Unbelievable Deals: Alboran Plus Apartments in Salou, Spain!
Unbelievable Deals…or Just Believable? A Messy Romp Through Alboran Plus Apartments in Salou! (SEO & Metadata Overload!)
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Okay, buckle up buttercups, 'cause we're diving headfirst into the often-turbulent waters of the Alboran Plus Apartments in Salou. Honestly, I'm still trying to scrub the chlorine smell out of my brain, but here's the lowdown – the good, the bad, and the "did I really see that?"
First, the promise of a deal. "Unbelievable Deals!" they scream. Well, let's just say "believable" is more accurate. It's not a total rip-off, mind you, but don’t expect to be stunned by savings so grand you'll spontaneously start tap-dancing.
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag (and That's Putting it Mildly!)
Right, so the whole accessibility schtick. Wheelchair accessible kinda… but not always. There's an elevator, which is a huge plus. Big points for that. However, navigating the corridors, especially to get to the on-site accessible restaurants/lounges, felt a little like an obstacle course at times. Some ramps, some slightly too steep slopes, and a general feeling that they'd tried, but perhaps hadn't quite nailed it. I witnessed a poor chap in a wheelchair having a right royal struggle getting into the pool area! Poor guy, he ended up looking like he needed a shot of whiskey more than a swim.
Internet: Blessedly Free, But…
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! YES! And thankfully, it mostly worked. Okay, there were moments when it felt like dial-up, but in general, I could actually upload my Instagram photos of questionable beach attire. They also have Internet [LAN], you know, if you're feeling retro. Internet services are therefore…present. Gotta love the 21st century, right? My only gripe? Constantly having to log back in. Minor complaint, I know, but still, a slight annoyance. And the Wi-Fi in public areas? Standard, but reliable enough to check your emails whilst you're desperately trying to catch a tan, before the inevitable rain rolls in – it is Spain, after all!
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Spa-tacular Dreams vs. Reality Bites
Right, deep breath. This category… It's where the "unbelievable" promises start to blur a bit.
Swimming pool: Yup, Swimming pool [outdoor] is there. It's decent, though the pool with a view is more “pool with a glimpse of the sea”. Still, a perfectly acceptable place to splash around and pretend you're not thinking about Brexit.
Spa, Spa/sauna, Sauna, Steamroom: Look, the idea of these sounded glorious. The reality? Well… the Spa was a little… compact. The Sauna was a little… damp. I never actually found the magical Steamroom. My expectations of a leisurely spa day were somewhat… underwhelmed. I spent longer searching for the bloody thing than actually in the spa. I'm pretty sure it was the size of a walk-in closet.
Fitness center, Gym/fitness: I'm not a gym bunny, so I can't comment with authority, but I glanced in once and it looked like a pretty standard setup. Treadmills and weights – the usual suspects.
Massage, Body scrub, Body wrap: I didn't partake, but I did see a sign promising all sorts of pampering. Maybe next time. After I recover from the sauna debacle.
Pool with view: See above.
Cleanliness and Safety: Sanitization Station
Okay, so this is where Unbelievable Deals redeems itself a bit. In these post-apocalyptic times, the focus on sanitation is reassuring.
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Rooms sanitized between stays, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items – all present and correct. They really seem to be taking hygiene seriously, and that's something I definitely appreciated.
- Hand sanitizer everywhere. You can’t move without bumping into a bottle.
- Staff trained in safety protocol, which is reassuring.
- Room sanitization opt-out available, if you're a rebel, I guess.
- Safe dining setup, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter – they're clearly following the rules.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: From Buffet Blunders to Bar Bliss (Maybe)
- Restaurants: Yes, plural! But the variety? Less impressive.
- Breakfast [buffet], Buffet in restaurant: Okay, the breakfast buffet was…adequate. Don't go expecting gourmet – think standard continental fare, with a few lukewarm cooked options. I'd recommend sticking to the pastries and coffee.
- Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant: Not during my stay, unfortunately. Perhaps another "unbelievable" promise?
- A la carte in restaurant: I did see some a la carte options, and they were pretty good – if a little expensive. Vegetarian restaurant options are there, too! Score!
- Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop: Fine. Nothing to write home about, but definitely caffeine-fueled.
- Bar, Poolside bar, Happy hour: The bar was the saving grace! Good drinks, decent prices, and a nice atmosphere. Happy hour actually was happy!
- Room service [24-hour]: Convenient, but I found myself wondering how long the chips had been sitting around!
- Snack bar: Present, but nothing particularly inspiring.
- Bottle of water: Always a plus.
- Desserts in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant: Standard issue, nothing to particularly rave about.
- Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant: Okay, perfectly fine, but nothing to set the world on fire.
Services and Conveniences: The Good, the Bad, and the "Can You Believe This?"
- Facilities for disabled guests – trying! (See Accessibility).
- Air conditioning in public area, Air conditioning – a godsend in the Salou heat!
- Elevator - crucial!
- Concierge, Doorman: Friendly and helpful.
- Daily housekeeping: Mostly good, though one day my room felt like it had been tidied by a particularly enthusiastic toddler.
- Laundry service, Dry cleaning, Ironing service: Available, but I didn't use them. Who irons on holiday?!
- Luggage storage: Handy.
- Cash withdrawal, Currency exchange: Useful.
- Convenience store: Could be better stocked, but got me out of a jam.
- Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Seminars - don't know, didn't use!
- Business facilities, Xerox/fax in business center - I was on holiday. I didn't look!
- Safety deposit boxes: Always a good idea.
For the Kids: Family-Friendly (Mostly)
- Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal, Babysitting service: This place is definitely geared towards families. Plenty of kids were running around, and the facilities seemed geared towards the younger generation.
Access, Safety & Security: Feeling Safe-ish
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Fire extinguisher: Reassuring to see.
- Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private], Front desk [24-hour]: Efficient enough.
Available in All Rooms: Creature Comforts (with some caveats)
- Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens: Most of these things are there. A few of them – like the "bathrobes" – were a bit thin.
Some Anecdotes and Rambles…
Oh, the people-watching! I witnessed a full-blown suitcase tantrum in the
Escape to Paradise: Riverside Luxury Awaits in Zhongshan!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because you're about to get a peek inside my trip to Alboran Plus | Rentalmar Salou, Spain. Forget the perfectly curated Instagram feeds, this is the real deal, warts and all. Here we go:
Day 1: Arrival and Existential Dread (aka, "Where's the damn key?")
- Morning: Landed in Barcelona. Hallelujah! The flight wasn't a complete hellscape, although the lady in front of me spent the entire time trying to fold her seat into a pretzel. Decided to skip the expensive airport transfer, a decision I'd soon regret. The train journey to Salou? Let's just say it involved a lot of sweaty armpits and questionable street performers.
- Afternoon: Arrived at Alboran Plus…and the key situation began. The reception was, well, unmanned. Spent a good hour chasing around, trying to figure out where the damn key actually was. Think I finally found it in a lockbox with a combination that probably required a degree in advanced mathematics. Triumphantly, finally got into the apartment.
- Evening: First impressions? Uh, okay. The pictures online? Definitely taken by a professional with a wide-angle lens. It's cleanish, the balcony offers a view of…a car park, but hey, at least there's sun! Drank a bottle of cheap local wine on the balcony, contemplating the meaning of life and whether I'd packed enough sunscreen. Decided I hadn't, immediately.
- Rambling thought: Note to self: Invest in a decent phone with a working camera. Everything looks better in my head.
Day 2: Beach Bliss and Brutal Burns (Mostly the latter)
- Morning: Beach time! Finally. Walked down to Platja de Llevant. The sand was, admittedly, gorgeous. The sea? Refreshing, but freezing! Spent far too long lying on the sunbed, feeling smug. Mistake number one.
- Afternoon: The smugness disappeared faster than a scoop of ice cream in this heat. Sunburn. Total. Body. Burn. Felt like a lobster. Ended up huddled in the shade, applying copious amounts of aloe vera (thank god for that supermarket!).
- Evening: Dinner at a tapas place a local on the beach recommended, after a long, soul-crushing search. The paella? Sublime. The sangria? Even better. Briefly forgot about the sunburn. Made friends with the waiter, who seemed genuinely amused by my lobster-esque appearance.
- Quirky Observation: The seagull population here has opinions, and they're not afraid to share them.
- Emotional reaction: The relief when I found a real aloe vera was almost orgasmic.
Day 3: PortAventura Chaos and Questionable Decisions
- Morning: Brave the crowds and went to PortAventura World. The rollercoaster, "Shambhala," was pure, unadulterated terror. I may have screamed. A lot. The themed areas were fun, although I think I preferred the less crowded, more air-conditioned area with a good burger.
- Afternoon: Attempted to see the water show. Failed. Queues, heat, screaming children. Abandoned and took refuge in the nearest bar, where I made a questionable decision: ordering a "cocktail of the day" which tasted of cough syrup and regret.
- Evening: Back to the apartment. A late-night swim in the pool, thankfully empty. The only time I truly felt relaxed.
- Imperfection: Should have packed more water. Seriously. Dehydration is NOT a good look when you're covered in sunburn.
- Rambling Thought: Okay, I may have shed a tear or two on the rollercoaster. Don't judge me!
Day 4: Exploring Salou (and avoiding sunburn…mostly)
- Morning: Walked along the Passeig Jaume I, the main promenade. Admired the architecture, the shops, the general buzz. Tried to find a proper coffee, not the instant stuff in my apartment. Success! Finally found real coffee!
- Afternoon: Explored the quieter streets, found a little artisan store. Bought some souvenirs (mostly for myself, let's be honest.) Attempted a siesta on the balcony, but the heat was relentless.
- Evening: Found a restaurant with a balcony that overlooked the water. More tapas, more sangria. Watched the sunset, thought about how I never want to leave. (But was also, admittedly, looking forward to a good night's sleep.)
- Opinionated Language: The tourist traps are real. But the hidden gems? Worth the hunt.
Day 5: The Day of Double Down on a Single Experience & The Departure
- Morning: I decided to re-walk the Passeig Jaume I, because I wasn't happy with the pictures and the energy of walking the promenade and getting all those visual cues, I wanted the perfect moment, to capture the beauty of this very place.
- Afternoon: The beach was even nicer this time around, the sand seemed whiter, the sun didn't seem to burn so much. I even started to feel relaxed. Even took a swim in the ocean, the water still cold, but somehow even nice.
- Evening: It was our last night in Salou, so we went to the same local resturant that we loved, the food was great like the first time.
- Rambling Thought: I will come back here again!
Departure:
- Morning: Back to the airport. This time, I took the expensive transfer. Worth it. The flight home? A bit bumpy, but uneventful.
- Emotional Reaction: Leaving was hard, the last place I was at on the beach. Spain was beautiful, and I will always remember it.
- Final thoughts: Alboran Plus? Not perfect. Salou? Definitely worth a visit. Would I go back? In a heartbeat. Just gotta remember the suncream next time. And maybe a better camera!
Unbelievable Deals: Alboran Plus Apartments - Salou. Let's Get Real!
Okay, Spill the Beans: Are These "Unbelievable Deals" ACTUALLY unbelievable...or just… a lie? I'm cynical.
Alright, Let's Talk Location. Is Alboran Plus actually *close* to the beach, or is that "close" like, "a three-hour hike with a hungry toddler"?
The Apartments Themselves. What's the Vibe? Are We Talking "Rustic Charm" (read: falling apart) or "Modern Luxury" (read: photoshopped)?
What about Amenities? Pools? Wi-Fi? Is this going to be a digital detox whether I *want* one or not?
Noise Levels? Party Animals? Peace & Quiet? What's the deal?
Hidden Costs? Anything I Need to Watch Out For?
Food Shopping & Cooking? Is it practical?
