This review is based on two stays over a two-week period, totaling ten nights, which gave me a good overall impression of the hotel. The hotel enjoys an excellent location in the heart of Alicante. Most rooms offer stunning views of the city, the marina, and the sea. The breakfast is decent and reasonably priced. Unfortunately, these positive aspects are largely overshadowed by extremely poor customer service. First of all, the hotel's two elevators are very old and incredibly slow. It is not uncommon to wait several minutes before being able to go up or down. The biggest issue, however, is the staff, who seem to have very little understanding of customer service. Throughout both of my stays, I was repeatedly met with indifference and, at times, outright rudeness. Here are just a few examples: On July 5, I was asked to pay immediately for two breakfasts. As a MeliáRewards Silver member, I am entitled to one complimentary breakfast when purchasing another. The employee was unaware of this benefit and became visibly annoyed when I pointed it out. I requested a dental kit through the hotel's app. It never arrived. I asked for the minibar price list. I was told it would be brought to my room. It never was. I reported that the room telephone was not working. I was assured that a technician would come immediately. No one ever came. Despite the "Do Not Disturb" sign hanging on the door, housekeeping entered the room while we were asleep. I asked the front desk whether a late check-out would be possible. Without even asking for my room number or checking availability, the receptionist simply handed me a price list. At around 5:30 p.m., I asked the front desk if they could reserve a table for me at the panoramic restaurant on the 26th floor. Instead of helping, the receptionist handed me a business card and told me to call the restaurant myself. I reminded her that the room phone was out of order. She simply replied, "Oh," and walked away without offering any solution. At 8:00 p.m., I went to the restaurant in person. I was greeted very rudely by a bearded waiter who barely looked at me before abruptly saying the restaurant was full and immediately returning to his work. When I asked whether I could at least have a drink, he simply replied, "Ask the bartender." This level of service is unacceptable for a hotel of this category and falls far below the standards one would expect from a hotel affiliated with the Meliá brand. In summary, the Grand Sol offers an outstanding location and breathtaking views, but it is let down by outdated facilities and, above all, a customer service culture that needs serious improvement. After two stays totaling ten nights, I can confidently say that these were not isolated incidents but recurring problems. With better-trained, more customer-focused staff, this hotel could be an excellent place to stay. Unfortunately, in its current state, I cannot recommend it.
