My husband and I spent 1 night at the very quaint Melia Hotel in Ponce. The location was great since it is right on the square. Upon walking into the lobby the ambiance is such that you feel like you are somewhere in Europe. The staff were very friendly and for a historic hotel you can tell the grounds and the building are very well maintained. Parking at the hotel is very convenient as there is a large parking lot next to the hotel and the cost is only $3.00 a day. Our room was small but very clean and very cozy. A continental breakfast is included with your stay. It is located on the 4th floor and is very simple but nice. If you want a good place to go to for breakfast, have the hotel direct you to the Gladiola Cafe. It is wonderful. We did not find out about it until later in the afternoon, but had we known we definitely would have went there for breakfast. We did have some wonderful flan and ice cream there and the ambiance is great. Walking around the square is so nice, many little shops and the Parque De Bombas is a must see. If traveling to the Ponce area the Hotel Melia definitely gets our vote....

After driving through the outskirts of Ponce, I was really glad to arrive at Melia - as others have noted, the location can't be beat and you can leave the car in the hotel's parking lot while you explore the city. (Not that the outskirts are "bad" - just filled with American chain stores and restaurants, which I can see anywhere in the U.S., thank you.) If you arrive on a Monday night, as we did, give things a chance - the city was quite deserted and it was tough to find a restaurant that was open. I thought "What the heck was I doing, booking a hotel for two nights here?" The next morning, though, the city square was filled with school groups, vendors, and people hanging out in the park, and much more vibrant. Be sure to walk around and see the different styles of architecture! And be sure to buy your Alto Grande coffee here as opposed to San Juan ($9.59 vs. $14).

Melia itself is quite charming - the Moorish-style tiles and stucco made me think of the Mediterranean coast - but a bit dated. Don't expect the amenities of a larger hotel chain, like an in-room mini fridge, a writing desk, or room service. There IS a business center for guests, though, with internet/fax capabilities.

Breakfast was almost exactly the same fare as a Comfort Inn or Holiday Inn Express - cold cereal, toast, pastries, coffee, juice. (Don't expect hot water for tea or skimmed milk....when in Rome....) On our second day, there was no breakfast at all; I don't know what was up with that! But there are cafes around the square where you can get breakfast. Melia's breakfast is no longer served on the roof, but poolside. We didn't eat at the hotel restaurant (Mark's) so I can't speak to that.

I'd like to go back to Ponce in a few years and see what more has been done to rehab the city and its buildings. At first I thought the city looked a bit bedraggled, but then I came to prefer it over the overrated San Juan. The mountain setting is beautiful, and the people are friendly. We would definitely stay at the Melia, too.

The hotel is right in the centre, opposite the Parque de Bombas and the park. The location could not be better. The hotel itself is fine, with large rooms and good bathrooms. Unfortunately the breakfast buffet on the rooftop was located on the terrace during our stay, as the rooftop was being renovated. The breakfast itself is abysmal and to add insult to injury someone had left a box marked "tips" on the buffet! I'm not sure who the tips were supposed to be for as there was no member of staff in sight on the one day we breakfasted there. There are a couple of decent cafes within 5 minutes walking distance where you can get a cooked breakfast for under $5 for 2 people. Apart from this we had no complaints. We only stayed 3 nights and ate at Mark's at the Melia once. The food was good though not cheap. All in all I would recommend the Melia as a good place to stay for sightseeing in Ponce.

This is a great little hotel in Ponce, PR! The staff was grateous and courteous and knew all the regular touristy things ("Where is a good restaurant") as well as being able to help set up my computer for the WIFI network (A Free of Charge Extra that is quite nice). The continental breakfast is nothing to brag about, but the pool in the couryard is GREAT especially after a long day of touring. The room was smaller, but not cramped. It was an older style, but not bad. We were inside the courtyard, which cut down on street noises (good for light sleepers) and up on the 2nd floor. If I was to do it again, I'd try to get the fourth floor (minimize traffic noises & be closer to the breakfast). But in all reality, this is a nice hotel although a little older in it's fashion.