Paradisus by Melia Fuerteventura

"Misleading Advertising & Poor Management – Definitely Not 5-Star I booked this hotel specifically for the volcano hike shown in their video and even confirmed it twice by phone before arrival. When we arrived, I was told the hike isn’t included for families with children and only applies to certain room types. I was devastated – this was the main reason for choosing this resort. When I raised it with the manager- Luis, he didn’t seem to care and simply told me I was welcome to leave a review about my experience. He told me that my complaints were my ‘perceptions’ and when asked what can he do to make the stay better he answered ‘why should I do anything’. He was happy for me to continue my stay dissatisfied and made zero efforts to change my opinion and made that very clear to which left me totally stunned. That’s not how a 5-star hotel handles guest concerns. Depending on the room category, the treatment you receive from arrival varies massively. At a true five-star, all guests should get a warm welcome and clear explanation of what’s included – we didn’t. The rooms looked clean at first glance, but check the corners and you’ll see otherwise. Turndown service only happened one night out of four. The food was poor, service mediocre, and overall it felt more like a 4-star hotel at best. The waiters and restaurant staff were genuinely lovely – it’s just a shame the management team couldn’t be as welcoming. The beach, though not part of the hotel, was absolutely stunning – the only real highlight. If you’re looking for a five-star experience, this is not it."

"The hotel is aesthetically pleasing, but that’s about the only 5-star quality you’ll notice. Staff often seem overwhelmed, and long queues at reception, restaurants, and bars are constant. There is no poolside service, and the upselling for “The Circle” timeshare is intrusive — you’re left an invitation in your room, then hassled by staff like Lewis, who I found a bit creepy, to make an appointment. Bruno was the only staff member who genuinely seemed to care. The tiered “Reserve” system is frustrating — better pools, sunbeds, and lounges come at an extra cost, leaving standard guests feeling like second-class citizens. Sunbeds outside the Reserve are uncomfortable, and the beach, while beautiful, has no sunbeds or bar, which I found bizarre. Evening entertainment takes place in the reception area, which is crowded with not enough seating and usually features live singers, making the experience cramped and uncomfortable. There’s also no entertainment elsewhere, spa, shop, or shuttle to town. Dining is chaotic: Shack Pool Bar: Small portions, raw burgers, and food rarely arrives together. Kanna & Italian: Tiny portions, cold, rushed, and not very tasty. Ginger: Chaotic service — waited over an hour for hummus; staff often ignore orders. Gastrohall: Long queues, cold plates, and mediocre food. Mahos: Average and overhyped. Breakfast: Rushed and average; one person handling eggs and pancakes. Cocktails: Actually good, but service makes you feel like an inconvenience. Rooms are clean and spacious but lack a dressing table and enough hangers. Overall: Paradisus Meliá Fuerteventura looks beautiful but fails to deliver true 5-star standards. Poor service, chaotic dining, missing facilities, intrusive timeshare upselling, the Reserve paywall, uncomfortable sunbeds, a lack of beach amenities, and cramped evening entertainment all contribute to a stay where you can feel like a second-class guest, despite paying a premium price."

"We stayed for five nights in October (Room 858) and found the hotel beautiful and full of potential, though with room for improvement. Check-in was delayed — despite confirming a 1 p.m. arrival, our room wasn’t ready until 3:30 p.m., and we had to chase for updates which isn’t the service we would expect. The location is excellent and convenient for exploring, though parking can be tricky and having a car is essential. The décor is stylish, and the main pool is large and well maintained, though the loungers aren’t very comfortable. We particularly appreciated the reserve sun-beds, which were exceptionally comfy, and the fact that the rules about reserving and leaving towels were properly upheld by all the staff. In the Reserve area, service was inconsistent — some staff brought our drinks directly to the loungers, while others did not. Given how quiet it was during our visit, a more consistent level of service would have been appreciated. Staff were warm, polite, and eager to please, and cocktails were great, though language barriers occasionally caused confusion. Our room had poor bathroom ventilation, leading to a damp smell and slow-drying towels (only changed once). There was also a small shower leak, and turndown service only happened on our final night. Dining was hit-and-miss: the carbonara was overly eggy, pizza undercooked, and the breakfast buffet disappointing, though we enjoyed meals at the Reserve and found most of the food elsewhere excellent. Lemon Fish is a lovely restaurant, though we wish it were open as a bar in the evenings. On our last day, the atmosphere of the hotel changed due to the opening event, which brought in many additional guests and made the Reserve area feel crowded and less relaxing. There was also quite a bit of drilling and setup work that we hadn’t been warned about, which was disappointing. Overall, it’s a beautifully designed hotel with great pools, a prime location, and friendly staff. With improvements in food quality, consistency of service, and room maintenance, it could easily live up to its potential."