
Our rooms were the same, clean bright and modern. The bathroom was new and modern with clean towels every day.
Our balcony was great we could see the rides at portaventura and the fireworks there every night.
The pool area was large with a large number of sunloungers available, if towels were left on loungers for long they would be taken off by the lifeguard.
The food at breakfast and in the evening was good with a good variety, and our grandaughter loved it.
We found if you spoke to the staff they were friendly and made a fuss of our grandaughter, all waving when we were going home and wishing us well.

2 readers found this review helpful

Our hotel, like many other Thomas Cook holiday makers was changed the day before departure from the 4* California Palace and downgraded to this god awful place. Having read the reviews we assumed people were making a fuss over nothing, how wrong we were! I really have nothing good to say about this or the way Thomas Cook have treated us. The room was small although clean. Upon arrival we were directed to the second block (overlooking the nightclub) by a non-smiling, unwelcoming member of staff, the first of many. I speak Spanish and also enjoy Spanish food as I do not go abroad to eat what I can eat at home. However, what was served was stewed beyond belief and tastless prompting us to spend a ridiculous amount of many eating outside of the hotel. The plates and cutlery were covered in food debris which leads me to ponder over the food hygene in the kitchen if they cannot even clean the dishes! And the food was often recycled into cold salad style bits the next meal time. Staff would ignore you until they really had to respond. I had to row with the reception staff on our last evening as they refused to let me into the bar area to look at our pick-up time for the morning. He said it was 'not his problem'.
We went out eah day and evening to avoid the place as much as possible although with 2 tired kids and parents due to lack of sleep this was a chore and not the pleasure it should have been. For starters our original family hotel was situated in a quiet area, the California Gardens is right on top of 'mini-Magaluf' you will get no rest here. The nightclub music starts at 1am and is still going on at 7am! How loud could it be? We thought, until the second night of booming bass music, shouting drunk kids and cars screaming around the car-park.
I have never once complained about a holiday but please if it is not too late DO NOT STAY HERE AND IF THOMAS COOK OFFER YOU YOUR MONEY BACK BEFORE DEPARTURE TAKE IT DO NOT RISK THE DOWNGRADE!!!!

2 readers found this review helpful

After reading the reviews i was in two minds as to whether the hotel would be ok or not. We actually stopped in the apartments which are across a busy road from the hotel. The pool and entertainment (if you can call it that was based in the hotel). Well, where do i start?
The room was v basic and v dated and dirty, if you walked around the room bare footed your feed would end up black, the bathroom smelt of urine.
We went half board, breakfast wasnt too bad, but dinner wasnt served until 7.30pm which is late if you have young kids and was kinda ok for the first 2 nights but after that the food was near enough the same every night, ok if you love chips!
The pool area was dire, no individual parasols, only 5 large ones which early birds hogged as soon as they got up and even then the waiter put the umbrellas down if the wind blew slightly. There was no other shade around the pool. The area around the pool became v slippy when wet and nearly every child slipped over.
The entertainment in the day must have been that good that i missed it and the evening entertainment didnt start until 10pm (kids mini disco!!). We asked to move rooms in the end as we ended up next to a v noisy room of mum and 2 daughters who thought it was acceptable to come in every evening at 4am and then play music til 5am! The new room they gave us was so much better but the balcony door didnt lock. To be honest we were glad to go home! Would not recommend this hotel if you are a family with young kids, or in fact kids of any ages!

5 readers found this review helpful

I went to California Gardens 3 years ago with my family and loved it. Its in a perfect location just a few minutes walk from everything and close to the beach. The rooms were clean and the staff was very friendly. The pubs are great especially Danny Boys!
Infact I liked it so much Im going back to California Gardens in a week with my boyfriend. Dont listen to the negative reviews, I didnt have any troubles with them before and doubt I will again. The pools are clean and the evening entertainment is great.
I would definitley recommend it!

1 reader found this review helpful

great hotel but food not great
would recomend it to families with more than one child as 1 child on its own may get bored xxxx

1 reader found this review helpful

Well what can i say the break was welcomed,The staff are far from friendly,so wot can i say!!!

5 readers found this review helpful

My boyfriend and I have just returned from a weeks holiday at California Gardens. The hotel is brilliant, totally spotless and the staff are very friendly. Our room was tidied and we got clean towels every day. I was a bit worried after reading the reviews about the food, but we had no complaints at all. I am quite a fussy eater, but there was always something that I enjoyed! The breakfasts were great with a huge choice of food.
There is a nightclub close the the hotel, we never heard any noise from it at all, however some people we met said that they heard the nightclub come out at 5am each day. i think it depends on what side of the hotel your room is at.
The 2 swimming pools are very nice and the bar at the poolside is handy. There is always a lifeguard on duty, which is great for families with children.
The night time entertainment was great, ranging from brazillian dancers and fire eaters to a michael jackson tribute and there was always a mini disco for kids early evening.Previous reviews complained that the entertainment is in Spanish, but if you dont like this, dont go on holiday to spain!!The majority of the guests in the hotel were spanish anyway so it makes sense to have the entertainment in spanish. We went out most nights to a great Irish pub called danny boys just a 5 min walk away.
This was a fantastic hotel in a great location and we will be returning as soon as possible! would recommend it to anyone! :D

3 readers found this review helpful

Dont listen to the negative reviews.. the hotel was absolutely fine! Go and see for yourself!!
It was very clean, rooms tidied and cleaned every day. All the staff were very welcoming and friendly! The entertainment was good, not all was spanish, but even if it was.. you're in Spain and they are trying to give you a taste of their culture!! Dont like it go to Blackpool! There was also a childrens disco most nights.
If going to Salou I would advise getting the road train at the beginning of your holiday and just riding it right the way round (3 euros per person(over 4yrs I think)) it will give you a great idea of where everything is, and most stuff is in walking distance! I had a lovely time in California Gardens, and would defo go back.
The only downside for me were that there werent individual parasols to put by your sun beds, there are only a few large ones already in place. However there are trees by the smaller pool which are nice for shade.

1 reader found this review helpful

I have just returned after spending 2 weeks in California Garden Hotel, never again. The room was very basic, balcony overlooking a busy car park, although the room was tidied every day, I don't think it was ever dusted, I wrote my name on the bedside cabinet in the dust. The restaurant was something else, starting at the entrance, there was a man who wasn't too bad, but the woman was more like a bouncer who made you feel very unwelcome. The food was like the cheapest you could get, then badly cooked. Evening dinner had pork on the menu every night, as an alternative you could try the fish which still had the head and eyes on. The table clearers whipped your plate away as soon as you finished your meal. Entertainment (sic) was aimed purely at the Spanish guests.I could go on and on ,but I'll stop here and advise anyone thinking of using California Garden, DON'T !