Melia Hotels: Golf vacations

Melia Hotels is a luxury Spanish hotel chain operating over 380 hotels in 40 countries, offering some of the finest golf vacations across the globe. Here’s some of the best in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

Melia Villaitana – Alicante

Set between two Jack Nicklaus golf courses in the pretty resort town of Alicante on Spain’s Costa Blanca, the low-rise, village-style four-star Melia Villaitana boasts lagoon pools, a luxurious spa area and wellness centre, great Mediterranean and international cuisine and an artificial golden sandy beach. Close to the coast, it’s a great place for groups of friends and families with the incredible bonus of being able to play at Jack’s courses. Aside from those, there are an array of local golf courses to enjoy if seeking a day away.

The hotel is unique is design with 25 individual buildings that replicate the picturesque squares and historic streets of the region, giving the resort the feeling of a small village. Each of the large, air-conditioned rooms comes with a private balcony or terrace. Melia dedicates some of its areas to ‘The Level’, exclusive rooms and services, where guests have private access to special rooms, services and facilities.

Jack’s 18-hole Levante course offers broad fairways and exquisitely shaped greens. It’s an American-style course with breathtaking views of the Mediterranean and the Sierra de Finestrat. If you fancy an easier round, take on the 4,200-yard Poniente course, comprised of mostly par 3s and four short par 4s. This course is located on the side of a Mediterranean pine forest with views of the sea and the mountains. It’s a great place to learn the game.

Melia Palma Marina – Mallorca

The prime location of this exclusive four-star urban resort offers stunning views of the local marina, the Cathedral of Santa Maria and the Bay of Palma. Its also close to attractions such as Bellver Castle and the Bendinat Golf Course. This hotel is a great choice for guests who wish to explore the beautiful island of Mallorca, with its capital right on the doorstep.

Rooms and suites offer city or sea views and this Melia resorts also dedicates some of its areas to ‘The Level’, where guests have private access to exclusive rooms, services and facilities. There’s a spa and fitness centre, outdoor swimming pool and sun terrace. There’s a restaurant and grocery providing a buffet-style breakfast, lunch and dinner showcasing a wide array of local dishes.

Close to the resort are several brilliant golf courses. Bendinat Golf Course is set in a wooded valley with sloping terrain and scenic views from a number holes. It’s a fun test for golfers of all abilities. It’s a part of Spain blessed with dozens of outstanding courses such as Golf Santa Ponsa I, Son Quint, Son Muntaner and Son Vida.

Hotel Don Pepe Gran Melia – Marbella

Five-star luxury on the Costa del Sol, at the foot of the majestic Sierra Blanca and a stone’s throw from Marbella’s famous marina, bars and restaurants. Just a 15 minutes walk from Marbella Old Town, it offers three outdoor pools surrounded by gardens, a spa, and luxurious rooms and suites with views of the sea, hotel gardens, or mountains.

There’s free access to the heated indoor pool and gym, tennis and paddle courts, restaurants serving steak, Mediterranean and Japanese cuisine, a beach club, and whisky, champagne and piano lounges. The hotel offers visitors ‘RedLevel’ bookings, to take your stay to the next level. Guests can look forward to tailored services including access to VIP areas and priority bookings.

Special rates on several golf courses within the Marbella area are offered. There’s some great courses nearby, including Marbella Golf Country Club, Golf Rio Real, Monte Paraiso Golf, Santa Clara Golf Marbella, Aloha Golf Club, and Real Club de Golf Las Brisas.

Melia Madeira Mare – Portugal

Five-star luxury in Funchal, the capital city of Portugal’s Madeira archipelago. Overlooking the beach, Melia Madeira Mare is a luxurious accommodation option with 220 superbly appointed guest rooms with balconies, offering guests easy access to local golf courses as well as a wide range of on-site facilities including outdoor and indoor pools, a beautiful spa, health and fitness club, and several bars and restaurants.

Melia Madeira Mare is an ideal base from which to explore the best golf courses in Madeira such as Palheiro Golf right by the resort, and Clube de Golf Santo da Serra, a few kms away.

Melia Saidia Beach – Morocco

Saidia, known as the ‘Blue Pearl’, is located in the Province of Oujda along one of the most beautiful beaches of the Mediterranean. After Marrakech, Fez and Casablanca, Saidia is quickly becoming a new and exciting holiday resort on the North African coast. The Melia Saidia Beach all-inclusive five-star resort is less than 50 km from the airport and is located close to the beach, near the local golf course and La Marina shopping centre.

It’s a deluxe resort providing different categories of rooms and suites, all of which are spacious and bright with a terrace and stunning views. The resort looks like a Mediterranean village, boasting a contemporary design with traditional Moroccan details. There are swimming pools set in pretty gardens, a spa, gym, shows and kids activities, and a number of different restaurants serving international, Mediterranean, Moroccan and Asian cuisine.

The Melia Saidia Garden Golf Resort is in the same complex, bordering the golf course and crossroad to the Marina. It’s another five-star hotel which is surrounded by gardens and offers swimming pools, gym and fun activities for all the family. Its restaurants offer a fusion of Mediterranean, international and local cuisine.

The local golf club, Golf de Saidia, has two 18-hole layouts. The Teelal Course is ideal for all types of players as there are no water hazards and no rough. A great place to learn the game. The 6,700-yard Lacs Course sits close to the beautiful coastline with magnificent mountain views.