We have just returned from a weeks stay in this hotel and were a bit anxious before I went about staying so long at this hotel but I was pleasantly surprised and it became a home from home for us during the week. We were fortunate enough to be able to stay on the level which gave us some extra comforts like the lounge with the coffee on tap all afternoon (a big plus for me) and a place to come back to after dinner and relax with a free drink. We probably made more use of this area than alot of people as unfortunately my husband's back gave up on him the day after we arrived so could only move very slowly with alot of pain during his stay (so if you saw a man in the last week walking funny around Alicante and looking pained - it was probably him trying to look normal. It really helped that this hotel was in such a great location as you didn't have to travel far for anything the beach was on our door step and pool was never crowded and it was easy to get a seat near it (this could have something to do with the weather as we got alot of mixed weather during the week from sunny hot days to rainy cold ones) but used the duller days to go around the shops as every thing is close by to this hotel. There are so many Restaurants in the area you will be spoilt for choice I can vouch for the Indian restaurant and the steak house already recommended by other reviewers to this hotel tried both of them and was not disappointed also tried a Chinese one down by the harbour - give it a wide berth - some great fish ones in the old town. As there is alot of building work going on in front of the hotel for the next month due to a big boat race starting out from Marina in September - probably hard to get room there for that time and also probably very expensive - I would ask for room on the beach side as I believe the Marina side is noisier. I will definitely be returning to this hotel again as it was one of my better experiences in hotels and I stay in quite a few due to business the staff were very helpful came up trumps with any request we asked them for and you can't beat the location. A bus from the airport stops just across the road from the hotel and we found it arrived on time

Where do we start!!!!!!!!!! I wont bore you too much, so i will point out the reasons i would never stay at the Melia again and leave it to you to decide if you book or not. We stayed 5 nights, 2 Adults and small child of 3 years of age. The cleaniness of the hotel was average. The hotel reception staff were the rudest, most unfriendly and unhelpful staff I've ever met...and over the years i've met lots of recption staff at the hotels i've stayed at! We were treated as an inconvenience! After this hotel was recommended to us, we booked direct and asked for a quiet room in a quiet part of the hotel. On arrival we were given a room which was directly above the music stage of the dining room...the room where breakfast is served and the main function room. On the 2nd night of our stay, a party was being held for the end of a conference. At 11.30pm a live band started playing...so loud that after 2 complaints to reception we were told that the only thing we could do was move to another part of the hotel....AT 2AM!! Everything re-packed and us and our 3 year old moved rooms! Not ideal!! The party carried on until 4-5am! The following morning we spoke to management, we were told there would be no financial compensation, but all the could do was move us to a bigger room. In short, for our 5 day stay this was the 3rd room we slept in. Breakfast was plentiful, but quality was average. Dinner..there was only one restaurant, which was quite expensive and the restaurants nearby were desperate to get you to their tables, but only managed to serve very average-poor quality food considering the prices! Lots of building work, road works, dust and noise around the hotel, therefore very difficult to get taxis to the hotel and they tried to avoid going near the hotel. Swimming pool area very small for the size of the hotel, mostly in the shade and very often if there was a conference or wedding, some of the already limited space for sunbathing was taken over for this! No child pool either. It wasn't a family friendly hotel and was more geared to business clients.

Spent five nights at this hotel in early June 2008. Having read a lot of reviews I was apprehensive. This hotel was just great. Location fantastic on the beach, breakfast was great - lots of fresh fruit, juice etc. We did stay at the executive level which had some advantages - besides the drinks and snacks, the room was very quiet with blackout curtains. I cant comment on the other rooms. Executive level was expensive though so if travelling again would probbaly stay on other levels. Overall the hotel was great. Staff were all helpful etc. Alicante was a lovely city to visit. The restaurants nearby were numerous and some good ones. Great bar called havana that did some fab mojitos. All the ususal shops - and great shopping. We were lucky to have great weather every day as well so it was just a great week.

Spent five nights at this hotel in early June 2008. Having read a lot of reviews I was apprehensive. This hotel was just great. Location fantastic on the beach, breakfast was great - lots of fresh fruit, juice etc. We did stay at the executive level which had some advantages - besides the drinks and snacks, the room was very quiet with blackout curtains. I cant comment on the other rooms. Executive level was expensive though so if travelling again would probbaly stay on other levels. Overall the hotel was great. Staff were all helpful etc. Alicante was a lovely city to visit. The restaurants nearby were numerous and some good ones. Great bar called havana that did some fab mojitos. All the ususal shops - and great shopping. We were lucky to have great weather every day as well so it was just a great week.

Alicante is an interesting city and this hotel lays by a beautiful beach. The area is under heavy construction with all the hassle it brings. The hotel areas are ok, specially the breakfast room with a panoramic view of the beach ... those eggs tasted better then ever,