Surprised this hotel was recommended by Trip Central

I had low expectations going to Cuba however the stay exceeded those low expectations 1 Towel in room despite asking staff for additional towels. Repeated daily staff was not helpful rooms were not clean limited food with extremely long wait times for cooked meals - 30-45 mins flat draft beer - had to buy canned beer closed pool bars had to walk across the resort to the lobby to get a drink Buffet was better then a la carte and that says a lot as the buffet was horrible Sewers overflowin [... read more]g walked in feces and toilet paper First time on vacation that I was counting the days to go home My trust for trip central has gone down

It was a good trip

It’s a little out dated We didn’t have problems with hot water but but some people did Beach was wash out But walking down a bit was better Food was ok same I could always fine something to eat Wasn’t a lot for the kids to do Intertanment was ok For what we paid Cuba is Cuba I would recommend this to place to people who don’t have high expectations and realize you don’t go to Cuba for the food You go for the people beaches

It was very unpleasant experience

Dirty , mildew pillows ,linens , holes in sheets,requested room spray for Pharaoh ants and large ants throughout our room.Either used our own mug or positioned shower head into toilet to fill tank for flushing..take toilet paper because it won't be refilled if your cleaning lady has a couple days off. suggested 2 twin beds because rooms weren't ready..Took king-size bed 3rd floor..needed blankets the closest doors I demanded maintenance they were hanging loose, Entertainment was tooo loud and w [... read more]hat was offered was disgusting. No Cuban dancing or stage people interact..The beach totally disappointing..Garbage filthy lawn chairs, I realize nature is there but it was awful..Used the pool .about 5 employees plus 6 gardeners acknowledged us..Sunwing rep gave me the feeling she hated to see me..but Air Transat rep was a real charm made us feel welcomed. Our bags were taken in and departure day picked up w Victor great service..2 young ladies front desk exceptional service, young guy making pancakes , dinner and evening buffet outstanding performance..First time to Cayo Coco, 21st time to Cuba im a well seasoned traveler whom respects and understand Cuba ..We certainly didn't expect a 5 star to be this horrible..We look forward to visiting the area in Cuba we know best in a few months..thank you. Towel art was delightful as the gal cleaning..I'd be happy to send pictures most people we spoke with definitely mentioned they wouldn't be returning..Good luck ..oh and suggest 30cdn to buy meal at BBQ was best money spent..

Was what we expected

Arriving on an early flight was disappointing to wait until 4 pm to get in the room and they told us that there were no towels and pillow case yet. During the week they didn’t change the towels or sheets and there were no washcloths! Luckily we brought our own and extra towel. The food was good for Cuban standards. Always a surprise what they had or had not. Lunch and diner was almost identical. The beach is amazing. Some places with rocks at the beginning but very shallow. We could walk 100 met [... read more]ers and still not waste deep. The people at the hotel were extremely friendly and not to get a tip!! About tips: us were told to change our Canadian money for Cuban pesos. The exchange rate on Google is not correct. It said for 100 CAD we would get 1700-1800 Cuban pesos but at the airport we got 8000 and at the hotel exchange bank even 8500. But they prefer still American or Canadian (coins). So bring Us$1 or CAD $1 or $2. Even a vendor at the street during a tour gave back the pesos, he didn’t wanted it. They can buy groceries with US and CAD. And during a tour at a restaurant we only could pay in USD for a coffee. So good to know. And some days at the hotel there was no water for a few hours and when we had water the pressure was low. Because it was low season there was no problem to get a chair at the beach or the pool. Are we going back? Maybe. Guess we cannot go elsewhere cheaper.

The worst place in Cuba

This is the worst place we have seen in Cuba. We had no running water for 3 days, broken toilet not fixed for few days, stolen item from the room, rooms not cleaned daily, had to beg for clean towels, lack of food: no fresh fruits and salads, only canned goods. Office staff not helpful with all of the above issues. The beach is with rocks and not good for long walks. Would not recommend this place! The worst vacation we ever had!

Have never been treated so poorly in my life

arrived at Melia Jardines Del Rey on Sept 1 st. When I arrived at Melia I was told I had three rooms in various names Gwendolen Schultz, Samantha Leigh , Elizabeth Schultz. They called me by my wrong name at all times while addressing me. The food was horrendous. Tony Tony the sun wing representative knew I was not happy with my vacation so he offered to send me to Tryp for the remaining vacation. Samantha left Sept 8. When Sam was checked out they had deactivated my room key and told me to retu [... read more]rn both towels. I informed them I had one week still remaining addressing me as Elizabeth once again. They also wanted me to charge me for Samantha having a late check out of the room I held for the two weeks. I was staying inside for two weeks and she was in my room. They were ignorant and very disrespectful to me at all times. I requested to speak to the general manager I was taken in an office with 3 managers and again addressed by my wrong name repeatedly. I was very agitated and felt very attack. I stated again my name was not Elizabeth and I would be addressed by the proper name. I told them I would like to moved to my normal resort. I was threatened they wanted me to sign a waiver saying I would not complain about the service or the food on trip advisor. I refused to sign anything. Security was called. I again stated I wanted to be moved to my resort due to the threat. The wrong name being addressed by and the food. I was starving all week the buffet was closed most days no food in snack bars. They told me they would have to call Tryp to see if they would allow me to come to the resort. Tryp was already notified by Tony Tony. They were waiting for me to arrive. I was talking to friends I had met and I was told not to be talking to other guests. Twice approached by the management calling me by Elizabeth. I stated that that I had to wait for the next bus to arrive to take me to Tryp I would be leaving to Tryp. Ten minutes later I was told all arrangements were made I would be moving to Tryp on Sept 9. On Sept 9th I was waiting for my bus and I was surrounded by 4 security guards and was addressed by Elizabeth once again and I was told to leave and the security guard was told to remove my band. I was intimated bullied harassed and asked to sign this waver again. I waited for my bus out side the resort. I had no access to water or food for over 3 hours. I was not allowed on the premises. I arrived at Tryp with open arms. Tryp Cayo as amazing amazing staff amazing food. I am requesting a refund for both myself and Samantha. Also have spoken to the head of Melia and he wants me to email him with this complaint as well. Which I will be doing. I felt very unsafe. I am also requesting compensation for my loss of wages, due to plane on Sept 15 being cancelled. Also claiming for the loss of money due to having to take a cab to Tryp and my suffering. Lose of money due to my dog being in a boarding kennel , no food provided at airport due to stores being closed. I would not recommend Melia Jardines Del Rey to anyone. Thank you

Disappointed

No minibar in the room not even complimentary water.We had to go to the lobby to pay for the basic necessities like drinking water the fan in the bathroom didn’t work the same food was served every day with no variety.The resort was persistent unpleasant odour similar with sewage in several areas even worse we have to manually flush the toilet with garbage bin as the flush system was broken.

A Memorable Stay with Room to Improve

We recently returned from a stay at Meliá Jardines del Rey and overall, we had a really enjoyable vacation. There’s a lot to love about this resort, and while a few things could be improved, the positives far outweighed the negatives for us. **Let’s start with the good stuff** — and there’s plenty! The resort grounds are absolutely beautiful, with well-maintained gardens and direct access to a stunning beach. The water is crystal clear, and the soft white sand made every beach walk feel like  [... read more]paradise. One thing to note — the front left side of the beach is quite rocky, so we definitely recommend bringing water shoes if you plan to swim there. However, if you head further to the right side of the beach, the shoreline becomes much sandier, making it easier to walk into the water. Just keep in mind that there are sandbars in that area, so the water tends to stay shallow — usually only ankle to knee deep — for quite a stretch. You’ll need to walk out a bit farther to reach waist-deep or deeper water. Great timing for us to come because there were always palapas to pick and lounge chairs anytime of the day. The pools are expansive and clean, offering both quieter spots and more lively areas depending on your mood. The **entertainment team deserves a big shoutout**. They were friendly, energetic, and worked hard to keep guests engaged with activities throughout the day and into the evening. From beach games to live shows, we had a lot of fun — never a dull moment if you’re open to getting involved. Special mention goes to Ailyn and Adalberto who made one of the best night event possible and fun! Would have loved to have dance night every night at the Mojito bar to keep the action going. As for food — you **will not go hungry here**! Between the buffet, snack bar, and pizza bar, there's always something to eat. Excellent pizza! Buffet can be repetitive but try not to indulge in all the food in one day. Pace yourself out so try something new each day. We especially enjoyed the à la carte restaurants, it added a nice change of pace and felt more personalized. There's always a choice for everyone. That said, there are a few areas for improvement. The room was very clean, but the bathroom could use some updates, better lighting, and a more efficient toilet. We had minor maintenance issues—mainly with the door lock, which didn’t always work properly. Though staff responded quickly, it still required a bit of a workaround. The balcony door lock also failed on our last day, but it wasn’t a major issue as we were checking out. On the bright side, housekeeping was excellent. Special thanks to Leah and Leesandra for keeping the room spotless and the fridge well-stocked. Despite these minor issues, we truly had a great time. The **staff were warm and welcoming**, and it’s clear they work hard to make sure guests enjoy their stay. If you come with the right expectations — a beautiful setting, variety of food, and lots of fun — you’ll have a wonderful time. We would definitely return, especially knowing what to expect. With a few small tweaks, this resort could easily become exceptional.

Little piece of paradise!

Recently returned from a 1 week trip. This resort came highly recommended to me and did not disappoint. The room was beautiful and clean. The grounds were well kept. The service was amazing. Highly recommend!

Favorite in Cayo coco

Just got back from 7 days at this resort. This is a fantastic resort my family has been to 3 x now. There as so many positives about this resort. The workers are great, friendly, and go out of their way to do anything to make your day great. The entertainment team is the best in any resort I have ever been to. They always have something to do between , stretching , Zumba or dancing at the party pool and games as well as more dancing after the shows in the evening. Yani and team is always getti [... read more]ng everyone including kids involved. In the buffet Milagros always has a friendly smile with her service. We did 2 a la cartes and the service at oriental was so amazing. Rodrigo was so fantastic with his service and friendliness but the whole team was as well. Getting coffee or cappuccino in morning is always the highlight of my morning with friendly service from the girls. Both the beach bar and bar and party pool were so great with friendly faces always. Joel at beach bar and Yesi and team at pool bar are the best around. The pizza lunch is so great with very tasty pizza everyday. Arrive early as it does fill up and can run out quickly. Cons(but doesn't change my positive love for this resort) - buffet doesn't always have great service depending on who is serving and lobby bar can be busy and hit and miss with service as well. Entertainment does have many songs on repeat daily and it would be nice to have more options or requesting of other songs available. Beach is quite rocky in front of resort but you can walk to right 5-10 min and it is clear and sandy for swimming. The view is still beautiful with or without rocks. Bring your water shoes and you will be okay. Clear blue water. Bugs can be bad in Cayo coco. Bring big repellant with deet and maybe a polysporin after bite. Some people have more reactions so a benadryl is needed as well. If you take a day trip to Pilar beach you will not regret it, it is a beautiful beach and a great lunch for $35. Overall he absolutely love this resort and will be back again. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Beautiful resort

My sixth time staying at this resort and it still is beautiful. Check in was easy and our room was just right for what we needed. Food was ok and the a la carte restaurants were just right and offered a better choice than the buffet. All in all you won't starve but you can't expect what you get at home as there is limited supply of food choices. Beach has seen better days as it was wiped out a bit by the last hurricane I was told in October. You can still swim in the water but be prepar [... read more]ed for coral and have water shoes. If you want a bit to the left there is a more clearer path to get into the water. Overall it is still beautiful and the turquoise water is amazing to look at. Drinks were also a hit and miss at one bar they had some drinks while others they ran out. Coffee was the best at the new outdoor coffee bar by the hotel entrance. Workers at the resort were always smiling and friiendly. Lady at the coffee bar Lobby was an amazing barista, Albertadino accomodated us for the Thursday night party at Hemingway Plaza, Johhny in entertainment was a blast and the list goes on for staff that went out of the way for guests. My only negative is that the sand flies or noseeums ate me alive and I was bombarded by bug bites on my legs and arms.

Amazing Resort with Amazing Staff

This is our 2nd trip to the Melia and it didn’t disappoint. The staff here are beyond amazing and always go above and beyond to make your trip the best it can be. The resort grounds are always well kept and beautiful. Our room was spacious and clean, yes the toilets would be my only complaint here, but that is what it is and expected. The ala cartes were delicious and the staff always courteous and polite. The main buffet was a little busy as we had another resort at our hotel and some locals  [... read more]there as well. It does seem to be the same food over and over yes but this is Cuba and none of us starved. There are a-lot of rude people unfortunately that will grab all the bacon and all the bread etc, I often wonder if they eat all that bacon and bread at home in one sitting or they just assume this is all inclusive and free for all and who cares about everyone else. Can’t let those kinds of people ruin your vacation. If you want specific food I would recommend just bringing it with you and problem solved. IE. bagels, snacks, cereal bars, ketchup, spices, hot sauce etc. The beach was definitely more rocky this time but if you walk a few feet down to the right, there is a beautiful sandy part that you can walk way out and it’s stunning. The entertainment staff are Phenomenal here and will always get you as involved as you want, the pool bar staff again absolutely amazing. The pizza snack bar delicious!! The 24 HR snack bar does its job. Great staff there as well. Your vacation will be what you make of it and yes Cuba suffers with getting items delivered on a regular basis and odds are you will run of out something but I am pretty sure it will not be life or death and you will survive. You’re on vacation and away from the crappy weather and hustle and bustle of everyday life so just enjoy it !! You will never visit a country more welcoming than Cuba or with more friendly people. I have travelled to different countries and never get the same love as you do in Cuba. I see so many bad reviews and I want to shake these people and tell them how entitled they actually sound but it’s a waste of time and energy. Trust me if you go to this resort you will have one of the best vacations and meet some really amazing people that make this resort what it is. Lastly, I want to give a huge shout out to our travel agent Louise Enden who is absolutely the best. She will answer all your questions, she will give you the best advice on what is best for you. She will be with you from the moment you book till the moment you are home. She is always a phone call away if you need her for anything while on vacation. I have booked with Louise many times and she never disappoints. Thank you Louise for always being the best travel agent to us.

Amazing resort will definitely be back.

Everything was great about it. Little issues with 1 room of 2 but fixed very quickly. The people, the grounds and everything was so clean. I've been to Cuba in all different areas and also to Cayo Coco and will definitely return to this resort.

Great hotel - amazing vacation!

We love this hotel! The room was clean and comfy! The food was tasty, fresh and good choice! The buffet is clean! No flies. Staff is friendly and helpful! Service is good! Perfect location! Management is good! Thank you for a great time. Will be back for sure!

New Years at Melia Jardines

The Check in process was delayed until past 7:00, there were no clean sheets and towels or rooms. Took several tries to get a clean room. Once situated, our clean towels were taken by the cleaning service the next day not to be seen again for over seven days. Additionally about half of the days the beach towels were unavailable for exchange. There was only hot water for two of the nights which is very unfortunate if you happen to get sick. The water sports have to be booked ahead of use [... read more] in the morning, and there cannot be any wind that day or they will be unavailable. In an 11 day stay we weren’t able to take them out at all. Service was terrible, especially with the difficulty in getting a room (with which after an hour had passed they tried putting us back into one of the bad rooms). For the first 2/3 of our stay it was difficult to get table service. There were also certain staff working behind the grill who would serve the spanish speaking guest behind you in line before you, and set the best pieces of meats aside. Beach wasn’t very clean and God forbid you leave your towel unattended, ours was taken right from our balcony.

A sub par experience!

Although initial expectations would not be considered unreasonably high given the current state of the country, there were some glaring issues that we encountered which if rectified could have made our trip better. On the third day, sewage began leaking in front of our hotel block. The leak remained all week and no one attended to it. Throughout the week staff and lifegaurds were observed consuming alcohol during their shift. We found tipping seemed to be an expectation and staff were less t [... read more]han engaged the majority of the time . And lastly trash began accumulating quickly often left for days ( cups floating in the pool, plates on the beach) and the grounds past the main building were unkept. Though there were some amazing staff who attempted to make the stay enjoyable , the aforementioned issues could not be ignored. Overall, even with our relatively low standards in which we entered the resort, we still felt disappointed, the Melia Jardines Del Rey is not a 4+ star even in Cuba

Melia Jardines del Rey

This resort should not have a 4.5 star. During our stay Dec 7-14 2024 repetative food and menus in restaurants which weren’t all open. Toilet paper often empty in lounge and rests rooms. Towels in room often not replaced. Rooms need upgrading. Fridge not restocked daily with water and beer. Resort itself is beautiful and workers are lovely and pleasant. Beach is beautiful but hard on feet getting in due to shells and coral. Would not return to this resort. Would try others since Cuba beaches ar [... read more]e beautiful.

Not so good

The rooms and grounds were okay. The services were limited.....don't know if it was the time of year? The food was not the greatest in the buffet, it was the same menu everyday. The mosquitoes were sickening, also I got a reaction to some ? or food item not mosquitoes, a lot of the guests had it. I had to see a doctor and get an antidote to stop the hives and itching.

Great resort

We felt full and food was good for Cuba. We know the limitations in variety can be scarce but they do what they can. The rooms were not cleaned well where we were but if you don’t hang out in your room often it shouldn’t be an issue. Bring coffee because he got none. After and beer were provided Bugs are bad , bring spray. Beach is very rough to get into due to rocks and shells. Entertainment and pools were good. Younger crowd for sure , early teens to 20s. I would not go back bu [... read more]t try it out for once. 3.5/5

Nonstop Disappointment

Unfortunately my stay here for the week was nonstop disappointment. Our room wasn’t ready for check in until 6:30pm, when we entered our bed sheets had blood and semen stains and the pillows smelled like sweaty hair with mascara residue (clearly not washed). Our room phone was broken, we had to walk to the lobby and follow up 3x to change the sheets, we didn’t get clean sheets until 9:30pm, and our phone was never fixed. We only had 2 toilet paper replenished in our room throughout the we [... read more]ek, and you were lucky if there was ANY toilet paper in any of the other washrooms. It seemed they could only afford to deliver a limited amount of TP and water bottles on certain days. There were 2 days we were given no bottled water, so if you’re still convinced to go here pack your own toilet paper and water. There was no point walking over to the customer service office multiple times, they would lie in our face and say “it was just delivered” and we would walk back to the room to find nothing, then walked back and they would lie again, in a way to just get ride of our presence and not deal with the situation. In fact, the one day I asked for some TP to use in the lobby washroom, the manager laughed and said “no”. Very very rude staff, only nice staff were the gardeners (unless you pay the staff money they are friendlier). They did not replace our sheets or towels once throughout the week even when they were visibly dirty. Bed bugs as well, not surprising since clearly they don’t even change new sheets when a new guest arrives, my husband and I woke up to multiple bites. Internet went down frequently and is only available in the lobby. Don’t expect working internet. If it doesn’t cut out, a WhatsApp message takes about 5 minutes to send. It seems this specific resort has some sort of arrangement for the locals, about 50% of the guests were locals and staff would prioritize service for them. With the Cuban food shortage buffets would always run out, the locals would get to cut in line and typically took an entire bread basket or entire platter of meat and once the actual tourists were next the chefs said no more food. One day it took 1 hour to get a hotdog/ French fries at the grill while we watched a family of locals be served 2 replenishments of a PLATTER of hotdogs hand delivered by the manager. Even without the shortage lineups for food in general was ridiculous, this place used to have a pizza oven along the beach and you now need to wait in a half hour lineup at a restaurant, you can’t take it to go. Lineup for eggs took on average 30-45 minutes. Only one bar is opened after 10pm. They only had beer and rum available when they ran out which was frequent. Also note to bring your own beach towels, there was only 1 day they had clean beach towels to replace. Good things: Lots of friendly stray cats if you like cats