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 overflowing 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’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

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 what 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..

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 meters 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.

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!

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 return 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

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.

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 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.

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!

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 getting 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. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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 prepared 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.

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 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.

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.

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!

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 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.

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 than 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

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 are beautiful.

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.

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 but try it out for once. 3.5/5

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 week, 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

It was 8 years ago when we first stay at the Melia Jardines del Rey so its a little dated the pools were nice and the beach was just as i remember. The people are great as always ..food breakfast was ok but lunch and dinner was great beach great bring water shoe for most of the beach .entertainment team was great high energy and friendly we were a group of 4 ladies and we felt real safe at all time thanks Melia for a great week

Spacious rooms, grounds well kept. Liked the rooms as they all have screens on the balcony doors. Nice for families and people that have mobility issues as it is easy to move around with strollers and wheelchairs. The beach is awesome as there is area for snorkelling and sandy area. Entertainment was great, there was always something for everyone. Lots of lounge chairs and shaded areas on the beach. No need to rush to get good spot.

We are enjoying our last day of vacation at MJDR, our favourite hotel in Cayo Coco. We have stayed here MANY times, and always appreciate the Cuban people, weather, beach and hospitality. We will definitely come back. Two large pools with many chairs and beach towels you can change as needed. The beach here is beyond paradise…crystal clear, calm and walkable forever. The huge lobby and open air Mojito Bar is popular with drinks, activities, entertainment and wifi. No mosquitoes. Our suite and maid (Aradely) in building 18 was excellent. Highly recommend the coffee bar, a la carte restaurants, ice cream parlour, snack bar, pizza and barbecue. Thank you to our pool (Yeisy, Yexnier, Osiel) and beach (Joel and friend) bartenders. The animation team (Jordan and friends) are around all day and night for music, games, and the fun Thursday night beach party. Much gratitude to Lisbet and Adalberto in customer service and Yohander at reception and Papa/Jorge in food and beverage who have made our vacations outstanding since the hotel opened in 2014. Tonight we look forward to the special reception and dinner for repeat guests. Thank you to all staff for making our vacation so relaxing and special.

I would not recommend the hotel to anyone. First room assigned had dirty bed sheets and no towels sheets. Water at the sink was leaking. In the building on the first floor was a lot of water indicating some plumbing issues. We were assigned to the different room in other building. It was no much difference. The white towels sheets were missing and we get beach sheets instead.No cold water in the shower and water at the sink was leaking to the floor because was missing part in the facet.The entrance door couldn’t lock. We had no eggs at all for whole term. Bottle water were not supplied to the room for the last 3 days. It was not enough food. People lined up early for breakfast, lunch and dinner time. No intranet in the room only in lobby.

We have been to Cuba multiple times over decades and are aware of the country’s economic problems but it saddens us to see the deterioration of this resort since our last stay in 2019. The deteriorating rooms, grounds, crumbling concrete pathways and pools. The busy lobby bathrooms were so dirty. This resort needs some serious TLC. A recommendation to pass on to the Resort is to have a water container available in the lobby to refill your own water bottle instead of having to stand in long lines at the bar.

The grounds were beautiful the beach was amazing! Never had soda the whole week , food was hit and miss , spent everyday at the front desk trying to get my key card fixed! I mean everyday and mostly every night , either the door didn’t lock or the keycard didn’t work! Moved two times before our last room and then the locks didn’t work , even when we left the door still didn’t lock!!

The grounds were neat and tidy. The staff were for the most part were absolutely great. They were short towels and toilet paper so suggest taking your own to be safe. The food was good for the most part. Always had chicken, pasta and pork. There is a lot of walking involved to get from point a to b. There were 24/7 places to eat. The pizza place made the best chicken wings. There were very few shortages of food during our 14 day stay. The entertainment was great. If going there they really need medicine, first aid supplies, soap, toothpaste, band aids. The pools and ocean were fabulous. The ocean in some areas had a lot of rocks so water shoes would be a great idea. If you walk down the beach a bit it is fine. We found star fish, needle point fish, little white fish etc all near the shore.

The main lobby is beautiful, but it’s just an illusion. Having been to Cayo Coco 3 times, we knew what to expect. The positives: amazing beach with sandbars and shells, you can walk along all the resort shores. We met many fun guests from Canada. The cappuccino’s were fabulous…when they had coffee and milk. The sad parts: line ups for food, food quality was hit or miss, we had to buy water for our rooms each day, towels were not exchanged for the week and they start to smell because of the humidity. Staff are constantly asking you to exchange Canadian money for US at par, as well as exchanging any Canadian coins. Staff were not as friendly as previous visits. Many nights showed alcohol shortages. So, if you are going for the beach only, this is your resort. I’d recommend packing some protein bars and extras to keep you going for the week. We will not return.

The resort was great. It could use some maintenance and upkeep in several places, but the beach, the people and the food made for that. The nightly entertainment was also great, and it had a little bit of everything for everyone. We dined at the Oriental and Italian restaurants and found the food and service there both very good. There's a 24 hour snack bar where you can get sandwiches, and a pizza restaurant where they are made to order. Proximity to the airport was also great...a quick 15 to 20 minute drive.

Lets start with the good things; The beach and water are amazing This is the only good thing about this resort that is more like a 2 star not 4 The rooms are really old and un need of renovation, bed sheets stained and with holes. After tipping considerably and asking for new sheets I got ones with fewer stains and only 2 holes. The key to the room stoped working numerous times and every time you need to go to reception to have it reprogrammed. Food is tasteless, deserts are all the same with different cream on top. You do not go hungry but definitely did not enjoy any dish. The list is too long. I do not consume alcohol so I can not comment on this.

I reported to both the hotel guest service department, the sungwing representative in the hotel and to trip central First room I got was occupied, the second had a water leak from the toilet and had to put towels all week to control it, was never fixed or offered to move another room, also the TV was not working. Some of the basic things I pay for were not available, like running out of fruit in the breakfast buffet 3 days, not having red wine in the restaurants, not having to make basic drinks, mojitos etc.. Complete lack of care and follow up.

Danaries Customer Service excellent helpful person. Grounds lovely, food plentiful. Beach amazing, restaurant great service lovely kind people. Lots of food beverages for everyone Yes we ran out but next day or in a few hours there it was so whatever you need Melia had it

The beach, pools and the hotel area is probably the best thing to enjoy at this resort! The food is okay, service as well, but overall a great experience! Always nice to get away even for 4 days this was great

Very accommodating lovely and safe place. Friendly staff everywhere on the resort. Food was plentiful. Pork chicken pizza rice pasta fruit seafood and veggies. Yogurt juice coffee tea lots of desserts and bread water and alcohol. Beautiful beach some rocky. Resort needs some upkeep but very clean with palm trees and natural setting. On premise dentist saved my vacation stay. Thanks to Rafel, sunwing reps front desk and customer service. Little issues resolved quickly. Enjoyed our stay. Nightly entertainment lovely lounge. Will come back. Thanks to all at Melia Jardines del Rey!

Mauvaise hotel vendu comme 4,5 étoiles, sale, aucune bon service; Pour manger un oeuf le matin on faisait le fil pendant 1 heures, la même chose pour dîner et souper; Dans l’economie d’une journée on perdait 3 heures de vacances payés très cher; C’est un hôtel de maximum 1,5 étoiles.. Il faut plus tromper les clients.. Je peux vous envoyer des photos si vous êtes intéressé, voir qu’est-ce que vous vendez comme 4,5 étoiles;

We where a group of 4 ladies . We found all the staff from grounds to housekeeping where awesome...the food was good the buffets where my favorite as i am a vegetarian and found the other alacarts had 0 options..ice cream hut was a bonus.. The entertainment was good...the grounds were well kept....

We went with 11 of our friends and family January 9-16th. It was a great trip! The staff were very friendly! Great service by Joel at the Beach Bar, Andres at the Pool/Snack Bar, Rosa & Monica in the buffet restaurant and Nerida from the Coffee Bar. The rooms were clean. However, during the week although the maids "cleaned" the rooms every day you can tell it is a very very quick run through. We had hot water everyday but in our room the toilet did not flush very well, we had to go to guest services to ask for a worker to fix it. They did come that very same day, it helped for a day but then went back to not flushing well. TIP -The tank takes forever to refill so we would use the shower head to fill the tank and then flush again. Our shower hook/curtain fell down every day. We also asked for it to be fixed but they did not fix it until the last day. We never received fresh towels but some of our family did get fresh towels everyday. The air conditioner worked great in our room, however, one of our families room did not have air all week even though they ask for it to be fixed at customer service. Very inconsistent service and issues in each of our rooms. The food was not very good. I mean we already knew that Cuba never has the best food in the first place, plus with the supply shortage it was worse. We knew this going into the vacation so I am not complaining just informing. We always found something to eat. TIPS - The ocean was beautiful but there were rocks to get through when you first get into the ocean so I would definitely bring water shoes. - The mosquitos were terrible. Bring lots and lots of bug spray. - The flies at the beach were everywhere. Stay clear of sitting near garbage cans, throw out your finished drink cups right away. We brought travel mugs so the flies were not able to get into our cups plus the drinks stayed cold longer. The first few days not many flies but end of week tons of flies, perhaps the weather was the reason?!? - We left $1 USD in the fridge everyday with a note for extra bottles of water. Normally you receive two small water bottles each day but by doing this we received 4 bottles of water. - At the breakfast buffet some of the omelette stations have fresh eggs under the counter so if you ask the right cook they will fry those eggs. Bring your bacon to a cook if you want it crispier. - We brought peanut butter and had toast each breakfast. We brought some snacks with us, Pringles, Mixed nuts & Protein bars. I would strongly recommend this. - Book as many a la cartes as you can as the food was better in those restaurants over the buffet. - Do not miss the Tuesday show - acrobatics, it was great! That crew must come in just for that night. The rest of the shows in our opinion were not good. It was a different crew, less talented. We tried a couple but ended up walking out. Bring cards or games for night entertainment. They did always have dancing after the show. - If you want the bed to be more comfortable move the sofa bed cushions onto the bed for more cushion.

Very clean resort in the lobby and pool areas. Rooms are a bit dated. Mattresses a tad too hard. More bedding required on the beds, sheets are not enough. A/C works well in rooms. Sink pipes leak from time to time. Toilet stops flushing from time to time. Bottled water not left in rooms daily and seemed difficult to get. Front desk staff not overly friendly. Buffet selection limited, little fresh fruit available, often no meat available. So many Flies in buffet area all over food and bothersome while eating. Flies in pizza snack bar are overwhelming. Flies everywhere on the beach take away from the enjoyment. Bugs when sun goes down are awful - mosquitos, nociums, sand fleas - we were eaten alive even with bug spray. Home a week later and still treating bites. Bugs in sit down restaurants slightly more bearable. Drink selection limited - often out of key ingredients for mixed drinks. Blender drinks only available in lobby and on beach. Shortage of cola and Fanta most days.

We had lots of bites even we sprayed off repelant, my partner has dengue fever right now and recovering. Food is avg and beach is ok. I dnt understand the mosquito problem. They only spray on the lobby area as in my 7 days bring there, they never sprayed on the units where mosquitos are everywhere.

Stayed at the hotel January.2024. On the plus side hotel rooms have abundant hot water and amazing a/c in the rooms. Shortages are dire. Low drinking water supply in rooms. Ran out of so much food. We are used to Cuban food being somewhat poor but were always able to find something to eat. Buffet was scarce. Prepare to be hungry. Mosquitos are out of control. We were swarmed day and night. The pool is in very poor repair. The ocean is rocky but if you wear shoes to walk out there is clear spots. I will not go back to Cuba until they get a handle on their shortages. It’s honestly a health hazard. Bathrooms were deplorable and toilet paper always empty. I have never seen Cuba like this. Hotel staff were good they changed our room no problem. One was having plumbing issues. Housekeeping are very good better than we had in Mexico. Great workers that way. Many staff struggle with English. It’s not common in Cuba to have so many staff not able to talk English. My family has been to Cuba many times but will not go back again till things are rectified. Not really faulting the hotel as much as the situation in Cuba.if you are looking for a wonderful vacation spend a little more and go elsewhere Cuba is not what it used be sadly

The hotel keeps getting better each time I go. There are many places to find quiet or fun, as the property is huge. We danced every night, which is why I keep going back. The staff are kind, respectful and very helpful. There was always food to eat and enjoy, but I do not go to Cuba for food. The beach is long but has been impacted by hurricanes over the years. Walking on the beach in either direction results in nature only landscapes. I recommend and am already planning my return trip.

The beach, the beach bar staff , the pool and pool bar staff were great as usual. No hot water for the entire trip. No white wine, no cola short some other things. Its been a year now like this. Especially frustrating when a utuber aquaintance at a neighboring resort says they had everything. I'm going to start looking for other options. as well, they assured me the pool wi fi was fixed and running whereas actually it had been removed.

After 4 long yrs ,i finally got back to Cayo Coco. beautiful island ,The quick vacation to unwind and enjoy sea & sand. Jardine Del Rey is one of my favorite places.I have stayed at several hotels on the island. The thing that keeps me returning is the customer service.The staff is attentive,kind and welcoming. The resort is large and beach is long and plenty of room ,to roam ,and walk for a mile,in each direction. plenty of sun huts. Bar on beach ,beach restaurant at beach for light lunchs,and 3 pools,snack bar at each pool, and an ice cream parlor on the path to the beach. Lobby is large and plenty of area to sit.. A bar as well as a coffee specialites. The food is a hit & miss....i had fresh eggs and bacon each morning,fresh bread there as well was ,fruits, cheese & 3 sliced kind of meats ...pancakes,and omelets to be ordered. as well as smoothies of many chose of fruits and dry cereals and patries ..... there was as well alot of other items that i was not familiar with in the buffet? Lunch and supper pretty much the same,vegtables were not a great variety. but there was lettuce,cucumbers and pasta salad and grill station you could order chicken ,pork or fish fillets ,or pasta dishes .and again great assortment of cheeses and 3 kinds of sliced meats. I was satisfied but as well disappointed as there was so shrimp, lobster served in any of the a la carte, ( my son was at this hotel in October and the food selection was excellent ,shrimp, lobster,and even sushi..... seems to be a storage and demand issues with the food.. but again I do not travel to Cuba to expect Cruise ship menu...I ate well and ate more than I do at home..Never been ill from any of my trips to this resorts. Prenty of red wine,beer on tap,and rum drinks..I did notice that they were serving a sparking white wine ,champagne,,and not a dry white wine. there was no variety of soda ,just cola ,not the fanta or ginger ale or sprite .and the juices were all a powder mix, the mini bar was refilled each day with only 1 beer,,,and odd because there is always at least 2 guests to a room ,left a note for 2 but again only 1 was left .,if you needed more water bottles left in your room you had to ask for it .again no problem . our room was kept very clean each day,plenty of towels and hot water .. 24 hrs snack bar seem to run out of food ..and no great variety..the kids just wanted french fries and no luck .. The after hours 11-2 am)party life was a hit with out young group of 20 yr olds .they enjoyed themselves as well missed breakfast every morning,! to each its own! i would recommend this resort but if food is your top priority..you might be disappointmented, but the beach ,the staff is worth it ..in my opinion ..Cuba is not an expensive vacation ,you want top notch ,you choose Turks & Ciro ,or Aruba or other high price vacation . Life is full of choices .

Ok, so the beach was fabulous as always, and the pool is sparkling clean again, pool bar staff as always fantastic as was beach bar. Some hiccups with the food but manageable. Groundskeepers continue to do a great job and the room was fine. Most of the staff were great but there are a couple of attitude issues that management should address. Lobby bar and 24/7. Just saying. Will I go back? Maybe, might try the neighbor.

We  enjoyed our stay and will definitely come back. We also ensured to manage our expectations: it's Cuba, it might be some shortage, some hiccups, but it's wonderful best in the world beaches, great nice people and lower cost. Food was ok, at the beginning of our stay, but after a couple of days it was really good. We even got good sushi on one night:-) Desserts are good, their flour seems to be a different type, so it impacts taste, but other then that very good variety. Same with drinks, some shortages, but we got tequila and gin when we asked for it:-)Also, in buffet I found that if you raise your hand, someone will come immediately and you will get what you need. We went to restaurants, very nice, good food and it wasn't same as in buffet. We got to deal with customer service because our washroom door locked itself. I spoke to a rep in the lobby and by the time we came to our room, everything was fixed (took about 5 minutes).Beach is great! They have a lagoon type of thing just a bit on a side,  it's very nice to walk there. There are lot of fish in the water everywhere, you just need to put goggles on and put yr face into water. Only one pool was working when we were there (Cuba, we expected something might not be available:-) ). It was personally a bit too loudly there for us, so we came there just couple times. Nice clean pool, it has few sections with different depth from 40 cm to 155 cm..They were doing a lot of renovation, and that was a reason why the second pool was not open. For a week we stayed they painted umbrellas near the pool, renovated little bridges to the beach. They were making a barbecue area, pretty excited to come again and see the results.:-)Entertainment was good: dance show, songs, dancing fun with guests, they also played volleyball on the beach. It's not far from the airport, just about 20 minutes ride, tourist area, so even going thru customs is not a bad experience. Everybody is nice and smiling Few thing which bittered our stay: mosquitoes and some rocky spots on the beach.  Both things are seasonal, they did a great job though of spraying something to kill mosquitoes, we even enjoyed watching a small plane doing it from  air (quite entertaining )We had plenty of repellent (strong recommendation bring few with you!) , we also had water shoes, definitely helped too.

Had many trips to Cuba over the years. This has been by far the worst. 1. Paid for selected seats to and from Cuba. Seatbelt on plane not working. 2. Hotel was far from being at full capacity although they stuck us in a dirty room way in the back of resort facing a dirty field. 3. We upgraded to another room. Entrance to room was filthy, would not touch the hand rail on stairs. 4. No hot water for showering 3 days out of 7 5. Same towels 3 days in a row 5. Buffet was disgusting!!! Nothing but hundreds of black house flies all over the food, tables and floors. 6. Staff would not make eye contact with you unless you flashed money in front of them. We travelled South close to 40 times. We are not hard people to please. We will definitely never go back to Cuba !!!

Very friendly and accommodating staff. Rooms were clean, We were scheduled to be in one building, however, I asked to move due to health reasons, and they accommodated and moved me to a ground floor room close to the main lobby. Beach had a bit of erosion due to weather, but overall it was amazing and clean. There were plenty of options for food. However, due to COVID and the economy some of the items were hit and miss on days. For example, one day would be no bread, but the next would have it, they would run out of milk, cola, wine, etc. However replaced the next day. We never had an issue with the shortages personally. They have downsized considerably on entertainment, it is not the same as it was pre COVID. It still is an amazing place to relax, by the pool, beach, shopping etc. We have stayed at this resort 6 times and continue to love the atmosphere, friendly staff. It was perfect for us! We can't wait to go back next year, or maybe the fall. Just remember to bring lots of sunscreen, and bug spray as the mosquitos are bad in April :)

Just returned. Some staff were exceptional, some not so good. Front Desk and Swim Up Bar and Bell Boys were excellent. Other staff were lazy. Even if you tipped service was not great. Gounds are a mess. It's not the workers fault. There are not enough staff. After my 3 dozen trips to Cuba I will not return to this resort. Lots of food shortages. The vegetables that were not covered in sauce were cold. No butter all week. Food was not labelled. Many rocks on the beach for the first 6 feet when you get in the water. After that, lots of seaweed. Sometimes no beer, or no sprite or no coke or no wine. No pasta all week. Weather was great.

We were told food/condiments/ toilet papers supplies are very limited at Cuba. But, my friends staying at Melia CAYO COCO the same week has no such issues at all. Our hotel (Melia Jardines Del Rey) supposed to provide one single-roll toilet paper and one 2-litre bottle drinking water daily per room (no matter how many people stays in one room). But they are not replenished on a timely/regular basis. Our room has been skipped daily supplies for at least 3 days. The worst day we had called 4 times to their #700 Room service centre for help, but no action was taken by the hotel. We finally complained to their manager at Customer Service Centre to resolve one of the room service problems. Based on our experience of missing toilet paper and bottle water problem, we didn't even bother to raise the concern again for the other 2 days of missing supplies. Hygiene problem: The main buffet tables has a lot of flies hanging around. I noticed that the table mats are not cleaned properly before serving the next customers. Toilet paper supply is replenished daily regularly. Service : poor. Coffee corner service at the main lobby is horrible. One coffee server had sneezed at my coffee cup while he was preparing the coffee for me, He didn't even bother to make another cup and just handed over that coffee with his "big sneezing", to me. Limited food varieties at main buffet: Almost same kind of food and cookings are served on our 7 days of stay. No pure juice and only orange/pine-apple drinks are served. Limited supply of milk at breakfast. Exceptions of the week: There were only 2 meals of hot dish of pasta and 2 meals of fried rice. 2 meals with a small roast pig. One roasted ham served only for less than 20 minutes and the rest was returned to the kitchen. Our previous 3 times in other Cuba locations had been a wonderful time for our vacations. Melia Jardines Del Rey setting and environment is good, but the room service/supplies and food quality are not up to my expectation.

People fabulous as always, and one of the best beaches anywhere. Upkeep and maintenance ok. Still dealing with shortages which affects the food supply, so selection limited, and I guess access to pool chemicals. Normally the pool is crystal clear but they were struggling with the water quality this time. Bar selection and supply ok. Reduced show availability but they made up for it with group sing and dance. It is going to take awhile to get fully back on their feet but its still a good vacation. Met quite a few regulars to this resort.

Wifi only in lobby area and that was scarse. No wifi in rooms or anywhere else on resort. Awful food, dirty buffet restaurant with cockroaches near food. We have been back home 3 days and still have travellers diarrhea We witnessed staff fighting, punching each other, kicking chairs. Felt very unsafe for rest of vacation. Asked to speak to manager twice with no response. Zero night entertainment. Mosquito haven. We are all covered in bites. Dirty hotel, rooms smell like mold We feel ripped off and waste of our hard earned money for a disaster experience Avoid this hotel!

I did a lot of research on this resort prior to going. The reviews were scary and terrible. I even tried to find another resort but too much money. Upon our arrival around 10 pm on Sunday night, there was really no food to find and they were out of wine. The reviews were becoming true. The following day, things changed and everything fell into place as far as al a cartes, lunches, beaches, drinks etc. I was pleasantly surprised. That was until Saturday night. We had no server in the buffet for dinner, had to wait for plates, no cutlery and the food was not great. That night at the lobby bar, they ran out of wine, beer and other alcohol. I am just glad we were leaving the following day. This resort is hit and miss. While one day they are out of certain things, they will appear the next. And vice versa. I was pleasantly surprised Monday-Saturday and then the expectations began to show. Many of the staff are wonderful! The beaches are unreal! Go with an open mind!

We stayed here for a week the beginning of March with a group of 10 people and we all had a Fabulous time. The entire staff are really amazing from the awesome entertainment staff to the awesome pool bar staff and restaurant staff. The resort is very clean and the rooms are nice some rooms/buildings along with other areas of the resort are being upgraded but this all takes time. For only being open for a short time since Covid I was very impressed how well this resort is being ran and looked. The Beach is just gorgeous. The nightlife is fun but repetitive. The food is food and that’s what it is in Cuba, nobody starved on our vacation, breakfast was always delish, yes sometimes no bacon or bread for toast but when people throw mounds on their plates it will not last. The Pizza bar was exceptionally delish, we had that everyday for lunch, suppers were pretty much the same every night at the buffet, we didn’t try any of the specialty restaurants. Vacation is what you make of it period, if you want or need something that you think may not be there just take it with you (bagels, snacks, certain booze etc). The bugs or mosquitoes really attacked some people in our group but I personally didn’t get any bites so bring bug spray if your concerned with that. All in all it was a fabulous vacation where we made friends with staff and other vacationers. I really don’t have complaints on this resort and we are looking forward to going back ❤️

Had a great time here, the staff was amazing, the resort was clean beaches were amazing. The entertainment was great and fun to participate in. We took our two children, and there was always P plenty for them to do. Excellent snorkelling. Recommend taking your own gear. The food was ok. Typical for Cuba. Always lots of options.

This resort was closed during covid and is in need of some Tlc. We could see maintenance staff and gardeners working diligently to spruce up the hotel by painting and repairing and trimming the gardens. It was looking better every day. The food was good, beach was beautiful with great waiter service on the beach. The pizza snack bar was good. The coffee shop wonderful in the morning for a cappuccino. My only two concerns were the broken coral at the beach ( definitely bring water shoes) due to hurricane damage and service with some lobby bar staff was poor. Other then that it is a beautiful resort with great al la cartes and staff

The beach and the pool were beautiful and well maintained at this resort! Most staff were friendly however some were not attentive at all and would forget to brung your drink order unfortunately. Food was not great but this is expected in Cuba. Alcohol was mostly stocked, would run out of specific at some bars. Lobby bar was often overcrowded in the evenings and would take 30+ minutes to get served. The entertainment and night life was good for the first couple of days however we found it got very repetitive with the same playlists and dancing from the staff. Rooms were clean and no issues with anything, jist had to ask for extra towels and water bottles. We enjoyed our stay and would recommend!

Me and my father went to the Melia Jardines Del Rey Jr resort. Our trip was great. The staff were awesome and very out going. Yonatan faure Fonseca is the guy to see for beach fun and for engagement in the evening activities. As well as Manuel Zamora (beach guys) and Thalia in the lobby buffet at supper, can't miss her. Also keep an eye open for Yudermis in the lobby, she is amazing. 😆 I would recommend building 15 as it is centrally located in the large resort. We went on the on the 50 foot catamar and took three stops including snorkeling, lunch on a small island and Pillar beach. Ernest Hemingway's old beach that he would go to to rejuvenate his mind and help with writing. I did not know that Pillar was the name of his boat. The sand at every beach was almost as white as snow but not. The resort was of a good size but most of the restaurants and pools were off the main drag so that made it easier as I have a physical disability. The ice cream shop is a very good stop, multiple times a day. Lol The resort grounds were being worked on daily to improve it's appearance as I did look older than 8 years. Did I say how lovely the beach was. The not so good My bedroom had a tub that you needed a stepping stool to get into. I noticed the sand fleas more then my father did. They were especially bad when the wind wasn't blowing. The food at the La Carte restaurants were ok but very skimpy on the veggies and potatoes. The deserts brought back our child hood days eating baby food. Rice pudding or some sort of starchy pudding with a baby spoon. It all tastes very good though, so I don't know if I would consider this a negative thing. About 3/4 the way through our trip the resort was running low or out of rice and Coke, but the water and toilet paper were plentiful. What was also plentiful was the groundskeepers, a special thanks should go out to them. For keeping the grounds looking so pristine and improving it's overall appearance everyday. Yes, I would recommend this resort to my readers. Note- I wouldn't recommend coming to Cuba just for the food. I would suggest bringing spices, clothes or daily supplies to pass out as tokens of appreciation. They work extremely hard and deserve to be recognized for it.

The place is amazingly beautiful, very open with good landscaping. The beach is amazing and the water is clear. Good friendly staff with good services at most of the time. We love the coffee bars with good choices of cappuccino, espresso,... The show at night kept us well entertained . Our hotel room was quite comfortable and the maid service was good. The major problem was the shortage of room towels. We didn’t have bath towels supplied for a few days, but the maid did make the efforts to get it and bring to us in the evening after our complaints to the customer services. The food was adequate. I survived well with the salad bar, fruits, rice and fish. The internet at the resort was, in my opinion, too slow. You have to log on and wait and wait...sometimes up to 15-20 minutes.

I read many of the reviews prior to going last week, and think it’s important to share my experience. From our arrival on Sunday morning close to 01:00 until we departed the following Saturday at 21:00 all the staff was attentive and helpful throughout the week. The staff from the front desk, the gardeners, the cooks, the room staff, the cleaners, the bartenders etc, all the Cuban people try to make your visit enjoyable. Our hotel room was clean, comfortable, had fantastic air conditioning, and the maid service was outstanding. Our shower had great water pressure in the morning with lots of hot water, but in the evening the water pressure did drop while everyone in the building was trying to get ready for dinner. Our TV did not work, but I did not travel to watch tv, so it was never reported to the resort. The pools are fantastic. I will admit, that we spent most of our time at the same pool, but I can say as we walked around the comments apply throughout the resort. The staff were polite, courteous, and helpful. The pool was clean and there was activity for anyone who wanted to join. There wasn’t added pressure to join for those that didn’t want to. The pool bar was over the top friendly and helpful. The kids pool looked amazing for all ages. The beach is absolutely beautiful with many options for swimmers and snorkelling. The challenge is you have to move around to find the right area as some areas have a coral bottom within 5 feet of entering the water which is hard on the feet. However, you can find areas that are great for kids. A great beach bar. The food was adequate. Out of the seven days, the buffet had a couple of days that I had to survive with chicken and rice, but 2 other days with pork ribs, steak, chicken that was very good. We tried two of the restaurants, the Italian, and the Mediterranean which both were good. We did find a restaurant called Lenny’s that is a small cab ride away that is 100% worth the $25 USD for lobster, chicken and rice on a beautiful coastal point. Unfortunately the only negative for me was how some people treated some of the workers when they didn’t get their own way. Example 1 was when someone asked to go into the breakfast buffet at 07:55. When the staff said we don’t open till 8am, the traveller lost their marbles. Example 2 was at one of the restaurants where a group of 9 arrived, but their reservation was for 6 and the restaurant couldn’t accommodate the additional people. The person was aggressive and totally disrespectful to the staff member. The last example is to those that feel the need to take 20 + pieces of bacon to clean out the dish, or stand in line and order 6 omelettes at a time. The coffee shops are amazing, and a great option for an espresso or cappuccino. If never sat in the auditorium for the shows in the evening, however I could see and here them from my vantage point and they looked and sounded fantastic. The lobby bar was great as well with many staff that were accommodating to all. The internet at the resort was in my opinion horrible. You have to log onto a provider with a long username and password which kicks you out frequently. A reminder that tipping in loonies or toonies are difficult for the staff to redeem. But there is an opportunity to buy them off the staff for bills.

They say you don’t go to Cuba for the food, and boy was that true. Yes the beach and water are beautiful, but there are other countries you can go to for great beaches. If you hunted you could find some half decent food, but between the line ups and the buffet literally running out of food at 7:30 at night when people haven’t come to eat yet. People coming out with rice and carrots cause that’s all that was left. Breakfast only had eggs on the grill - again huge line ups to get eggs. No other options. The a la carte not much better. Anyone who says the Italian is good never ate real Italian food. Every restaurant has rice pudding for dessert. The whole resort needs work. We were on the second floor and our building had no lights in the hall the whole week we were there. Toilet paper is another issue. As the day goes on all the resort bathrooms start to run out of toilet paper. Lobby bar area is the worse, so make sure to carry Kleenex or TP. Also, most of the buildings facing the ocean smell swampy or of bad septic. Don’t bother paying for ocean view rooms - they smell the worse. On another note, we went to Lenny’s for lobster dinner definitely worth the car ride and $25 us meal. Also did the boat adventure where you get to drive your own speed boat with a 40 hp motor. Lots of fun. Yes this resort is not that expensive, but if you are set on Cuba I’d pay a bit more and get something better….or make sure you bring some toilet paper.

Workers friendly, resort clean pool lovely, ocean awsome. Rooms had water and toilet paper, however washrooms around resort very often didnot have toilet paper, soap or paper towel. I know people don't go to Cuba for the food but they do go with the expectation of being feed and some variety. Food supply was very low and not sufficient to always get a proper meal. The alacarte resturants did not have what was offered on the menu and most if the service was very poor. I have been here before and it was a wonderful resort, i don't believe anywhere in cuba has food supplies right now

The beaches never disappoint in Cuba. Resort is a bit dated and needs a fresh update. Chairs had no cushions in lobby so a bit uncomfortable. Toilet paper and paper towels we scarce in main washrooms. Our room was located on the beach and there was a strong smell of sewer outside the building.

When we arrived at hotel 1030 pm we were checked right into our rooms, we were driven to room by hotel staff . Room was clean, we had drinks water towels toilet paper etc. We did not have to wait for drinks at pool beach or lobby bar, wide variety of foods for breakfast lunch dinner. Fresh beach towels daily. Amazing staff always pleasant . Resort grounds were clean and well taken care of.

This resort was well kept. Considering the damage after a hurricane and the economy going for a dive from Covid the place was really fixed up good. Our room was clean, but towels and face clothes not plentiful. If you use faceclothes bring your own. We also brought our own beach towels. They run out quickly. Water and beer was restocked in the room each day. We asked for two water bottles daily and we got it. The people are very friendly and eager to help with everything you may need. (Remember to tip) The food wasn’t the best but they try hard. Supplies are hard to come by for them. The pools were awesome! The beach just fabulous. In spite of shortages etc we had a great time. If your priority is sun and beach this place is wonderful.

The grounds are beautiful but beware of the beach! Bring water shoes for sure as there are sharp rocks, coral and shells that protrude the shoreline. The accommodations are simple and clean but the resort buildings as a whole need attention as they are a bit run down. The food at the buffet was not very good and the variety was lacking. Lots of flys on food as well. The restaurants are a lot better then eating at the buffet but still under par. They also ran out of food choices a lot during our stay. The pools are large but again run down and lots of broken pool tiles so wear water shoes! The alcoholic drinks lack variety. At other Caribbean resorts/destinations you can order lots of neat blended drinks like margaritas, daiquiris and chunky monkeys but definitely not at this resort. If you are coming here just to relax and have a cheap getaway and are not picky about food then I would recommend.

The room was nice. Always had water and hot water for showers. The towels were never changed out for the week we stayed. The lobby was nice and clean with friendly staff to accommodate you. The public bathrooms were kept clean but periodically ran out of toilet paper. Beautiful gardens were well kept. The pool did have some algae on sides. There were food shortages in Cuba and it shows but they did the best with what they had. Overall it was a pleasant stay.

The hotel needs a ton of work and supply shortages were obvious. I’ve travelled Cuba many times and I know what to expect unfortunately things are much worse. No toilet paper, no soap or paper towel to wash your hands in bathrooms. Food, well they did the best with what they had. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. I did see staff cleaning non stop but if they don’t have supplies, not much they can do. Rooms, I heard many complaints, no hot water, toilets not working, locks on doors broken. Our room was ok. Walking in the dark is a challenge due to lack of lighting, missing bulbs and broken fixtures. I will not go back to this resort and most likely Cuba vacations no more.

Jan 13th - 20th *Sorry it's a long review but almost everything you need to know is in this! *Please note, this hotel only reopened a couple of months ago after being closed due to covid. It is not at full capacity as of yet. Some blocks are still closed and the second large buffet is not open yet. After reading some negative reviews before we came we really wondered what was happening. We were just there at the end of November and we just couldn't see how things could have changed so fast. We had talked amongst our selves and assured each other that it was just "those people". You know the people that yell at the gentleman holding the door open at the buffet because they didn't get towels..... yes those people. Needless to say we were correct! We had a fantastic time! I have said it in many of my travel reviews that my biggest complaint has been the actions of others. I'm going to leave it at that but seriously some people really need to think before doing. We flew air transat and have never had a problem. We walked off the plane @8:54pm and we were drinking beer in our room by 10:15pm. Yes we were through customs, got our luggage, got on the shuttle bus, checked in and walked to our room in beautiful block 19 and we were drinking the cold beer out of our fridge in under an hour and a half! This is one of the major reasons I choose Cayo Coco over Cayo Santa Maria after traveling to Cuba many times. The Room. Our room was very nice and super clean. Bed was a king and it was comfortable. The air was ice cold and so was the fridge. Our toilet flushed perfectly, the toilet seat was a little loose but no problems. One day we had no water for long enough to figure out we didn't have water only to realize we had water again lol. Hot water, I only had two "cooler" showers all week and they were at prime time. Water was always very hot just before or just after 5pm. Our towels we used until mid week and then placed on the floor. We had clean towels later that afternoon. Two beer and 1 large bottle of water were brought to our room everyday except the first day. (We did arrive just the night before so we weren't worried) The fridge restockers are separate then the maid. Feel free to leave them a little tip. Snack Bar; I am a snacker so I loved this place! One day however we decided to eat late and they were out of food. When we went to the other buffets they were closing and pizza bar just finished. 100% bad timing for us lol. We always bring some snacks so we were not bothered too bad. About an hour and a half later we saw people walking by us with Fries and sandwiches at the pool. Needless to say they were not out for long so please don't take it out on the workers, they don't need your attitude. They are doing what they can. 99% of the time; Ham and Cheese Sandwich 60% of the time; Chicken, Tuna, Ham and Cheese sandwiches and Fries. 40% of the time; All listed sandwiches above and fries and Hot dogs. Pizza Bar; A BUSY PLACE! The Pizza is very very good. I do believe they need to increase the time this is open if possible to take the rush and pressure off of it. It is said to be open from 12-3pm as it was when we were there in November but we found out that "last chance" for Pizza is at 1:30. We tried @2:30, then 2:00 then 1:47 and finally successfull by arriving @1:30. It is not fast, we seen some people eating 2 and 3 pizzas each! Also many people taking 6-9 pizzas to go! I thought maybe putting a limit to 1 per seated person would be a good idea but that will just get people angry so perhaps longer hours like 11-4?. Not sure the answer there. Either way it was well worth the wait as it was delicious! We ordered at 1:35pm and were done eating at 2:20pm Buffets, I recorded all my times in lines and such because people were saying they were waiting an hour and such for food. As I expected, not the case; our longest wait in a line for FRESH COOKED food was 26mins. If you don't want to wait in a line to get in to the buffet then don't go when it opens! We found 8pm to be super nice for dinner and breakfast we always went around 9am. We were never in the buffet for an hour total from in to out. Did they run out of plates? Yes. How long until more Plates? 2 mins and 47 secs on one timed occasion. I seen multiple times where the plate stack was empty. I would get in line and watch people frantically running around looking for plates instead of relaxing a bit and waiting just a few minutes for them to be restocked. My wife would bring me a plate or I would excuse myself from the line for a moment to grab one. If you are wondering why they may be low on plates, it is probably because guests feel the need to leave them everywhere on the resort. On the beach, on lights on garbage cans, you get the idea. Please just return your plates and other dishes to a table somewhere! Favorite Buffet foods were; Breakfast; Fresh omelette with extra cheese from cheese bar, Bacon and Toast. Waffles were delicious as well. Lunch; Fresh cooked chicken, curry chicken and rice. Dinner; Gnocchi Pasta hands down best ever! Also had fresh Chicken and such but that pasta was amazing. A La Cartes ; Oh my! We had some very good meals. To book the A la Cartes you have to wait in line at the lobby in the morning. I may suggest one person gets in line and the other grabs some cappuccinos to help the time pass. Favorites in order; 1) International, by a landslide. Amazing meal! And A++ service! The Cream Cheese soup was sooo good, I got more lol. Thank you Yenni and Denaris. Not sure on spelling and I do not know the other girls names but the crew that work here is amazing. 2) Italian, very good and had to get some extra Lasagna! 3) Mediterranean, Rice pudding dessert here was very very good. I drank a lot of the rose wine lol and the wife drank the white wine. Red was good as well but the rose and the white were out preferred wines. Pool; Party pool behind snack bar. Pool is big and clean and Papa and his crew of fantastic women make it a fun place to be in the afternoon. Games take place pool side at 4pm and are a blast even to just watch if you don't want to participate. Fashion shows also take place at this pool. Miguel will be happy to grab you chairs, treat him well ;). Quiet pool; It's big, it's quiet and we don't go there. It is a good place for you to go if you feel that music is "obnoxious" lol. Yes someone said that to me lol. Ice cream bar: Very good Pack a washable plastic spoon in your beach bag as they don't always have Spoons. The plastic knives worked fine but why not bring your own. **NEW Coffee and ice cream bar just outside the lobby. Never got to go there as they were just finishing it. It looks amazing! Beach; Beautiful! Lots of winds the first 2 days brought in a lot of seaweed and they brought in a tractor and got it all cleaned up on Day 3. Left of the beach bar soft sandy entrance and you can walk a long ways out on the sand bars. Right of the beach bar some spots to go out but more rocks, water shoes recommended. Far right of the beach bar tonnes of sand to walk on or out to the sand bars. Beach Bar; Lots of drink options including pina coladas. Ran by some amazing guys, Joel, Omelio and Yosley. Keep coming, Keep coming! See you in 5 minutes! Lobby; Spacious and clean with some fun thrown in there at night. Lobby Bar; Mornings, Cappuccino is a must! Evenings, many drink options and Cappuccino and Spanish coffees. Please see our amazing friends there!. Yuniel (the Tiger) Yarelis (the Tigress) Vladimir (the Cheetah) Mojito Bar; (just off the lobby) Amazing drinks made by the one and only Reny! Nautical Center; Book a Catamaran for snorkeling! It is amazing! Super people that work there! Excursions; We usually always book the catamaran and snorkeling seafood lunch trip (210$ cnd charged to card for 2 of us in Nov 22) . We did not this time but highly recommend it. Market; There is a market right beside the resort. Stores, outdoor vendors bowling ally and a Japanese restaurant. We went to the restaurant in 2018 and 2019 and it was delicious. We have not gone back as the price has doubled there per person. Tips to make your stay great; We always pack our own towel, cup, pillow (who doesn't like an extra pillow anyway), a roll of tp and condiments such as Peanut butter, soy sauce, maple syrup and ketchup. Small bottles can be found at many stores then we leave what's left for a worker if they want it. For medication type things, tums, benadryl, advil, Tylenol, Hydro cortisone cream (I find if used right away on noseum bites it reduces the itch to only 3 days) to back that up we bring a anti itch cream) they only ever bite me not my wife lol. Bring a converter! They are cheap and if you always travel with it you never need to wonder about plugging stuff in. Last but probably not least we bought a luggage scale (12$) to make sure our suitcases are not over. Damp clothes and such can add a lot of wieght even if you brought tonnes of stuff to give out. I hope this helps. As far as gifts to bring for workers, if you use it they need it! Any thing else above and beyond is truly appreciated. Also a subject that is beat to death. Please stop taking coins! You don't need to! People say it's to much to tip with 5s etc. You can always bring some american 1$ for small tips. You can also just tip less often with 5$ bills if you like. Or you can buy change off of almost any worker when you get there! If you want to take some to start maybe take like 10$ then just keep buying more to use. At the end buy at least double you came with. That would be a reasonable start!. I hope this helps! Big thanks to Lisbet, Juan Carlos and Yosvany and everyone else that made our stay so great! We miss you all already. I am so sorry to those names I forgot. I will never forget your faces. Can't wait to return!

I been to Cuba many, many, times and to differently places/resorts. This resort by far was the best place for food and drinks. We were nervous because we had friends returning from various locations in Cuba and they said there was a daily shortage of food and drinks. This wasn't the case for this resort. You could always find something to eat and drink. There is a pizza restaurant, fries-hotdogs-sandwiches restaurant and 2 buffets. There is a lobby bar, pool swim up bar- that always had daily entertainment, beach bar- that the workers even came around while your relaxing on the beach to bring you drinks. Areas were always clean, room was very nice (we were in building #2), great water pressure in the shower. Staff very helpful, friendly and they never once asked us for $, items or to purchase things from them. It's a large resort therefore your walking a distance from the lobby to the beach but I took it that you are getting your daily steps in lol. During our vacation we were told there were approx 1200 people there and it can house up to 2500. Bring Canadian money, $20can = 5pesco exchanged at the front desk. You can either tipped in pesco or Canadian. We exchanged ( for the workers ) Canadian coin for bills because they cannot by anything with coin or even take it to the bank to exchange. They truly appreciate any tips no matter the amount or currency. We did not do any excursions but if you want to they must be paid by credit card. Went to the spa for massage (it was great) you can pay in Can.$ I do not like using my credit card in Cuba because it's charged in American $ along with an additional credit card fee. The only downside had nothing to do with the resort was our Sunwing rep. did not have a Sunwing information binder in the lobby with information regarding our departure from the hotel timings. All other travel reps had the information either in a binder or letter posted won their information board. I highly recommend to bring water socks because when you first get in the water it's rocky with lots of dead coral that are sharp. I love to see coral because it's great for snorkeling, if you enjoy snorkeling bring your equipment. The beach is beautiful. I highly recommend this resort to anyone, we will for sure return. I also highly recommend our travel agent Carol Webber, she is our go to Girl, Ext 7209

Long story short; You get what you pay for. This is a nice resort with some updated features and a beautiful beach to walk. More details: Before leaving for Cayo Coco Melia Jardines del Rey I read many of the reviews and noticed that they were either 0-1 or 4-5 star reviews with not a lot of middle ground. After visiting I realize that the 0-1 reviewers were focusing too much on just one aspect of their stay and experience. My suggestion to you the reader (and the previous reviewers), if you read in here that there is a lack of something (i.e. towel or toilet paper) pack it in your suitcase and bring it from home. Simple solution. As for the 4-5 star reviews, yes the resort is nice and clean. The staff work very hard. The food is decent and the restaurant have a good enough variety for the week. My main issue staying on the resort was not the resort itself (the building, staff, beach or food), it was the other people (guests) staying there. Many of them are rude, they but in lines, empty baby carriages full of food on the floor for the staff to clean up - they are busy enough they do not need to clean up after grown adults. Have some respect for yourself and for the staff, help clean and keep the place tidy. Stop cutting in lines and ask the person in front of you if they have already ordered. As for the maintenance; one pool was not swimmable. It was covered in green algae and did not look inviting to swim in. I suggest the beach instead. Bring a snorkel and mask to view the fish along the beach shore. I would recommend water shoes as there as many spots covered in coral. Be prepared for shortages of wine or other liquors besides rum. Bring the things from home that would make your trip more enjoyable and be kind to one another.

Room was in a good location but not enough towels we booked 3 people and usually got one towel had to keep asking. Toilet leaks they finally sent maintenance on 5th day. Never had beach towels till 3 rd day . No water in our room for one day then no hot water at all . Beach was good not enough lounges but entertainment was great . Buffett had plenty of food very clean. Line up to get in was way too long and it didn’t open till 7:00 pm so not good for people with young children. Evening entertainment wasn’t great but you can mingle meet people! In my opinion they way over booked it and left the staff to deal with to much . Management was absolutely awful and not helpful at all .

Lobby is nice and open but the seating area is in desperate need of new cushions and more chairs. The fountain areas have no guard rails or lighting amd people would fall which is very dangerous. The pool chairs are old and saggy and lots of mold. The bottom of the pools tiles are broken causing bleeding feet to adults and children. Only had 1 buffet open for hundreds of people resulting in long line ups to even get in. Due to lack of staff, Public bathrooms were closed most times and when they were open no toilet paper. So you had to go back to your room to use the bathroom. Food was horrible but then again we expected that in Cuba. Very limited choices but the bread was fresh and great. The beach is very far from the resort and very rocky and you needed water shoes to go in. Would never go back to this resort and would not recommend it. Definitely NOT a 5-star

Great value nice room. Staff were nice and helpful.Food buffet was a bit of a mess at times and one of sit down restaurants was overwhelmed and under serviced. Overall was impressed for 1st time experience

My husband and I just stayed a week at this hotel, Overall we were happy with everything and had a great time. The staff are great at this resort ! The food was typical Cuban resort food. They do have a lunch time pizza restaurant that is so so so good ! The beach is beautiful but lots of shells, if you walk down a little to the resort next door it’s beautiful soft sand to get in and out of the ocean. We switched our Canadian $ to Cuban currency and we found this wasn’t the best idea. The local bus only takes Canadian. All the venders at the market want Canadian. The bowling Allie on the resort was $5 Canadian … and so on. Our biggest complaint is the lack of music during the day. It was so quiet ! They only played music at the beach for about an hour around noon and then at the pool from 3-5. Everyone we met was on the same page, that we were looking for somewhere to congratulate , socialize and listen to good Caribbean music.! Other then that we really enjoyed this hotel. We love Cuba and their beautiful people.

I spent the last week at this resort. The people who work there are awesome. They go above and beyond to accommodate all of your needs. The food was ok, not the best, but it was ok. The beach was wonderful other than the coral that had come up on the shoreline from the Hurricanes that they have had. The water was warm and refreshing. Always music playing on the beach, and the beach guys were amazing at getting chairs for you and sweeping them off. Overall I would rate this resort a 7/10. All but the food was amazing. The waitress Dayma was excellent. She knew exactly what we drank and saw us coming and brought it over just as we sat down at the tables. The bartender was wonderful. Very polite and well-mannered individuals. The resort is massive size and our room was down in the back corner of the resort, so everything seemed so far to walk. I have bad back and hips, so if I go the next time I will ask for a room closer to the lobby as this is where the buffet and pretty much everything is going on except for the beach.

The hotel was nice, the grounds are well taken care of and the staff is extremely nice. Will definitely go again with my kids. The Beach is amazing and pools are very nice. Not many options in food selection or bar drinks. Lots of Rum though!

The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The pool entertainment were awesome. Giselle was so friendly and energetic. The grounds were preparing for the winter season. By the time we left, they had everything looking great. The beach was beautiful. We snorkeled right out from shore. The catamaran crew at the beach are amazing.There seemed to be quite a bit of coral so water shoes are recommended. Delicious omelettes every morning. There was always a variety of pork, fish and chicken. No problem finding food. Make sure you bring bug spray. The bugs seemed to be biting pretty bad.

Hotel was in a great location, rooms are spacious, clean and bright. Booked ocean view and it was worth the extra to be close to the beach. Also puts you close to the lunch buffet. Beach is nice and long for walking, and you could be far out in the ocean without it getting deep. Water shoes might be good for some people as there is some coral along the shoreline. Pool area is really nice, with a snack bar right there. At this time the a Al carte restaurants weren’t all opened but being rotated. Really preferred the buffet though. Food was good, although repetitive, but I went for the 5star beach not the food. Wifi in the lobby works pretty good. Not ideal for anyone in a wheelchair because the paths aren’t level, although ground floor rooms would be fine for people with mobility issues. No elevators. Coffee bar was popular in the mornings. Small market right there was convenient to walk to for purchasing souvenirs.

The employee management was Superior awesome people but the resort fails at a zero for me because the food was horrible and missing a lot of items and running out of food constantly I rate the food part a zero but it was nobody's fault as they did not have the supplies

Melia Jardens del ray should have stayed closed. It was not prepared to open. Starting from malfunctioning toilets, showers, lighting, unclean pools…there’s no end. We went for days with no bath towels, no beach towels, no napkins. They used toilet paper as napkins in the dining rooms, how gross 🤮 And, the toilet paper was recycled, it had brown spots throughout. Severe food shortages. Obviously they are going through hard times, but they should have waited until they were ready. The only good thing was the people. They were wonderful.

The problem we have it was with Tripcentral, we book the tickets but forget to check the medical assurance...and Cuban authorities asked for travel assurance in their forms...we asked Tripcenatral and they said they cannot do anything after we book the tickets! We took assurances from our company La Personelle... Thereafter, when we book from Sunwings the tickets online, they asked us to pay for the cabin luggage 50 dollars and we did...at the airport we told Sunwings that Tripcentral told us they will reimburse our 50 dollars within 400 days, they said no, Sunwings they do this immediatelly and we should talk with Tripcentral...

The resort needs a lot of work. Buffet area needs equipment update. The food was always cold. Rooms were ok, could use some updating. Bathroom by the beach attached to restaurant was disgusting all the time. The smell was horrendous. Al la cartes were not great. The beach was incredible, the best I have ever seen. I know its Cuba but s little up keep and TLC would go a long way. Clean up all the live wires hanging out everywhere. Definitely not a 4 1/2 Star. It is a 3 1/2 at best.

The hotel and its grounds was very good! The food was pretty bad!! Very large, well kept grounds, except public washroom maintenance. I lost weight for sure because the food was not good... and I’m not picky!!

The beach is amazing! The colour of the water and white sand is breathtaking! On the down side- not near enough chairs on the beach, had to go very early to get chairs. But the staff was very helpful and the beach bar and snack bar staff amazing! The hotel needs allot of tlc.... no face clothes in rooms, no water at all or only enough for one person to have a quick shower. This was very disappointing. Only 220 watt outlets! The grounds are very dark, not well lit at all. The Trolly trains go very fast, you have to move out of their way. There is only a few of them for the whole resort... so allot of walking which we didn’t mind but be aware if you expect that service. The rooms were clean and staff were accommodating. For the price, we would not complain but would if we paid more. The staff were very kind and helped in anyway they were able.

The hotel itself is good. The food is horrible. We left good tips and hygiene products for the staff daily. They did not stock the fridge daily or leave water daily. The exersurions were way over priced .

Grounds are lovely. Standard rooms do need some updating. Our toilet wouid not flush properly. Beds are not clean and have a musty smell. My bedsheets had a stain for the whole week, so they were never changed. Pillows and bed are stiff and uncomfortable. The beach is gorgeous and the food is not bad. There is something for everyone. Entertainment was great. I wouid go to this resort again with my family, possibly next year.

We spent a week at the MJR Feb 19-26 2020, great sunny week (a few clouds), beach is amazing. Never spent anytime at the pool only about 15 minutes at the quiet one. Lobby grand, could actually be a little bigger sometimes gets very crowded. Enjoyed the walking, would not be good for someone with mobility problems but that being said they had cars taking people around. Our room was nice, clean, 17203. Think the towels were only switched up once, but not a big deal. Sheets were not changed. Air conditioning worked really well, actually had to turn it off a few times. Never stocked our fridge for the last 4 days, disappointing. We only had issues once with the water, none for couple hours on our last night, not a big deal. The buffets were always busy, ate at the grills mostly. It was hit or miss about getting service, although we did have a few good ones in the mornings. Not a big selection of fish, no shrimp or salmon like other Cuban resorts I have been too but did enjoy the white bass and tilapia. Chicken was good, great breakfast and salads. The a la cartes not so good, I enjoyed the Oriental had salmon delicious, but husband's pork was chewy. The Cuban was terrible nothing on the menu and had substitutes for everything, we ended up walking out an d going to the buffet. The Mediterrean was not much better desert was the best. Met some great people and loved that we could visit the other two Melia's to see what they were like. Would I go back, yes it is now on my list of return resorts if the price was right.

Good looking resort . Beautiful beach and grounds. Clean rooms and bathrooms . Good food especially international restaurant and Mexican . Italian restaurant not worth to try . Buffet way to busy (20 min. wait for breakfast) Shortage of cutlery and glasses for that many people . Short on staff (nearly 2000 guests in high season) Hard to find a chair and space on the beach . Loud music in the lobby at night. This is not a place for people like me who like to relax and find some quiet moments .

The property itself is well maintained and quite lovely. The pools are large and fabulous. Thats were its stops.....the food is less than mediocre with the same 8 items repeatrd 3 times per day. Breakfast had the addition of eggs.The ala cartes have wonderful menus .....unfortunately none of this food is available.....pork or chicken unless you wish to pay 30 cuc for the overcooked lobster. The bar and wait staff are very professional...at avoiding you and eye contact. When you can manage to get service it is once again"Sorry Senior" we dont have that. Your in Cuba....the land of the Cuba Libre and they dont have cola??? This is not the Melia I have visited and Melia wont be seeing me again. This resort needs a staff overhaul....they are over their head and dont know the hotel or tourism industry.

The hotel rooms were extremely clean and the air conditioning was perfect for sleeping at night. Food selection was very big and good for the standards. Pool area and all the grounds were great places to be

Main lobby needs some TLC, water fountains not working, not enough light. Grounds are beautiful but ground keepers need to be more aware of garbage left around. They walk by cups or cans and don’t pick up. I did a lot of picking up. It’s a beautiful place but can be better. The place is definitely under staffed but most of them do go out of their way to help you.

After reading so many good reviews beforehand about this resort, and having stayed at other Melia resorts in the past in Cuba, we were needless to say, excited about going to reputedly “the largest resort in the Caribbean”. Our trouble started as soon as we tried to check in. We waited almost 5 hours before a room was ready for us. Admittedly, the room was quite nice and clean. However, the last guest had seen fit to lock the safe and we, of course, didn’t have the combination. A locksmith finally got it opened for us. So it was off to get something to eat. What a zoo!! People pushing and shoving, trying to get something they wanted. And the noise! Unbelievable!! And there sure wasn’t much variety to choose from. Anyway, the food, or lack thereof, was a constant all week. We had 4 a la carte meals, and only one was any good. And there were items on the menu that they just didn’t have. The International was the best meal we had all week. And it was hot. No matter what we seemed to pick at the buffet, it was always cold. Drinks! Another issue. I don’t drink alcohol, but my choice for most of the weekdays was water, tonic water, or a form of lemonade that I swear was watered down Kool Aid. There were two days when they had a diet type Cola available but that was that. Anyway, “back at the room” the toilet didn’t flush properly. When I removed the tank cover I noticed that hardly any water was going into the tank. So every time after that when the toilet was flushed I had to fill the tank with the flexible phone shower next to the toilet. But there was a bigger problem. The trap or S-bend in the toilet had practically no water in it, and gas from the septic tank was seeping up from the toilet. So I would always make sure this had adequate water in it. The problem was that the maid would come in when we were away, and she would flush the toilet during the cleaning process. So we almost always came back to a room smelling like a sewer. And there were many areas throughout the resort where we smelled this gas. Even when we were on the beach, if the breeze was right. This takes me to the beach. One section is really smooth sand, the other is a lot of broken shells and what appeared to be coral. Anyway, good luck getting a seat at the nice section. And if you walk up to the other section, you pay 2 pesos each, (approx. $3.00 each) for a chair. Some guy up there on this section owns these chairs, so you have to pay. We decided after a few days to spend our time around the pools instead. And they are beautiful and very, very clean. And tons of chairs. One morning we decided to have breakfast at one of the snack bars, rather than the buffet. Someone we met told us you could get a good but simple breakfast there. So off we went. Well, it was simple alright!! All they had was eggs. Nothing else, just eggs, and they offered us an omelet. Nothing in it, just eggs! And no coffee either, just watermelon juice. My wife asked for ketchup. No ketchup, but they did have mustard. Anyway, I could go on and on, but I won’t. This was not anything like what we had read prior to going there. There is obviously a lot, and I emphasize a lot, of shortages right now in Cuba. I read an article that said their supply of oil has been cut from 90,000 barrels a drag to 40,000 barrels a day. Embargo’s from the US and consequently Venezuela. And this explains why the sea doos and other motorized craft weren’t running. People who had paid for these were given their money back. But, you know what? With all the shortages and power outages the Cuban people are experiencing, they remain friendly and kind beyond reproach. And it this quality that will take me back to Cuba again. Just not to this resort.

We had a good trip, but also ran into some health issues traveling with small children. We received excellent care at the On-site medical center. The bed, linens and room were comfortable. (Some people in our party had issues with toilet flushing properly- ours worked perfectly). The music played at the pool was too much, too loud for this 55yr old : high energy bass all day long (Until 5 pm) Airport transfers went well and is close by - Air Transat Flight was very comfortable. Cuban beer is delicious and refreshing!

For a 1st trip ever, it was great. Food wise, there was always something good. Our room(2109) was a good size. Only once we lacked hot water. Room was clean. Lobby,Bar area was fun. Was lacking sitting space sometimes. Everyone was friendly! Would go back again Thank you!!

The resort itself was spacious but needed more greenery...the beach was amazing so were the personnel...the lobby was vast and could host a lot of people. The shows left us unimpressed but the entertainment itself with the music was fun and great. The food wasn’t good...we were lacking service in the buffet area as well as plates....from Thursday to Saturday when I left the hotel was overflowing and overcrowded by Cuban people...which in itself is not a bad thing but we were left with no space to get food or food itself in the buffets area. I have nothing bad to say about the cleaning staff or the bartenders or baristas ..they did an awesome job . I am going back to Cuba in March and taking my sons and I won’t take them there because of the food.

Just don't go - only good thing is the beach if you can get a chair - be prepared to get up at 6:00 am to claim your spot at beach if you show up any later than 8:00 am no chairs left - showers went from scalding hot to freezing cold within seconds, toilets did not flush properly, food from the buffet was not even fit for my cat or my dog.... over an hour wait for a hot dog at 24 hour snack shack..... beds were like cement..... I could go on and on ...hopefully you haven't booked this resort ....SOOOOO DISAPPOINTED ..... first two nights no water from 5:00 pm until the morning.... been to Cuba over 15 times and Melia resorts over 5 times this resort was worse than 3 star resorts we have stayed in .. could go on and on but why bother .... if you have booked this resort and can't get out of it GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

The only positive thing about this resort is the beach; however, good luck even getting a chair (unless you want to get up at 6:00 am every morning you are on your vacation and play the towel reservation game) as there are not enough for the number of guests and even if you are lucky to get one it will be the hard plastic white ones and so far away from any of the bars, lunch restaurants, washrooms, etc. that you won't even enjoy the beach. The buffet restaurant was a joke .... food recycled day after day, so understaffed, not enough plates, so overcrowded with guests, dirty silverware, etc. and if you went to the 24 hour snack bar to avoid the feeding frenzy at the buffet good luck with that as would take over an hour to get a hot dog, hamburger or a ham and cheese sandwich with no fries, no condiments, no tomatoe, no onion, sometimes no bun, etc.showers were a nightmare went from scalding hot to freezing cold and from a blast of pressure to a trickle, toilet in room did not flush properly and had to use the hand shower from the bathroom to try and get toilet to flush ..... have been to Cuba over 15 times (Cayo Coco three times) and Melia resort five times ..... was soooooo disappointed in this resort...we arrived at night around 9:30 pm and check in was in another room separate from the reception lobby it was crowded, hot and took forever did not like that they took our passports from us for over a half an hour before we got them back ... walking around the resort at night can be difficult as barely any lighting that worked....not enough bartenders for the amount of guests and constantly running out of glasses so serving drinks in those tiny plastic cups ... really disappointing holiday

4 days no hot water which was the last 4 days we were there, 2 days absolutely no cold water, 4 days toilets broken. The resort after day 2 had a shortage of drinkable water so it was like gold, they ran out of pop, juice, drinks etc daily till all that was left was beer and coke, they ran out of ice and the list goes on. We complained daily, the no hot water never got fixed even before we left. Hotel management had asked how are stay was, we explained and he couldn't quite understand why we were so upset. Asked if we complained we said yes, toilets he said was a given, but we told him the shower situation was unforgivable always being told yes we will fix and nothing ever done. The management offered us a bottle of rum for each room. It was like being bought of in his eyes and there are two people in our room one bottle given last night there at 10 pm we left at 7 am, even he wouldn't give two so we fight over the rum? He wouldn't budge. and always running out of everything right from day one feel sorry for the people just getting there. I will never recommend this resort to anyone ever!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thankful for wonderful bars and waitress staff, but customer service staff were not helpful at all. Issues with hot water and balcony door not closing and we were on bottom floor.called customer services but not mush help there. Called about la k of hot water and bathroom flooded and they brought us clean towels at 10 o’clock at night but no one to clean up flood. Toilet not working probably which took three day to get fixed. Not what I expected from what I had been told by people who had been there before.

The food was good and a good selection. There were a couple of pig roasts. Probably the best place ever to book an a la carte meal. Staff was friendly, grounds were well maintained. Really liked the coffee at the lobby bar. Able to get a good selection of coffees. Good entertainment. Rooms were large and cleaning staff did a good job. Had an issue with a clogged drain in the shower and it was taken care of right away. Was able to get a late checkout which in 15+ years of going down south we were never able to before.