Melia Jardines del Teide

I visited with two teenage daughters and stayed half board on ‘the level’. Our room was beautiful with a view of the level pool and looking out to the sea. We arrived late but were welcomed at the level reception and made to feel special. The first day we had a lovely breakfast on the level. Then went to the main pool which is huge, we loved it, it was deep which could be a problem for smaller children but was great for us. At lunch time we went to the snack bar, which isn’t strictly a snack bar as it’s a buffet. One price for anything, €10 for children and €17 for adults, as we only wanted a snack we thought this was too much. It would be good if you could just buy fries or a burger or pizza slice for a couple of euros. It wasn’t a problem as we went out the gate by the main pool to the local shop where we could buy bread rolls, ham, cheese, crisps and water for a few euros. The following days we used the level pool which was much quieter and very relaxing, the pool concierge brings round little bits of tapas and drinks throughout the day, a lovely touch. We visited the beach a couple of time which was lovely, we used the shuttle bus which was great but it’s actually so close, walking only takes less than 10 minutes. Every day from 5.30 to 6.30 is cocktail hour in the level bar which is included with the stay. This was fantastic, each day a delicious cocktail was prepared but also many spirits and mixers for you to pour your own. A lovely treat! In the evenings we used the main buffet restaurant. We thought it was lovely, always selections of salads, meats and fish cooked to order. Also choices for children and Breads, cheeses and cold meats. A huge selection of desserts and usually a chocolate fountain. Plenty of choice for all tastes. We used the spa on the last day, I had an amazing aromatherapy massage and my daughters had a facial and a manicure. The spa treatments were amazing and the lady doing the treatments was so lovely and kind. This was made all the more incredible by getting 50% off because we were level guests. All in all a lovely holiday. We just wish we could have stayed longer!

Having read some negative reviews prior to arriving I was concerned about our stay but appreciated the heads up! This is not a 5 star hotel. Had to pay to upgrade after 2 nights of no sleep as our room was beside an elevator. First room was 2 star at best, second room an average 3 star. Floors are dirty so don't walk around barefoot. Waiters were helpful but reception staff we encountered were not enjoying their work. Food was fine although limited vegetarian options after a week. Recommend you eat outdoors when possible as otherwise you will feel as though you are eating in a noisy school canteen. Grounds are nice and there is a huge swimming pool, but at nearly 7ft deep in places it's not often used. Entertainment in the evening was very hit and miss. Have stayed in Melia Berlin so expected a much better quality than we received.

The hotel is lovely a waterfall cascades from reception all the way down to the pool several stories down as the hotel is spread up the side of a steep hill. Our junior suite room was spacious the only issues with the room was a very uncomfortable sofa bed for the kids, a damaged wardrobe with a large screw exposed and a lot of water damage to to the wood work from the bathroom. Our problems started on arrival I did not have the credit card that I had paid the hotel with 6 months prior to arrival. I was told the credit card would have to be refunded and the hotel paid by different means. I proved the credit card was mine using my Iphone app which clearly showed the transaction this was not acceptable. In the end the hotel cost was returned to my credit card and I paid with a debit card which inevitably paid off my credit card, emptied my current account and incurred £120 transaction charges from £ to Euro and back I complained and received 60 Euro to spend in the hotel. The LEVEL is for people with money and that is how you are made to feel while you are in the hotel a VIP only portion of the hotel that the poor people are not allowed to experience but have to walk past everyday I had no idea this was available when booking but found an irritation the entire stay wondering what they were getting that I could not have. The restaurant for the poor people had fantastic views and the food was nice but very repetitive your only option for a change was the barbecue by the pool but if you got there late the chef had burnt everything to crisp. The staff seamed run off there feet there did not seam to be enough for the hotel or enough to provide a top level service, one waiter appeared to be a very bad juggler smashing several plates and glasses on a daily basis my son and I would try and guess how long it would be before he smashed something after our arrival we were never disappointed. On one occasion he smashed a glass walked off with the plates and left the glass on the floor until several children walked by it being dragged out the way by their parents 5 minutes later he did clear it up but really should have done it immediately. Drinks are expensive 4 Euros for a pint during the day but 4 Euros for half a pint in the evening. We were half board so occasionally swamped tea for lunch so we could eat out at night this was fine for some of the staff but not others who insisted it be pre arranged at reception. Entertainment 1st night big party on the terrace everybody having a good time. next 6 nights just a singer not bad but not brilliant and certainly not good enough to want us to stay at the hotel for more than 2 drinks. Entertainment for the kids forget it one day they would do something the next nothing. The poo in the pool was funny they cordoned off part of the pool but left the majority of it open removed the poo and left it taped off till the next day the only problem was people were swimming under a bridge into the affected area without seeing the tape. Its a shame because if the service was better and I was made to feel like i was on holiday this would be a good hotel but unfortunately I felt like I was in a self serve Spanish B&B