Yeah has been happening for days on android app as well, but seems to have resolved itself today...

Any (recent) Vienna experiences? Searched this thread but couldn't find any references. Other reviews online seem mixed.

Just made a Cash+Points booking, used 2000 points to reduce cash by 71.23eur, at 13pnt/eur spend for Gold, that's 154eur of spend...to get 71.23ur of rebate?

I stayed at the Melia Vienna back in 2018 I think. Overall, it wasn't anything special. The tower looks fancy yes, but the service was mediocre and no recognition for elites (I did not get upgrade or granted late check out). Overall, would repeat only if I get one of these too good to pass deals using cash and points or similar.

I stayed at both Melia Athens and Melia Berlin and both were very good, from a non elite point of view. Staff were pleasant and helpful, the rooms were comfortable.

Is the Melia website and interface any better now? It was so bad that I stopped using it a few years ago, except to buy a handful of points now and again to keep my account alive. Don't know if there have been any bonus points purchase offers, probably missed them all.

Hi JFSV,

If using the 20% voucher, stacked with the amex 75/300 and further cash-points-reduction, pricing for the base Level rooms is competitive relative to the nearby conference-area options, though not competitive enough to lure a tourist from city center options.
Feels like their guests are mainly those on work/OPM, and Melia status-light, so I'm surprised at the lack of elite recognition.

Hi Concerto,

App works quite well, and prices are better too.

Planning a family vacation and Paradisus Grand Cana is currently atop the list. Amex FHR and website pricing are about the same. I know with the other chains you still get hotel loyalty points when booking through FHR, does Melia do this as well?
Otherwise, any opinions on 50000 MR vs 40000 Melia points?

Lifetime Platinum
 

I am a Melia Platinum Lifetime member. I have had a similar situation, I had been Platinum since 2011, and in the year of the pandemic, although they gave me the additional year, I still completed 52 stays and 57 nights in total. I spent more than a year demanding my Platinum lifetime status, I got it thanks to a good contact at Melia.
I have been told confidentially that I am among the first to achieve this. Since I have life status, when I go to a Meliá hotel they often tell me that I am the first one they know, other hotels that only know one more than me and in Madrid they have told me that I am the third life status. member they knew. I have to say that the improvements and amenities have been much better than before, free parking, spa, 7pm check out.... I recommend that you continue fighting for your lifetime membership.

I've got 2000 Melia points that will expire in a month or so.

I usually just buy a handful to convert to Avios when there's a "partner promo". But last time around in 2023 the points wouldn't convert - I imagine Melia Rewards finally applied the block on bought points being converted to miles. (my last Melia hotel stay was years ago, although it definitely was through my MR account...)

Any idea how to get that lifted? Would earning some points through the online shopping portal do it? Or do I need to stay at a Melia as the T&Cs say?

Nice timing

LOL. And after months of always getting error messages, it worked today. :D

Very interesting post! Hearing it is even possible amazes me. With a requirement of 50 stays (not nights) per year including covid times and that you had to fight and know somebody to get it, I am not surprised there are almost no lifetime platinum members.

Not quite sure why Melia’s strategy targets infrequent guests (giving away gold and 20% vouchers) vs actual loyalty (messy terms, almost impossible lifetime platinum, loyal guest pay more on average than less loyal with 20% vouchers, no corporate intervention with member hotels).

I have almost completely given up on Melia for a little over a year and changed to Hyatt. My platinum seems to have been renewed for another year though despite not meeting the requirements. I think this is because they are currently assessing on the basis of stays in the last two years. As is typical with Melia, the two year thing is not clear.

Trying to make a booking on the Melia app - have tried multiple devices and credit cards but just get error 236 - 'There was an error while making the booking, please try again'. Anyone have any ideas what's causing this?

The most important thing is that I achieved it, I had to fight and thanks to a good contact made by the management. My recommendation is that if you have been a Platino Melia for 10 years you should insist. I received the email congratulating me for being a Melia for Life member and they added 100,000 additional points to my Melia account. Recently, on the occasion of Melia's 30th anniversary, they sent me a beautiful luxury bracelet, You have to insist and have someone help you from within the company. The Melia Rewards department is poor.

Just wondering if the points accrual year for status is a calendar year or a rolling year?