Melia Cayo Santa Maria

A very nice and quiet hotel, near the sea. beautiful beach with shades for those avoiding the sun. Nice food, almost home made, and the very best was the service; everywhere you go you find nice people asking you "como va todo", ready to provide you with whatever you need. I would not miss this opportunity!!

Review for Meliá Cayo Santa María – Stunning Beach, Wonderful Staff, But Needs Better Food and Environmental Supervision ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4 out of 5 stars) We stayed at Meliá Cayo Santa María from July 14 to July 21, 2025, and overall, we had a lovely and relaxing stay. The resort is set in a beautiful location—the beach is absolutely breathtaking, the swimming pools are clean, and the property is surrounded by well-kept tropical gardens. The staff were truly exceptional. Everyone we interacted with was welcoming and hardworking. A very special thank you to Paulo, the resort manager, who is present, professional, and made a real effort to ensure guests were comfortable. That said, we did notice a few challenges that need to be addressed—especially regarding food service and environmental care. Food Access & Waste Because we were visiting during Cuba’s summer holiday, the resort had many Cuban families visiting with help from relatives abroad. It was lovely to see them enjoying the resort, but we unfortunately witnessed a lot of food stockpiling and waste. One elderly couple stood out. At breakfast, they cleared most of the cookies from the buffet and packed them away. Later, at lunchtime, they were at the snack bar taking more than eight hamburgers, wrapping them in napkins and putting them in bags. On multiple days, popular items like pizza and muffins ran out early, leaving other guests without. We understand that the situation in Cuba is difficult, and we don’t judge individuals who are trying to take food home—but it becomes a problem when it impacts the experience of other guests. A staff member confided in us that it’s heartbreaking to see people taking more than they can eat and wasting it, especially when they know their own families at home don’t have enough food. Environmental Concern – Plastic Cup Waste Another issue we noticed was plastic waste on the beach. Many guests (mainly local families, from what we observed) left their plastic drink cups under the chairs instead of putting them in the garbage. It made us incredibly sad to see so many cups littering such a stunning natural environment. One day, we personally collected over 20 plastic cups left behind, just to prevent them from ending up in the ocean. One woman even watched me cleaning up and pointed out two more cups for me to pick up—I had to explain that I was not staff, just a concerned guest trying to help protect the environment and local wildlife. Suggestions for the Resort 1. Food & Dining • Place reasonable limits on how much food guests can take at once at buffets and snack bars. • Ensure visible supervision during meals to discourage stockpiling and waste. • Provide educational signage encouraging guests to only take what they will eat. 2. Environmental Responsibility • Add signs near beach bars and lounge areas encouraging guests to dispose of cups properly. • Consider replacing plastic cups with reusable or biodegradable options to reduce pollution. • Increase staff visibility or patrols to help keep the beach clean—or even encourage guest participation in keeping the area tidy. Despite these concerns, we had a very enjoyable stay. The natural beauty, peaceful atmosphere, and hardworking staff made the experience special. We came prepared to tip and were able to eat well thanks to the attentive service we received. We definitely plan to return—and hope the resort continues to improve in areas that support fairness, sustainability, and respect for the local environment. Finally, we’d like to give a warm thank you to the wonderful team at the pub. They were all incredibly friendly and welcoming. A very special thank you to Rosa, whose kindness and energy truly stood out and made our evenings even more enjoyable. Thank you again to Paulo, Rosa, and all the staff at Meliá Cayo Santa María. Until next time!

I just returned from my 26 trip to this resort. As always we had an amazing time at this hotel. The staff at this hotel is what makes it as great as it is. Everyone here will do their best to make sure you have a great vacation. There is no better beach than the beach at MCSM. It blows my mind every time I see it. The rooms are big and comfortable and kept very clean by the amazing staff and have everything you need. All the bars are well stocked and there is something for everyone to enjoy. Wine, rum, beer, vodka they have it. The buffet had a good selection of food even in low season. Eggs, bread, fruits, bacon, cereals, pastries,fish, pasta, chicken there were no shortages. The snack bar still makes the very best pizza and you can always find something great to eat there. The entertainment staff is amazing and will make your stay enjoyable with dance lessons beach volleyball and great shows at night. I will always return to this hotel and will never have a complaint about it. Thank you to every single staff member for making every vacation here better than the last.

Great stay, always friendly staff and special thanks to Darbel! We will be back! We love the beach, animation team and lobby waiters………………………………………..:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::;,,,,,,;::::;:;;;::::;;;;;;;;;;,;;

Excellent place to be solo or with the family, Rooms are clean, there is good service. I've visited a couples times and enjoy it, friendly people although I have my preferences that consider them my friends, at the front desk and in the buffet. The amenities could be improve a bit, especially around the pool. The food is good, no complains about it.