Unbiased review: Melia Cayo Coco

Hi, spent 3rd week of April at the Melia Cayo Coco, Cayo Coco, Cuba. We have been to Cuba 4 times before over the last 8 years. This is an unbiased, objective view and I can compare to the Paradisus Holguin and Playa Alameda Varadero. We picked it as a last minute having booked 2 weeks before mainly due to what was available re flight times from Ottawa. Price was very good compared to what we would have paid during high season. We were willing to drive to Montreal (from Ottawa) as we would have got a better selection for available resorts throughout Cuba but the flight times were all late evening so we would have lost the better part of our first day of vacation. I’ll break down by subject:

Tour Carrier: Sunwing out of Ottawa. Upgraded the seats but really there wasn’t much more leg room in bulkhead but it did mean first off the plane. Left Ottawa at 5AM, and were in the hotel having breakfast by 9:30 which included smoked salmon and champagne and OJ. That was a plus. Sunwing rep Henry was rather useless as when we met him, he couldn’t brief us fast enough to begin his day off.

Room: we upgraded to the lagoon rooms (#2221) and it was more than acceptable. Two doubles pushed together to make a King, comfortable bed. Room was clean. Satelliite TV that included CNN (English and Spanish), BBC, and a number of Spanish channels. Everything worked well and we had an incredible view from the second level of our lagoon room – the sun set around 7:30 every night in front of us and was quite stunning, really. We were there during a full moon too which was a bonus. A few bugs on the balcony at night (mosquitos) despite being on the second floor but no big deal really. The hotel does spray and this probably helped. A/C worked fine as did all plumbing and electrical outlets/appliances.

Check-In: great. Keep in mind that check-in is not until 4:00 in the afternoon and we arrived at 9:00 AM. We were in our room by 1:00. No complaints. Although we were prepared with a bathing suit, sunscreen and change of clothes in our carry-on.

Restaurants: 1. Buffet . Selection is pretty good and evening staff are exceptional. Food is cooked well. Desserts leave a lot to be desired. Not enough staff for morning especially on the patio. They are running as fast as they can but can’t get the tables set fast enough -- ie. we would get our food and get back to the table before the previous guests plates COULD be cleared off. When there are only two staff per 20 tables, there is no way they can keep up. 2. Pool Restaurant. Main bartenders are great. Drinks are great and plentiful with frequent pool side order and delivery. This is also where you make your evening a la carte reservations with Livan from 9amt-3pm. Problematic. He is friendly and understands English quite well. I booked the 3 a la cartes on the morning of our second day there and the only availabilities were for our 3 last nights consecutively. It would have been nice to split them up with the buffet. Also, we did not find out until our last day that lobster and prawns could be pre-ordered at no extra charge for the International (formal) restaurant on the lagoon. We overheard another couple talking about this. I went back to Livan who claimed that this had to be pre-ordered at least one day before our reservation day. When I explained that we didn’t know anything about this, he pushed me on to guest services. She was no help either as the lobster really did have to pre-ordered at least 24 hours before but didn’t understand why we didn’t know anything about this when we made our reservations. Apparently Livan left out that important detail. BTW, the couple we overheard were able to get lobster ordered the same day of the reservation at the International restaurant which leaves me wondering how much it cost them (or how much Livan made...). Sorry, but if I’m paying for the same thing everybody else is, I should be made aware with appropriate lead time.

Italian. Above the pool bar and was a nice meal but average Italian food. Desserts were somewhat better and cheese plate was great.

Open air Beach Restaurant. Great ambiance. Food was very good, steak and grilled seafood. But again problem with the serving staff. Our reservation was taken by an experienced lovely server but she got pulled from that restaurant after taking our order and sent to wait at the buffet that evening, leaving us with a trainee waiter (again a really sweet guy) who was too inexperienced to handle that many tables. Food was great, but cold. Also, a great casual restaurant for lunchtime but not much of a menu. Great live muscicians at lunch and dinner

International Restaurant. Exceptional food quality and service. Formal, overlooking the lagoon. No complaints about food or service. Bravo, despite the lobster screw-up.

Wine: Mostly Spanish at this resort. Overall we’ve found that Cuban resorts have better quality wine than the DR. No complaints for red, rose or white from us.

Overall: resort is small at 250 rooms. This means that there isn’t the variety of food that you will find at the bigger Varadero resorts. Entertainment was pretty good. Not Vegas, not Paradisus Rio de Oro Holguin, but above the Cuban average.

Pluses of this resort: 15 minutes from the airport (which is very organized, quick and painless), beach is great, lagoon rooms ARE worth the extra money, very relaxing place and the view of the sunset is breathtaking from the lagoon rooms. Beach bar is quaint and very inviting. ALL the bars make exceptional mojitos. And quality champagne is never very far away. Gardening staff are very very good at what they do and very friendly.

Negatives of the resort: problem with management, service at buffet resort is overall poor, and no milk available for coffee at 7AM except at the pool bar is unacceptable in an international Melia resort -- this was a huge bone of contention for me on our last day -- we had checked out at the requested 6:45, buffet not open until 7:15, lobby bar attached to buffet restaurant kitchen but the bartender could not fathom why I would ask him to get milk at the buffet restaurant, even though it was simply "not open yet." And I do understand that questioning authority and rules is not yet established within the general Cuban culture. I just cannot envision this happening at a resort anywhere else in the Caribbean or Mexico. Hey, if you want to compete...

Patrons: about 40%Brit, 25% German/Austrian, the rest Canadian, and a few from South America (eg. Argentina) - in all a great mix of friendly people.

Bottom Line: if you can get a good deal (no more than $1000 per person, then go for it, but the place needs a major face lift and better training for staff.

I probably wouldn’t go back only because I like trying other resorts and areas, and we’ve been to better couples resorts in Cuba. I probably wouldn't recommend but there were things about it I really liked. But significant things I didn't. Snorkelling and beach are fantastic though. So if you like smaller quiet resorts, I’d give it a try. Management needs to be stronger and they need more staff in the buffet restaurant.

This was my first time in Cuba, or anywhere in the Caribbean for that matter... What a great experience!

The hotel was absolutely beautiful. Our room was very nice. The only thing I didn't like was the bathroom. The tub was stained, but it was still cleaned every day by the maids. One night, we had come back from the show and found a cockroach in the middle of the room that I had to kill and 2 days later there was a dead one in the closet. Guess it can't be helped in that kind of climate, but it was kind of gross. Everything else was fine though.

The pool was lovely and shallow, perfect for sitting in to cool down. The beach was beautiful, the water was clear and warm. We did some para-gliding which was so cool! Only $40 CUC. If you walk down the beach past the Sol Cayo Coco hotel, there is a clear shallow lagoon area that was really gorgeous. Saw a huge heron there one night!

For our day trips, we did the Jeep Safari which took you into Moron, to a lake for a boat ride, to the top of a "mountain", and then to 2 farms, where you could ride horses and a bull, and hold different animals. The second trip we did was a catamaran ride and snorkelling at a coral reef. Take an underwater camera! The fish were so pretty! Both trips were about $70 - $75 CUC.

I would recommend you bring lots of sunblock. I used up 2 medium sized bottles in one week, and I was really squeezing every last drop out. My friend had to buy a bottle at the shop and it was $20 CUC! Expensive! But there's no where else to buy it, so you don't really have a choice. Also, take some bug spray. It is a swampy area... Oh and if you want to buy souvenirs, wait and buy them at the airport. It's a bit cheaper there.

My Warm Thanks To Our Cuban Friends

My love for these people is great makes. In Cuba there are well cultivated people and I'm proud to say that I witnessed the integrity of these fine people.

I was there between jan 26 to feb 9 of 2008 and will always remember the great experience that I received from every individuals I met there. I became one of them at the end and i cannot but think about all the great things that happened to me in Melia Cayo Coco.

To all the entertainment staffs, the food and the cabarets and music and sports events and tours I salute you I love ou and hope to be back soon.

Some doubt at the bginning but you know what Cubans are honorable trustworthy people and needs to be praised by all that enter their land for there great reception and hospitality.

I participated heartfully in the music aspect of it played and sing witht the greatest of Cuba and my love goes to them always

With all my heart

Jean-Claude (JC)

We continue to visit Melia Cayo Coco for many of the reasons others have written about but specifically as it is adults only. The resort is that much quieter than others which is our preference.

We enjoy the buffet tremendously as it offers an extensive variety of food. The preparation stations are always a hit as the food is cooked to your specifics in front of you.

The staff are wonderful people - appearing happy and helpful. You can read all about the services, beach, excursions and rooms from other reviews, the positive ones which we concur with.

The Cuban people have little access to consumer goods and we are sometimes asked to bring back a particular item. A most charming man, Yamil, who waits on patio tables with his brother, Junior, for breakfast and lunch has asked us for a package of balloons (100) for his daughter's birthday in November. She is turning 3 years old and he would very much like to have a special party for her.

We won't be returning until after her birthday, so I am asking those of you who are going to Melia to consider taking the balloons and perhaps some party favours so that this little girl can have a very special celebration.

Most of the hotel staff are recipients of the tourists generosity by leaving gifts of cosmetics, T-shirts, shoes, other clothes but don't forget the gardeners. These men do not have the same proficiency in English as other staff members but their work in keeping the grounds looking fantastic deserve our thanks and appreciation.

We will be returning in December for the 6th time. We just love it!