Ponient Dorada Palace, Salou Review

Stayed: 15–26 September 2025
Room type: Self-catering apartment
Overall score: 6.5/10

We stayed at Ponient Dorada Palace in Salou (Spain) from 15–26 September 2025, in one of their self-catering apartments.

The hotel is affiliated with PortAventura World, which shapes the feel of the place. It is around a 20-25 minute walk to PortAventura and around 15 minutes to the beach, so location-wise it worked well for us.

The apartment gave us plenty of space, with a small kitchen and balcony. That made a real difference over an 11 night stay.

The room we had was on one of the sides if the hotel with a view of Portaventura World (and a big carpark), but the neighbourhood was quiet.

Accommodation

The apartment was clean, spacious, and well appointed. Nothing felt tired or neglected, and everything worked as it should.

We had a walk-in shower, which was a nice bonus, and the room felt properly maintained throughout the stay.

Pools and facilities

There is one large main pool with a kids pool next to it, plus a smaller pool around the side of the hotel.

The main pool was lively during the day, with water aerobics, water polo, kids’ activities, and entertainment on the small stage. Great if you have children, less relaxing if you want peace and quiet.

The smaller pool was close to the stairs near the top of the restaurant. It sat in a little suntrap and was much quieter, with fewer children around.

Both pools were clean, and the lifeguards were attentive. Towels were available for a small refundable deposit.

Food and drink

The restaurant was clean and mainly served buffet-style food. It felt and sounded more like a cafeteria, cheap and cheerful.

Breakfast included fresh fruit, bacon, eggs, yoghurt, pastries, and the usual hotel breakfast options.

Dinner usually had pasta, pizza, meat and fish dishes, salads, and a show cooking section. There were also themed nights, such as Mexican, Chinese, and Italian, with dishes linked to that country.

There was a dedicated kids section at child height, usually with pasta, spaghetti, meatballs, fish fingers, pizza, burgers, and similar options.

Sweet treats were always available, including ice cream, small cakes, puddings, and fresh fruit.

As a vegetarian, I did find the choice a bit limited at times. There was always something to eat, but over a longer stay it became a bit repetitive.

The worst part of the dining experience was not the food itself. It was the waste. Lots of plates piled high, a lot of food left untouched, and children wasting far too much. Not nice to see night after night.

Staff and service

The staff were friendly and helpful throughout the stay.

In the restaurant, the waiting staff were attentive, and we were always seated very quickly. Tables were cleared fast, and the service felt well organised.

Atmosphere

Because the hotel is part of PortAventura World, there were lots of families and young children around.

That is not a criticism in itself. It is clearly a family-friendly hotel. But it does mean the atmosphere is busy, lively, and not always relaxing.

If you want a quieter stay, the smaller pool is your friend.

I used a book as my escape from the noise, Private Dublin review.

Other facilities

There was a roof terrace, although we did not use it.

Some of the PortAventura World characters popped in from time to time.

There was also a small poolside café for quick bites, such as chips and hot dogs, plus soft and alcoholic drinks etc.

The Verdict

Ponient Dorada Palace is a good, clean, well-run hotel in a handy Salou location.

The accommodation, staff, pools, and location were all strong. For families visiting PortAventura, it makes a lot of sense.

For couples, it still works, but you need to accept that it is a busy family hotel. The main things that dragged the score down were the dining atmosphere, the food waste, and the limited vegetarian choice over a longer stay.

Scores

Accommodation: 8/10
Location: 8/10
Food and drink: 5/10
Staff: 8/10
Atmosphere: 5/10

Overall score: 6.5/10

A clean, friendly, well-located hotel that works best for families and PortAventura trips. Good stay overall, but not quite a peaceful one.

A Move to Spain!

We are actually considering a move to Spain, follow our journey here.

Private Dublin: Couldn’t Put It Down

I’m not a typical reader of books. In fact, I generally only read when I’m on holiday.

I actually forgot to pack a book this time, so I picked one up at the airport. Mainly because the cover art caught my eye. Luckily for me, it turned out to be Private Dublin by James Patterson and Adam Hamdy.

I’ve never read a book from the Private series before, nor anything else from these two authors, but this was an excellent story. What a page turner.

I couldn’t put it down. As someone who rarely finishes a book on holiday, I had this finished after a touch over a day by the pool. Page turner is an understatement.

Being number 20 in the series, I was worried I’d miss out on the back story of the characters. But they are painted in such a realistic way that I felt I knew them almost immediately.

Yeah a few plotholes and a little unrealistic action, but it is fiction after all!

The plot is fast paced and intense, and while this is part of a long-running series, it can easily be enjoyed as a standalone read.

I enjoyed it so much that, after Amazon wouldn’t deliver more of the series to our hotel here in Spain, I spent a few hours trying to find more in local bookstores. Alas, I didn’t find any.

Score: 9/10

Others in the Private series I have read and reviewed:

#1 Private
#2 Private London
#22 Private Dublin

ABBA Voyage Review, London

Strange but true, the day after seeing Iron Maiden live at the London Stadium, we went to see ABBA Voyage on Sunday 29th June 2025. Heavy metal one night, cheesy pop the next... it was certainly a weekend of contrasts.

That was partly the idea. Iron Maiden was mainly for me, while ABBA Voyage was mainly for Debs, so it seemed a pretty good way of making a full weekend out of the trip.

This was the 2nd time I'd seen ABBA Voyage and probably the 3rd or 4th time Debs had been. It was originally set up as something of a pop-up event and, if I remember rightly, there was talk of the show eventually travelling around the world. Instead, it seems to have found a permanent home in London, at least for the time being.

When I first heard about bands being recreated using holograms and digital avatars, I imagined something like a glorified video screen, or perhaps an image projected onto glass or smoke. ABBA Voyage is nothing like that.

The digital versions of Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid genuinely appear to move around the stage, walk towards the audience and interact with each other. Huge screens help give the whole thing the scale of a proper arena concert, while the lighting, sound and acoustics add enormously to the illusion. There's also a live band on stage, which makes a bigger difference than you might expect.

Honestly, within about 10 or 15 minutes you completely forget that the four members of ABBA aren't actually standing in front of you. You just buy into the whole thing.

I love the venue too. The purpose-built ABBA Arena somehow manages to feel fairly intimate despite holding a lot of people, with a mixture of standing areas, normal seating and the more private dance booths or 'pods'. We've tried both standing and seated tickets now and, for us, standing wins. You can dance, move around and get more involved, whereas the seats make it feel slightly more relaxed and theatre-like.

The audience certainly plays its part as well. Every time we've been there have been plenty of sequins, platform boots, flared trousers and long wigs. The ABBA avatars are based on how the group looked in the 1970s, so all of that dressing up just adds another layer of nostalgia to the night.

The set isn't completely fixed either. Songs are changed from time to time, so if, like us, you go back every so often, there's usually something slightly different to see.

What really impresses me is how much thought has gone into the whole experience. From arriving by train, to the photo opportunities, the bars and the purpose-built arena itself, everything has been designed around this one show. It never feels like ABBA have simply been dropped into an ordinary concert venue; the entire place exists to make the experience work.

And it really does work.

We've already seen ABBA Voyage several times between us, and I can't imagine this being the last. We'll definitely be back.

Iron Maiden at London Stadium - Run For Your Lives Tour 2025

As part of their Run For Your Lives World Tour, Iron Maiden played the London Stadium on 28 June 2025. It was something of a homecoming, with Maiden's roots firmly planted in this part of East London, where they started playing pubs and clubs around 50 years earlier.

So my wife Debs and I joined around 75,000 other fans for what turned out to be an absolutely amazing gig.

I've been a massive Iron Maiden fan since 1980. Debs kinda liked them, but the chance to see Maiden live, for the 4th time for me, was something we really didn't want to miss.

We turned it into a whole weekend, staying at the ibis in Canning Town. In a slightly bizarre change of musical direction, we then went to see ABBA Voyage the following day. Iron Maiden one night, ABBA the next. That's quite a weekend.

Before the gig I wanted to visit the Maiden pub that had been set up for the occasion, serving, amongst other things, a range of Iron Maiden beers. Unfortunately, it was absolutely rammed and we couldn't get anywhere near the bar.

We also wanted some merch, which turned into an expedition of its own. We queued for well over an hour to buy a couple of hoodies and ended up missing most of Halestorm's set, which I was gutted about.

Thankfully, once Maiden came on, any frustration disappeared pretty quickly.

They were absolutely on top form.

The band had their usual brilliant rapport with the crowd, with Bruce Dickinson regularly pausing between songs to whip 75,000 people into an even bigger frenzy.

One of the big changes on this tour was the stage production. Bands doing stadium shows like this have traditionally relied on enormous painted or printed backdrops, and Maiden themselves have used some fantastic ones over the years. This time they had a huge digital screen instead.

I'd read beforehand that some Maiden purists weren't keen on the idea.

As a fan, I bloody loved it.

It gave them the opportunity to make the backdrop part of the show rather than simply scenery. Right at the beginning, while The Ides of March played, we were taken on an animated journey through East London and some of the places associated with Maiden's early years.

We travelled virtually through streets, roads and alleyways, passing locations including the Ruskin Arms and The Cart & Horses, where Maiden played during those early days. Every recognisable location seemed to get another huge roar from the crowd before the journey eventually brought us face-to-face with Eddie.

For a band already famous for turning its concerts into theatrical productions, the technology suited them perfectly.

During Hallowed Be Thy Name, a digital version of Bruce was chased along a path by a ghoulish apparition. During Powerslave, the visuals seemed to take you right inside Eddie's Egyptian temple. Maiden's traditional giant Eddie also entered the digital age, with a huge 3D version dominating the screen.

It looked stunning.

There had also been a significant change within the band. Bruce Dickinson was, of course, on vocals, Steve Harris on bass, and we still had the three mighty galloping guitars of Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Janick Gers.

Nicko McBrain had previously announced that he would no longer be touring with Maiden, so behind the drums was Simon Dawson, who also plays alongside Steve Harris in British Lion.

Dawson was brilliant. His relatively stripped-back drum kit somehow seemed perfectly suited to a set drawing so heavily from Maiden's earlier material.

And what a setlist it was.

To the delight of us old-school fans, although there were plenty of much younger Maiden fans around us too, the opening section leaned heavily into the Paul Di'Anno era. After The Ides of March intro came Murders in the Rue Morgue, followed by Wrathchild, Killers and Phantom of the Opera.

Hearing some of those songs live again was something special.

From there we headed into classic Maiden territory with The Number of the Beast, The Clairvoyant, Powerslave and 2 Minutes to Midnight.

One of the biggest treats of the night was the return of the epic Rime of the Ancient Mariner. At nearly 14 minutes long, it's one of those songs that shows exactly what Iron Maiden can do when they're given the freedom to go completely over the top. It hadn't been played live since 2009, so hearing it again was a real moment.

Then came Run to the Hills, Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, The Trooper, Hallowed Be Thy Name and Iron Maiden.

Not a bad run of songs!

The encore began, unusually, with Aces High before probably Maiden's ultimate live anthem, Fear of the Dark.

There's something quite spectacular about tens of thousands of people singing the melody to Fear of the Dark together in a stadium. It doesn't matter how many times you've heard the song, being there in the middle of that crowd is completely different.

And then they finished with Wasted Years.

I'm a huge fan of the song anyway, so having that close the biggest Maiden show I'd ever been to was just about perfect.

I've seen Iron Maiden four times now and been a fan since 1980, but this one felt different. Maybe it was the location, the 50th anniversary celebrations, the early material or simply seeing 75,000 people of all ages sharing the same experience.

The new digital production worked brilliantly for me, the band sounded fantastic, and the mix of rarities and enormous Maiden classics made the whole thing feel like a celebration of where they'd come from.

For the casual fans there were songs like Run to the Hills, The Number of the Beast and Fear of the Dark. For those of us who've followed them for decades, we got Killers, Murders in the Rue Morgue and Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

Everybody won.

Iron Maiden absolutely smashed it out of the park.

Short Form Video for Business

Short-form video is having a moment. From TikTok to Instagram Reels, businesses are flocking to these platforms to connect with audiences in a new and exciting way. But what exactly is short-form video, and why is it so important for businesses?

What is Short-Form Video? 

Short-form video is essentially any video that is less than 60 seconds long. These videos typically appear as TikTok videos, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. They are usually highly engaging and shareable, making them perfect for capturing attention and building brand awareness.

Why is Short-Form Video Important for Businesses?

It not if you don't want to engage with your customers and market, but if you do want to engage with them, here's some benefits you see fairly quicky.

It's highly engaging. Short-form videos are designed to be watched quickly and easily. This makes them perfect for capturing the attention of busy consumers.

It's shareable. Short-form videos are often shared on social media and other platforms. This can help you reach a wider audience and build brand awareness.

It's cost-effective. Short-form videos are relatively inexpensive to produce. This makes them a great option for businesses of all sizes.

It's versatile. Short-form videos can be used for a variety of purposes, such as product demos, customer testimonials, and behind-the-scenes content.

How Can a Business Use Short-Form Video

Not sure how to use short-form video for your business, here are a few tips that might help you:

Start by identifying your target audience. Who are you trying to reach with your videos? Once you know your target audience, you can create content that is relevant to them.

Keep your videos short and sweet. Remember, you only have a few seconds to capture your audience's attention. Make sure your videos are concise and to the point.

Use high-quality visuals and audio. Your videos should be visually appealing and easy to hear.

Use a strong call to action. What do you want your viewers to do after watching your video? Make sure to include a clear call to action, such as visiting your website or following you on social media.

Promote your videos. Share your videos on social media and other platforms. You can also use paid advertising to reach a wider audience.

OK, I'm convinced that I need to use Short Form Video, but for what?

Product demos. Short-form videos are a great way to show off your products and services.

Customer testimonials. Use short-form videos to share positive customer feedback.

Behind-the-scenes content. Give your audience a glimpse into your company culture with behind-the-scenes videos.

Educational content. Use short-form videos to teach your audience about your products or services.

Interactive content. Encourage your audience to participate in your videos by asking questions or challenges.

Short-form video is a powerful tool that can help businesses of all sizes connect with their audiences. By following these simple tips, you will create engaging and effective short-form videos that will help you achieve your business goals.

Really Simple Keyword Research

Let's remember that Googles aim is to deliver to the user the most relevant results possible. So keyword research should focus around INTENT and TOPIC RELEVANCE to your business.

HEADLINE KEYWORDS

Single words or acronyms i.e. "Beer" - these are the worst type of keywords to optimise for (mainly because the intent is not clear, and typically usersresearch and more information), as intent is not clear, traffic will be poor and conversions will be low, but worst of all is that competition will be massively high and you'll need a ton of money and manpower to rank successfully for them.

BODY KEYWORDS 

Typically these are 2-3 word keywords i.e. "Best Beer" - while the intent of the searcher is a little clearer, it's still not 100% clear what they are trying to achieve with their search. These terms are often very competitive, because as keywords they are generally easier to find, this high competitiveness and therefore expensive in time and money to rank well for.

LONG TAIL KEYWORDS

4 or more words i.e. "Best Beer From The Supermarket" , these are the best type to optimise for as the intent of the searcher is much clearer. It will also be a much less competitive keyword.

It's important in the early stages of keyword research that 100% of keywords identified should be based on INTENT, yes search volume is important, but INTENT will ensure that anyone that finds your site WILL BE more likely to purchase. Your conversion rate will be higher, and will likely generate more good quality leads, plus competition will be lower, meaning ranking high for these keywords will be much easier.

PHASE 1 - EXISTING KEYWORDS

Use your existing searches and keyword data to give you inspiration for your keyword analysis, the easiest place to find these is in your Google Search Console, Google is already suggesting that you are ranking well for these keyworks, so it will be easier for you to take advantage of them.

Categorise these keywords into:

LOW HANGING FRUIT - keywords that are currently ranking from positions 2 to 15. Remember to prioritise keywords that based on INTENT and RELVANCE to your business.

EXISTING KEYWORDS - these are ranking from position 16 to 50. Make these your second priority keywords to look at.

POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES - these are keywords that are ranking from position 51 to 100. These keywords are outside of the top 50, so would suggest that you are simply not putting enough effort into these pages. On these look at the long tail key phrases and consider writing a blog post around each phrase.

PHASE 2 - KEYWORD DISCOVERY

Use SEMRUSH to help you discover new keywords (you can create a free account).
Navigate to 'Keyword Magic Tool' to discover for free some new ideas for keywords.

• Start looking at Keywords that are ranked at VERY EASY.
• Create a list of possible new keywords for you to rank for.
• Once you have a list of possible keywords, I sometimes like to search for these on Wikipedia and that can sometimes provide you with additional topics and keywords that are highly relevant to your site.  Use these new and related phrases in SEMRUSH to get more keywords.

PHASE 3 - ALSO ASKED

At the bottom of any Google search is a section that is often forgotten about called 'People Also Searched For', you can use some of these as your keywords, or try alsoasked.com to get a clearer picture and more potential keywords. 

Again, enter one of your best keywords into the search bar and it will provide you with a list of relevant phrases and questions that searches are looking for right now. These tend to make great topics for blog posts, and the chances are your competitors will not be using any of these terms.  Now while these won't bring you lots of traffic, they will make your site more relevant in the eyes of Google.


IMPORTANT:
When it comes to creating content one your website, remember to use only ONE PRIMARY KEYWORD.
Your Primary Keyword MUST address the intend of the searcher. To help decide what your primary keywords should be consider:

• What are you currently ranking well for
• Aim for keywords that have a search volume of at least 200 searches per month
• Only choose a primary keyword with a low competition
• Consider the intend of the searcher
• Make it hyper relevant to your offering
• Click potential - linked to intent, if someone searches for this primary keyword and finds your listing, how likely are they to click through to your site!