Just to follow up: agreed a reduced bill with the hotel, but not a generous enough reduction and not enough of an effort to address any of the issues I raised, to tempt me to stay with them again.

Stayed at Casa De Las Artes in Madrid this past weekend. Beautiful hotel right near the Prado on Atoche. Very convenient location for walking and exploring. Beautiful restaurant in what I believe used to be a small theater based on the layout. Back to Back stays via Chase Edit and Amex Hotel Collection trying to use up credits. Breakfast buffet was very nice and you could order a small entree from menu. Room was a jr suite. No view from our location but spacious room, shower and tub in one enclosed glass room with privacy curtains if necessary.

Bed was a joined twin situation with the beds not locked together or a middle connecting cushion. Not great for a single person or an amorous couple, but in general would recommend the hotel.

I stayed at this hotel about 9 times, no stay was as expected. As a platinum member I was almost never aknowledged and there were servere errors during my stays. Every time I arrived, there were completely new staff, as wel as GEM and GM. The past two managers were really difficult to deal with and despite several complaints to the HQ the hotel never addressed any wrong doing and rejected all forms of compensation and were in denial. I love the naighbourhood, but everything is so limited (due to a historic building), the prices are crazy, the service is mediocre, the rooms are really small and the Level lounge is just acceptable. I am done with Meliá since they refused to grant me the Lifetime status, after completing a 12 consecutive year period. They can stick their platinum card (and my business) up their a**.

Anyone stayed at Melia Dusseldorf? How's the Level lounge?

Stayed 2 years ago last time. As platinum member received uppgrade to the Level Junior suite.

Lounge was great what comes to drinks..wines and beer offered whole day under the lounge opening hours.
Evening happy hour canapes and coctails and breakfast also decent.

The Guest Experience Managers Fariba (regional) and Fariba (hotel) are great

The lounge is much better than the one in frankfurt. There’s a relatively wide selection of soft drinks and beer, which is refreshing compared to the usual single standard options.

Even though we visited during the week and the lounge wasn’t very busy, they still offered a variety of cakes and fresh fruits throughout the day.
During happy hour, there were wraps, bruschetta, and a selection of cheeses and cold cuts, along with bread rolls and even lobster.
Spirits were fairly standard. Overall, you don’t really notice the same cost-cutting mentality you see in lounges in Melia Frankfurt or Luxembourg.
Upgrades also tend to be handled properly here, usually just one category higher rather than directly to level rooms.

does anyone know if they honor your status based on the day of booking or the day of arrival?
Meaning if I'm Platinum and book something in April for July, but in June I go a tier down to Gold, will they honor my platinum benefits that I had at the time of booking? Or will they treat me based on the status on day of arrival? I'm asking more because I'm going to Asia during low season in the country I intend to go, so wondering if I can rely on the room upgrade (for Platinum members) at check in or if I should just book the superior room I want now in case they treat me as Gold and there's no upgrade.

Generally, for all loyalty programs, airline, rental car, hotel etc., you get status benefits according to your level at time of. I'm fairly sure that they'll treat you as a Gold member for the duration of your stay, I've never heard of any chain honoring benefits applicable at time of booking

Yes I e-mailed them and this is what they said, and since the hotels in Vietnam, Indonesia etc are generally cheap I just booked the suite from the get go.

I have an upcoming stay at Melia Madrid Serrano and didn't book a The Level room (but did get breakfast). Does this mean that I have access to The Level Lounge?
I recall staying at this hotel in 2020 and they told me I could not access the Lounge.
Both times as a Plat

No, breakfast has nothing to do with the Level, this is special room category and if you book The LEVEL room, it comes with the perks as free breakfast, the lounge access, some extra features in the room and special check-in/out counter.

If you are a Meliá Platinum member, you have access to the Level Lounge with any room reservation.

I may be mistaken, but if your rate doesn't include breakfast, you will need to pay for breakfast (also take advante of the 2 for 1 offer) to access Level lounge during the time breakfast is served. This practice is not uniform across all Melia hotels I stayed, some would not check during breakfast hours so you can enter and have breakfast, some do and they will ask you to pay up before enterring for breakfast.
But as platinum member, you are entitled to access Level lounge apart from the breakfast hours with any room reservation.

I've always found it ridiculous that a Melia platinum member can't get free breakfast for themselves and their guest in the Red Level or at the hotel breakfast.