Hotel Golden Taurus Park Reviews

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.

Large hotel in a very out of the way place, We couldnt get by the pool becuase the Frence and Duch were to earliy laying there towels out, so were forched to use the beach wich is corse sand and the water is deep so not good for kids. the food was great and the hotel staff are friendly its good for a spanish 3star, clean and the thomson kids entertainment was exellent but next year it will no longer be a Tomson family resort so my not be as good. We had an exellent holiday and Thomson the dog is cool..

Just returned from a 2 week cheap holiday to Spain and, for the price we paid, was very good value for money. Hotel is very clean and all the staff work very hard, room was ok but with paper thin walls, you could hear what was going on next door very clearly! Breakfast and dinner were very interesting as it was a bit like going to the sales, people flying about all over the place, you had to be vary careful not to trip over the small children as they seem to be left to fend for themselves. The food was OK, some nights better than others, not a vast selection but i managed to find something i liked every night. It was nice to stay in a hotel that wasn't just full of brits, in fact their were a lot more Spanish, German, Dutch, Belgium & French than English which, on the night of the world cup final, made for a very good night. Pineda is a small place which was great as we were looking for a chilled holiday, the beach runs behind the hotel but the water quality of the sea was not good, lots of 'things' floating in it.....put us off and although we are not generally pool people we stuck to staying at the hotel pool. The train to Barcelona is great, fantastic city, will return on a city break to investigate more. Overall an OK holiday, Thomson trips very expensive and don't hire a car with them as all they do is phone Eurocars, you can book a car through the reception. 40 mins from Gerona, Can't get to you room until 13.30 on day of arrival...we just took swim suits in hand luggage and sat by the pool. People were putting towels on sunbeds at 6.30!!! Use the pool that opens at 9am, you can't get to the pool until that time so you should have some choice?

We stayed at the Taurus Park for two weeks at the end of June, We have two teenagers.The hotel is very big and exceptionally clean.We had a family suite which sounded glamourous but turned out to be very basic indeed and we wished we had booked interconecting rooms,we did however have a really nice view over the pool and sea. Rooms were cleaned every day. There are 2 large pool areas, the one adjecant to the dining room where you have to be up at the crack of dawn to get a sun bed and the one opposite which is inaccessable until 9am so no saved sun beds.(hooray) This is the one we prefered as a family. The food is ok but got a bit samey after two weeks, and our two girls are very fussy. The food was plentiful and a good varity with a sepsrate area for the youngsters. The dining room staff work such long hours and its a thankless job, we broke it up a bit by eating out at the Buccuneer resturant which is run by an English couple along the promanade where the food was fresh, home cooked and hot. We also ate in the snack bar on site a couple of evenings for a change, really nice home made pizzas and again all cooked fresh and piping hot.Daytime entertainment was ok if you have kids and you can be involved as much as you like or not, evening entertainment was ok with acts on every night in the main bar area as well as lots of early entertainment for the young ones, but our favourite was the Habana bar where there were no children, you could have a cocktail in peace and Neil James the entertainer was really good. The one good thing about the holiday was that Spain was in the world cup final so you can imagine the party atmosphere and the night was really good. This hotel would be brill if you could pick it up and place it somewhere else, but unfourtantly we wouldnt go back.

I have been to this hotel 3 times in the past and would love to go again.

The staff are all soo friendly and will always have a chat to you. When i was at donaire park, the night time entertainment was excellent, so was the day time. they have always got pool matches and such like for everyone to join in with. The kids club is great aswell, my neice loved it there so much she didnt want to leave!

The pool area at the hotel is great, theres plenty of sun beds. the beach is just outside the hotel which is brill. The near by water park is a must if you have got kids! and the market held there is great for finding a bargain.

all in all this is the best hotel and holiday I and my family have ever been on.

Have just come back from spending two weeks at this amazing hotel. Talk about location, the beach is on your doorstep, you've got barcelona an hours drive away, fantastic shops and restaurants across the sea front, Porta Ventura 20 mintutes away by bus and you can walk to the waterpark 'aquapolaris' from the hotel! On arrival we were shown to reception where the staff were very friendly in telling us where our room was and giving us handy info about the hotel. The room was easy to find as there are clear arrows pointing to where different room numbers are. The room lacked in space but it was cleaned from head to toe every day.

If your going with thomson i would recommened that you go to the welcome meeting as they give you all the infomtion that you need about trips. We took the barcelona trip which allowed you to go to football stadium and free time which allowed you to explore what you wanted. Its well worth going on this one. We also booked Porta Venntura with them as you get the tickets there and then, i would also recommened you go here. The best trip by far was the House of illusions. If you have small children i would recommend you go to the afternoon show as the evening show didnt end until late. The food at the hotel was lovely, as well as having english food such as cottage pie they had different spanish foods.They also do a cavery every night. If i had to give one disadvantage it would be that the bar staff spoke little english so they easiest way to get what you wanted was to point to it on a menu.

I would recommend this hotel to everyone.

Went there with my partner and 3 children for 7 nights. I have been going to Spain for 20 years and this is by far the best hotel i have stayed at, lovely clean hotel, fantastic pools and great entertainment to keep the children busy.

The town of Pineda is very quiet which i enjoyed as even though i am in my 20's i don't like seeing people rolling around drunk in the evenings so this made a refreshing change. Calella is close by for a day of shopping only 5 mins on the land train (which the kids loved.

Beautiful beach though as there is a shelf that drops in the sea be careful with young children. Food at the hotel was lovely and there's plenty of choices for all but if you do off site to eat there are some lovely restaurants close by. There's a nice British run bar 5 mins walk away from the hotel called the Buccaneer so if your missing your beers from home or the kids want a fruit shoot, and to watch football etc it's a great place to spend an evening.

I'd definately go back there!!

Just returned from 1 week holiday at this hotel. Lovely holiday, arrived late at night but check in was very smooth (by Kelly of Guest Relations) and taken to room by porter, all receptionists very good. Room was very nice overlooking pool and beach (also road and railway but neither disturbed us at all) - could hear the sea from our room. Hotel is very good for 3 star - all bars/pool areas etc. kept spotless. Nothing is too much trouble for any of the staff and all are very friendly.

There are 2 happy hours every day, between 5pm and 6pm in main bar and 1am and 2am in Habana Bar. Didn't like that you could smoke in Habana bar but seemed everyone else (who smoked) did. Prices not too bad at all for a hotel and work out about same as England - so makes good sense to use happy hour - buy 1 get 1 free even including bottles of wine & cocktails.

Food in restaurant is very good with a lot of variety and presentation was lovely. There will be something for everyone.

As is Thomson Family hotel lots of children (even in September), wouldn't want to go in July/August! We knew was family hotel but was still fine for couples at this time of year.

Entertainment – we only watched shows at 10pm as all before this was aimed at children. The shows we watched were better than average for hotel shows. Vanessa May tribute act was excellent. There is always something going on at the hotel with the Animacion Team but we stayed at the quiet pool so cannot really comment on the lively one but everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

The only complaints that we had are that the swimming pools were freezing. The sea was warmer than the pools – perhaps they could be heated earlier/later in the season – also could do with mattresses for the sunbeds.

We have been to this Hotel on 3 occassions on the third 3 members of our family joined us. They has heard from us how much we had enjoyed our previous 2 holidays. The staff are very helpful and friendly and the hotel is very clean. The entertaiment staff at the hotel and great at keeping children of all ages entertained and put on activities throughout the day for both adults and children. The majority of these can be done with your children if desired. Our two children aged 8 and 2 did not want to leave. There is a train station not a 5 minute walk away which will take you directly into Barcelona for a great day out. The small local town is well worth a visit, with some lovely little shops and places to eat. There is a little "Noddy" road train which departs regularly throughout the day outside the hotel for a couple of Euro.

A lovely hotel with great facilities for families. The hotel is in a quiet area which for us was great as there wasn't a lot to spend our euro's on. The two huge pools are fantastic and we got a sunbed everyday even though it was August. The rooms were large, clean and we had a sea view for no extra charge.

Myself and my two teenage daughters have just arrived home after a 10 night stay at the hotel and cannot sing its praises enough. The hotel is beautiful and the hotel staff are both warm and friendly. The hotel reps were partiularly great with the kids and made the holiday as nothing was to much. The rooms are also of a very high standard and have some satelite tv channels on them. The food in the restaurant was lovely and every night had a different themed night. Overall we cannot believe the hotel is just a 3* as we are shore it should be atleast a 4* or 5*.

Myself and my family have just returned from a ten night stay. The hotel is lovely and the food was great. The hotel has an indoor pool as well as the ones outside. The pool areas are both clean and welcoming

Good hotel, very clean and good food to suit all tastes. The brochure said that the resort is quiet, the trouble is they didn't say how quiet. The resort of Pineda is an absolute ghost town. Everything you need is in the hotel and thats it, there's nothing more outside.

Lovely hotel ideal for families. We stayed at the hotel for 10 nights in June, had an absoloutley fabulous time the staff and the reps in the hotel were absoloutely wonderful. The hotel is very nicely decorated and the rooms are very clean. We coould not understand why it only had 3* as it should of been atleast a four if not five.

Myself and my family stayed at the hotel for 10 nights in July 2009, the hotel was very clean and the staff were lovely. All in all we had a very nice stay and are thinking about going back again next year.