We have just come back from a week at the melia, it wasn't long enough we wished we'd booked two !
HOTEL
We stayed in one of the lagoon rooms which I think is worth the extra for the beautiful view, its stunning out on tha balcony watching the sunset. As everyone else has said the rooms are 'cuban' 5 star, clean and serviceable, with a mini bar, TV, CD player and working aircon. Basic bathroom but clean. If you are expecting luxery you will be a little disapointed. You do have to go to customer sewrvices to tell them you want the mini bar stocked every day, as some days they forget.

There are three restaurants that you can eat at once each per week, italian, international and steak house, these have to be pre booked at the pool snack bar. We only ate at the buffet restaurant for breakfast and dinner. We found the food to be of a good standard with a decent choice. Although the choices were mainly the same each day so you could get bored. I'd suggest booking some meals at the a la carte restaurants to break it up if it bothers you. There is a 24 hr snack bar, a beachside grill bar to chose from as well.

Cayo coco isn't the place for you if you want a lively nightlife. But for us it was lovely. The animation team put a show on each night if thats your thing, there is usually live music on in the lobby bar. There is a bar by the pool which is great during the day, especially with the bar men, junior, yamil, and levin who are soo friendly. ( and at the moment very into the european cup football which is on here on a TV) There is a small beach bar for drinks on the beach. Our favourite place to drink and pass time was the bar by the lagoon rooms it also has some very friendly bar men orlando and joesph, I got a mojita making lesson from orlando ! It has two pool tables and for the football fans a big TV showing the sport. The animation guys ricardo and junior can usually be found here in the afternoon and are always up for a game of pool or a chat.

The pool is lovely although not to deep, with plenty of sunloungers at all times of the day. Although we were here out of season and we have heard it gets very busy at other tmes of the year.
The same with the beach, wich is beautiful. There is a lovely breeze on the beach which is great as it is very hot at the mo, just watch you don't burn and use tons of suncream.

Word of warning there are loads of mosquitos this time of year and people were covered in bites. Don't consider going out from dusk to dawn without reppellant. I used 100 % DEET frome lifesystems, which you can buy from most camping stores. It is really worth buying this as I normally get eaten alive but didn't get bitten at all whilst wearing this.

Tipping - lots of people ask about this, it is really up to you and they don't hassel you for tips and are friendly regardless. Personally we always tip as there is not much to spend your money on other than trips and these people work very hard and don't earn much. Its a third world country and tips make a big difference to them and isn't a lot to us. Also gifts such as toiletries pens stickers hats go down well, also old mobile phones with chargers would be very well recived.
The staff were so friendly, and we actually got a small gift from some of them when we left. ( Rum, cigars and some cuban music) so it works both ways.

There are loads of interesting trips to do - esp the speedboat !
The people really make this place the service is 5 star and so friendly.
I can't recommend it enough !!!

I have nothing bad to say about this place. I have stayed at another resort on the Cayo Coco island (NH Krystal Laguna) and it wasnt nearly as pleasant a stay.

Food was awesome- they had such a variety and it was always fresh! i am a picky eater, so i was a little skeptical about going to Cuba as the food i heard isnt always great. But i really cant complain.

Service- FAST and SUPER Friendly! the workers were some of the NICEST people we had ever met. they were always there to help. when you asked for something you got right away.

Rooms - Clean! VERY clean ...i am a neat freak and even i was impressed at how clean everything was. Towels and bed sheets were changed everyday!

Overall the resort was great. lots to do, nice and quiet, the beach was GORGEOUS and you never had to fight for a chair or wake at the crack of dawn to reserve one. I loved that it was 18+ this made everything so peaceful and relaxing yet they had lots going on in different areas. AWESOME VACATION! :)

From start to finish our stay in the Melia Cayo Coco was brilliant.
The food was excellent in the buffet restaurant as well as the other restaurants on the complex. Very nice grilled sardines in the beach hut lunch time!

The rooms were spacious with good size balconies. Good size bathroom area too. Rooms were very clean and the maids always made a feature out of the towels.

The staff couldn't do enough for us.

Tip; Try and take some colouring pencils/pens if you are visiting a town or take a trip to Havana - the children really appreciate them.

This is the 3rd time my wife and i have been to the melia. This time my daughter and her boyfriend came. As soon as they went into the receiption they said we are coming back.

To all those reviews that slate this place i suggest you expect too much and cannot see further than the end of your noses. The staff do not expect to get tips and they are all friendly, like all walks of life some are more friendly than others. But treat them with respect and not as slaves then you will get the best out of them all.

All the staff remembered us and greeted us as if we were family, which my daughter could not believe( we had told her this would happen but she had to see it to believe it)

I would agree that some of the rooms are a little tired and do need a bit of a face lift, but the grounds and the pool are kept in great condition. We take the attitude that providing the beds, toliet and shower rooms are clean and the shower works with hot water then what more do you want as you really only need your room to sleep and get changed, so it does not need to be the ritz.

This is the second time we have gone in May and the weather was great and no mozzies, but beleive me they are waiting if it rains.

So i would recommend this hotel to everyone and we are going back in may 2010 to renew our wedding vowels after 25 years of marriage in idealic surrounds, so if you are there then say helloe to brian & michelle.