Hotel Don Pepe Gran Meliá — Hotel in Marbella

An Unforgettable Stay – Service Beyond 5 Stars

We have traveled extensively over the decades, but nothing compares to the experience we had at Don Pepe Gran Meliá. From the moment we arrived until our reluctant departure after two blissful weeks, we were treated as if we were the only guests —even during busy times in the off-season.

Exceptional Service

The service here is truly beyond exceptional. Every staff member—from the managers and housekeepers to the wonderful concierge team—radiates warmth and genuine care. Special thanks go to Reuben, Andrea, Marta, Enrique, César, and Rafa at the pool, as well as the lovely lady who made my amazing omelets every morning (though her name escapes me). Every staff member, whether mentioned by name or not, contributed to an experience that made us feel uniquely cared for. Every morning, our breakfast was accompanied by bright smiles, making us feel as though we were the only guests in the hotel.

A Perfect Location

Nestled right on the boardwalk, the hotel’s location is simply superb. A five-minute stroll in either direction brings you to phenomenal restaurants and delightful local attractions. The boardwalk itself is charming, with local artisans selling their crafts in a friendly manner that adds to the welcoming atmosphere. We felt completely safe wherever we went.

Room Comfort & Daily Touches

Our room was nothing short of phenomenal, boasting an unbelievable view of both the pool and the ocean—a view that many rooms offer. Every day, fresh sheets were meticulously laid, and a delicious chocolate was left on our pillow—a small yet memorable gesture that epitomized the hotel’s attention to detail. The room was always spotless, and if we ever needed something—like when we ran out of Kleenex—a quick knock on our door delivered exactly what was needed before we even had time to ask.

Amenities That Enhance the Experience

The hotel offers two exquisite pools. The outdoor pool, while not heated, was incredibly refreshing even in the cooler weather, quickly warming up after a brisk dip. The indoor pool area is a haven, featuring a spa complete with a steam room, sauna, and a unique shower system with varied temperature options (including a notably refreshing cold shower that I believe was labeled with a Swedish/Nordic touch). Large, luxurious towels and a separate spa store offering scented candles and other pampering items added to the overall indulgence.

Every detail—from the carefully placed flowers and plants to the elegant design of the interior spaces—speaks of a craftsmanship that is both classic and exquisite. The on-site bar, with its generous bartender, and the dining room, which we believe deserves a Michelin star, further reflect the high standards of service and ambiance that define this hotel.

We...

I’d love to be leaving a glowing review for this hotel but their pre sales customer service has been a new level of awful.

I wanted to book two rooms half board, one for my parents where half board is the appeal as they are keen not to venture too far in these times.

What a pain this has been. Reservations confirmed Half Board is ‘Breakfast and Dinner’ or ‘Breakfast and Lunch’.

When getting a (very slow) reply to see if the half board menu was extensive enough for a long stay, the eventual reply included the line ‘half board is breakfast and lunch’. When questioning this I was told it is only breakfast and lunch ‘for summer’. Subsequent emails have revealed that the hotel thinks ‘summer’ is ‘depending on occupancy’ and that they can’t say if October would still be in this ‘summer’.

A proposal from a hotel manager on the phone was that they could do breakfast and dinner just couldn’t say which restaurant the meals would be provided in, and this was acceptable to me but instead of a confirmation email on this I got an email saying that their own proposed idea couldn’t be done.

While getting this trail of poor and wrong information from the hotel, there has not been even one apology. My latest email to the hotel manager (Noelia) last Friday just didn’t get a response at all.

I have MeliáRewards status and wanted to book two rooms and this has been my experience.

Edit: apologies to the hotel, this was posted originally over two years ago but google seemed to have removed and so has gone back with a more recent date. I should mention I did subsequently stay at the hotel some months later without my family, which I enjoyed. The rooms were absolutely outdated and I would be disappointed with them for the recent prices. Additionally the app was very out of date, showing clarins spa prices when it had closed I understand a very long time ago. However the food was great as was the RedLevel lounge and as was Noelia who came and spoke to me. For this reason I have revised the rating to 3, which I hope is fair considering what is detailed in my review i.e. I was unable to book with them because of truly shocking pre...

My partner and I have just spent one week at GM Don Pepe . It was our first time in Marbella so we only chose the hotel based on its reviews. Safe to say we have had the best time, perhaps best holiday yet.

Location- The location of hotel is perfect, we enjoy our morning walk along the beachside every morning, a number of restaurants and shops are within walking distance, old town is 25 mins walk away , Puerto buenos is about 15 mins drive away. After checking out other hotels we have considered staying in, (Amae, Nou , B*ho Club etc.) we find that Don Pepe is in the best location, the area is so peaceful, and safe.

Facilities - we have thoroughly enjoyed and maximised the hotel facilities. We booked a room with Red Level benefits, so have been able to have our breakfasts, lunch, refreshments there daily. The food is great and service is top notch. The pool is huge, with many sun beds - the only thing is people are quite selfish , they go there in the morning to leave some belongings on the sunbeds to “reserve” them.. so it’s almost quite impossible to find a good sunbed unless you join them in this selfish act, this is something I hope the hotel can look into. The gym is great, not big but it does the job for a vacation, several cardio machines, dumbbells , a bench and a barbell, a multi cable machine etc.

Services: as great as the hotel, the staff and service were what made our experience so great. True 5-star service , everyone is friendly and helpful. Special thanks to the whole crew at Red Level, I wish I remembered everyone’s names - but those left the best impressions were - Elias (gentleman with moustache） , Carlos, and Elena. Also shout out to Adrien from the Pool, he’s been extremely helpful with finding us a nice spot at the pool every day. These guys work hard! Also Jesus from Bell/ Front Desk! The housekeeping team too! They clean our rooms so nicely and leave a little surprise daily.

Thank you so much for making our experience so special. If we ever go back to Marbella this will be our hotel to stay in. And we highly recommend this to everyone. You...