trasjohno,

Pineda's a fairly quiet place, but there are quite a few shops and bars in the town. There are 2 supermarkets in the road alongside the hotel, and our favourite bar was Pepe's which is just outside the hotel's main entrance. The Buccaneer is also very good, about a 10 minute stroll along the front. There's much more going on in Calella (the next town) and you can walk there or get the Noddy train from outside the hotel.

Taurus Park was a Thomson Superfamily hotel (I think they've re-branded it now), but it was the main Thomson hotel in the area. The reps seem to be based there, at least they're always about. My guess is that it will be heaving in August, and you won't be short of company. It's an excellent family hotel, and we couldn't fault it. The only thing we could complain about would be the beach. It's not suitable for small kids as it shelves quite steeply into the sea, but the pools at the hotel more than made up for it.

If you've got a young family, you won't go far wrong with this place.

HB

I agree with Harry, even though we didn't stay at this hotel we passed it nearly every day and there was always something going on . Not sure about trips other than waterworld or marineland , we did go to a medieval night which was a good evening jousting , food and drink then a flamenco show to finisg the night off . You can catch the train to the other resorts ,i like Malgrat that has more going on , there is a mini funfair , fun pubs.
I honestly dont think you will be bored

thanks alot, youv'e put my mine at rest, roll on august

hi all new to this but we have booked to go to taurus park in august 2 adults x 2 kids just wondering if anyone knows if all the 4 bedded rooms have balconies as i read somewere that some dont thanx

Hi Debs,

I'm guessing you've booked a family suite - from memory they're the only rooms with 4 beds. If so, they've all got balconies.

If you can, get in touch with the hotel and ask for one with a pool view - the sea view is thrown in as well!

HB

thanx harry much appreciated, i have been in touch with hotel already and they have not gotbooking reference yet, i also asked for a pool view so if sea view is thrown in i think it will be brill cannot wait till august

Been looking to book for family (2 kids age 2 & 4) from 9 to 16 July (already booked flights to Girona). been watching for good prices, but it seems to have disappeared from the websites ive been watching - i'll be really dissappointed if we cant book. it is still showing available on the Thomson accomodation only and the hotels own website, but a lot dearer than it was a couple of days ago on lastminute.com and opodo.

do you think the place is already fully booked for this week?

Can anyone suggest an alternative in the area (not necessarily in Pineda) with as good childrens facilitiies?

Hi weecarol.Not sure if these prices are any good for you but i have been to the Taurus twice in 05 and 07 and both times used this site to book the hotel with

http://www.hotelclub.co.uk/DirectHotel.asp?Checkin=2008-7-9&Checkout=2008-7-16&ncl=&id=29331&curr=GBP

It's coming up just under a grand for you 4 that week:)

With regards to what other people have said.Most the rooms have pool view anyway so it's not like you can't have a pool view.There are probably about 4 rooms that maybe don't that look out right onto the sea as they are on the end of the hotel. but then again you can probably look around the wall and see the pool anyway,not the same i know.
All the rooms have a balcony so don't worry about that:)

I wouldn't pin your hopes on having the room you have asked for etc.As i said we had a good room in 05 and asked for one in the same block(the main block that when you come down the lift takes you into the foyer) and if they could the same floor which was the 2nd.Well this last time we was stuck right at the end of the block on the other side where you can't just get in the lift you have to walk around the pool etc...not as good:/
Oh and it was the 7th floor so they never listened to a word

Hi

Am looking to possibly book this hotel for July 2009 but have a couple of questions that I hope somebody can answer for me:

1. Are fridges available to hire for the rooms as we need to keep some medication refrigerated?

2. When we go away with our 2 children ager 7 & 10 we do spend alot of time on the beach but I have read that this beach is not that safe for children, I know it gets deep very quickly but how deep is that ie. over the head of a 7 year old or not quite so dramatic?

Any help would be appreciated or any final advice before I make my decision

Thanks Zoe

I cant answer that , as i dont go in the sea.
hopefully your 7 yr old wouldn't be in the water alone for safety .
the beach is more gritty than sand , and as you know the sea shelves rather steeply .
I would look along the beach and see how many people are in the water and how far out and then decide on a pitch on the beach, maybe near the waters edge so you can keep your eye on the little ones .

I love the beach and always go for a paddle , but i'm not a very good swimmer thats why i dont venture in any further than my ankles

Have a great time .

Thanks for your reply - we would be in the sea with our children but if it does get deep very quickly I know my 7 yr old and possibly my 10 yr old would be wary of going in.

Do you know if we can hire fridges for the rooms at the Taurus Park?

Thanks Zoe

I'm going in 2 weeks time so can let you know or e-mail them, they are very helpful.
taurus@goldenhotels.com I used their website to ask a question about booking a late check out.

I also went to taurus Park in 1980 when I was 8, I know it did drop suddenly but can't remeber by how much.
Were going with a 6 & 10 year old and I'll be in with them most of the time!

Hi Zoe,

We were last there in 2005, and there were no fridges for general hire then. As Nicola said, you could e-mail them, especially if you need a fridge for medicines.

As for the beach, we avoided it. Our kids were 5 and 6, and we thought it wasn't safe. It wasn't sandy, or that popular to be honest. That said, we loved the pools at the hotel and didn't really miss the beach at all.

It all depends on what you want from your holiday. I wouldn't recommend Pineda for a beach holiday with kids, but the hotel has so much to offer for kids that it didn't bother us. It really is an excellent hotel (we've been twice), and we'd have no qualms about going back.

HB

I emailed the hotel about late check out & fridges this is the reply

About fridges, we have only one here in the Reception but it's available any time.

Not sure if they only have one for hire or one behind reception that can be used but stays there???

The fridge in reception is basically for medicines for guests not for the beer! although baby milk might be different.
If you do buy a bottle of wine in the dining room you can take it with you to the bar and if any left (in the Habana bar) they write your room number on it for the next night.

The beach is slopeing and you will need beach shoes if going in the water as pebbles on the shore line and just in the water.
Our kids are 6 and 10 and both loved the sea. The drop isn't that deep, but we told our kids not to go past it if we weren't in the water. we sat right at the waters edge and didn't take our eyes off them.
They can both swim atleast 200m and like the waves so depnds on your kids really. The waves break at the drop.
The shingle isn't a prblem we thought it was easier to get off.

Our kids were rolling in the waters edge and rubbed/exfoliated all their suntan lotion off their legs. Sore legs that night.

nicola
just read your review glad you enjoyed your holiday, can,t wait till august 2 months today.

Forgot to say that you can hire the hotel towels for a deposit of 5E. Very useful if you are showering on the last day and don't have a late checkout room booked. No wet towels to take home!
Late checkout rooms cost 40E unless prebooked with TO. We had to check on the morning of the day before departure to see if they could do it and if we'd be in the same room.

Reception staff were fantastic!
Check with them what tours they offer before booking anything with the Thomson reps (who we found totally useless! They gave out wrong information or just hadn't got a clue when asked questions even about the time of their own kids clubs) as they were less than half the price on the Barcelona tour.

Going to the Taurus Park Pineda, 1st week August.I have read all the reviews & I am a bit apprehensive about a lot of people commenting how smokey the hotel is.
Now some of these post were from 2004, so can anyone tell me if it is still the same.
I am not anti smoking its just reads that this hotel is a smokers paradise & with small children in tow this would be a nightmare.l

Hi,

no it's now a non smoking hotel. There are a couple of designated smoking areas outside. The first time we went about 3 years ago it was terrible walking through the bar area to the restaurant, smoke everywhere...yuck! Thank goodness it's now changed!
Jules