Ninth time to Cuba, third time to Cayo Santa Maria, first time in Melia.
If you are a beach bum like I am and my son is, you will enjoy the best beach available in the known universe (IMO), with lively volleyball court and enough shade and loungers for all.
Guest-wise it was a healthy mix of families, pairs, teenagers, and silver-hair.
While the resort looks basic and shows some wear and tear, it is kept clean and maintained well. It is better than it looks. Twice my room safe broke down, but was promptly fixed. More about the safe later.
Food is the best I had in Cuba, with e.g. prosciutto, smoked salmon, and blue cheese being the daily occurrence, as well as having the daytime grill next to the beach. On the other hand, if you are a glutton, I would strongly advise Dominican R. or your local Mandarin buffet. This resort and Cuba in general are better fit for the lean active people or just for sun tanning and general beach-time.
Staff is great in Melia and if you know how to say "thank you" while giving a peso, if you drop a smile at them, you will be able to rapidly develop personal loyalties with the staff. Cubans like to charm and to be charmed. That's when the peso counts. Melia staff is cut above.
Twice the restaurants were overwhelmed and I didn't get due attention...Ninth time to Cuba, third time to Cayo Santa Maria, first time in Melia.
If you are a beach bum like I am and my son is, you will enjoy the best beach available in the known universe (IMO), with lively volleyball court and enough shade and loungers for all.
Guest-wise it was a healthy mix of families, pairs, teenagers, and silver-hair.
While the resort looks basic and shows some wear and tear, it is kept clean and maintained well. It is better than it looks. Twice my room safe broke down, but was promptly fixed. More about the safe later.
Food is the best I had in Cuba, with e.g. prosciutto, smoked salmon, and blue cheese being the daily occurrence, as well as having the daytime grill next to the beach. On the other hand, if you are a glutton, I would strongly advise Dominican R. or your local Mandarin buffet. This resort and Cuba in general are better fit for the lean active people or just for sun tanning and general beach-time.
Staff is great in Melia and if you know how to say "thank you" while giving a peso, if you drop a smile at them, you will be able to rapidly develop personal loyalties with the staff. Cubans like to charm and to be charmed. That's when the peso counts. Melia staff is cut above.
Twice the restaurants were overwhelmed and I didn't get due attention for 15 minutes or so, but nothing a wink and smile by the staff could not solve (at least for me). Cubans do not have a higher gear at work, so develop a higher gear of patience for the few occasions like this.
Nightly shows were about 45-60 minutes long, with varying degrees of quality. Anything Cuban-based, be it dance or music was done well, with lead dancer / maestro being the champ of the Broadway quality (and yes, I've been to Broadway shows), good female dance lead, and decent team. Non-Cuban teamed shows were not so great, but hey... all-inclusive is the jack of all trades. Strong suites of Melia are the beach and the staff, supported by the good food.
The room safe story: Two minutes into the bus ride towards the catamaran cruise, I've remembered that I've left my room safe wide open, with at least $10K in jewelry, gold watch, phones, iPad, and cash. Passports too. At which point I've just shrugged it off "this is Cuba" and didn't think twice about it for the rest of that beautiful day. When I came back to my serviced room, the safe was wide open just as I've left it, with everything in it's place. Didn't even bother to count the money because I know that general honesty of Cuban people and specifically the integrity of Melia staff is rock solid.
I would most definitely recommend Melia CSM and given the opportunity I will go back.More
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