Melia Sol Y Nieve

I paid €1,200 for four nights, compared with around €800 at similar hotels, and when I asked reception what justified the difference, they pointed to the service. But my room went uncleaned on two days until I chased it, air came through a window, and the shower drain I reported on the first day stayed blocked despite promises that maintenance would sort it out. The service didn’t justify the premium. The spa is the first thing featured on the website, yet access costs an extra €35 per person per visit. You also need a swimming cap and flip flops, which weren’t mentioned beforehand. If you don’t bring them, they sell them for €4 each. Other high-end ski hotels I’ve stayed at include at least the pool and steam room. This spa also admits non-guests, so staying here doesn’t give you an exclusive benefit; you could stay elsewhere and visit it. This was my first Meliá stay, and I even joined as a member before arriving. Based on how disappointing it was, it’ll be my last. I’ve already been telling friends to avoid it. For one of the most expensive hotels in Sierra Nevada, it was a particularly poor ski resort stay. Not worth the cost. There are better options in the resort.

I spent two days here on my own to ski and unwind, and it was a really good getaway. The staff were wonderful, everything was clean, and the location worked perfectly. I also loved the spa and the delicious breakfasts. Excellent value for money, and I’d definitely recommend it.

We spent a week here with the family and would gladly come back. The kids enjoyed the children’s spa and the organised activities, though those only run in the afternoon and children under five need an adult with them, which left a small gap for us. The rooms were clean and nice, but quite small, especially with four people. The hotel is right by the ski lifts, so getting on and off the mountain was very easy. Food quality at the restaurant was good, but our group of 13 couldn’t get a single table and had to split up. Still, it’s a great family hotel in Sierra Nevada.

The food was tasty, but hot dishes like fried eggs and pizza were often cold because there weren’t proper heaters. The sushi was another letdown the next day: it seemed to be leftovers, with rice that was hard and very dry. The other weak point was the soundproofing. We could hear even fairly quiet conversations from neighbouring bathrooms, and there was a 1-2 cm gap under the entrance door, so corridor conversations came through clearly even with the door shut. There’s plenty to like as well. The room and bathroom were a good size, the temperature was comfortable, and there was lots of storage. Hot water was always available, even on the upper floors. The hotel is about 100-150 m from the ski lift. It was spacious and clean, and reception and restaurant staff were consistently cheerful and helpful. Overall, it has more positives than drawbacks and is good value for money.