Melia Marbella Banus

This lovely hotel is on the beach, a short walk to the world-famous Puerto Banus Marina, yet it’s still in a quiet setting of mostly private homes. The tidy, palm-lined promenade that separates the back of the hotel from the beach is a great place to stroll. The spacious lobby exudes upscale sophistication, with beige marble floors and circular chandeliers hanging from the somewhat low, coffered ceilings. Two living room-style clusters of matching beige upholstered sofas and chairs are across from the large front desk that’s topped with pink marble and flanked by wood paneling. Large photo panels of the famous marina nearby hang behind the desk, reminding guests of the hotel’s beach location. This is a quiet hotel with pools spread out amid lush tropical gardens. It's popular with couples and groups.

The Melia Marbella Banus is situated on the beach in a quiet residential area just south of the N-340, the main road that runs through Marbella along the coast. A few restaurants are within walking distance, but there's little else in the immediate area other than the beach -- the hotel is a one- to two-minute walk to the water. The world-famous Puerto Banus Marina and the many shops, restaurants, and nightclubs surrounding it are within a 10-minute walk of the hotel. Buses stop along N-340, and taxis are usually available outside the hotel. The closest golf course is about a six-minute drive, with a few more within a 10-minute drive. Marbella’s bustling Old Town is a 12-minute drive. Attractions there include Alameda Park with its tropical gardens, and the Contemporary Spanish Engraving Museum, featuring works from Picasso and Dali. Other Old Town sights include the Plaza de los Naranjos, a square of Castilian Renaissance design, and the Chapel of Santiago, the oldest religious building in the city. The Plaza de Toros bullfighting ring also can be reached in 12 minutes by car. Malaga Airport is a 35- to 40-minute drive, as is RIV and Selwo Marina Delfinarium, with its dolphin shows and penguin exhibits. 

The bright and spacious rooms at the Melia Marbella Banus are high-end without appearing opulent or stuffy. Decor varies slightly by category, but both the Melia Standard and Melia Club Level Rooms have light-beige marble floors. Standard Rooms have light-yellow walls and wicker-style furniture, while the Club Level Rooms feature beige walls and modern, modular-style white furniture. Club Level Rooms also have teal accent colors; Standard Rooms have beige and orange accents. Both room categories are about 375 square feet, and have bathrooms with white marble vanities, shower/tub combos with clear glass partitions, and brown-and-white marble floors and walls. Junior Suites range from 600 to 650 square feet and include sleeper sofas, separate living rooms, and whirlpool tubs, with the Executive Junior Suites also having whirlpools on their balconies. Views from the room balconies or patios include the garden, pool areas, or coastline. All rooms come with 32-inch flat-screen TVs, magnifying mirrors, minibars, free Wi-Fi, and electronic safes. The hotel has a limited number of coffeemakers it lends to guests upon request. The adult-only Level Rooms and Level Junior Suites add Nespresso coffeemakers and robes. They also include access to the Level (club) Lounge that has free all-day snacks and drinks (including wine and beer), separate check in, and a business center. Rooms are generally quiet, but some past guests have reported ambient noise from the hallways, occasional group parties also bring their share of noise. Smoking rooms are available. 

This beachfront hotel tries to appeal to both vacationing families and couples who prefer more peace and quiet away from frolicking children. It has three outdoor pools -- a kiddie pool, a family pool with three waterfalls, and an adult-only pool. Special Bali bed packages can be purchased at the adult pool that include drinks and snacks. It also has a heated indoor pool that’s open to all guests. Beach gear can be rented on the beach as well. The full-service spa has a sauna, Turkish bath, and several treatment rooms for various massages, manicures, pedicures, facials, scrubs, and other body treatments. The 24-hour fitness center is spacious, but it’s sparsely equipped with only a few cardio and weight-training machines, and some free weights. One tennis court and two paddle tennis courts are on-site. The hotel offers a free “Mini Club” in the summer for kids age 5 to 12, with indoor and outdoor play areas and supervised activities. Dining options include two buffet-style restaurants, but the one with expansive outdoor seating is open only in the summer. The Blue Lounge Bar and Pool Bar also serve food, but the Pool Bar is closed in colder months. The hotel offers packages that include breakfast, but it’s not included in standard rates. Four meeting rooms can accommodate up to 150 people, and the business center has Internet access. Wi-Fi is available throughout. Concierge and valet dry cleaning and laundry services are available, and self-service laundry facilities are on-site. On-site parking is available, but rates are relatively high. The hotel is nonsmoking in public spaces, but smoking rooms are available.