RedLevel at Gran Melia Palacio de Isora

RedLevel at Gran Melia Palacio De Isora is a sophisticated adult-only resort within a resort. It has its own private reception, which is a small and elegant space with high-beamed ceilings, a checkerboard-patterned marble floor, and a cozy lounge area with sofas, books, and a flat-screen TV. Guests of this section of the hotel get a bunch of perks, including preferential spa and restaurant reservations in the main resort, along with their own private parking areas, private pools, and private breakfast area, plus a dedicated fondue restaurant only for RedLevel guests. Of course, they also get access to all the facilities and common areas in the regular resort, an enormous luxury property spread out over five zones. The RedLevel section is off to one side, at the far end of the resort. The main resort's lobby -- where there's a desk for RedLevel visitors as well -- descends down to a gorgeous terrace with an eight-point star fountain feature and palm trees. During the day, it's just like any other lobby, with people coming and going in waves, but at night, the vibe changes completely as the fountains are illuminated with colorful lights (there are even choreographed fountain shows, Vegas-style), and loads of guests come to dine, drink, and take in the entertainment options around the resort. The grounds are also fantastic for a wander day or night, with lots of grassy areas and a huge infinity pool running most of the length of the resort, and offering views of the sea. Staff members are always at hand but they tend to keep their presence discreet; however, there are orange pillar-style call boxes throughout the grounds that guests can use should they need to get ahold of someone. 

RedLevel at Gran Melia is located in the quiet community of Alcala, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. There's not much of interest in the immediate vicinity beyond a few restaurants, a Cash & Carry, and a shop selling wine and English staple items, such as tins of baked goods, though there is a lovely boardwalk nearby. It's about a 10-minute walk to Playa La Jaquita, while Playa Mendez takes 20 minutes to reach on foot. Las Americas and Los Cristianos are around a 20-minute drive south of the resort. Getting to Mount Teide and its surrounding national park at the center of the island takes about an hour by car, while the popular Masca Valley, with great hiking opportunities, is about a 40-minute drive away. Tenerife South Airport takes around half an hour to reach by road, traffic permitting.

RedLevel offers a variety of Deluxe Rooms, some with perks such as large terraces with whirlpool hot tubs or jetted tubs in the bathrooms; those with ocean views cost a bit more. There are also a few Ocean Front Garden Villas, each of which has its own private garden and a pool. RedLevel Deluxe Rooms here are virtually identical to their counterparts in the main resort, although they do add extra perks not found in main resort Deluxe Rooms, including free butler service, Nespresso coffeemakers, one free water ritual at the spa, and free ironing service for two items per day. All measure around 48 square meters (517 square feet), except for those advertised as having extra-large terraces, which are a roomier 89 square meters (958 square feet). All rooms feature a chocolate, beige, and off-white color palate brightened with gorgeous red accents in the form of  throw cushions, recessed ceiling motifs, and red chandeliers. Furniture is predominantly wood, and rooms have a mix of wood-paneled and stone-tiled floors, while beds have illuminated backlit limestone headboards with palm tree designs. Rooms have the same fragrance pumped into them that guests may notice in the lobby, which many find lovely, but those with chemical sensitivity might find irritating.Standard amenities include private terraces with cushioned furniture, minibars, free safes, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, individually controlled air-conditioning, irons, and ironing boards, bathrobes, and slippers. Bathrooms are particularly fantastic and have walk-in showers with ceiling-mounted square-shaped rainfall showerheads, separate wide soaking tubs, double vanities with plenty of counter space, and Clarins-brand amenities. 

RedLevel has its own set of features exclusively for its guests. These include a private pool with concierge staff who come by to give guests sunscreen and newspapers and even mist guests' faces with water and clean their sunglasses for them. There's also a dedicated lounge with a covered patio where breakfast is served, as well as a free afternoon cocktail hour for guests.The main part of the property offers tons of swish amenities, the crown jewel of which is undoubtedly its gargantuan saltwater infinity pool, which spans almost the entire length of the property and features little islands and even a hydrotherapy section guests can swim up to. It's shallow throughout, so even those who can't swim well can wade in comfortably, but it's still deep enough to get some exercise for those who want to attempt to swim its entire length. All of the other pools at the hotel are of the heated freshwater variety and include an adult-only pool in the main section. For families, there are a family pool and a children's splash pool with its own pirate boat featuring a built-in slide and fountain. There's also a beach just off the far end of the resort, complete with lifeguards and a bar serving some food. Because Spain does not allow private beaches, the general public can come here to eat, sunbathe, and swim, though RedLevel guests do have their own special section with free lounge chairs. Wellness options include Spa by Clarins, which features a lovely hydrotherapy circuit and services ranging from anti-aging facials to special treatments for pregnant women. It also has five outdoor massage cabins and special hours for families. A smallish fitness center offers LifeFitness equipment, plus there's a 24-hour health club across the street with three tennis courts, three paddle courts, spinning, and archery. Other on-site activities include sushi-making classes, dance classes, Pilates, and Tai Chi. For younger guests, a mini-club, playground, and a seasonal teen club with video games are all on-site. Evening entertainment ranges from live music to Atlas Theater, which regularly hosts evening performances including acrobatics and flamenco. For dancing, the adult-only Lava Disco is open Friday and Saturday nights. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel (but spotty at times) and there's a business center with free printing along with conference facilities. Those with cars have access to plenty of free parking in a secure underground lot. 

RedLevel has its own private restaurant, La Terrace, which specializes in fondue dishes, but it's only open for dinner. In the main part of the Gran Melia, the casual Pangea offers huge, high-quality buffets and show cooking for all three meals. For lunch and snacks, Market Grill serves salads and grilled fare in a casual open-air environment next to the hotel's infinity pool. Also poolside, the a la carte Oasis Pool Grill offers Mediterranean cuisine at lunch and dinner -- including great paella -- and has barbecues on Fridays.As the name suggests, Fish Market serves fresh fish at lunch and dinner, while Club Ocean offers pizza and pasta, but is only open at night. Other options include the upscale Nami Asian Bistro, with sushi and teppanyaki, and Duo, which offers fine-dining Canarian and flambe items -- note that children are only allowed here a couple of nights a week. Duo also has an attached tapas and wine bar. Drinking options include Oasis Pool Bar, which is popular for watching sports games, the all-day Lotus Bar, with cocktails, coffee, and dessert in the lobby, and the evening-only Club Ocean Bar, which regularly has DJs. Nemo's Lounge also has regular music performances and is a more elegant option, with kids only allowed on the terrace. There's also a bar down by the beach -- Areaia Beach Bar -- but the food and drinks served here are not included in any of the hotel's meal packages.Breakfast-only, half-board, and full-board packages are available, and while there's no all-inclusive package, there is a drinks add-on package -- Plus Premium -- which also includes extras such as discounts on Veuve Clicquot and Bali beds. However, it's only worth it if you are going to drink quite a lot; otherwise it's usually cheaper to buy drinks a la carte. Oasis, Market, Club Ocean, and Pangaea are all included in the full- and half-board packages, while the others cost extra. However, the hotel does offer a Dine Around option for half- and full-board guests in which travelers can try out different a la carte restaurants without paying extra.