Spain with Kids: Ohtels Villa Romana Hotel Review, Salou, Costa Dorada

If you’re looking for a fun family holiday to Spain on a budget – this TUI Holiday Review is all about Ohtels Villa Romana Hotel (Salou, Costa Dorada, Spain). I’ve included our experiences, photos, details about the hotel, info on visiting Barcelona, proximity to PortAventura Theme Park, distance from Reus Airport and everything else that you need to know. We always try to travel on a small budget, so if you’re looking to explore the UK and Europe with the kids (in an affordable way!) then have a browse around my blog for loads of money saving tips and budget family holiday reviews. And if you have any recommendations, please let me know – I’m always planning our next trip! (You can follow our travels on Instagram too!)

Holiday: May 2023 (Updated October 2025)

 

Ohtels Villa Romana Hotel Review, Salou

We stayed at the Ohtels Villa Romana Hotel for 7 nights in May 2023, after we found an amazing deal via TUI (combining a free child place and a money off offer) – it was too good to resist… more on that below! The hotel is located in Salou, and you can get around easily on foot which makes things very hassle-free. It was easy to reach the shops and the beach with just a short walk, and the train station nearby enabled us to do some exploring further afield too. So here’s what we thought, what we got up to and what we spent. 

 

What was Ohtels Villa Romana Hotel like?

We really liked Ohtels Villa Romana Hotel – we don’t opt for hotel holidays too often (we generally prefer Eurocamp style resorts) but we thought this one was a good option because of the facilities, entertainment and the kids’ activities. The location was really handy too – Ohtels Villa Romana Hotel is only about 12km from Reus Airport so the transfers were quick and easy. TUI had coaches outside of the airport waiting for us after we’d collected our baggage, and we were picked up directly outside of the hotel for the return flight. The whole process was so easy and speedy.

 

What was the swimming pool like at Ohtels Villa Romana Hotel?

I’m starting my review of the lovely Ohtels Villa Romana Hotel in Salou with the swimming pool – as it’s one of the most important parts of any hotel or resort stay with kids! The pool was a great size, and had deeper and shallower areas to suit everyone. It was freezing cold – perhaps it would be warmer later in the season – but my kids didn’t really care! There was also a paddling pool area which was great for younger children. Each day they rotated an inflatable waterslide with a float game across the pool – my two adored the float game they called ‘wipe out’. The staff were fantastic with the kids and would play with them – pushing them in, wobbling it etc. They looked forward to it every afternoon.

They also hosted activities like water polo, which Finn really enjoyed. This place was never short of entertainment! There were always staff and lifeguards around too to keep an eye on everything. Down the side of the hotel, there was a children’s play area which led to a flume section at the back. They were a bit tame for Finn and Lola (who prefer the big Eurocamp slides!) but it offered a bit of extra entertainment.

 

What was the entertainment like?

The staff were a real credit to the hotel – they organised pool games, bingo, ping-pong tournaments and all sorts during the day. There was a kid’s club too, though ours didn’t attend, and the team were so nice. A big shout out to Tony and Julio – Finn and Lola thought they were lovely, and they were always busy organising some sort of fun for both the adults and the kids. The entertainment in the evening was good too – a mix of singing, acrobatics and a gameshow on the evenings that we were there. The bar area also had pool tables, which we enjoyed playing on with the kids. On one of the days it rained, so having the inside space to spread out and keep busy was great.

 

Local area: What is there to do near the Villa Romana Hotel?

Salou

Everything in the local area could be easily reached on foot. A five minute walk from Ohtels Villa Romana Hotel took us to supermarkets and a town area with restaurants and shops, and it was only around a 10-15 minute walk to the seafront. The hotel is also just around the corner from PortAventura Theme Park, it’s about a 10 minute walk, so if you fancy a day out on the rides it couldn’t be any easier. You’ve also got the option of visiting Ferrari Land (which is right around the corner from PortAventura) and Caribe Aquatic Park – so there’s a lot on offer to keep the whole family entertained if you want a busy break. If you’re planning to head to all three, a combo ticket including the waterpark will be the most cost effective way to do it. And there are lots of other great days out for the kids in the Salou area too – for more information take a look at: The 10 best things to do in Salou with kids.

 

Tarragona

In the other direction, it was around a 10 minute walk to the train station which we thought was brilliant – we love exploring and it allowed us to easily go further afield. We had a visit to nearby Tarragona, to see the Roman Amphitheatre and went to Barcelona for the day too – which was one the reasons we picked this hotel and the Salou area for our holiday. Tarragona also has a big shopping mall so it’s the perfect place to spend a rainy afternoon if the weather isn’t on your side.

 

Visiting Barcelona on a budget

It was much cheaper for us to travel in by train from our hotel than to book separate accommodation for our Barcelona visit. Good accommodation in the city can be really dear so staying at the Hotel Villa Romana kept things more affordable. The train journey from Salou to Barcelona took about 90 minutes, and cost around €60 for the four of us for a return trip – €15pp. It was a simple journey and the trains ran every few hours. Here’s how to keep costs down:

• Buy a family fun pass: For skip the line tickets to Barcelona Zoo, a day at PortAventura theme park and a cable car trip – purchase a family fun pass ticket from Tiqets.
• Use your legs: We clocked about ten miles on foot when we were there. The metro isn’t as cheap in Spain as it is in Italy – so although we used it for the longer stretches, we didn’t hop on and off as frequently as we did when we were in Rome.
• Use public transport: When you do need to use the Metro, get a T-familiar ticket to save on transport costs. You currently get 8 trips for €10 – which is 2 journeys for a family of four. Avoid expensive taxis and transfers.
• Self-cater when possible: Use bakeries, markets and supermarkets to keep costs down, and favour fast food or street food over restaurant meals.

• Visit free museums: Many museums offer free entry on the first Sunday of the month or at certain times during the week, so make sure you do some research to plan the best budget-friendly family holiday itinerary for your adventure with the kids in Barcelona.  Some of the religious buildings also have free entrance periods for those who are attending mass – so if you’re happy to attend a service then you could get a glimpse inside – though I suspect this won’t allow you to view the whole building.
• Buy combination tickets: If you’re looking to visit several landmarks during your Barcelona trip, look for a ticket offer that combines all of the attractions you’d like to explore. Websites like Tiqets can be great for this kind of thing – they have discounted combination tickets, like their Barcelona Essentials Pass which also includes public transport.

There are loads of brilliant things to see and do with the kids in Barcelona – so spending at least one day in the city on your trip to Spain will definitely be a hit with the whole family. You’ll want to admire the Sagrada Familia, take a trip on the Telefèric de Montjuïc cable car, relax at Parc de la Ciutadella, watch the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc and perhaps even pay a visit to Barcelona Zoo. For more information, and lots of ideas for fun with the kids in Barcelona, check out my article: The 10 best things to do in Barcelona on a budget with kids.

 

What was the food like at the Ohtels Villa Romana?

Our stay was half-board and we were really impressed with the food at Ohtels Villa Romana. Again, all of the restaurant staff were lovely (whoever hires the staff here is great at their job!) and there was a huge variety of food to choose from at every meal – you’d have to be super fussy not to find something that you’d like. Each day they cooked meat and fish on the grills in front of guests too, and they had a giant paella on the go! The food was a buffet so you could try whatever you fancied and have a bit of everything which we enjoyed. I’m gluten-free, and each night the chef would walk me around the restaurant to tell me what I could eat. The food was hot and tasty – and we ate way too much of it every night! 😂 In the mornings, the kids had pancakes cooked in front of them and, alongside a big buffet, you could have a custom made omelette too.

 

Was the accommodation good?

Our room at Ohtels Villa Romana was basic but absolutely fine and we were comfortable. The kids’ bed, which was supposed to be for both of them, was too small for two of them at their ages – so we had Lola in bed in between us and Finn had the other bed. Our bed was large so it wasn’t a problem. The room was cleaned and the beds were made up each day. Towels were regularly changed too. The room had a TV with quite a few English channels, and there was a small fridge which was a fab added bonus for snacks and lunchtime food as we only had breakfast and dinner included.

There were no hot drink facilities in the room – luckily we knew about this after reading other reviews so we took a little travel kettle from Amazon and it was a god-send – so make sure that you pack a kettle! The bath was lovely and long, so we made the most of some nice bubble-baths before dinner every day! The only issue with the room was the noise from other rooms above and next door which could be annoying when people were moving around late at night. The entertainment was fairly loud but it was indoors and it didn’t finish too late so that wasn’t bothersome. (We were usually watching it anyway!)

 

How much does a holiday at Ohtels Villa Romana Hotel cost – was it good value for money?

We don’t often do package holidays, but this was too much of a bargain not to! We took advantage of a free child place, AND a TUI offer of £100 off which was running at the time of the booking. Free child places can be a great way to save money on package holidays, and it’s great that TUI deals can be combined. This holiday was incredible value for money – we paid around £1000 for the four of us for a 7 night holiday at the Ohtels Villa Romana Hotel. This worked out about £250pp which included the hotel, flights, transfers, luggage and half-board dining. What a great deal!

Considering that the hotel charged around £50 per dinner for a family of four, that was worth £350 alone. And the flights with baggage accounted for hundreds more of the cost. So broken down into the separate elements of the holiday, we actually couldn’t have booked it ourselves for less. The location was great, enabling us to get around without the expense and faff of car hire. I’d always wanted to visit Barcelona, so this was a great base for a city adventure too.

I hope that my review has been helpful, we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Ohtels Villa Romana Hotel in Salou if you’re looking for a good deal on the Costa Dorada. This hotel also pops up on lots of the holiday websites, so be sure to compare prices before you book – you can click below for:

• TUI package holiday deals at Ohtels Villa Romana
• easyJet holidays deals at Ohtels Villa Romana
• Jet2 package holidays at Ohtels Villa Romana with theme parks tickets included

There are loads of great places to stay on the Costa Dorada in Spain so for even more holiday options, in and around the Salou area, take a look at my articles: Where are the best places to stay in Salou with kids? and Eurocamp Spain: The 5 best holidays on the Costa Dorada. Happy holiday hunting! 😊

 

Check out these articles too:

Where are the best places to stay in Salou with kids?

 

Eurocamp Holiday Review: Vilanova Park, Costa Dorada, Spain

 

The 12 best Eurocamp resorts in Spain for family holidays

 

The 10 best things to do in Barcelona on a budget with kids

 

Eurocamp Holiday Review: Playa Montroig, Costa Dorada, Spain

 

The 10 best things to do in Salou with kids

 

Eurocamp Spain: Which resorts are near PortAventura theme park?

 

TUI Money Saving Guide – holiday discounts and tips!

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