Paradisus by Meliá Fuerteventura is a big, family-friendly all-inclusive resort on Playa Barca, beside the Sotavento beach in Costa Calma. The hotel has 363 rooms and has been renovated throughout in recent years. The pools are the draw: a heated pool, an outdoor pool, saltwater and lake-style pools, and a children’s pool with slides, with a separate adults-only pool in The Reserve. Meliá lists a range of restaurants, including a café, an Italian trattoria, a Nikkei restaurant, a food hall, a pool restaurant and a snack bar, plus an adults-only tasting-menu restaurant for guests aged sixteen and over. A kids’ club and entertainment suit families, while The Reserve offers adults a quieter area with its own concierge, pool and restaurant.
Location and getting around
The hotel is beachfront, with Playa Sotavento only a few steps away. The René Egli centre sits across from the hotel and offers windsurfing, wingfoil and kitesurfing courses and rentals, and Meliá says introductory windsurf lessons are included in the stay at Sotavento beach. That makes it the best base on the island for trying wind sports without a lot of planning.
The tide matters at Sotavento, since the lagoon fills at high tide and the beach changes character, so check the tide times. The resort is a long way from the airport, around 65 kilometres, so allow for an hour or more by road or taxi.
The rooms
Meliá lists premium rooms, junior suites, suites and a penthouse, with sizes from about 38 to 143 square metres, and an adults-only Reserve section with its own rooms. All rooms have air conditioning. Families should look at junior suites for space, and couples may prefer The Reserve for peace and privacy.
Who it suits
Families who want a self-contained resort with lots of pools and a kids’ club, active travellers who want to windsurf or kitesurf, and couples who choose The Reserve. Because it is all-inclusive and quite isolated, most guests eat and drink on site and take a few excursions, such as a Cofete 4x4 trip or a dolphin boat from Morro Jable.
Good to know
Booking sites show a class of four stars, while Meliá describes the resort as five-star, so judge it by the facilities rather than the label. Guest scores are good rather than outstanding, so read recent reviews on service and food. Some activities and upgrades are limited to superior rooms, parking and room upgrades depend on availability, and restaurant discounts have restrictions. The wind blows most days, so ask for a room with a sheltered terrace if you like to sit outside.
Why stay here
- ✓All-inclusive premium board
- ✓Beachfront at Playa Sotavento
- ✓Heated, saltwater and lake-style pools
- ✓Children’s pool with slides and kids’ club
- ✓Adults-only Reserve area
- ✓Seven restaurants and bars
- ✓Wind-sports centre across the road
- ✓Renovated throughout
Good questions
Can I learn to windsurf from the hotel?+
Yes, the René Egli wind-sports centre is across the road and offers windsurf, wingfoil and kitesurf courses and rentals. Meliá says introductory windsurf classes are included in the stay.
Is there an adults-only area?+
Yes, The Reserve is an adults-only section with its own pool, restaurant and concierge service, and the tasting-menu restaurant is for guests aged sixteen and over.
How far is it from the airport?+
It is about 65 kilometres away, so allow an hour or more by road or transfer. The resort is best suited to guests who plan to stay on site and take a few excursions.
