Paradisus by Melia Salinas Lanzarote

Paradisus Salinas Lanzarote Review: Where Cesar Manrique’s Art Meets All-Inclusive Luxury

There are all-inclusive resorts with nice pools, and then there is Paradisus Salinas Lanzarote — a resort built around what is arguably the most beautiful hotel pool in Europe. Designed by the legendary Canarian artist Cesar Manrique in the 1970s, the 1,800-square-meter lagoon pool with its whitewashed bottom and volcanic rock surrounds is not a feature of this hotel. It is the reason this hotel exists.

Reopened in May 2023 after a full transformation from the former Gran Melia Salinas into the Paradisus brand, this 282-room adults-only resort sits between two beaches in Costa Teguise, Lanzarote. The original building — designed by architect Fernando Higueras in 1973 and awarded the International Prize for Architecture in 1979 — is designated an Artistic and Cultural Heritage site on the island. The 2023 renovation kept all of Manrique’s murals, sculptures, and tropical gardens intact while updating rooms in warm earth tones with modern finishes.

If you are the kind of traveler who picks hotels for their design rather than their waterslides, Paradisus Salinas belongs on your shortlist. But this is a resort that rewards upgrades — and penalizes those who do not read the fine print.

Quick Verdict

Who it’s for: Design-obsessed couples and honeymooners who want a culturally rich, adults-only all-inclusive in a year-round sunshine destination — and who value architecture, curated island experiences, and quiet over pool parties and entertainment spectacle.

Worth it? Yes, with an important caveat: book The Reserve category or above. Standard rooms have drawn consistent criticism for falling short of five-star expectations. The Reserve’s private pool, dedicated lounge, and VIP services are where this hotel truly delivers on its luxury promise.

Score: 8.1 / 10

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Manrique’s 1,800 sqm lagoon pool is a genuine architectural masterpiece	Standard rooms feel below five-star quality — upgrade to The Reserve
Destination Inclusive: free winery tours, cave visits, cheese tastings	Spa treatments cost extra despite luxury pricing
Adults-only (16+) means a genuinely relaxed atmosphere	Only 4 restaurants for 282 rooms — tough reservations in peak season
4 restaurants including standout La Graciosa and Samira	Pool may not be heated — can feel cool off-season
Conde Nast Traveler Design & Architecture Hotel 2025	Costa Teguise trade winds can make the beach breezy
20-minute airport transfer	Air conditioning inconsistency in standard rooms
Year-round Lanzarote sunshine, 18-25C even in winter	Evening entertainment is minimal by design

The Resort at a Glance

Detail	Info
Rooms	282 (272 rooms + 10 villas)
Restaurants	4 (Malva Food Bazaar, Capella, Samira, La Graciosa)
Bars	3 (Ginger Bar & Cocktail, The Shack Pool Bar, The Reserve Pool Bar)
Pools	3 areas (Manrique Lagoon, The Reserve Pool, Villa Private Pools)
Beach	Two public beaches flanking property (Playa Los Charcos + Playa Las Cucharas)
Airport Transfer	20 minutes from ACE (Lanzarote Airport)
Minimum Age	16+
Chain	Paradisus by Melia (Melia Hotels International)
Opened	1977 (original); May 2023 (Paradisus relaunch)

Rooms and Suites

Standard Rooms — Premium and Premium Sea View

The entry-level Premium Room starts from around $320 per night and gives you a garden-facing terrace, rain shower, minibar, and air conditioning. These rooms were fully renovated for the 2023 relaunch in sensual earth tones with modern finishes — and they photograph well.

The reality, though, is more complicated. Multiple independent reviewers on TripAdvisor and Google describe the standard rooms as “nice but not five-star.” Air conditioning has been flagged as inconsistent in several reviews. The furnishings are clean and contemporary, but they lack the wow factor you might expect given the nightly rate.

The Premium Sea View upgrade (from $420) is worth every cent if you are staying in the standard category. The panoramic Atlantic views from the larger terrace transform the room experience, and the natural light through the oversized windows is gorgeous. If you must book standard, book Sea View. Do not take a ground-floor garden-facing room — privacy can be limited.

The Reserve — Hotel Within a Hotel

This is where Paradisus Salinas becomes the resort it promises to be. The Reserve is a premium tier that includes its own private check-in, a dedicated pool area with exclusive bar service, a private breakfast area, a VIP lounge, and enhanced minibar service. Starting from $480 for a Reserve Premium Room, the jump in experience is dramatic.

The Reserve Junior Suite Ocean View (from $620) adds a separate lounge area and ocean views, while the Reserve Junior Suite with Whirlpool (from $720) gives you an outdoor hot tub on your terrace overlooking the Atlantic — genuinely spectacular for sunsets.

Multiple reviewers say the same thing: “This resort is not truly five-star unless you book The Reserve.” That is a fair criticism of the pricing model, but it is also a genuine recommendation. If this is a honeymoon or anniversary trip, The Reserve is where the magic happens.

Villas — The True Top Tier

Paradisus Salinas has just 10 villas, and they book out months in advance. The Presidential Garden Villa (from $900) features a loft-style design with volcanic stone details, an outdoor shower, gazebo, and heated private freshwater pool. The Beachfront Villa (from $1,000) adds a prime waterfront position. And the Double Villa with Ocean View (from $1,100) gives you two separate structures sharing tropical gardens and a private pool — supreme privacy for those who want it.

If you are celebrating something significant and budget is flexible, book a villa six months ahead. They are genuinely limited and they sell.

Our Pick

The Reserve Junior Suite Ocean View with Whirlpool at $720 per night. You get The Reserve’s private facilities, a proper ocean view, and a terrace whirlpool that makes every evening feel like an event. It is the sweet spot between Reserve access and villa pricing.

Food and Dining

Malva Food Bazaar — The Main Event

Malva is the all-day buffet restaurant with show cooking stations and a market-style atmosphere. Breakfast is solid — the spread is well-stocked and varied enough for a week’s stay. Lunch and dinner offer international options with live cooking stations that add theater to the experience.

That said, some guests who have visited across multiple years report that food quality has slipped slightly since the initial 2023 opening. Side dish variety at the buffet has been specifically flagged as limited. Malva is perfectly good — but if you have experienced top-tier buffet dining at properties like Secrets Lanzarote, you may find it a step below.

Capella — Italian

Capella serves a la carte Italian cuisine and is included in the all-inclusive package, though reservations are recommended. It is a reliable dinner option — well-prepared pastas and mains in a pleasant setting — but it is not the restaurant you will be talking about when you get home. Think solid hotel Italian rather than trattoria revelation.

Samira — Middle Eastern

Samira is the more surprising addition and one of the more distinctive dining options in the Canary Islands. A dedicated Middle Eastern a la carte restaurant is unusual for this market, and the flavors here feel genuinely different from the other options on property. If you only have one reservation to make, consider Samira for the novelty factor alone.

La Graciosa — Canarian Seafood

Named after the small island visible from Lanzarote’s northern coast, La Graciosa is the standout restaurant at Paradisus Salinas. Fresh local seafood and traditional Canarian dishes make this the most memorable dining experience on property. If you want to understand what makes Lanzarote’s food culture distinct — the papas arrugadas, the mojos, the fresh-caught Atlantic fish — La Graciosa is where to do it.

This is the restaurant to book first. Reservations fill quickly, especially during peak weeks.

Bars and Drinks

The Ginger Bar & Cocktail is the main bar and the hub for the resort’s signature sensory experience: a Canarian cheese and La Geria wine tasting accompanied by a live timple musician (the timple is a small five-string guitar traditional to the Canary Islands). This experience is included in the all-inclusive package and it is genuinely charming — not a touristy add-on, but a real window into local culture.

The Shack Pool Bar serves casual drinks poolside, though some reviewers note it can close early or have limited service. The Reserve Pool Bar is exclusive to Reserve guests and offers the quieter, more attentive service you would expect from the premium tier.

Drink quality is respectable. National and international spirits are included, along with local Canarian wines from the La Geria wine region. The daily minibar restock includes organic juices, local beer, water, soft drinks, and organic chocolate — a nice touch that many guests appreciate.

Food Quality Verdict

Good, not great. Four restaurants for 282 rooms is modest, and getting a la carte reservations during high season requires planning. La Graciosa and Samira are the highlights; the buffet is competent but not exceptional. If dining is your primary criterion for choosing a resort, Paradisus Salinas is solid but not in the same league as properties with six or more specialty restaurants.

Beach and Pools

The Beach

Paradisus Salinas sits between two public beaches: Playa Los Charcos and Playa Las Cucharas. Both feature golden volcanic sand and typically clear Atlantic water, and both are directly accessible from the property. The coastal access is genuine — you walk out and you are on the sand.

However, these are public beaches, not private resort strands. You will share them with other beachgoers, though the adults-only crowd from Paradisus tends to be well-behaved and low-key.

The bigger factor is wind. Costa Teguise is a trade wind coast, and Playa Las Cucharas is actually one of Lanzarote’s premier kitesurfing and windsurfing spots. That makes it spectacular to watch — colorful kites dancing across the sky — but it also means the beach can be breezy and the water choppy. This is not the Caribbean. If you want calm, sheltered waters and windless sunbathing, this is not your beach.

The wind is at its worst in early July. November through March, conditions tend to be calmer and more pleasant for beach lounging.

The Pools

The Manrique Lagoon Pool is, without exaggeration, one of the most stunning hotel pools you will ever see. At 1,800 square meters, it is a proper lagoon — not a token rectangle. Manrique’s whitewashed base creates an extraordinarily vivid turquoise color that photographs beautifully. The volcanic rock surrounds, palm-lined edges, and scattered Manrique sculptures make this a pool that feels like a work of art.

There is one significant caveat: the lagoon pool may not be heated. Several guests report the water running cool, particularly in the winter months. For a resort charging $320+ per night, this is a legitimate concern. If you are visiting between November and March, ask the hotel directly about pool temperature before booking.

The Reserve Pool is exclusively for Reserve guests and offers a quieter, more intimate swimming experience with dedicated bar service. Villa guests get their own heated freshwater private pools surrounded by volcanic stone — the ultimate in privacy.

Activities and Entertainment

Destination Inclusive — The Real Differentiator

This is where Paradisus Salinas separates itself from every other all-inclusive in the Canary Islands. The Destination Inclusive program is not a marketing gimmick — it is a genuinely curated set of cultural experiences included at no extra cost.

The standout inclusions are guided tours of Cesar Manrique’s works, both on the property (his murals, sculptures, and the lagoon pool itself) and on the island. Guided visits to Jameos del Agua — Manrique’s extraordinary concert hall built inside a volcanic cave — and the Jardin de Cactus are included. So is a guided trip to El Grifo winery in the La Geria wine region, where you can taste wines grown in volcanic craters.

Back at the resort, you can join a Manrique-inspired watercolour painting workshop (which starts with a guided meditation before you paint), an organic soy candle-making class, and the evening cheese and wine tasting at Ginger Bar with live timple music.

For active guests, yoga classes run on the beach and indoors, along with aqua yoga, meditation sessions, spinning, energy cycling, beach training sessions, and tennis masterclasses on the resort’s three floodlit courts. Bike rental with guided excursions is also included.

Evening Entertainment

This is intentionally minimal. Live music performs nightly, but there are no theatrical shows, no pool parties, no DJ sets. The vibe after dark is quiet conversation at Ginger Bar, a digestif on your terrace, and the sound of the Atlantic. Some guests love this — it is an adults-only resort designed for relaxation, not stimulation. Others find evenings too quiet. Know which camp you fall into before booking.

Spa and Wellness

The Wellness and Beauty Centre offers a full menu of treatments, though all are at additional cost — a genuine disappointment at this price tier. The signature treatment is the Canarian Inspiration Ritual, a 90-minute experience using volcanic lava powder exfoliation rich in silicon followed by a deep tissue massage. It is uniquely local and worth booking once. Other options include aloe vera and CBD oil treatments, hot stone massage, reflexology, and body wraps.

Thermal facilities include a jacuzzi, steam room, and sauna. The spa is not large by five-star standards, and limited treatment room availability has been flagged by some guests — book your preferred treatments early in your stay.

Yoga and meditation classes are included in the all-inclusive package and run daily, which partially compensates for the spa surcharge.

What’s Included vs Extra

Included	Costs Extra
All meals at 4 restaurants (buffet + 3 a la carte)	All spa treatments
National and international beverages all day	Water sports (third-party operator)
Local Canarian wines from La Geria	Golf (Costa Teguise Golf Club, 5 min drive)
Daily minibar restock (organic juices, beer, chocolate)	The Reserve upgrade
All Destination Inclusive experiences and workshops	Room service (confirm at booking)
Yoga, aqua yoga, meditation classes	External excursions beyond Destination Inclusive
Fitness classes (spinning, cycling, beach training)
Tennis masterclass on 3 floodlit courts
Nightly live music
Bike rental with guided excursions
Mini golf

Pricing and How to Book

Price Ranges by Season

Season	Period	Premium Room	Reserve Premium	Reserve Jr Suite w/ Whirlpool	Villa
Low	Jan-Mar	$320-380	$480-550	$720-800	$900-1,000
Shoulder	Apr-Jun, Sep-Nov	$380-450	$550-650	$800-900	$1,000-1,100
High	Jul-Aug, Dec	$450-550	$650-750	$900-1,000	$1,100+

All prices per room per night, all-inclusive. Prices fluctuate based on demand and booking channel.

Best Time to Visit

November through April is the sweet spot. Lanzarote’s climate is stable year-round (18-25C), but winter months offer calmer winds, thinner European crowds, and genuinely exceptional value — particularly January through March. You get 20C sunshine while London sits under gray skies, and room rates are at their lowest.

Avoid August (peak season pricing with maximum crowds on the public beaches) and early July (trade winds at their strongest on Playa Las Cucharas).

Best Time to Book

Book 3-4 months ahead for peak season (December-January and July-August). Villas require 6+ months advance booking. Last-minute deals sometimes appear in shoulder months — check KAYAK for price tracking.

Where to Book

Book direct through melia.com for MeliaRewards loyalty points and the best room selection. KAYAK is useful for price comparison across channels. Booking.com is a reliable alternative. UK travelers should check Sovereign and Jet2 Holidays for package deals that often include flights and transfers at competitive rates.

Compared to Nearby Resorts

Secrets Lanzarote Resort & Spa (Playa Blanca) is the most direct competitor: also adults-only, but bigger (335 rooms), with 6 restaurants, 4 pools, and a more extensive spa. Secrets offers more facilities for the money and is generally better value for guests who prioritize amenities over aesthetics. But it cannot touch Paradisus Salinas on architecture or cultural programming. If you want a resort that looks like it could be anywhere in the world, Secrets is excellent. If you want a resort that could only exist on Lanzarote, choose Paradisus. For the family-friendly sister property, see our Paradisus Gran Canaria review.

Dreams Lanzarote Playa Dorada (Playa Blanca) is a family-friendly alternative in the same luxury tier, with nine pools, a waterpark, and Hyatt brand service. Completely different audience. Dreams wins on entertainment and facilities; Paradisus wins on adult exclusivity and design heritage.

Barcelo Teguise Beach is in the same Costa Teguise location at a significantly lower price point. It is also adults-only, but with fewer restaurants and none of the architectural pedigree. Choose Barcelo if budget matters more than design. Choose Paradisus if the Manrique heritage and Destination Inclusive program justify the premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Paradisus Salinas Lanzarote really worth the five-star price?

It depends on your room category. The Reserve and villa tiers deliver a genuine five-star experience with private pools, exclusive lounges, and elevated service. Standard rooms, while nicely renovated, have drawn consistent feedback that they fall short of five-star expectations for the price. If you are booking standard, you are paying for the architecture and the cultural program more than for room luxury.

Is the Manrique lagoon pool heated?

This is unclear and should be confirmed directly with the hotel before booking. Multiple guest reviews report the pool water running cool, particularly in winter months. The Reserve pool and villa private pools are heated.

How windy is Costa Teguise?

The trade winds are a real factor. Playa Las Cucharas is literally a kitesurfing beach — that tells you something. Winds are strongest from May through July and calmest from November through March. If calm beach conditions matter to you, visit in winter or consider Playa Blanca resorts instead, which are more sheltered.

What is The Reserve and is it worth the upgrade?

The Reserve is a hotel-within-a-hotel concept offering private check-in, an exclusive pool and bar, a private breakfast area, VIP lounge access, and enhanced minibar service. Starting from $480 per night (versus $320 for standard), the uplift is meaningful but so is the experience gap. Most independent reviewers recommend The Reserve as the minimum for a truly luxury stay. If budget allows, it is worth the upgrade.

Can you visit Cesar Manrique sites from the resort?

Yes, and this is one of the best reasons to choose Paradisus Salinas. The Destination Inclusive program includes guided visits to Jameos del Agua (a Manrique-designed concert hall inside a volcanic cave, 15 minutes away), Jardin de Cactus (a Manrique cactus garden, 20 minutes away), and El Grifo winery in the La Geria wine region. These are included at no extra cost and are genuinely enriching excursions.

Is Paradisus Salinas good for honeymoons?

Excellent, provided you book The Reserve or a villa. The adults-only atmosphere, architectural beauty, daily yoga and wellness classes, and cultural excursions create a honeymoon experience with substance — not just a pretty room with champagne. The Reserve Junior Suite with Whirlpool, with its terrace hot tub overlooking the Atlantic, is particularly romantic. The resort is also just 20 minutes from the airport, which means less time in transit and more time together.

Final Verdict

Score: 8.1 / 10

Paradisus Salinas Lanzarote is not the most feature-rich all-inclusive in the Canary Islands. It does not have the most restaurants, the biggest spa, or the calmest beach. What it has is something no competitor can replicate: a UNESCO-worthy architectural landmark designed by two of the Canary Islands’ most important creative figures, a cultural program that connects you to Lanzarote rather than isolating you from it, and a 1,800-square-meter pool that will make you put your phone down and just look.

The two-tier experience is the main weakness. Standard rooms do not deliver on the five-star promise at $320+ per night, and the spa surcharge stings at this level. But The Reserve and the villas justify the investment, and the Destination Inclusive program — with its winery tours, cave visits, art workshops, and cheese tastings — adds genuine value that you will not find at any other all-inclusive in the region.

Book this resort if: You value design, culture, and quiet over scale and entertainment. You are celebrating a honeymoon or anniversary. You want a year-round European sunshine destination with real architectural significance.

Skip this resort if: You want a full-service mega-resort with multiple pools, nightly shows, and maximum facilities. You prefer calm, sheltered beaches. You are not willing to pay The Reserve premium.

For couples and design lovers who understand what they are getting, Paradisus Salinas Lanzarote is a one-of-a-kind all-inclusive. The Manrique pool alone is worth the trip. Just book The Reserve.