Melia Cayo Santa Maria

First offset me start by saying the staff is amazing! No issues with anything missing from our room. Not even an elastic. Manuel and Leila in the buffet were great, Entertainment with Ernesto was so fun, Yecenia in concierge so friendly. And the pool bar guys Yoseet and Jose were awesome! Bring a floatie for the big pool!! Although the food was meh and repetitive, it served it's purpose and the snack bar fulfilled time from buffet. November weather was ok but wouldn't travel this time of year again, as the beach wqs windy and lots of jellyfish. We stayed in premium room by the pool and enjoyed it immensely. Room 1424. If you are a light sleeper, you may not want to be in block 14 as you can hear the disco until midnight. There is also a great kids zone and market with a restaurant on the grounds. Included in your all inclusive. The resort is clean many flowers and vegetation. Would definitely return in full season.

My first night I arrived to the resort at around 930pm I had problems with my check in to the resort and had to wait while others behind me got checked in before me. After about 30 mins and looking for my reservation I was able to check-in and it was all good. My second day I was told that the snack bar was 24 hrs. I went to the snack bar by the pool area at around 11:30 am and was told to come back in 22 mins. The language barrier was difficult but after leaving a gentleman who witnessed the interaction approached me (I believe he worked in a different area on the resort) and told me that he thinks they open at 12 pm. I asked the belboy if the snack bar was 24 hrs and he confirmed it. On my 5th day I realized they had a second snack bar past the spas and was told to come over by one of the employees and was treated very well by the servers and people. I wish I had known about this snack bar at first Overall a good experience.! And I would go back. Majority of the people were really nice and welcoming. My room was very clean. The location was beautiful. And the food was really good. I was able to book 2 great massages. And make some friends along the way. Great atmosphere and performances and party every night. I would definitely return and stay at this resort again. Besides being turned away everything else was great! Thank you.

Came to Meliá Cayo Santa Maria on what is my 8th trip for my best friends 25x2 birthday trip 😍 As always Melia and her team don’t disappoint. From our rooms being perfect from the minute we get there until we leave, we are always taken care of. Daily water and soda service, to wine for being repeat guests. Water pressure and temperature was great throughout the whole week. The pool was as relaxing as ever with soft music during the day to the great salsa lessons starting after 3pm. Can’t say enough of the gorgeous beach at Melia, one of the most perfect beaches I have visited in my life. The team makes sure to keep her clean and ready for all her guests. Thank you to Papa for always having our chairs ready for us first thing in the morning. To the enthusiastic entertainment staff, the ones that keep us moving all day from the morning stretch on the beach, Merengue lessons, volleyball, salsa lessons, the shows at night and the evening Disco, thank you for all the effort you always put in. From the entertainment boss Arel and his right hand man Darbel, to the two best DJ’s Alex and the newest member Julio, Felipe and Nayibi, Jorge and Alberto - thank you for always keeping us entertained. The food was amazing on this trip, so fresh and so much selection. It was great seeing so many guests that week including a group of about 50 celebrating a Vow renewal. Thank you to all the staff for taking care of us. The repeat guest dinner was so beautiful and on top of that the next day they did a repeat guest dinner and show in the Pueblo La Estrella for ALL the repeat guest on the Cayo’s, what an experience. I can’t wait for my next trip and if I am lucky enough I’ll get to celebrate my birthday there next year.

I was there Nov 3-12. Pros: The location is excellent — the beach has fine white sand and crystal-clear water. Internet connection is decent, and having Wi-Fi in the room is a bonus. The property is surrounded by lots of greenery and beautiful gardens, which create a pleasant environment. Cons: The hotel shows a lack of maintenance. Public washrooms often ran out of toilet paper. There was no butter for four out of seven days, and on some days, there was no ketchup or piña colada. The food selection overall was very limited. Unfortunately, I would not stay at this hotel again, regardless of the price.

The Meliá Cayo Santa María is a study in averages. It fulfills the basic requirements of a beach holiday but fails to deliver any memorable qualities or the true "all-inclusive" experience one might expect. The grounds are pleasant but lack the lush, dense vegetation typical of other Cuban resorts, resulting in a somewhat sparse feel and very little shade. The beach is nice—certainly better than what you'd find in Greece or Croatia—but by Cuban standards, it is just average, with many other resorts offering more stunning shorelines (Selection/Coral Ensenachos, even Royalton Cayo Santa María, Melía Varadero, Playa Luxury Cayo Guillermo, etc. etc....) The rooms are dated but functional, and the lack of thick vegetation means they are not overly dark. A significant downside is the food. The selection is limited, the quality is consistently average, and hygiene standards are a concern, as is common in many Cuban hotels. The "all-inclusive" concept feels misleading. During our stay in the low season, the buffet was closed, and at an à la carte dinner on 22.10.2025, a young waiter firmly informed us we were limited to only one dish per person, despite the portions being very small. While an older waitress later apologized, the initial interaction was disappointing and left a sour taste. On a positive note, the staff is generally friendly, the gym is ok, and the compact size of the resort makes it a good choice for guests with mobility issues. Verdict: this hotel serves its purpose if you're looking for a simple, no-frills beach getaway. However, there is nothing—from the food to the amenities to the overall atmosphere—that would make me want to return. It is simply another hotel in a sea of similar options, with no distinguishing features to set it apart.