Meliá Isla Canela

“Great base for a small golfing group”

3 mates and I stayed four nights (half board) at the Melia in mid October whilst we played golf in the area. Our rooms were perfect for our needs, I think we had a mixture of a couple of twins and a single, no one had any complaints. I suppose the only negative about our twin was the aircon wasn't … more

3 mates and I stayed four nights (half board) at the Melia in mid October whilst we played golf in the area. Our rooms were perfect for our needs, I think we had a mixture of a couple of twins and a single, no one had any complaints. I suppose the only negative about our twin was the aircon wasn't great and it was a bit noisey. The hotel was quiet, fairly busy but meal times were no real sweat. Breakfast was excellent a good choice of all kinds of hot and cold food available, evenings was fine, although I get how people staying more than a few days could think things were a bit samey after a few days. The outside pool was a little on the cool side I am told, the grounds were very nicely laid out, the hotel has a huge footprint, the designers went to town on the open plan space that is available in the foyer and pool area. As someone else has said the drinks prices in the hotel bars are very reasonable and actually the entertainment was pretty good in the evening. It is a bit out on a limb, we had a great transfer company, but if you want to feel out of the way this hotel is really good value and a nice place to be.

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“Stunning Scenery and Hotel Location. Far to quiet in October.”

Whilst this hotel is in a beautiful location. Stunning scenery, find hotel food lacking especially in the evening can be crowded and bit of a bun fight. Difficult to catch attention to get a drink with meal. Lunch time meal excellent fresh salads etc. Room has a wonderful view. Staff I've encounte… more

Whilst this hotel is in a beautiful location. Stunning scenery, find hotel food lacking especially in the evening can be crowded and bit of a bun fight. Difficult to catch attention to get a drink with meal. Lunch time meal excellent fresh salads etc. Room has a wonderful view. Staff I've encountered are all friendly and attentive. Only been here a day and they started closing pool bar at 08:00pm. Was nice relaxing atmosphere sitting there in the evening. Bar you can use now can get crowded and a little noisy. Not everyone wants that. Did enquire about upgrading to the level but wanted 600Euros no way. Been to the area 6 years ago but in September. If I'd known how quiet it was I wouldn't of booked for 11 nights. Other guests have said the same. Hardly anything open in the area. Couple bars on marina. Won't be rushing back to Hotel. Still have a week , definitely wouldn't have come for so long.

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“Not what it was!”

Having stayed in this hotel before - and truly loved it - I'm sorry to say that our recent stay was something of a disappointment. We stayed in October and as the season was coming to an end the resort was understandably quiet, with a bare handful of shops on the brink of closure for the winter. … more

Having stayed in this hotel before - and truly loved it - I'm sorry to say that our recent stay was something of a disappointment. We stayed in October and as the season was coming to an end the resort was understandably quiet, with a bare handful of shops on the brink of closure for the winter. We paid for a room upgrade, and were met by a pleasantly furnished but dark room with a view of the car park - and a leaky loo. Reception's response was to offer a premium room on The Level, but at a whopping extra charge of 90 Euro per day. Thanks but no thanks. A fellow guest suggested that since Brexit, Brits are routinely offered worse service than our EU counterparts, and recent experience does seem to bear this out. The end-of-season feeling may have contributed to the hotel's limited menu and reduced number of weary-looking staff. As for meals, the salads and fresh fruit that the hotel provides are delicious. Give the cooked food a miss. though, as it's served tepid with the vegetables boiled to mush. The hotel's location is as stunning as ever, with river and beach walks extending in each direction. The jet ski business had shut for the winter so we were spared the incessant whine! Sun loungers around the pools were plentiful and it was always possible to find a quiet corner to curl up with a book. Do take insect repellent, though. For a few Euro the local bus takes you to Ayamonte, a traditional Spanish town with small shops, bars and restaurants to explore. You can also catch the ferry from Ayamonte over to Portugal. All in all, for a quiet autumn break Melia Isla Canela has much to offer, but sadly it no longer lives up to the high standards it once held.

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“Lovely hotel, disappointing food”

I’m really sorry to give this handsome and spotless four star hotel a three star review. Ideally situated between the marina, shops and restaurants and the beach in Isla Canela, the Melia has a relaxed, sophisticated and spacious feel. Our Premium room, while not sea-facing, (you specifically ha… more

I’m really sorry to give this handsome and spotless four star hotel a three star review. Ideally situated between the marina, shops and restaurants and the beach in Isla Canela, the Melia has a relaxed, sophisticated and spacious feel. Our Premium room, while not sea-facing, (you specifically have to book a room from the Sea View tier of accommodation for that) was a good size and meticulously cleaned daily, although a leaking cistern showed signs of being a recurring longer term problem which should have been repaired by now. The provision of drawers, rather than simple bedside tables, would be a smart move in the bedroom. But the food side of the holiday let the hotel down. Choice in the dining room, part of which overlooks the pool area, was always extensive, although quite often repetitive. However, the hot dishes were rarely more than lukewarm, and vegetables were mostly over-cooked. Even the pizzas - usually a safe choice -were soggy and tepid. That’s surprising in a four-star hotel. And for a hotel to run out of butter twice at breakfast in three days suggests bigger problems - the lack of staff in the food serving area meant that nobody was around to solve this problem. Margarine isn’t quite the same… And again, the hot items should have been hot. Of two items chosen for a poolside lunch on our final day, one had to be sent back for being inedible (to be fair, the hotel did not charge for this) and the mini club sandwich was nowhere near as good as those I have eaten everywhere else. The hotel closes at the end of October for the winter months - and there was a definite end of season feel around aspects of the hotel - so may I suggest that the catering staff decamp to a Riu hotel, such as the Monica in Nerja, in the coming months, and see how they flawlessly cater for their guests day after day, night after night? There are lessons to be learnt. I regret that we won’t be returning to the Melia for a fourth stay unless there is an upturn in its catering reviews on TripAdvisor next year. Such a shame.

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