The Hotel Calypso looks a bit dated, and is composed of two yellow and white buildings with frosted glass balconies. The lobby is open and functional, with brown tile and fake potted plants plus a square chandelier. There is plenty of mottled wood paneling along with polished chrome -- the space is clean, but lifted straight from a bygone decade. The Apple Bar, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and mod-style chairs, is more contemporary, though the buffet restaurant is boring, with tan linoleum and mismatched, out-of-place portraits of famous actors. All-inclusive options are offered and bargain rates are frequently available, making some of the inconveniences and tired style a little more tolerable. Almost all public areas of the hotel are busy, hectic, and noisy. Guests are mostly families with children, though some couples stay as well -- like all hotels in Salou, clientele is a mix of U.K. tourists and Spanish retirees. 

The Hotel Calypso is east of downtown Salou, in an area surrounded by restaurants, bars, and other hotels. Capellans Beach is a 10-minute walk away, while Levante Beach is 15 minutes from the hotel on foot. PortAventura Park, a popular theme park with families, is a five-minute drive from the hotel and both the historic town of Tarragona and Aquopolis water park are 10 minutes away by car. It's a 15-minute drive to Reus Airport, while Barcelona-El Prat Airport is an hour away. Barcelona's city center takes 80 minutes to reach by car. Note that there's no on-site parking at the hotel and guests with cars will need to make other arrangements.

Rooms are simple and have a bright, pleasant feel, with vibrant pink accent walls and matching comforters plus contemporary photographic prints on the walls. Tile floors are set with basic, light wood veneer furniture, and there are outdated striped curtains over the windows. There is a bit of slapdash quality to the room, though, as we saw sloppy paint jobs along the molding in some rooms. All rooms have air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and safes, as well as furnished balconies. Some rooms have pool views and come with free entry to Aquopolis. However, certain rooms do pick up noise from the hallways. Bathroom style varies, but is mostly modern, with tan subway tile that and white pedestal sinks or gray tile and handsome white marble vanities. All bathrooms have shower/tub combos with soap dispensers, though we did spot a bit of discolored grout in some bathrooms.

The Calypso features two outdoor pools, including a freeform with waterfall features. Each pool has its own kids' pool and there's a pool bar serving cocktails and beer. Other amenities include a business center with computers and a printer, and free Wi-Fi in public areas. There's also a free kids' club with organized activities and a huge game room with bowling lanes, pool tables, and foosball. 

There's also a buffet restaurant with an international menu (including plenty of Mediterranean options) and theme dinners on certain nights. The Apple Bar and Bar Mediterrani have cocktails and beer, and the Al Fresco Grill is open seasonally and serves meals a la carte. All-inclusive packages are available, but alcoholic beverages are not included.