Great location, but not worth the price
I spent a weekend at Meliá Alicante with my 12-year-old daughter, hoping to enjoy warmth, the beach, and some cultural experiences. We chose to pay extra for an upgraded stay, but unfortunately, we felt that the experience did not match the price.
Starting with the positives:
The hotel’s location is excellent – just a short walk to the beach, great restaurants, and cultural attractions. A big plus was the receptionist, Carlos, who welcomed us in a warm and personal manner. We also appreciated the RFID wristband access system instead of traditional key cards – very convenient, especially for quick trips to the pool.
However, several aspects were disappointing:
Although we paid for an upgrade and expected a sense of luxury, the hotel felt overcrowded. During breakfast, at the pool area, and in the lobby, it was too busy to feel relaxing or exclusive.
The room didn’t meet expectations either. The showerhead was broken and couldn’t be adjusted to a comfortable height, and the towels were so thin and worn that drying off felt like using a tablecloth. While this may be environmentally friendly, it definitely impacted the sense of comfort.
We were also surprised that no drinking water was provided in the room. Offering a daily bottle of water would be a simple and low-cost service – especially in hot Alicante. Instead, we had to buy and carry water from a supermarket ourselves.
Lastly, the air conditioning was weak and ineffective, espec