Beautiful Beach

Large resort with beautiful beach. Unfortunately we discovered that you need to rise early each morning to reserve a beach lounge chairs, many have seen better days and the good ones go quick. The resort itself is ok, needs some updating and the rooms definitely need some work. Basic nothing fancy. The food was hit and miss but you definitely won't starve. The staff is wonderful, very friendly and do their best to make you feel welcome. The beach is definately something to see.

First time to Cuba and my last.

Sorry but I have to start with the bad. In fairness, because I didn't care for the food, others found it quite good. The buffet had plenty of dishes I've never heard of but scarce on much North American fair. The a la cartes were good (my husband liked them) but don't expect white meat which I prefer. Chicken dishes are legs and thighs. Pork, not sure. As we both had some tummy issues throughout the week, I was very careful our last day and only ate what I thought was safe. However, I became ve [... read more]ry ill my last night there, had to go to a clinic in the middle of the night, and went immediately to emerg when I arrived home. Four others on our flight home were also ill. My husband and I are still ill after being home 4 days now. The rooms, tired, old. Some mold in the bathroom. And one small cockroach visited just once. Liveable for sure but, they did not change the bath towels!!!! After five days I put the towels on the bed with a note (2nd request), left a larger tip and an arrow pointing to the towels. We got 1 new towel. The beds were, lets say adequate. It is Cuba after all. My husband had (has) small red bumps on both his elbows, some on his arms and legs. They formed a circle and no, we have no idea what they are. Beach towels at the pool. Not to be had. We had brought our own....best advice I can give! Last day it rained and I went to get a couple of towels (ours were soaked) and finally! A large stack of beach towels! May I have 2 please? No, apparently I didn't bring my map. That's right. My map??????? The one day excursion we went on was a very reasonable price. (Although don't be fooled thinking it a bonus you can take Canadian and change it right into pesos. Make sure you understand CUC vs CUP before you go. Exchange rate higher than Cdn to U.S.) I had never been on a catamaran and it was quite fun. Our lobster lunch was very good, and the rest of the day quite nice. But....sorry to have a negative here, the 8 hour day is too long!!!! It was very hot and while moving it was fine but they spent time just coasting to use up time. No breeze, you can't jump in the water, and for some, no shade. Luckily we had shade but I still came back with mild heat stroke. And now the good! The lobby bar. Fun, lively and served name brand alcohol. A lovely way to end an evening with a glass of wine or Kalua on ice. And the coffee was excellent. The pools themselves, perfect! Two adult only pools, one with activities and swim up bar and the other, my fav, huge, quiet, clean warm water. And number 1...The beach! Glorious, gorgeous, breathtaking. Clear turquoise water, perfect for swimming and a long sand beach for walking. I don't know if Melia Las Dunas was the problem or I'm just someone who should not visit Cuba, but suffice to say, I won't be back.

Another Great Stay!

This was our 3rd trip to the Melia Las Dunas. They treated us so well the first time we had to go back again. We emailed ahead to let them know that we were returning with our family as well. They went above and beyond to make sure that our families were well looked after and showed us all a great time. The food is very good (especially for what you would typically get in Cuba). The grounds are kept up meticulously and everyone who is working to keep them beautiful are very friendly and greet yo [... read more]u with a smile every morning. They always seem to have a fun gift for the ladies as they head for breakfast (a flower, a little grasshopper made from a leaf, etc). The housekeeping staff were excellent as well! The entire experience was absolutely wonderful! We're looking forward to coming back to this resort again very soon!

Great Family Resort

Very clean, well managed property. Cant think of one thing to complain about. The staff were friendly and accommodating, the food & beverage service and quality were very good, lots of options and the entertainment team did did a nice job. I was travelling alone with my teenage daughter and the resort was very safe. Landscaping is lovely on the property and the beach is spectacular. Was a fantastic week and I would highly recommend this property. The only note to mention is that internet service [... read more] is non-existent most of the time.

Fantastic resort

Beautiful, breath taken amazing,you must see this resort to believe it . Service is great,friendly and eager to please. The food in the buffets and a la cart is world class,much better and healthier than I eat at home. The beaches are so beautiful you forget that there are magnificent pool just feet away from your room. During our 5 th visit to this resort my wife and I decided two weeks just wasn't enough for this winter,so we decided to return for another two weeks a month latter, jan. And Mar [... read more]ch a month in total. We are counting the days until we can again visit your beautiful resort again. Ps the catermarang/ Dolphin excursion and yhi spa are experiences you won't soon forget.

No surprises - Expectations met

This was the second time at this resort, for the price this resort exceeded our expectations. The rooms were a little worn down then the last time we were there. That being said the rooms beds and sheets were clean and well stocked with water and supplies. We enjoyed our stay and would return. The food quality and selection at this resort was great. you could always find something to eat. Staff were friendly and service was good. We spent most of our time on the beech, which is simply amazing in [... read more] Malia.

Amazing resort

This was our first time at this particular part of Cuba and we really enjoyed our stay at the Melia Las Dunas. It is an amazing resort with the beautiful grounds and colourful gardens. Loved the adult section and stayed in room 4413 ground floor which overlooked the adult pool but had no particular view because of the bushes and garden growth but great because of its privacy and quietness. Room excellent size with dressing area, sink area and separate bathroom area. It had king size bed and sofa [... read more] sitting area. Buffet restaurant meals acceptable with plenty of choice. Loved the ice cream parlour. Entertainment was good with plenty going on if you want it. Beach beautiful with plenty of sand area to sunbathe and the ocean was warm and gentle for swimming. This is a large resort with plenty of walking and did not feel overcrowded even at the March break week. This area of Cuba is well worth the long drive from the airport. Just do it!

AVERAGE RESORT

I normally don't like giving a review as I have never had a problem, but this time I think I am going to. The hotel was big, food was a hit and miss depending on the day, they always ran out of items on the menu, seafood restaurant didn't have any seafood. Buffet was good always found something to eat the staff (Cabana) was very friendly and always had a table for us. Rooms were out dated, but that didn't bother us, what bothered us were the ants in the room. The towels that used and left on the [... read more] floor in the bathroom were picked up and hung up again (not happy) maid told us they don't change them every day. They ran out beach towels all the time. The service in the lobby bar was horrible, always had to wait a long time. Loved Santa Maria, the beach was amazing, the best beach I have ever seen next to the beaches in Mayan Riviera.

Cayo santa Maria beach

March 9th-16th....the beach was worth every penny....weather was amazing....rooms were awful musty and showers were really bad never drained and towels smelt awful....the food was good never went hungry. ...but it was the same everyday.....service was great all amenities were great....would recommend it!

The resort was everything that I expected

everything was great the people are amezing this resort is a place if you want just to relax and it also has a lot activites, the beaches are amezing the music is great the drinks are up to date great fish

Beautiful resort

This resort was very nice, quiet, food was better than I expected. The excursions were well planned, the resort staff were very helpfull and pleasant to deal with! The adult pool was awsome. The rooms need a little bit of upgrading.

Okay

Beach and pools great. Food okay. Rooms average. Lack of towels in rooms. Staff friendly. Grounds well kept. Beach was windy at times but still beautiful. Clear water and clean. 4.5 - 5 star not the same as in other places.

Very good trip!

First of all, I would like to thank Alejandro Rubio,from the hotel,who helped me with a few questions before we left. I had emailed him on a couple of occasions and he was very quick to respond. Second, our maid Aray. Our room was spotless everyday by early afternoon. The guy who stocked the fridge came everyday, and if we were in the room, we could request what he left. Third, our wonderful guide, Mr. Gonzalaz who escorted us on the Havana day trip. I definitely recomend the trip to anyone who  [... read more]has never been, your have to see this city at least once! Last, but not least, Mailen, the Sunwing rep who was stationed in the lobby everyday and was super helpful on more than one occasion! The food and the service was better at the snack, pool and beach bars. We weren't very impressed with either of the buffets. The room was not as perfect as some North American hotels, but far from the nightmare we were expecting after reading some other reviews for Cuban hotels. Everything was clean and the balcony was large and private. One of the pool areas was quiet and adult only, the other pool area was family friendly and always seemed to have something fun happening. Both areas had a bar and a snack area. Nightly entertainment was great! There we're live bands, dancing, children's shows, vendors, face painting, something different every night. Overall this was a great trip, I would recommend this hotel, and the Havana day trip to family and friends. One thing I would suggest is to not sweat the small stuff, they do things differently there than we do here. Everything's a little slower, more laid back, maybe not as polished, but the people are very friendly and the landscape is something that everyone should experience at least once!

Loved, loved, loved the resort!!

The beach was dreamy!! The sand felt like no other....like flour, if you can believe it. Thankfully the beach wasn't rocky! There were always had ample chairs and someone to brush off the sand. Drinks served right to your long chair was just great! Restaurants, buffets and the snack back bar were actually very good - ice cream counter was such a treat as well! Fresh catch of the day buffet was where we ate lunch every day! Clean rooms, lobby and luscious grounds – no complaints! The pools were [... read more] amazing! The Relax Pool catered to us who wanted peace and quiet; whereas families with kids had an Activity Pool just as big and looked like lots of fun. It was our best Valentine's Day spent in the candle lit restaurant "Romantico". The pianist was just lovely. By far what impressed me the most was the friendly staff. Not just with us, but their team spirit and their friendly smiles lifted our winter blues even higher. They all tried to communicate with us as best they can – muy apreciado! Well worth the drive from the airport and you get to see a glimpse of the Cuban lifestyle. Thank you so much for a lovely dream vacation!!

Melia Las Dunas

Beach is amazing! There were a lot of food choices and restaurants, however there is room for improvement on the food. The rooms for the most part were nice, however cleanliness needs improvement. I had to request clean towels everyday as they were hanging them on the balcony to dry from the day before with stains and marks. This is not a 4 star hotel! Entertainment was great, fun for both adults and children.

Overall good resort for first time to an all incl

Rooms were ok, had a smell of mould every time you walked in. Grounds were kept very well, pools were well maintained. Weather was not cooperative, would have been nice to know ahead of time that February is Cuba's coolest month of the year.

Good resort

food was good but repetitive resort looks nice but big lots of walking very nice beaches friendly staff not much to do around because it's on a island....we would go back....and recomanded to other people...

Mainly good, but not my personal cup of tea

This was our second stay at Melia Las Dunas and, in all honesty, I don't really have any major complaints. If you've stayed at resorts in Cuba before, then you know the drill re: keeping your food expectations moderate -- though I have to say that the Romantico a la carte quite possibly provided my husband and I with the best a la carte food we've ever had when visiting a resort in Cuba. In addition, the Beer Garden serves what my husband (a DIE HARD hamburger afficianado) says are burgers that  [... read more]rank in his top 5 burgers of all time. Don't underestimate the gravity of that statement :) The grounds, the amenities (lobbies etc.) and rooms were very well-tended and comfortable and, of course,you can't go wrong with the beaches on Cayo Santa Maria. So why am I sounding kind of luke-warm about the whole thing?? Well, I guess I'm just an old lady (in my 50's) but I think I'm getting to the point where I like my resorts just a bit smaller, a bit quieter, and a bit more personal. Melia Las Dunas is by no means "mammoth" (if you 've ever, say, been at a Mayan Bahia resort, for instance) -- but it was still a bit too busy for me. The number of guests mean that most staff simply can't give that "personal touch" even though we DID have some staff who went above and beyond and remembered us from day to day (Hurray for Donna in the Lobby bar!). Having said that -- if you're younger than we are -- or younger at heart than we are -- or not quite so tired and in need of simple boring sitting in peace and quiet -- then you'll love Las Dunas. Clients there are a bit on the younger side and there is a lot of good entertainment -- a lot of vibrancy -- that I think appeals to the under 40 set. Don't get me wrong, though. If our one week in February wasn't my one and only week away from an otherwise truly hectic life, I'd probably be really up for the action that Las Dunas provides. It's a very good all-round resort and I have no complaints about it -- I just like my resorts a little "sleepier".

Pretty good resort, 3 * rooms 4* facilties

Air Canada flight from Halifax, excellent, sail thru customs and on the bus. About 30 of us arrive at the front desk and waited an hour, so slow, someone complained about something and the entire process stopped, where are the other front desk workers? Same thing the next day, we stood in front of two guys for 15 minutes and were ignored! Holy Cow, I've never been ignored at a front desk, we walked away, came back to be ignored again. Dear Mr. Manager, put 8 people on the front desk, they don't  [... read more]cost the hotel they pay in customer satisfaction. Anyways, the room is a rundown 3 star with maintenance issues, 5 flushes, sink leaks, the stopper in the tub won't pop open, pressure after 10 am poor the typical 3 star stuff. The facilities are 4 to 5 star, food is good, beer garden and Charcoal grill is excellent and I'd return just for that. Pizza restrurant is not great, they need a new rescipe for the tomato sauce. Buffets are huge! Pannini presses, 3 egg stations, blue cheese. Supper is really quite good, 4 star. 3 places serve sit down breakfast, 2 snack bars at the pools and beer garden. Beach is excellent, you cannot walk from one end to the other, just too far. I'd go back in April-May when the water is calm and warm tho. Adult pool is quiet until 3 pm then comes to life with football, music and drinking activities. We did a Havana trip $250 CND, Flight, bus, meal, English tour guide, wow! Was a long day 6 am to 11pm but worth the effort. Don't go Monday, all museums are closed. This really was a highlight of our 15 Cuban trips and would highly recommend it. Went to the 2 shopping towns, it's a nice break but nothing special. Saw this rock band with Dany Fernandez on guitar. He must be a son of Carlos Santana and Jimi Hendricks, unfriggingbelieveable. If anyone has a video of his performance please send it to me and I'll post it on you tube, he is a superstar in waiting. I'd return to the resort just to see Dany again and see if I can walk the entire length of the beach.

Amazing Trip!

Before we left for Melias Las Dunas, I looked at all of the reviews and decided that this was the place to go! Had a couple of negative reviews before we arrived but tried to keep it positive. We arrived and found that the grounds were kept beautifully, the rooms were quite nice and the food was much better than I had hoped for. There are so many options for foods - pizza restaurants at both of the large pools offering sandwiches as well. We slept in on more than one occasion and decided to eat  [... read more]at the 24/7 (all day breakfast) because we had missed the buffet. The calamari is very good there as well! We usually went to the adult beach (far right) but when we wanted entertainment ventured to the middle beach. There are bars at each of the beaches but the middle beach has a grill as well for sandwiches. There is usually a line up so we walked up to the 24/7 or the outdoor grills at the end of the boardwalk (2 minute walk) to get food while on the beach. The outdoor grills open at 12:00 p.m. and are amazing - grilled seafood/meat/veggies, etc. There are so many options for food, it would take you a week to figure this out as well, there are the 3 Al La Carte restaurants - seafood, Italian and Oriental were the ones we went to and were not disappointed! The beaches are absolutely beautiful! I give this resort a 4+ star!!! Entertainment was awesome! The aquatica show was amazing - they had Cuban bands playing most nights in the lobby area as well as piano bar in the early afternoon. Our family had an amazing time and will most definitely go back!!! By the way, I walked the beach every morning to check out the other hotels in the same category and they cannot hold a candle to Melias Las Dunas - either for the food or the grounds! Thank you to the staff of Melias for making our trip so awesome!!! :)