Meliá Benidorm: My Honest Review After Staying at the 4-Star Hotel We Liked Most

We stayed at the Meliá Benidorm , a four-star hotel in a good area of Benidorm, about a 10 to 15-minute walk from Levante Beach. We chose it because it has very good reviews, fairly large pools and, from the photos, it looked like one of the nicest hotels in the area.

Plus, being a Meliá, we had high expectations. We’ve stayed at many hotels in the chain and they usually take good care of quality, service and details. In this case, the reality matches what they promise pretty well.

In this article I’ll tell you the good, the bad and whether we really recommend it over other options in Benidorm.

My quick verdict

We give it an 8.2 out of 10 . After visiting several hotels in Benidorm, this was the one we liked most. It has the nicest pools we’ve seen in the area, staff that feel genuinely professional and an overall quality above other four-star hotels in the city.

It works for families with young kids, groups of friends and also couples looking for something more polished than the Benidorm average.

Pros and Cons

Location and first impressions

The hotel is in a good area of Benidorm, about a 10-15 minute walk from Levante Beach. You’re not on the frontline, but you’re not far either.

From the moment you walk in, you can tell this hotel is better looked after than many others in Benidorm . The reception is attractive, it smells good, there are plenty of plants, tropical decor and a generally pleasant feel. It’s not the typical old Benidorm hotel that’s simply been surviving year after year. Here you can tell they’ve put work into the common areas.

We also really liked the service from the start. At Meliá it seems like they have well-standardised processes and the staff know how to look after you. In fact, we had a few minor issues during our stay and they resolved them really well. Those details make a big difference to the overall experience.

The room and bathroom

Room

The room felt good — slightly larger than average, though not huge. What you do notice is that the quality is above other four-star hotels we’ve visited in Benidorm. The decor is more thoughtful, the materials look better and the room gives off a higher-category feel.

One of the things we liked most were the pillows . If you’ve seen our reviews, you know we always pay close attention to this. Here they leave you three high-quality pillows from the Pikolin Home brand , which isn’t common. Normally, many hotels give you one or two fairly basic pillows. Here you have several options and you can tell they’re good.

The bed was also comfortable.

All rooms have a terrace, and this part is quite nice. The terraces are spacious and face the pool area. Plus, you can see the sea in the distance . You’re not on the frontline, but you do get good views and a pleasant feeling.

Bathroom

The bathroom is fine. Not spectacular, but it does the job. It has a huge mirror, a generally good feel and Rituals brand amenities , which is a nice touch because they’re good-quality products that smell great.

Food: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Moving on to the buffet, where lunch and dinner were among the highlights. There’s very good variety, good product quality and plenty of attention from the service staff.

Best parts of the buffet

We especially liked the show cooking . We tried sea bass fillets that were very good and an entrecôte that surprised us a lot: juicy, with good flavour and quite high quality. In fact, we both went back for seconds. And that doesn’t usually happen to us, because we have to try a huge amount of food over several consecutive weeks.

There were also stews, fried dishes, rice dishes, cheeses, cold cuts, salads, fruit and plenty of desserts. Overall, both lunch and dinner impressed us.

What could improve

The only weak point we saw at dinner was that the pasta tray and the white rice tray were overcooked . Something they should improve, because the rest of the buffet was at a fairly good level.

Breakfast is a step down

Curiously, breakfast was the weakest part of the food offering. It’s not a bad breakfast, but after such good lunch and dinner, we expected more.

The Spanish omelette didn’t convince us. Some cold cuts also didn’t seem up to the quality you’d expect from a Meliá. Overall, the feeling was that breakfast was a notch below the rest.

Still, breakfast is perfectly fine. It’s just not on the same level as lunch and dinner.

Pools: the best part of the hotel

The pool area is probably the most beautiful part of the hotel . It has two fairly large outdoor pools, separated by bridges, surrounded by palm trees, trees, gardens, sunbeds and shaded areas.

The atmosphere is beautiful. You don’t feel like you’re in an urban Benidorm hotel, but rather in a tropical, tranquil setting . There are plenty of sunbeds, hammocks hanging between trees, giant parasols and a chiringuito with natural shade and areas to grab a drink.

Another positive is the type of crowd. Guests seem calmer than at other Benidorm hotels. We didn’t see that party atmosphere, noise or people who come just to drink. Here you notice a more relaxed clientele who come to enjoy the good weather, the pool and the hotel.

Who is this hotel for?

Families with young kids

Although it’s not a hotel with water slides or a massive family resort, it can work well with young children . It has a kids’ pool (very small, about 30 cm deep, designed for babies), a mini-club and activities with the entertainment team.

The mini-club has both indoor and outdoor areas. Outside there’s a small playground, and inside they have tables for drawing, quiet games and even a rest area for the little ones.

That said, I wouldn’t see it as the ideal hotel for older kids looking for water slides or lots of games. For children up to about 5 or 6 it works well.

Groups of friends

It works well. The common areas are quite nice: the lobby bar has both indoor and outdoor terrace areas, and in the evening they put on shows, live music and activities like Latin dancing. There’s also an outdoor chiringuito next to the pool.

The atmosphere inside the hotel is relaxed. There were groups of friends, but we didn’t see anyone drinking too much or causing trouble.

Couples

It can work very well, especially if you want a hotel that’s more polished than the Benidorm average, with good pools, a relaxed atmosphere and staff who treat you well. The terraces with sea views and tropical gardens give it a touch that works for a couple’s getaway.

Gym and spa

The gym is one of the weak points. For a Meliá, we expected better. It has some machines and can serve for a light workout if you’re staying a few days, but it’s not a gym you’d want to use if you train seriously . Missing dumbbells, some machines not well maintained and generally too limited.

As for the spa, there are massage cabins, a private jacuzzi you can book, manicure, pedicure and treatments. But there’s no large spa area with hydrotherapy circuits, a heated pool or anything similar. If you’re coming for a proper spa experience, this isn’t the hotel’s strong point.

Staff

Staff were one of the big positives . At reception, the restaurant, common areas and maintenance, we were treated very well. You notice a more professional level than at many hotels in the area.

They solved our problems, were friendly and overall convey the feeling of a well-managed hotel. It’s not just that they’re nice — it feels like they have good processes and know how to handle things when something comes up .

Beach and surroundings

Levante Beach is about a 10 to 15-minute walk away, depending on your pace. You’re not on the frontline, but you’re not far either.

The area is touristy, with atmosphere and plenty of services around. In mid-season it can be very pleasant, although in July and August Levante Beach gets absolutely packed.

Scores and final verdict

Category	Score
Cleanliness	9
Bed and pillows	9
Bathroom	8
Breakfast	7
Lunch	8.5
Dinner	8.5
Beach	7
Staff	9
Adults facilities	8.5
Kids facilities	7
Pools and gardens	8.5

Average score: 8.2 out of 10.

My Honest Opinion

The Final Verdict

For whom do I recommend it?

Perfect For

• You want the best hotel in Benidorm for value for money. After visiting several, this was our top pick.
• You want beautiful pools and a relaxed atmosphere , without the typical noise of other hotels in the area.
• You're travelling as a couple and want something more polished and professional than the Benidorm average.
• You appreciate the details : Pikolin Home pillows, Rituals amenities, terraces with sea views.

Skip It If

• You want a hotel with a proper spa and hydrotherapy circuit. Here there are only cabins and a private jacuzzi.
• You're travelling with older kids who want water slides, a water park or lots of entertainment.
• You need a fully-equipped gym to maintain your training routine.
• You want to be right on the beachfront . Here it's a 10-15 minute walk to Levante.