Melia Calvia Beach

5-night stay at The Level and, sadly, this visit was very different from our previous experiences. This was our third stay, and two members of our party have now visited every year for the last six years, so we know how exceptional this hotel can be.

Firstly, the staff continue to work incredibly hard and were always friendly and helpful. Pool Man - Jose excellent in a morning - very chatty, friendly and happy 5 stars for him! Unfortunately though, it feels as though they are trying to maintain standards that are slipping regardless.

One of the biggest disappointments was the cleanliness. The pool areas, the corridors leading to the bedrooms and the reception area were noticeably dirty throughout our stay and didn’t appear to be cleaned as regularly as in previous years.

The Level has always been a peaceful, premium experience, but this time it didn’t feel that way. Children were allowed to run around the corridors late into the evening without any apparent intervention from security or requests for parents to supervise them. At The Level pool, large inflatables were taking over what is already a relatively small pool, encouraging unsafe behaviour. We witnessed children banging their heads on the pool edge while playing, which was concerning and could easily have resulted in a more serious injury. When raised with staff they initially asked for these to be removed but didn’t keep on top of this so inflatables then returned - surely they should use them on the lower pool which is much larger and safer. Also, children were running around and glass bottles / glasses were perched on the tables which could have easily been knocked off - again this is a health and safety issue around the pool which could easily be avoided by ensuring everyone has plastic around the poolside.

Another issue we have never experienced before was the sunbed situation. By 7am, every sunbed had already been reserved with towels, yet many remained unused for several hours. After speaking to the staff, they did remove some unattended towels, which we appreciated. However, in all of our previous visits this has never been an issue—there have always been sunbeds available throughout the day. It was disappointing to see this becoming such a problem. People were abusing this and it was such a shame.

The food at The Level at 5pm was another disappointment. It was so busy that it lost the relaxed, exclusive atmosphere we’ve always enjoyed in previous years. Instead of feeling like a premium experience, it felt overcrowded and stressful.

The gym is another area that needs attention. It simply isn’t large enough for the number of guests using it, particularly around 7am. Several pieces of equipment were dirty and the air conditioning wasn’t switched on until I brought it to the staff’s attention, making it uncomfortable to work out.

It genuinely saddens us to write this review because we’ve always loved this hotel and have recommended it to many friends and family over the years. However, after this experience, we’ve decided we won’t be returning next year.

We sincerely hope the management takes these comments on board. The Level was once an exceptional experience that justified the premium price, but it no longer feels as exclusive or as well managed as it once did. We would love to see it restored to the high standards that made us return year after year.

Unfortunately, our stay at Meliá Calvià Beach was one of the biggest disappointments of our trip to Mallorca.

Let's start with the check-in process. We arrived at approximately 2:00 PM, and it took nearly 40 minutes just to check us into two rooms. We were then told the rooms were not ready and had to wait another 30 minutes before finally receiving our keys. After a long day of traveling, this was a very poor first impression.

To make matters worse, the front desk staff mixed up our room keys, accidentally giving our room keys to our children and giving us theirs. This obvious mistake raised serious concerns about guest privacy and security. On top of that, the hotel does not offer bell service, so we had to carry all of our luggage ourselves from the lobby to our rooms. For a hotel that advertises itself as an upscale beachfront resort, this level of service is simply unacceptable.

The rooms are extremely outdated. While it's clear the hotel tries to maintain them, cosmetic fixes can only go so far. The property is in desperate need of a complete renovation. Even the towels were old, worn out, and heavily washed, looking and feeling like they should have been replaced years ago. These small details make a huge difference and immediately give the impression that the hotel is cutting corners instead of maintaining the standards expected from the Meliá brand.

We specifically booked and were promised ocean-view rooms, but instead received rooms with an obstructed view dominated by a large rooftop filled with HVAC equipment and ventilation systems. While you can technically see the ocean beyond it, the rooftop completely ruins what should have been a beautiful view. The room we received was simply not what we paid for. (See attached photo.)

Although the hotel is located directly on the beach, almost everything comes with an extra charge. If you want beach loungers or access to many of the better amenities, you must either pay additional fees or purchase the expensive Level upgrade. Considering the room rates, these are amenities that many comparable hotels include.

Our very first night was a complete disaster. The hotel lost electricity for several hours, leaving guests without air conditioning, elevators, and even running water. To make matters worse, the fire alarm repeatedly went off throughout the outage. Communication from management was minimal, leaving guests frustrated and wondering what was happening.

Cleanliness throughout the hotel was another major disappointment. Public restrooms were dirty, common areas looked neglected, and the buffet restaurant appeared to have serious dishwashing issues. Plates, glasses, bowls, and utensils frequently looked dirty, making every meal uncomfortable. It was honestly disgusting and completely unacceptable from a hotel of this reputation.

The buffet itself was equally disappointing. The food selection was extremely limited. During our stay there was virtually no chicken or beef, mostly pork (which we do not eat) and fish that was dry, overcooked, and had the texture of rubber. The variety and quality were nowhere near what we expected from a resort carrying the Meliá name.

We also attempted to dine at one of the hotel's restaurants but were told there was no availability, despite the restaurant appearing to be only about 30% occupied. It made absolutely no sense and felt like guests were simply being turned away rather than accommodated.

After repeatedly speaking with management and expressing our frustration, they eventually offered us a complimentary Level upgrade, allowing us to use some of the facilities at the neighboring Meliá hotel. While appreciated, it felt more like damage control than a genuine effort to resolve the many problems we experienced.

Unfortunately, the problems didn't end when our stay was over. After checking out, my credit card was charged a second time for one of our rooms, even though that room had already been fully prepaid through our travel agent. When I contacted the hotel, they claimed they had no record of the prepaid payment. Accurate reservation and payment records are a basic expectation for any professionally managed hotel.

The staff we encountered were generally polite, but the hotel appeared to be understaffed and poorly managed. Basic guest services were slow or unavailable, and the overall operation lacked the level of professionalism expected from a Meliá property.

We had heard so many wonderful things about Mallorca, and thankfully the island itself is absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, our experience at Meliá Calvià Beach left a terrible first impression. We had also heard great things about the Meliá brand, but after this stay, we honestly don't understand how this hotel maintains its rating.

From the painfully slow check-in, the room key security mix-up, lack of bell service, outdated rooms, worn-out towels, misleading "ocean view," extra charges for basic beach amenities, dirty facilities, poor food, power outage, and finally being charged twice for a prepaid room, this hotel fell far below the standards we expected from a four-star Meliá resort.

This was, without question, one of the most disappointing hotel experiences we've had. We would not stay here again and cannot recommend this property. There are many better hotels in Mallorca that offer cleaner facilities, better food, more professional service, and significantly better value for the money.

A perfectly balanced week with time to chill and be entertained. We went B&B and had a lateral sea view room. The hotel is well maintained, daytime/pool entertainment team are great and there is something for everyone - aqua aerobics, paddle boarding, kids run out mat followed by a variety of evening entertainment - singers, dancers, magic shows and circus.

The chef’s in the restaurant are friendly and always ensure there is plenty of food available. What I believed to be the manager of the restaurant is as miserable as they come - grunted when I asked for a fork as there were only knives left. The breakfast itself is usual hotel style. Limited options for gluten free and would have been helpful if allergens were displayed on food labels but there was a “basket” of gluten free bread and cakes that was available if you asked.

The location is PERFECT! Literally right on the beach and in walking distance of shops and bars with a great selection of restaurants right across the seafront - most of which had a good understanding of gluten free (sin gluten). Blackbeards and Tom Browns is a must!

Katmandu is decent for a family day out and water sports and boat trips directly on the beach.

We witnessed a few hotel guests complaining and unsure why - we didn’t experience anything to complain about. The only thing I could think is that they may have paid for “the level” and didn’t get the service they were expecting. No complaints from us though.

All in all would definitely return if the price was right but would stick to B&B or just room only.