We stayed at the Relais Resort La Melosa with rather high expectations, but unfortunately the experience was decidedly disappointing.
The property actually has potential, but there are numerous aspects that should be improved. First of all, the rooms are not soundproofed at all. At 7 in the morning we were woken up by the cleaning staff who were cleaning the nearby rooms using the vacuum cleaner, constantly slamming doors and making a lot of noise. In a resort, one expects to be able to rest, especially in the early hours of the morning.
The room also had several critical issues: the roller shutter did not close completely, letting in a lot of light from the early hours of the morning, and the air conditioning was not adjustable from the room but managed by a control unit. The temperature was excessively low, so much so that we had to sleep with the duvet even though it was about 40 degrees outside. The temperature difference was such that it even made taking a shower unpleasant.
Furthermore, the spa did not live up to expectations. We found poor cleanliness, the presence of mold in several spots, dirty herbal tea cups, and even the container with the herbal tea bags appeared poorly maintained. Even the room linens did not give the feeling of being fresh and smelling clean.
Breakfast was another negative note: the buffet was not restocked with care and, when some products ran out, they were simply not replaced. For a property of this level, it is a service that should be decidedly more attentive.
We also found the water management difficult to understand. Only one bottle is provided in the room and, if you want another one, a 750 ml bottle is sold for 3 euros. Furthermore, returning to the property shortly after midnight, there was no one left to ask for a bottle of water. It is true that we could have purchased it elsewhere, but from a four-star relais one expects different attention towards such a basic need, especially considering the cost of the stay.
We also did not appreciate the fact that, after check-out, the possibility of staying a few hours at the pool without additional costs is not even granted: a supplement of 15 euros per person is requested, a choice that we found little oriented towards hospitality.
Finally, an episode that left us truly perplexed concerns the payment. We had already paid 118 euros online and at check-out we had to pay 147.30 euros. Due to a simple oversight we handed over 147 euros and it was pointed out to us insistently that the 30 cents were missing. While it is correct to request them, after having left a total of 275.30 euros for a single night's stay, with only breakfast included and dinner paid for separately, we would have expected a more elegant and customer-oriented attitude.
Overall, the price-quality ratio is absolutely not up to expectations. It is a real shame, because the property is located in a very pleasant setting and would have all the potential to offer a high-level experience. However, the service and customer attention are far from what is expected from a four-star relais. Personally I would not return and, for the price paid, I expected a decidedly higher level of quality.
