On arrival to this hotel it all appeared fabulous, do not be fooled by the nice reception area.
On the second day the rain poured down and the roof in the bar/foyer area was leaking and they had to put towels on the floor.
The corridor to our room had an awful smell and in our room the grab rail and towel rail in the bathroom were hanging off. The finish to bathroom was poor with crumbling sealant around the bath.
The toilets in the bar area were often left dirty and one toilet door lock was all mangled.
On our last evening we went to dinner to be told there were no tables (even though we were booked in for dinner) and had to wait. I went to complain to be told there was no manager but was offered the complaints book that I was not given!, however all of a sudden the other half of the restaurant was opened so we could have a table.
On the whole the food was excellent and freshly cooked.
The location was great with only a short wall to the marina, however there was no atmosphere in the hotel. We have been on other holidays out of season yet there has always been some sort of entertainment, but nothing at the Melia.
On leaviing the hotel and settling our bill they tried to make us pay again, even though we had done so up-front. The receptionist spent ten minutes arguing with us, and again I asked for the complaints booked but was just ignored! Eventually they realised they had made a mistake but did not seem sorry for the stress it caused as our transfer was waiting to take us.
This hotel is not four stars at all, and I would never go back.

There are lots of hotels in this part of Spain but if you don't fancy being totally dependent on driving or taxis and like everything within a 5 - 10 minute walk you will find it hard to fault the Melia Hotel which is situated just one row back from the sea at the north end of the Puerto Banus promenade.
We have stayed here many times before but it has only been under Melia management for the past few years and the improvement in all areas is significant enough for me to write this review. Not that the hotel has undergone any great refurbishment but more the fact that it now seems to be run by staff that really care.
The reception is always warm and friendly and arriving before 1pm we were pleasantly surprised to find our room ready and waiting on the 6th floor (607) and with a patio complete with sunbeds, parasol and table and chairs overlooking the sea, perfect for watching the sun rise.
This was classed as a Level room which has lots of perks going for it particularly the level lounge that offers the advantage of lunch bites and pre dinner appetisers as well as Tea/Coffee/Beer/Wine etc and pastries and canapés at almost any time from 08.00 - 10.00.
The pool areas are quite diverse, one being lagoon themed and the other designed around serious swimming, both of which I have to say were freezing cold but oh so refreshing for hardened swimmers like me, (why don't Spanish hotels heat their pools?)
Breakfasts are served Buffet style with what can only be described as an amazing variety of dishes both hot and cold and there is no rush whatsoever with it being served from 08.00 through to 11.00 and the buffet style dinner offers fantastic value for money at 30 Euros per head. There are pleasant lounges and a bar and perfectly located terrace for ding and drinks.
Walk through the Lagoon Pool area and exit at the back of the hotel and you can walk either into Puerto Banus or turn left and take a longer stroll into the heart of Marbella all along the beach.
This place is great for a short break or if the weather is settled in the midst of summer even a week or two, we rate it a great 4 star hotel.

We stayed in a family room situated on the ground floor overlooking the gardens and pool. Hotel was nice and quiet and perfectly situated for a 7 minute stroll to the Puerto Banus Marina. Parking at the hotel was free. We stayed half board for 1 week. There was plenty of choice for breakfast and the restaurant staff were always courteous and very pleasant. The food at dinner became a little repetitive but was always of a high standard. The rooms were very clean, however the bathroom was a 'little tired' and mould/mildew was appearing around the bath/shower area. Overall, nice hotel and would recommend :-)

We (2 adults 2 children) stayed at this hotel for a week half board, after a few days the food got boring as the same thing was served every night, the pools and the surrounding gardens are great and the hotel really is only a 7 minute walk to the prestigious Puerto Banus Marina. The room itself was a good size but the bathroom was worn down and things were starting to look grotty, overall we had a pleasant stay.