Goya Salou Apartments: Your Dream Spanish Escape Awaits!
Goya Salou Apartments: My Spanish Escape, With All the Messy Bits!
Okay, let's be real. Planning a vacation is hard. Then you see a place like Goya Salou Apartments promising a "Dream Spanish Escape" and you think, "Alright, sign me up!" So, did it deliver? Well, buckle up, because this review is gonna be less perfectly polished brochure and more… me, spilling my Sangria over the keyboard (figuratively, of course… mostly…).
Accessibility: The Good, The Okay, and the "Hmm…"
First things first: Accessibility. Goya Salou, bless their hearts, do have facilities for disabled guests. That’s a huge plus in my book. Seeing that lift made me breathe a sigh of relief – not everyone is built like a Spanish matador! But… and there’s always a but… the website doesn’t scream detailed accessibility information. A bit more info would be fantastic, especially with the ramps, the entryways' width, etc.
Wheelchair Accessible: This is a point requiring more research before booking to get the actual details.
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges: Could be a game changer to have this added.
Getting Around: The Car, the Airport, and the Tiny Tiny Taxi Ride
So, you can grab airport transfers, which is always a win, especially after the hellscape of baggage claim. Speaking of which, never underestimate the emotional toll of a lost suitcase. You'll be grateful for that pre-booked transfer, trust me. They also have free parking, which is a godsend, you know! That said, I was stuck on choosing the best option to get around the property. Having a car power charges station is great but I wonder whether that will be enough for a full day.
Services & Conveniences: From the Unexpected to the "Oh, That's Nice"
- Elevator: Yasss! Saves my calves. Always check for this when booking!
- Concierge: Always great to have a helpful person!
- Luggage storage: Necessary! Especially if you have one suitcase that is twice the regular size.
- Meeting/banquet facilities: Useful if you happen to be hosting a secret spy summit. Or, you know, a work thing.
- Food delivery: Sweet nectar of the gods after a long day of… everything.
- Daily housekeeping: Honestly, it is nice to come back to a made bed, even if you're just going to mess the sheets up again later.
- Laundry service: Perfect if you spill your Paella sauce on yourself. (Which, let's face it, is practically inevitable).
- Cash withdrawal: Always a good idea. Because you never know when you'll need that emergency churro money.
- Dry cleaning: If you are going for a really posh event or really don't know how to wash clothes.
Dining & Drinking: A Paella-Fueled Adventure (Mostly!)
Alright, let's get to the good stuff. Food. Is it Spanish if you don't eat until you can barely breathe? I think not.
- Restaurants: They have a few, promising both buffet and a la carte situations. Buffet can be a hit or miss, especially if they don't refresh things fast enough. I personally prefer a la carte.
- Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine, Vegetarian Restaurant: I'm generally not at breakfast to expect Asian but a Vegetarian restaurant is always a great option while abroad
- Poolside bar: Sun, pool, and cocktails? Yes, please! Though, let’s be honest, I mostly stuck to sangria…
- Room service: 24-hour! Because sometimes you just NEED those late-night patatas bravas.
- Snack bar, Coffee shop: Essential. Fuel for exploration and, well, literally everything.
The Room: Comforts of Home (and Then Some)
Now, the apartment itself. It was… good. Not necessarily "dream escape" perfect, but definitely comfy.
- Air conditioning: THANK GOD! The Spanish sun is no joke!
- Wi-Fi [free]: Crucial for the endless scrolling (don’t judge me).
- Kitchen: Always nice to have the option of cooking. Especially if you’re on a budget (or, you know, just want to try your hand at making paella… disastrously, in my case). The kitchen also had all the essential condiments.
- Extra-long bed: Essential for those who are taller or who want a good night sleep.
- Coffee/tea maker: Coffee in the morning while overlooking the view!
- Blackout curtains: Absolutely necessary to fight that intense Spanish sunrise!
- Internet access – wireless: Needed for work, social media, and ordering pizzas for midnight cravings.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Spa Day Dreams, Reality Check
Okay, let's be real here. I loved the idea of the spa. Pool with a view? Sign me up! The promise of a sauna? Heavenly.
- Spa/sauna: I never got a chance to try this but sounds amazing!
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: Essential! Especially on a hot day.
- Gym/fitness: Needed to be in shape after the buffets.
- Massage, Body scrub, Body wrap (not sure if available): Need to have this to come back home feeling relaxed.
- Poolside bar: Sun, pool, and cocktails? Yes, please! Though, let’s be honest, I mostly stuck to sangria.
Cleanliness & Safety: The Sanitization Situation
Let's address the elephant in the room… or, well, the germs. COVID, am I right?
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Good. Makes me feel safe.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Very reassuring.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Necessary.
- Hand sanitizer Very happy to have this.
For the Kids: If you have em'
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: This is all really important for a family holiday.
The Imperfections: My Little Gripes and Emotional Detours
Alright, here's where things get real. Because, let’s face it, no place is perfect, not even a Spanish escape.
- The Website: Seriously, Guys! While the website has all of these categories, certain details are not very clear. It could improve.
- The Paella Mishap: Okay, listen, I tried to cook paella in the apartment. I found all the ingredients, I read the recipe. I even watched a YouTube tutorial! But… the result? A culinary catastrophe. Rice was either undercooked or burnt. The seafood? Mostly crunchy. My advice is: stick to ordering it from the restaurant. Trust me.
- The Noise Issue: There was some ambient noise. It didn't ruin the holiday, and the soundproofing probably works, but you are likely to have to deal with it by wearing earplugs.
- The Price-Value Relationship I guess the price is pretty good for the location and the services they provide.
Final Verdict: Would I Go Back?
Okay, all things considered? Yes, I'd go back. Goya Salou Apartments is a solid option. Yes, there were a few hiccups, a culinary disaster, and a website that needs a bit more work, but the location is great, the staff were helpful, and the overall experience was positive. It's the kind of place that feels like a good base for your own adventures.
SEO & Metadata:
Title: Goya Salou Apartments: My Dream Spanish Escape (The Messy Truth!)
Meta Description: Honest and funny review of Goya Salou Apartments, covering accessibility, amenities, dining, and everything in between. Get the real scoop before you book your Spanish escape!
Keywords: Goya Salou Apartments, Salou Spain, Spanish vacation, apartment review, travel review, accessibility, spa, pool, restaurants, family friendly, value for money, things to do, messy review, honest review, Spain, costa dorada
URL Slug: goya-salou-apartments-review
Headings: (as used above)
- Goya Salou Apartments: My Spanish Escape, With All the Messy Bits!
- Accessibility: The Good, The Okay, and the "Hmm…"
- Getting Around: The Car, the Airport, and the Tiny Tiny Taxi Ride
- Services & Conveniences: From the Unexpected to the "Oh, That's Nice"
- Dining & Drinking: A Paella-Fueled Adventure (Mostly!)
- The Room: Comforts of Home (and Then Some)
- Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Spa Day Dreams, Reality Check
- Cleanliness & Safety: The Sanitization Situation
- For the Kids: If you have em'
- The Imperfections: My Little Gripes and Emotional Detours
- Final Verdict: Would I Go Back?
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into the utter glorious chaos of a trip to Apartamentos Goya Salou. My brain is already buzzing just thinking about it. Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions, questionable food choices, and tan lines that will haunt me for years.
The Pre-Trip Panic (AKA The "I Should Have Booked Earlier" Phase)
- Two Weeks Before: Oh. My. God. Did I actually book this? The confirmation email is a blur of dates and numbers, and the thought of packing makes my stomach clench. Why did I think sunbathing was a good idea? I'm a ginger. I'll melt.
- One Week Before: The panic is real. I've started hoarding snacks. I mean, what if the local tapas are… gasp… not good? I've also spent a suspicious amount of time Googling "best sunscreen for pale people" and "how to avoid looking like a lobster."
- The Night Before: My suitcase resembles a Tetris game gone horribly wrong. I've probably overpacked, but hey, better safe than sorry, right? I'm convinced I've forgotten something vital, but I can't figure out what. Sleep? Ha!
Day 1: Arrival and Questionable Choices
- Morning: The airport smells of stale coffee and hopeful anticipation. The flight was a blur of crying babies, questionable airplane food, and glimpses of beautiful clouds.
- Afternoon (Assuming things go to plan - ha!): Arrive at Apartamentos Goya Salou. The building is…well, it's a building. It has a pool. The brochure totally lied about the palm trees, they are 4. I'm going to try not to get too Judgey. The reception is a flurry of broken Spanish and hand gestures. Eventually, I am handed a key, and I feel like I have won something.
- First Impressions: The apartment is… functional. Let's go with that. It’s a bit compact, but the balcony offers a killer view of the pool - which is the most important part. The air conditioning is my new best friend. My traveling partner (bless their heart) tried to explain how the washing machine worked. I got the detergent part, but then they started talking about cycles, or something that sounded like math. I've given up, and I told them that I had a very long and complicated meeting in the bathroom.
- Evening: Time to explore! We bravely venture out and stumble upon a restaurant that claims to serve authentic paella. After I ate it, I knew I would need a second helping of medicine for the toilet. The sangria, however, was glorious. It was slightly too sweet, and I'm pretty sure I could taste the sugar granules on my teeth. Wonderful. Ended the night with a stroll along the beach, letting the salty air wash over me. Pure bliss… until a rogue wave drenched my shoes. Then the bliss turned into a soggy, sand-filled mess.
Day 2: Pool Day and the Quest for the Perfect Ice Cream
- Morning: Wake up with a slight sangria-induced fuzziness. The mission: secure prime pool real estate. Competitive swimming is a sport, but compared to reserving a sunbed near a pool it is an amateur's game. After a brief standoff with a woman who clearly considered this her personal property, we got two sunbeds. Success!
- Afternoon: Pool time! I spent the afternoon alternating between sunbathing (with relentless SPF application – survival is key) and cooling dips in the pool. Tried to perfect my "effortlessly chic" look, but probably just looked like a beached whale. The water was cold, but the sun more than made up for it.
- Evening: The great ice cream hunt! We embarked on a quest to find the perfect ice cream cone. After three attempts (a chocolate that tasted like cardboard, a strawberry that tasted like air freshener, and a pistachio that was suspiciously green), we finally struck gold at a little gelateria around the corner. The pistachio was the color of hope, and tasted like heaven. The search was worth it.
Day 3: PortAventura World is My New Home (Maybe)
- Morning: Okay, I'm ready. Today is the day: PortAventura World! The anticipation is almost unbearable. I've seen the rollercoasters. I've read the reviews. I'm both thrilled and terrified.
- Afternoon: PortAventura is a maelstrom of color, screaming, and delicious churros. Dragon Khan was a beast - my stomach did a loop-de-loop and my vision blurred, but I survived. The water rides were a blessed relief from the Spanish sun.
- Evening: Exhausted, sun-kissed, and utterly exhilarated, we head back to the apartment. We crash out on the balcony with some cold beers. My leg is probably still shaking.
Day 4: Beach Bumming and a Battle with a Seagull
- Morning: Beach day! We head to the beach, armed with towels, books, and a healthy dose of sunscreen.
- Afternoon: The beach is packed, but the sand is golden, and the water is a beautiful shade of blue. We swim, we sunbathe, and occasionally, a rogue wave tries to carry us away.
- Late Afternoon: The Great Seagull Incident. I was eating a sandwich, minding my own business, when a particularly brazen seagull swooped down and made a grab for it. We engaged in a brief, but intense, battle for the sandwich. I won, though I suspect I may have broken a nail in the process. I may have also yelled.
- Evening: We decide to try something new and end up in a Tapas bar. I tried something new that was not my favorite. I would have rather eaten my own shoe.
Day 5: The "I'm Never Leaving" Meltdown and The Final Sangria
- Morning: The realization hits: this trip is almost over. I start to feel the familiar pang of sadness that always accompanies the end of a vacation. I went to a local market, bought some souvenirs, and tried to soak in as much of the atmosphere as possible.
- Afternoon: We went back to PortAventura because I need to ride the Dragon Khan again.
- Evening: One last sunset from the balcony, one last glass of sangria (sugar granules and all). The "I'm never leaving" tantrum commenced. My luggage is a mess, my skin is tanned, and my heart is full. This trip wasn't perfect. There were mishaps, questionable food choices, and moments of pure, unadulterated chaos. But it was mine. And I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Day 6: Departure (Sobbing)
- Morning: Trudge back to the airport. Goodbye, sun. Goodbye, sangria. Goodbye, sanity.
- Afternoon: The emotional hangover from leaving is worse than the sangria!
- Evening (Back Home): Already planning my next adventure, even if it involves a washing machine that baffles the mind and more seagull encounters. Salou, you magnificent, messy, and utterly unforgettable place, I'll be back!
Goya Salou Apartments: Reality Check & Your Dream Spanish Escape (Maybe...?)
Okay, spill the beans! Are these apartments REALLY as good as they look online?
Alright, alright, let's get real. The photos? Yeah, they're probably somewhat touched up. I mean, who ISN'T guilty of a little Photoshopping these days? The "amazing sea views" might involve a *tiny* bit of squinting from the balcony. But here's the thing: my experience at Goya Salou apartments was... a mixed bag.
I went with a friend, Brenda (who, bless her heart, *always* packs too much), and the first thing that greeted us was... well, a slightly dodgy elevator. It shuddered a bit, made some questionable noises, and generally looked like it was contemplating early retirement. That's the sort of thing that immediately sets my anxiety bells ringing! But after surviving that initial trauma, the apartment itself was... decent. Clean-ish. I mean, Brenda immediately started wiping down the kitchen counters, which, fine, that's Brenda. The "balcony" was, in fact, a balcony, and the sea view, well, it was *there*.
So, yes, they're as good as they look... with a healthy dose of reality seasoning. Don't expect perfection, but be prepared for a potentially lovely time.
What's the deal with the location? Beach access? Nightlife? Restaurants? Dish the dirt!
Location, location, location, right? Okay, this is where Goya Salou actually shines. The beach? Literally a stone's throw away. I swear, you could practically roll out of bed, stumble onto the sand, and be covered in, uh, sand. That's a win.
Nightlife? Well, Salou is a party town. It's got its pros and cons, depending on your energy levels. There were times I loved it (late nights, loud music, questionable dancing), and times when I wanted to hide under the covers with earplugs, because *wow* it's loud. The apartments are *close* to the action, so light sleepers, beware!
As for restaurants, endless choices! Tapas bars galore, paella, Michelin stars – you name it, Salou probably has it. Just be prepared to navigate the tourist traps. My advice? Wander away from the main promenade, find something less obvious, and *eat like a local*. Best decision ever.
Are the apartments family-friendly? Kids? Chaos? Tell me everything!
Okay, family stuff. Honestly? I'd say yes, but with a caveat. The apartments themselves are well-equipped, and there's generally space, which is great with kids. But, the vibe, especially at night, is *very* lively. Think late-night parties, shouting, and general merriment. If your kids are light sleepers, you might be in for a rough time. Consider requesting a higher floor, and pack those earplugs. Or, you know, embrace the chaos! (Just kidding… mostly!).
There are plenty of family-friendly activities nearby, too. Beaches with shallow water, water parks, PortAventura (the theme park) is a must-do. Just brace yourself for the crowds. Everything is designed to make sure you spend more, so take a deep breath and expect to navigate some price gouging. Still worth it for a memorable experience.
The dreaded parking situation... what's the story?
Parking. Ah, the bane of every vacationer's existence. Okay, here's the honest truth: parking at Goya Salou can be... a challenge. They have parking, but it's a bit tight, and spaces are limited. If you're arriving during peak season, *book parking in advance*. Seriously. Otherwise, you'll be circling for hours, like a vulture. I vividly remember this one time when I spent like, an hour and a half circling around, feeling myself get progressively angrier. If you can live without a car, do. Walking is actually the best way to do the main attractions anyway.
If you *must* drive, prepare for potential stress and be ready to unleash your inner parking ninja. Or, you know, just embrace public transport and save yourself the headache. Trust me on this one!
What about the amenities? Pool? Wi-Fi? Laundry? The essentials!
Okay, swimming pool! Yes, there's a pool. It's usually pretty busy, especially during the day. I wouldn't describe it as a "luxury oasis," more like a "place to cool down and dodge screaming kids." Actually, I didn't spend much time there. It was *fine*, but I preferred the beach, because, you know, the sea.
Wi-Fi? Hit or miss. Sometimes it worked great, sometimes it was slower than a snail on a treadmill. I'm not going to lie, I spent a lot of time fighting with the internet. (It was particularly annoying because I was trying to upload some pictures, and, well, that just took an eternity.)
Laundry? Might be available, but I honestly can't remember. Brenda did all the washing, bless her cotton socks. (That woman brought enough clothes for a small army.) Call the hotel or ask before you arrive to make sure.
Let's talk about the staff – friendly? Helpful? Or MIA?
Staff can make or break a stay, right? The staff at Goya Salou... were generally fine. Perfectly functional. Not overwhelmingly friendly, but not rude either. They're probably used to dealing with a constant stream of slightly sunburnt, slightly stressed tourists. They were helpful enough when we had a problem with our door lock. (Brenda may or may not have slammed it a bit too hard.)
Don't expect a whole lot of hand-holding, but if you need assistance, they'll probably sort you out. Just be prepared for a bit of a language barrier. Brush up on your Spanish, and pack some patience. You'll need it when you're trying to explain that the toilet is overflowing (hypothetically, of course...)
Are there any hidden fees or unexpected costs I should know about?
Listen, no one likes being hit with a surprise bill. So, the hidden fee situation... well, read the fine print. Double-check everything before you book and again when you checking in. There might be extra charges for things like air conditioning (always a MUST in the summer), or cleaning (which, let's be honest, you'll still probably end up doing yourself), or whatever they can get away with.
Also, be prepared for the local tourist tax. It's not a *huge* amount, but it canSearchotel
