TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

My experience here was definitely 5 star in terms of how much I enjoyed myself at the resort. Firstly, they accommodated myself and another couple in moving to this resort after issues with our previous ones. I got to be with my friend and we were all in the same block. Reception staff were all great, would always reset the wifi for us, rooms were ready by 2:30pm! My room was as the pictures, very clean, towels and sheets were fine too. AC and hot water worked well and so long as you ask the delivery guys to pop some extra juice or water in your room they will do. I’m aware there was a lot of maintenance going on around the hotel, fountains not working, rooms out of use and the pool needing a deep clean but considering the situation out there it wasn’t so bad and the grounds were always maintained as best as possible, it wasn’t scruffy at all. I’m not a fussy eater and had no issue with the food available at the buffet, I felt like there were plenty of options and you were able to take a pack up. Felipe was always around to ensure everything was running smoothly and he did a great job as did Marlene and chef Lazala Williams, Jose, the ladies who grilled our meats and omelettes and our regular cafe lady. Granted the coffee in the snack bar and lobby is delish. Maybe an Ice cream selection would be cool. Hilltop restaurant was SO delicious as was the French and the Teppenyaki. The Japanese restaurant was very entertaining. Thank you as well for making my new friends birthdays special with champagne and cake. The snack shack had decent food, great coffee and good music! We stayed by the pool in the Royal side sane with the beach and the service from Marlen was fabulous, she’s lovely. The bar service by the beach again fabulous and the beach is like a dream ?? Yes. I used the gym and it did the job, good enough equipment, well air conditioned, towels and water provided! Cigar bar, piano bar were great, well air conditioned and the bar staff were great and chatty. Loved the club downstairs for retro party. Danced all night. Huge shout out to the entertainment team, beach activities at 10:30am, more around 1 / 1:30pm by the main pool or beach buffet. Evening entertainment in the main square, by the pool, in the club and the beach party. Beach party and club night were my favourite. Nayvmi was an incredible singer, the pianist was fabulous and hilarious. All the dancers were great and the DJ. Thanks to Jorge/Jorgito for teaching me to salsa dance and always greeting us, the guy on the mic getting everyone up to dance! Roberto for putting it all together and always being so welcoming and making conversation with us! Melia - if you ever need a resort personal trainer for your staff and hotel clients I’d happily come and work for you ??

This hotel has probably the best beach. Bar staff is friendly, especially guys working in cigar bar. However, clothes got stolen from our room. Hotel didn't do anything about it and no compensation was offered.

Travelled Sept 13 to 18th with another couple. Where do I begin, let me start off with a BIG BIG shout out and THANK YOU to FILIPE, we cannot thank this man enough for making our stay as enjoyable as he did. This guy does not sleep, from morning to night you will see him, attending to people. Thank you Filipe for everything you did for us. this was our second time to this resort and this was better than the first, we will definitely be coming back. Now back to my review.... From check in to check out this was a 10/10 resort. We were also allowed to use the Royal Service area. I will label individually.... Check in - Alessandro was amazing, tentative, we asked for rooms close to everything and side by side, he did just that, we had building 5 (yellow one). extremely close to 24 snack bar, beach, buffet and lobby. Perfect location. Buffet Food - amazing - always something to find you will NOT starve, yes Cuba is known to not have the greatest selection - this is not the case for this resort, you need to be creative and have an open mind. Plenty of fish, chicken, pork, bean, cheese, rice, fruit, eggs, bacon, veggies, avocado, potatoes, pasta, soup, ham, salami, cucumbers - you get the point you wont starve. Hill Top Restaurant, we ate there twice, 1st time we had the Tuna a MUST MUST have and you must ask for our waitress Liuba (miss you already) also, ask Liuba for Mango Tequila OMG this is the best sipping liquor EVER. 2nd time we had a special lobster diner for our anniversary - shout out to Liuba again and Eddie for our amazing and enjoyable lobster diner. They also had a pianist playing all evening. Filipe this wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for you as well. Cigar Lounge - great place to enjoy a drink or cappuccino while the guys had their cigars, you could also catch the nightly entertainment in the square while sitting in the AC (bonus). 24 Hour Snack Bar - great quick food to munch on either late at night or for a quick snack during the day - chicken, bacon or ham & cheese sandwiches with fries, hot dogs were also available with fries couple of days. Japanese restaurant - our cook was the best entertainer, and his sidekick of a waiter (reminded me of the dude on Despicable Me) they both kept our crowd and table going, food was also delicious - we had sushi too :) Rooms - Clean, AC worked well it was an iceberg in our room, safe worked and sliding door locked. Only down fall was towels - you get what you get (2 per room I have long hair and required 2 towels so that would have left my husband with none :( ), we hope to get them exchanged that was teeth pulling - we decided exchanged our beach towels at the end of the day to have for showers and exchanged them every morning to have for the beach / pool worked out well. Water pressure was great and never ran out of water or hot water for that matter. Bar fridge was stocked daily with Fanta, beer and water. Beds were comfy if you didn't set your alarm for the morning you would sleep the day away the beds were that comfy. Grounds - Kept clean at all times, never saw a cigarette butt anywhere on the premises, no garbage, no empty cups from the night before - well manicured trees, bushes, flower beds. Coconuts- there are 2 older gentlemen that man the coconuts they offer the people that walk by them :) Currency - they accept Canadian but don't prefer it, they do not take coins - stop bringing Toonies and Loones the cannot exchange them they are useless to the locals - bring USD even $1 bills they are happy, they will treat you the same way even of you don't tip - who goes to a restaurant and not tip - so what's the difference back home or in Cuba they are still working for you. Tip and don't be cheap they are very grateful people. Pools - there are 3 from what we saw - great spots, always found lounge chairs in the shade and in the sun,, or lounge beds as well - not crowded at all no need to play the save the chairs game. Wish there was just a bit more entertainment during the day at the pools, music is going but the only entertainment was dance lessons at 4:30pm by that time people are tired and ready to head, chill out for a bit and then start getting ready for diner. Beach - if anyone has anything bad to say about the beaches in Cuba you really don't know beaches - Cuba is known for its beaches, its the beauty of it all, always found lounge chairs and palapas never crowded, the water was warm - we tried to cool off in the water that didn't work out well for us lol - not complaining about that just wanted to point out how hot it was in and out of the water - this is what you go south for right?! Beach Bar - lots of mixes for drinks and juices (the fresh guava juice was to die for), they also have a waiter that will take your order on the beach and bring it to where your lounging or directly to you even if your in the water - yup in the water - now that's service! Restaurant close to the beach - I cannot remember the name of this restaurant - they had daily themed meals with live music and entertainment , first day was Cuban day - they had all traditional Cuban dishes - entertainment was Cuban dancers dancing (merengue, cha cha, etc. and live band singing), 2nd day was Canadian day, food was traditional dishes and they had a rock band that played Metallica, ACDC etc.- we opted to try the buffet the next couple of days. Lobby Bar - they make the best cappuccinos - yum - didn't spend too much time at the lobby bar. Nightly Entertainment - I have seen better entertainment - I think interacting with the crowd would make it better. Check out - Lilly (Customer Service Manager), one amazing lady, she was very helpful when it came to check out. Thank you aging for the late check out Lilly. Massages - you can get a massage in the spa or you can get one on the beach, we did not do any this time around but saw a few people on the beach having one done - looked relaxing. Fitness center - they have quite a big facility - looks like a lot of equipment - we did not use this facility as well - looked clean and good. All in all there is nothing bad to say about this resort - this is a must see visit resort. We have been to Cuba 15 times so far and all over Cuba - this is by far the best resort we have been to. We will definitely be returning - miss you friends but we will see you again soon.

Amazing service from everyone. Great place to stay with family or as a couple as the resort has an amazing view at the beach and many places to take beautiful photos while making memories. 10/10 recommend.

The buffet is full of flies and we've got sick, the door is always open! and I had to close it every time, for god sake put a door man! Moreover, only 6 choises of food every day! Ice cream was hidden and only for people who tipped well enough. By the way if you didn't tip the waiters wouldn't talk to you at all. In all fairness they couldn't eat the food and were hungry. For our departure the bell boy never showed up inspite of reservation and calling 5 times so we had to bring our suitcase 3 floors dawn by stairs and go to the lobby that was far in order not to lose our bus! The junior suite wasn't really a suite and was very basic old room with odor of moisture. In sum this hotel didn't seem 5 stars and 40 years old witout renovating the rooms! or put elevator. It is one of the most expensive ones. Never again.