SH Melia Villa Gadea Beach Hotel

Whilst the bulding and accomodation appear 5 star, the service, food and quailty could only be rated at 3 star at best.
The dining experience was similar to eating in a fast food restaurant and the pool area was more like a children's playground.
Nowhere in the hotel could we get away from noisy children and loud music. The staff on reception were surly and far from helpful
I can only agree with a previous review, a very bad experience.

1 reader found this review helpful

After having returned from Altea last week I felt I should input an updated customer view of the Melia Villa Gadea.
We have spent a week at the hotel with 70 friends and family as we decided to have our wedding reception there under good advise from a friend.
The wedding service was extremely well looked after and the staff were excellent. Full 5 star treatment in that regard.
Breakfast in the hotel was my favourite point of the day and I doubt anyone who has stayed at the hotel could undermine this. The selection was super - buffet style and European and Spanish tastes catered for. The pool and pool bar were perfect for the weary sunbather and children were welcomed.
The only points I could make in regards to improving the hotel service would be in regards to the constant service required of the room safes and request for room check out extensions to be obliged with and maybe a later residence bar (1am close).
Overall one of the best hotels I've stayed in Spain- Hotel staff were obliging and English/Spanish speaking. All guests who attending with us had only positive things to say. oh! Bathrooms are excellent -walk in shower and Jacuzzi bath as standard.
Would recommend this hotel in a heartbeat. Worth the money spent.

The building is very grand and the rooms are 5 star. The first meal that we had was dreadful. The cafeteria was full of small children screaming and crying. The food was cold with poor choice, nowhere near 5 stars. The hotel seemed to be offering a cheap deal for families as a high proportion of the guests had 2 children under 8 years.
We spoke to the manager and asked if we could eat in the restaurant but it wasn't in the price. We changed to B&B as there are some good restaurants in Altea. The staff seemed fed up and there was nowhere around the pool to sit quietly without the constant noise of small children and loud music through lots of speakers. We were glad to come home!

I would agree with the last reviewer. We stayed at this hotel in Dec 2005 and found it to be excellent. The hotel was clearly new, but there were no ongoing building works. The room was spacious, clean and comfortable. The staff were generally friendly and helpful. The breakfast buffet was very good. The pool and outside facilities looked fantastic, although obviously it was too cold to use them at the time of year we visited.
The lunch/ dinner menu at the hotel restaurant looked good, although the prices were quite high. We did not eat there, as we have a young baby, not really suited to the formal dining room. Altea town centre is only a short drive away, and there are plenty of places to eat there.
Downsides:
I would note that the beach below the hotel is very narrow and mainly pebbles - not great. There is no secure parking. Some of the staff were not as helpful as they could have been. I imagine the breakfast area will get pretty hectic when the hotel's full. But overall, a very good hotel.

I do not believe that the previous report refers to the Villa Gadea Hotel in Altea and if it does I can quite categorically state that is is absolute nonsense. POSSIBLE SOUR GRAPES FROM THE LOCAL COMPETITION! I could never imagine their own reservation manager suggesting that it does not deserve it’s more than worthy 5 star status.
SH Hotels have spared very little expense in constructing the Villa Gadea Hotel. It is a superb example of contemporary meets Spanish design. First impressions on arrival were excellent and when we entered the hotels welcoming reception area we were not disappointed.
Reception was not busy and we were looked after quickly and efficiently. Security laws are strict and it does take some time for reception to complete the necessary documentation to provide to the local police on a daily basis. This is not the hotel being slow but simply one of the drawbacks of living in the 21st century! Staff on reception are very friendly and will go out of their way to ensure that you enjoy your stay.
The superb bedrooms and very spacious well-equipped bathrooms, complete with separate large walk in shower cubicles, are everything that even the most discerning traveller could demand! Maid service is wonderfully efficient and provides a turndown service in the evening.
Any early teething problems if they did in fact ever exist were not evident. All construction work is now complete and the hotel is fully operational except for their signature restaurant, which is due to open in the near future.
The gardens and the pool areas are maintained to the highest standards and enjoy excellent views. Extremely comfortable loungers and towels are provided. Service around the pool could be improved but this is only a very minor grumble. There is a pool bar and pool restaurant so you never have to go to far to get food and drinks.
Breakfast, which is excellent, is served in an extremely pleasant restaurant where you can enjoy views of both the sea and the pool. The choice and quality of the food is very very good! We have not had a meal at the hotel as Alteas beautiful old town is only a 7 euro taxi ride away and offers a fantastic range of absolutely superb restaurants.
THIS IS THE THIRD DAY OF OUR 7 DAY STAY AND I FELT THAT I NEEDED TO WRITE THIS REPORT, AS REPORTS ON THIS SITE AND OTHER SITES ARE LESS THAN HELPFUL OR ACCURATE. ENJOY YOUR STAY.