Zel Costa Brava

David Rodriguez Gimeno

We have stayed at this hotel multiple times, and overall, it continues to be an excellent place for a family vacation. The food is consistently of high quality, the staff are friendly and always willing to help, and the kids’ club is truly outstanding. The tennis court offers great options, and the proximity to the beach and the quality of the swimming pool make the experience even more enjoyable. This July 2026 will be our fifth time booking a vacation here since 2022, which reflects how much we value the hotel and its services. However, there is one recurring issue that prevents me from giving a full five-star rating: the lack of clear enforcement of the smoking policy. While smoking is officially prohibited in areas such as the swimming pool, in practice this rule is not consistently enforced. As a result, guests are sometimes exposed to smoke even while relaxing by the pool sun beds or at nearby loungers, which is particularly unpleasant—especially for families with children. A similar situation occurs on the restaurant terrace, where breakfast and dinner are often served. Some guests assume smoking is permitted there, leading to situations where diners are unexpectedly exposed to cigarette smoke during their meals. This creates discomfort for non-smokers and can lead to unnecessary tension between guests when the rules are unclear or not enforced. In my opinion, this issue stems from a lack of clear communication and enforcement. Staff members, including pool lifeguards, do not appear to intervene, which can create confusion and, at times, awkward confrontations between customers. I believe the hotel could easily improve this aspect by: Clearly defining designated smoking and non-smoking areas Installing more visible signage Ensuring consistent enforcement of the policy by staff This would greatly enhance the experience for both smokers and non-smokers, allowing everyone to enjoy their stay without discomfort. Despite this concern, we genuinely enjoy this hotel and intend to continue returning. We hope that Melia will address the smoking policy internally, as this improvement would elevate the overall experience to a full five-star standard.

Hiba Khan

We’ve had our eye on this hotel since a year and we were looking for the right time to visit. It met all our expectations and more. What stood out the most was their hospitality. There was never an unpleasant encounter and every staff member was super attentive and sweet. We had Laura from the experience team to guide us throughout the trip. She was super nice and helpful. All the boys who drove the golf cart like Alberto and Miguel, amongst others were always on time to pick and drop us from our room to the main building and were extremely courteous. Staff at the sports club like Ifrem, Olga and Sonia were amazing too. I tried the Nordic walk and yoga (many such activities are included in the stay) with them and was super impressed by their assistance and professionalism. We stayed for 4 nights with half board and it was totally worth the time and money. Food was excellent with lots of variety. The pool and beach was well maintained and the rooms were cleaned every day. Cafe finca was really nice for coffee every day as well. The staff at el mercat (the buffet restaurant) were amazing! Super helpful, always smiling and extremely efficient at cleaning up tables and responding to our requests. The desserts at el mercat deserve a special mention. Excellent through and through. Five stars all the way for every single person who works at the hotel really, including the people at Parda (restaurant by the sea). However the food at Parda was below par and expensive. A few recommendations for improvement would be to have a babysitting service, open up the kids club to toddlers under 5 too and apparently they had a mini children’s disco that starts at 9pm! Which is a really late for kids. The funicular didn’t work twice which made me anxious while using it so that should be sorted. There was zero email communication with the hotel prior to check in which is quite strange. I was told about an online check via a link that would be emailed to me but I never received it and upon calling the hotel, I was told there would be just a regular check in by the staff but in reality we had to spend time adding our details online at the hotel which added time to the check in process. Also the spa price has increased from 25-30 euros recently with a 15 euro price for children and u can only spend 2 hours there. We thought about trying it but found it quite expensive for the whole family. But really these things are nothing compared to the amazing time we had. Enjoyed every second and would love to be back again.

Pandora India

We stayed at Zel this week and could not have enjoyed it more! The staff were so friendly and helpful, the location was beautiful and the food and all the hotel amenities were just incredible! We enjoyed playing tennis, mini golf and swimming in the pools. We would recommend this hotel to everyone and hope to come back in the future!

Danielle Dzumaga

The location exceeded expectations—more beautiful than the photos—with a secluded beach, crystal-clear water, and easy access to amenities that made traveling with a toddler simple. The daily funicular added a unique, memorable touch. The team was warm and welcoming from the start, and the on-site café was a highlight for coffee lovers. During our stay, we faced an unexpected medical situation with our child. The staff handled it with care and professionalism—special thanks to Marc and his team for their support, guidance, and a thoughtful “get well soon” gesture that meant a lot to us. We’re already planning a return visit and would highly recommend this place.

Lynsey

I have been coming to this hotel every October for the last three years, always for the final week of the season. This year I also booked a special offer stay in June - something I was genuinely looking forward to. When I tried to add a second person to my June booking, rather than simply charging the standard additional person fee (around 40 euros), the hotel insisted I cancel and rebook at the current rate. The difference? Approximately 200 euros more for the same room. No flexibility, no goodwill, nothing to acknowledge three years of repeat business. Just a take-it-or-leave-it response that made it very clear where their priorities lie. I’ve cancelled the June booking and I won’t be returning in October either. It’s a real shame, because I genuinely enjoyed my annual trips here. But I won’t give my money to a business that doesn’t value its customers. There are plenty of other options on the Costa Brava that will.