Pineda Golden Taurus Park Hotel

We stayed at Taurus Park for two weeks July 20th to August 3rd, a party of two adults and a child of 10 years. We have holidayed with Portland/Thomson many times but this place rates as one of the worst accommodations we have used.

Our room was described as a twin accommodating 3 people when in fact it was a very small twin with an extra bed squashed in. It was therefore very cramped.

The Hotel is far too small for the number of people it attempts to cater for and therefore at dinner time you can wait in a queue for up to 30 minutes just to get into the dining room and then wait in more queues to get at the buffet meals. If you think you have been to a Hotel where mealtime resembles a bun-fight, I can assure you you've seen nothing until you experience Taurus Park. The quality and cooking of the food was very poor, with what appeared to be the cheapest cuts of meat, which, along with the vegetables was way overcooked. On two evening during our stay there was grilled salmon which was quite reasonable. However, it was soon used up and not replaced. One drink was included with the meal. Unfortunately the red and white wines were undrinkable.

There are 3 main pools of a reasonable size. However, the sun-bed areas around them are quite small and overcrowded with sun-beds, making it difficult to get around. If you object to cigarette smoke you are unable to avoid it as people are forced together like sardines due to the lack of space. All the best comfortable canvas sun-beds are taken up before 6am and we even saw towels being laid out on sun-beds shortly after midnight. The very uncomfortable sun-beds are all taken up by 7am and if you want to make them comfortable you have to pay for a mattress.

There are notices around the pool say it is prohibited to reserve sun-beds but that is pointless as it is not enforced. I complained to Thomson's head rep and also to the Hotel manager. Both told me they were aware of the problem but it was such a difficult problem that nothing could be done about it. I explained ways they could resolve the problem and told them it was just a lack of will on there part. Following my meeting with them both the lifeguard and another member of staff were instructed to remove towels from any sun-beds which were still unused at 11am. Clearly, not an answer to the problem, but I didn't want to spend my fortnight challenging staff. There were so many people complaining amongst themselves about the sun-bed situation and how they would never return to the Hotel. I managed to encourage some to complain but many more felt it was pointless.

The Hotel's own animation team were very good and organised loads of activities. Thomson's team were very poor, incompetent, kept a low profile and appeared more interested in selling overpriced trips.

The main entertainment room was far too small and the night-time entertainment was the worst we have ever experienced. It would appear the Hotel had looked far and wide to find the cheapest acts they could. Drinks and ice-creams were double the price you pay outside the Hotel.

The staff at the Golden Taurus Park Hotel in Pineda are lovely, and very very helpful. They will do anything for you, apart from the man in the restaurant who is a bit territorial about where to sit!!! The reps are great, and the mini club is the best ever. The staff there are the best ever, and our girls had a great time everyday over there. The slides for children are fantastic. The rooms are spacious, and so clean. It is the best hotel we've been in. The place is cheap too. We came back with most of our money!!

We stayed in May for 2 weeks half board, and we'll come back next time if we can afford it!! The restaurant could be a bit more relaxed, as the queuing can make things a little tense, but it was still the best holiday ever!!!