Meloneras - the more exclusive "neighbour" of Maspalomas where the newer, bigger more luxurious hotels are. Generally a middle-aged crowd and around 75% German with 25% a good mix of everyone else.
The lighthouse at Faro splits Meloneras from Maspalomas but the two are side-by-side. Definitely THE more luxurious part of Maspalomas and neighbour to Playa del Ingles, several very large hotels, some bungalows and villas and all tend to be 4 or 5 star. The Costa Meloneras is a good example, 4 star, 1,500 rooms and everything you'd expect to find in a town back home you'll find in the grounds here, including it's very own beach within the complex itself. The Baobab is opposite and the largest resort hotel in Europe.
There's a main commercial center on the beach-front the "Varadero" with a nice choice of stylish restaurants, bars, cafes. The shopping here is the designer-label type. Boulevard EL Faro is the sea-front walkway that takes you from the lighthouse and past the Varadero to the beach of Meloneras itself. Bynight if you want to chill out in a trendy bar terrace or dress up a bit for a nice meal, head down to the boulevard, it's a really nice atmosphere by night and quite busy.
Of course, being that close to Maspalomas you're walking distance from 8km of golden-sand beach and there's several smaller coves and another of those endless promenades here too.
Opposite that is a second commercial area with perhaps fewer shops but more bars and restaurants and a small maize of walkways give this a more relaxed atmosphere and the best place to go for dinner (if you´re not on half-board) or drinks - if you not on all-inclusive - as most of the hotels there offer both options.
The funny looking huge building that looks like the roof is sliding off is the Maspalomas Congress center, home to business meetings and so on for the most part but watch out for the odd, public exhibition or occasional club night on there, invited guest DJs and space for a couple of thousand.
At the far end of the resort (furthest away from the dunes) Meloneras has its own beach and another commercial center/area. Just past the beach Meloneras also has its own 18-hole golf course.
