Many people have favourite hotel chains that they return to again and again. Some of these chains can be found in Spain’s largest tourist destinations like Madrid, Málaga, and Gran Canaria. Melilla, on the other hand, does not have any of the biggest, most-recognisable hotel chains which offer the familiar feel of a favoured brand or allow use of a rewards program. Instead, most hotels in Melilla are individually owned or part of a small local chain, so a private hotel stay in Melilla will mean settling for somewhere a little more boutique.

Tourists staying in large metropolitan areas will be familiar with the buzz of a busy city; traffic, refuse collection, and construction can all contribute to a chorus of background noise. Melilla is not particularly prone to these sources of noise, but visitors should prepare themselves for the cacophony of minaret loudspeakers. Some of these are rigged to rouse even the deepest sleeper from an afternoon siesta, something which has in recent times drawn large numbers of complaints from community groups. Until that issue is resolved, it definitely pays to consider choosing a hotel located away from any mezquitas (mosques). Hotels with rooftop bars, such as the Melilla Centro Hotel, are also more likely to leave guests sleep-deprived with their late-night barroom rowdiness.

In many cities, hotels pride themselves on securing leases in the most sought-after buildings in the most sought-after neighbourhoods to allow guests access to the best local amenities. Fortunately, given Melilla’s small size, the city’s top spots are accessible from practically every hotel no matter where in the city it is located. For instance, Melilla’s Playa de los Carabos is in walking distance of all Melilla’s hotels whether they are located on the seafront or not. Similarly, art and culture, fine dining, entertainment, and shopping are never more than a quick walk from the lobby of any of Melilla’s hotels.

The range of holiday rental options is more limited in Melilla than it is in much larger Spanish cities, especially those renowned for an entire industry based around tourist rentals. At certain times, there can be fewer than a dozen different options available in Melilla for those wanting to rent an entire apartment. This may mean compromising on the wish list and coming to terms with the fact that getting a nice view may mean compromising on space, or vice versa.

One of the unique features of Melilla’s holiday rental market is that it is often not possible to simply pick a property online, select the check-in and check-out dates, and book. Instead, the majority of online tourist rentals in Melilla require agreement from the host before a booking is confirmed. The booking site may prompt prospective guests to first contact hosts with a message explaining why they want to book the host’s accommodation. Most Melillans of all backgrounds are happy to host visitors, but there is no guarantee that a desired apartment will be made available.

Melilla’s tourist rentals are almost exclusively apartments. While other cities might allow tourists to rent semi-detached or even standalone houses, in a city of just twelve square kilometres this is not really feasible. Renting an apartment short-term in Melilla effectively means getting used to apartment living, with everything it entails such as carrying luggage up stairs (if there is no elevator), limited outdoor space, and compact kitchens. On the other hand, apartments can offer the added security of a lobby door, less space to keep clean, and the ability to soak up the excitement of the streetscape from the safety and comfort of a balcony.