Tenerife, Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora review: (probably) the largest swimming pool in Europe
Palacio de Isora is a giant resort in the heart of Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands. More than 500 [...]
TFS
Palacio de Isora is a giant resort in the heart of Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands.
In this article:
More than 500 housing units, tennis courts, SPA, direct beach access, and a seawater pool over 400m long, almost as long as the hotel's entire seafront, advertised as Europe's largest saltwater pool.
The facility is part of the Meliá chain, the owners of American Express Platinum in this hotel can take advantage of Gold level benefits included in the card benefits.
Reservation
Here at TFC, we will never tire of reminding you that if you want to get the most out of your stay, you should always book through the facility's official channels: website or app. By doing so you get the benefits provided by the status and you earn points to be turned into more free stays.
On Booking the same room, which we chose, had a cost close to 2,000€ for the 4 nights of our stay, I was able to take advantage of my Platinum status in the loyalty program and pay just over 500€ in all.
The location
The resort is on the outskirts of Alcalá, not exactly the beating heart of Tenerife, if you want to get around. you will have to rent a vehicle. If, however, you are looking for a facility where you can get lost and relax for a few days, it is the ideal place.
Both the Abama Golf Course and the pretty port of Los Gigantes are a 20-minute drive away, while Tenerife South Airport is half an hour away.
The structure
In Tenerife there are 8 Melià group facilities, Of these, the Palacio de Isora is the highest category and the only 5-star hotel in the group present in the shadow of the island's iconic Teide volcano.
This resort is suitable for everyone: from couples to families with children and, of course, even the digital nomads who are looking for a place to work in smartworking as in my case.
It is a small resort with buildings of various sizes, and inside it offers all the typical services of a resort: tennis courts, kids club, a SPA, restaurants and bars. The highlight is a huge saltwater infinity pool, covering an area of more than 5,000 square meters, the largest hotel pool of its kind in Europe,.
There is plenty of greenery, there are palm trees and other trees that provide shade on hot days and a feeling of tranquility, although during this pandemic period the facility was anything but crowded.
In addition to the main pool, there are many others scattered around the resort, some "kids free" for those who do not particularly like the presence of children. We are not at the levels of theAtlantis in Dubai, But still, it is difficult to be disappointed in this respect.
Rooms and facilities
The sour note comes from the rooms and especially the small attentions expected in a 5-star facility like this Gran Melià.
The room we were assigned was spacious and complete with everything, but at this level it is the details that make the difference.
In these facilities, the guest should not be the one to ask for bathrobes to be changed or the bathroom kit to be restocked. I also understand the complicated period, but in a 5-star hotel not being able to order anything in the room after 10 p.m. makes more Rimini boarding house than hotel of an international chain.
The facility was not fully open, and obviously the property's choice is justified; however, 3 restaurants were accessible. Of those we tried, SeaGrill was the one we were most satisfied with.
The expense for a dinner is between 40 and 50€ per person, I personally never choose the all-inclusive offers because I also like to go outside the resort to eat in places away from those frequented by tourists.
Redlevel, why it is NOT worth
There are practically two facilities coexisting in the resort: one open to all and one dedicated to RedLevel clients.
Those who choose these rooms, which are much more expensive than the basic solutions, have access to a private area of the resort. Ad hoc common spaces, larger rooms, and more refined services such as a dedicated butler. But, as mentioned, it is of little use if after 10 p.m. one can no longer order anything to eat.
As a Platinum customer in Melià's loyalty program, I was able to take advantage of this upgrade totally free of charge, but I have to say that it is absolutely not worth the extra cost that guests are otherwise charged. Sure, you have more manicured and (normally) less crowded spaces, breakfast is a la carte and not buffet, but otherwise the resort is absolutely beautiful even without attending the "extra luxury" area.
In conclusion
Having said that Redlevel upgrade is definitely not worth the asking price, the rest of the facility is ideal for families with children looking for a place to go warm in winter. Beware of the price, however! 150€ - maximum 200€ per night is a reasonable, but for both the location and what the area has to offer it is still a lot.
If on the contrary you can find the right offer as in my case, it is money well spent and points in the piggy bank for the next "scrounging" vacation".
