Melia Jardines Del Rey

It's a large area w nice and well cared gardens. The beach is always great and is the strong point for me. Swimming pools are many and wonderful. Now regarding food, service, shows and music - all got down. Clientele as well seems remote, arrogant and even rude. I was told that the manager was in holliday. I had never seen before staff drinking beer and eating during their working hours. Cleaning crew arguing at loud voice, instead of doing their job. Even got a driver swearing, and he knew that I do speak Spanish.
Big lines for a fried egg during breakfast, -well if that is what clients prefer, why not set more stations? Some mornings we stayed more than 20 minutes waiting in a line, while some single guests order and get 12 omelettes! There is a total waist as left overs, chocking even, when we all know that Cuba is in a bad economic phase and goods are scarce.
A couple of sinks installed by the entrance of the large buffet restaurant would be good. Some guests eat morcels and lick their fingers while on line...Not to mention flies over the food.
It's all a bit too much to take over one week vacation with family. [Details]

The resort is located in a perfect beach area, it is huge and well maintained, the entertainment team is amazing, the food was better than expected, the pizza snack and ice-cream snack open every day , also buffet , snack bar 24h and my favorite place to eat is the beach restaurant [Details]

Plein de Pallapa
Des soupers a la carte complètement magnifique
Lisbet s'occupe beaucoup de tout nos besoins
L'hôtel est très propre
La plage est magnifique et belle pour marcher et longue aller vers la droite pour voir de vrais bancs de sables dans la mer [Details]

This was our 2nd stay at the Melia. We had such a great time in 2018, we wanted to go back.
Staff, amazing all go above and beyond with pure care. Lisbet, was amazing she answered all my emails, and room requests and alacartes were all done upon arrival. we did not have to wait for our room which was amazing, as we were able to start enjoying our stay. We stayed in block 26, 3rd floor facing pool, our maids that we had such lovely ladies, and had our room cleaned, and we lacked nothing.
The resort was as low capacity ( maybe 250/300) we didn't mind this as there were no lineups for anything. There was always something to eat, but the food selection was low. We understand the shortages that this country faces daily, so go with the flow.
The really only complaint we had were the amount of flies that were there. I believe the Melia could do better, with covering up food more as this was a bit of an issue for the guests. The Alacartes restaurant are also facing the same issues with the bugs. Maybe investing in fly traps/zappers, this would help out a lot. Food was great, but annoying flies, were pesky.
We had a great time and enjoyed our beach days. The beach bar staff, joel and his team always happy and making great drinks. Melia, you have one of the best staffs at your resort. friendly always smiling and asking if we were ok or needed anything always! I was sick the last day, and Melba went everywhere looking for chamomile tea for me, she did not stop until she found some...truly a gem.
Aldalberto, great fellow, always making sure all was good. The husband and wife team at the lobby bar amazing too. He made the best coffees and she's a doll, getting me tonic water for my stomach. i wish i could remember everyone's names, but there was not one person that was not friendly. all in all we had a nice time. Another thing was WIFI, we were told/advertise WIFI at pools and lobby this is not the case, no WIFI was available at any of the pools, :( [Details]

2nd visit to Melia Jardines del Ray this year (January & April), I think that makes 7 visits in total to this resort, and each one is better! The Staff are what brings us back—they are very friendly, attentive & hard workers. Like a second family to us. The beach and sunshine are bonuses! Lol
We are accustomed to travelling to Cuba, so we don't set our expectations high when it comes to food—but we always find something to eat and drink and are NEVER hungry. Plenty to choose from at the bar. If there were food or drink shortages, they were never long-lived. Sometimes only a few hours, or the next day. We always bring our own condiments. Our room was clean and well-supplied as usual. Any small issues were quickly attended to once they were reported. The beach changes each time we visit. The sand bars move and the sand seems to shift. There are more exposed rocks/coral at some spots when entering the ocean, but there are plenty of sandy entrances as well.
The pool is always entertaining—they were having some balance issues with chemicals, so the water was a bit green, but they were working hard to correct it.
All in all a fabulous trip. Always remember, your trip is what you make of it—we go for the people, the beach, and the sunshine! There are always little inconveniences, but politely making a request with a smile goes a LONG way :)
Can't wait to return at the end of the year! [Details]

Very simple the hospitality of the workers at this resort treat me like a king and my wife like a queen. The staff take care of me better than my parents. I come to this resort and feel so much kindness and respect back over my country I don't get that when I go home, I go through kindness withdrawal. [Details]

the most beautiful place on earth the staff very considered and the most beautiful beach ⛱️ in the world [Details]

My first visit to Melia was in April 2023 with family and friends. I had such a positive experience that I decided to return by myself in June 2023, and I can confidently say that the staff at Melia assured that I felt extremely safe, being that I was a solo female traveller.
Juan Carlos from reception was the staff member that made my family & I feel as if Melia Jardines del Ray was a second home to us during our first stay, and he did not disappoint during my second stay. He removed all possible stress factors from my vacation- he arranged taxi services to and from the airport and provided me with the rate ahead of time, he facilitated an upgrade to move me closer to the beach boardwalk, and he pre-booked my a-la-carte meals. He assisted with the booking of my car rental, and also gave helpful advice regarding the locations I intended to visit. He made sure I had a ride in a covered vehicle during the stormy evenings so I could get to and from my dinner reservations, and really went out of his way to help in any way he could- including introducing me to the bar manager who assured that my favourite drink would be available during my stay, as it was unavailable when I first arrived. Within an hour I had a Pina Colada in my hand! Talk about phenomenal customer service!
The food was amazing again- I'd like to give a shout out to Dellyn, the talented pastry chef, for always making sure to stop and say hello, and Javier- your heart shaped omelettes started my day with a smile!
Sending so much love to the girls at the front desk (Thalia, Melissa, Marielis, Yainet, and Natalia) for being so friendly and attentive. They made me feel as if they were friends I have known for years, and were always willing to chat and laugh with me when they weren't busy!
Yohander was very kind and also made me feel very welcome at Melia! You can count on him for a big smile and wave every time you see him!
Yordan, the bell boy, is always willing to go the extra mile to assure all clients are happy!
The resort was clean and well-kept, there was great entertainment in the lobby every night, and the chambermaid on the 2nd floor of building 19 is wonderful!
Ricardo in guest services managed to find me a last minute dinner reservation during the last night of my stay, and Juan Carlos saved the day again by extending my taxi pickup time to make sure I wasn't flying home on an empty stomach- such a wonderful group of people who truly do care about your well-being.
Fellow travellers- if you research ahead of time, there are many helpful sites that will inform you of what you might need during your stay in Cuba during any given month of the year. In the summer months, one of those things is bug spray. I brought one bottle and had more than enough for myself during my 5 night stay, and also shared with many very thankful resort workers. The mosquitos can get bad before it rains, and at night- go prepared and this won't ruin your stay! [Details]

We have been to this hotel 8 times and will continue to visit this beautiful resort. We have gone to other Cuban resorts as well but Melia is one we always look forward to returning to.

The employees are always happy and we always see the same lovely people. Daineris the Manager, Yohander and Juan Carlos at the front desk, Joel and Omelio at the beach bar, our fabulous maids and countless others that always remember you and have a happy smile.

Shortages: yes, it's Cuba and sometimes they struggle to import what they need. Fresh fish was hard to find the week we were there and sliced bread wasn't available but the little dinner rolls were so fresh and delicious you could eat them plain! Butter didn't exist but they had flavoured mayonnaise to substitute. Sometimes the toilet paper ran out at the public bathrooms but never for too long, I recommend carrying a roll in your beach bag just in case!

There was bacon every morning and 3 omelet stations to easily keep up with demand. Cheese for the omelets was scarce but I would slap on a slice of cheese from the cheese station after my omelet was made. Lots of pork and I can assure you, Cuban people know how to cook amazing pork dishes! Had a fantastic seafood risotto at the lunch buffet twice the week we were there with the biggest shrimp ever, simply amazing. The soup at the buffets are also incredible, sometimes a little sparce and mostly broth left if I didn't get there fast enough but I would add rice, meat and veggies to it and found it delicious. Pasta was scarce this particular visit so the pasta bar had gnocchi instead.

Remember, I have been here 8 times. There aren't always shortages, they are just struggling right now with post-Covid inventory issues - much like here at home.

Try the flaming coffee, or the Spanish coffee, my husband's favourite!

If you are picky about food and demand a "North American" food selection then Cuba is not for you. If you demand pizza and fries every meal then stay home. My husband is a very picky eater and he NEVER goes hungry!

Rooms have always been clean and freshly made up each morning, well stocked with water. Being continual repeat customers we are graciously upgraded to oceanfront and the view is stunning.

Beaches: Cayo Coco is the most stunning, soft beach I have ever sunk my toes in. I have travelled several times to other sunny destinations and have never seen or felt a beach so incredible. Far surpasses anything Punta Cana or Samana in Dominican Republic has. The ocean is so calm most days that it is easy to chase little crabs. there is a natural sand bar about a few hundred feet off the shoreline that you can sit in waist high water at low tide in the most dazzling teal water. Take a walk along the shoreline in either direction as far as you want to go, it is nearly endless.

Tipping: Tip everyone if you can, a little goes a long way. We tip everyone, from the friendly gardeners all the way up the chain. Don't forget the maids stationed outside the public restrooms, they are hard workers too and don't get any credit for it. If possible, bring extra stuff with you. Right now it is very hard for the Cuban people to purchase many of the basic toiletries and clothing regardless of how much money they have. Bring toiletries you can leave behind and disperse, feminine products, clothing and shoes, razors, school supplies, toys, etc.

I can't say enough about this place, the staff make it feel like home away from home. Looking forward to returning very soon! [Details]

Highly recommend this resort. When booking we noticed several reviews that were negative, however this whole trip we have had nothing to complain about. Everything is perfect, the beach, the resort, the food and there is plenty to do so you won't ever be bored. The staff is so kind. Juan Carlos at the reception is so kind and ready to help us anyway he can. Will definitely be coming back!! [Details]

The costumer service is great as the staff is extremely friendly and accommodating. Juan Carlos and Adalberto from reception are especially friendly and helpful as anything we needed they were the first to help us out. They would go out of their way to make our trip the best it could be. The beach is beautiful and the pools is huge and very clean. [Details]

The staff were friendly and there was many options of food. The snack bar had hamburgers fries sandwiches. Zady was a great server. The kids loved the ice cream shack. We went to the a la carte restaurant and the chef Jesus made a special pasta and rice for my picky daughter. She was so happy. We met the chef and the Manager of the Hotel. I gave my appreciation to them. On the check in Yohander was very efficient and made sure we had everything for our rooms. The chefs in the buffet made sure to cater to the kids. The grounds were clean and the pool was so peaceful. The Churros as night were a big hit with all the guests. The entertainment was nice to hear in the lobby of the local singers. [Details]

We've been married at this hotel in April 2023. We were a group of 26 people. They all gave us rooms in the same block. We had a room upgrade for the bride and groom (a suite with a sea view).

Lisbeth and her team were extraordinary in organizing our wedding directly on the beach. Everything was perfect. The private dinner on the terrace near the beach too. We've been able to take photos at sunset. Good meal and beautiful cake. Decorations and breakfast in the room. They were there for us throughout the wedding day to make sure everything was perfect.

Very clean rooms and hotel. We didn't miss anything. The churros and pizzas are excellent. The beach and the sea were beautiful, but there are a few rocks and corals at the entrance to the sea opposite the hotel. If you go further to the right, there is none. [Details]

We have just returned from another fabulous stay at our favourite place!

April 7th - April 14th (Melia Jardine Del Ray)

Here is a just my own personal experience from our week.
Check in - we came in on the late flight & arrived at the resort after 10pm to the sounds of music, dancing and people looking like they were having a great time. Our check in was smooth easy & off to our room for a quick unpack and back to the to enjoy some of the evenings festivities. Thank you Juan Carlos.

Lobby - Spent our mornings here sipping on coffee & ice coffee chatting with staff and enjoying the relaxing atmosphere. Before dinner drinks & returning after dinner to relax and watch the fantastic evenings shows as well as special guests they had preforming before shows. Some amazing singing ! The lobby was always full of people from early on 6pm right to after the performances 11pm. Yes getting on wifi was difficult at times but it wasn't an issue for us as we only used it to check in with family.
The lobby is a great size but at times finding places to sit can be difficult once everyone starts to arrive for an evening of entertainment.
We always had great service in the lobby morning, afternoon or evening.

Buffet- each morning we enjoyed our omelettes cooked by Chris. We never had any issues getting eggs, bacon, bread, cheese, waffles, cereal, fresh fruits. There were many other choices as well. We had the buffet a couple of evenings and enjoyed grilled meats ( pork, beef & fish) rice, vegetables, cheese, salads, desserts & ice cream. Lots of other choices as well. We enjoyed pasta one evening.

A la carts - we enjoyed the Italian, Chef's special & Mediterranean. Great choices to choose from and tasted great. My personal favourite was the Chef's special with pork, mashed potatoes, rice, vegetable, cream of potato soup, rice pudding for dessert. There was also fish & fish soup which was enjoyed by one of your friends with us.

Ice cream shop - was open daily & always busy with Carmel, chocolate, strawberry & vanilla ice cream .

Churros - tasted great! Always a line up keeping him busy throughout the night. I also noticed a couple of days he was serving them mid afternoon.

Pools - we mainly used the “party” noisy pool each day. It's the one on the right when you are leaving the lobby. We had one day that it was closed down as it turned green…but reopened the next day. With Papa, Yeisy & Yarillis there to serve you with smiles & laughter.
There was always music playing and each day around 3pm the music gets louder and it's time to enjoy the dance parties & games from the animation team !!

We did enjoy a day at the other pool (one on the left when you leave the lobby) for some sun, music & drinks. This pool has the pizza bar at it. We didn't get a chance to try the pizza but heard great things from people we talked to tried it. Both pool bars have excellent staff, always a smile and ready to serve you.

Beach - always busy !! A so beautiful! Lots of shaded areas but if it's high season you will want to get there early to pick your spot. The beach bar staff are kept busy but always have great service & a smile. There is a beach buffet for lunch daily that have plenty of options for you to choose from. Grilled meats, rice, soup, buns, potatoes, salad & desserts.

Room - we had a suite on the 2nd floor with an amazing view of the ocean. Our room was always kept clean with fresh towels daily. Hot water & air conditioning. Thank you Laura for taking great care of us.

Animation team - these people sure like to make sure you are having a great time. Wether it be zoomba at the beach, teaching you some dance steps, beach volleyball, games at the pool or sitting and having a chit chat with you. In the evening you will find them in the lobby ready to get you up & moving ! This group of Individuals is always on the go, smiling & just waiting for you to join in on the fun. Each night is a different show at the theatre followed by some music in the lobby that will keep you going till around 11pm.
Thank you to Machado, Hermes, Dulian & the rest of the animation crew for always making each day energetic & so full of fun & laughter- “don't be lazy,be crazy” love you guys

This resort has a fantastic location - right beside it is a smaller market to buy souvenirs, cigars, bowling alley, disco, jewelry store, spa & a delicious Japanese restaurant.
Thank you Lisbet & Yosvany for all that you do
We will be back ❤️ [Details]

April 3rd - 10th 2023

Last minute Vacay was awesome! 4 days to pack but we knew what to take.

*Please note, this hotel only reopened in Oct 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.

**THIS IS LONG BUT INFORMATIVE

We flew on and orange plane company this time. We were skeptical but never had a problem. Small delay and smaller plane then normal but no real problems either way.

We walked off the plane @9:37pm and we were drinking beer in our room by 10:40pm. 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 once again in under an hour and a half! A 15 min bus ride is so much nicer then two hours! This is one of the major reasons we choose Cayo Coco over Cayo Santa Maria after traveling to Cuba many times.

The Room.
Our room was amazing and super clean with a breathtaking view of the ocean. Bed was a king and it was comfortable. The air was ice cold and so was the fridge. Our toilet flushed perfectly, and we had lots of toilet paper.
Hot water was never an issue. When we wanted it we had it. Our towels we used until mid week and then placed on the floor. We had clean towels later that afternoon. At least two beer and 1 large bottle of water were brought to our room everyday. The fridge restockers are separate from the maid. Feel free to leave them a little tip and a note.

Snack Bar;
I am a snacker so I love this place!
First night we arrived late so service was very slow but I think we got there during shift change. After a few drinks and a sweet talk to a waiter out food was ready.
99% of the time Chicken Salad,Tuna, Ham and Cheese sandwiches, Fries, Hamburgers and Hotdogs are all available.
One time there was no Tuna at the time we ordered and one time no buns.
** When they run out of something other is usually for a very short period of time
I went to the snack bar every morning for coffees to take back to the room to enjoy on our balcony.
***PLEASE TAKE YOUR DISHES BACK WHERE YOU GOT THEM!!!

Pizza Bar;
A BUSY PLACE! The Pizza is very very good. We only ate there once around 1:20pm one day because the food options elsewhere were very satisfying. Expect a 30min wait if it's a packed place.

Buffets,
All were great. Line up's during the times we were there were very short. We were in and out in under 30mins.
Favorite Buffet foods were;
Breakfast; Fresh omelette with extra cheese from cheese bar, Bacon and Toast. Waffles were delicious as well. Aliana was our waitress all week and she was amazing.

Lunch;
Fresh cooked chicken, pizza and rice.
Dinner;
Gnocchi Pasta hands down best ever! Also had fresh Chicken and such but that pasta was amazing.

A La Cartes ;
All were amazing. We had some very good meals. Wine of choice for me was Rose and the wife enjoyed the white.

Favorites in order;
1) Italian, very very good just had to get some extra Lasagna and Gnocchi it was so good. Nelson and
Nisleivis took great care of us.

2) International, Another amazing meal! The Cream Cheese soup is sooo good. I had the Brazed Beef and my Wife had the fish. We left with some full belly's.

3) Chefs Special. It was good but not Italian good!

We were also invited to the return guest dinner at the Japanese restaurant in the Market and it was fantastic. Only thing there was that it was very hot inside. I don't think their air-conditioning was working. ***This restaurant is not part of the resort but you can pay to eat there but you need a reservation.

Churros; soooo good. Line up goes by quick. Worth it.

Pool;
Party pool behind snack bar.
Pool is big and was a little cloudy as they were trying to get it cleared back up. They were cleaning it every morning early and you could smell the chlorine so they were on it. Pool was still hopping every afternoon. 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.

Miguel will be happy to grab you chairs, treat him well ;). (He really like the Blue Jay's)

Quiet pool;
It's big, it's quiet and we don't go there.

Ice cream bar:
Very good.

Beach;
Still Beautiful!
Lots of new Papala's for shade have been put up since our last visit.
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 if you have sensitive feet. We entered here all week with no problem and no water shoes. The entrance is only rough for 10-15 feet.
Far right of the beach bar tonnes of sand to walk on or out to the sand bars.

Beach Bar;
As always we had lots of drink options including pina coladas and Mojitos. The beach bar is 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.
Yarelis is always running around or making amazing cappuccinos and Spanish coffees.
Vladimir (the Cheetah) is always running behind the bar making great drinks.
We were sad that Yuniel has not made it back to work yet but it was great to visit him.

Mojito Bar; (just off the lobby)
Amazing drinks made by the one and only Reny!
It's pretty awesome just walking up to the bar and he's already making your drinks of choice!

Nautical Center; Book a Catamaran for snorkeling! It is amazing! Super people that work there! Say hi to Chino for us!

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 the Japanese restaurant. They also have a disco night there but unfortunately my wife couldn't make it lol.

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) gold bond cream seems the best. The noseumes 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$) to make sure our suitcases are not over. Damp clothes and such can add a lot of wieght even if you brought tonnes of stuff to give out. As far as gifts to bring for workers, if you use it they need it! Any thing else above and beyond is truly appreciated. Also a subject that is beat to death. Please stop taking coins! You don't need to! People say it's to much to tip with 5s etc. You can always bring some american 1$ 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!

All the people I have mentioned in this review have become great friends. So much so we call them family. I am so sorry to those names I forgot. I will never forget your faces.

Finally a HUGE thanks to Lisbet, Juan Carlos and Yosvany and everyone else that made our stay so great!

We miss you all already and plan on coming back Nov/Dec.

Jamie [Details]

I'm a little late writing this, but we stayed at Melia Jardines del Rey from April 7 to April 14, and once again, we had a fabulous experience! Our suite had a beautiful view of the ocean, with it's many shades of blue and the sunset from this vantage point was incredible! Denise kept our room clean and made sure we had everything we needed. The beach, as usual, was sublime. We walked down the beach, past all the palapas and sat in a foot of warm, crystal clear water. Our buddy Elio (spelling?) always had chairs ready for us. It was amazing! Of course we stopped at the beach bar first and got our cups filled with terrific drinks from Joel, Yosley and Omelio. These guys are the heart of the beach and do a great job! After sitting in the hot sun, it was nice as usual to cool off in the pool. Our good friend Papa, along with Yeisy and Yairilis, keep the drinks flowing at the pool bar, always with big smiles on their faces. People seem to complain about the food a lot, but we had some tasty meals and were never hungry. There is nothing to complain about at this resort! The beach is beyond compare, the rooms are clean and comfortable, food and drink is plentiful, but the people that work there, they are the true gems. The people at the front desk, like Juan Carlos, are always ready to help. And last but not least, our girl Lisbet. She goes above and beyond to make sure the guests are looked after. An extra special thanks to Lisbet and to Papa for being such good friends and making our stay, once again, an incredible experience. We will be back, and if you're reading this and deciding if Melia Jardines del Rey is the place for you, trust us, it IS!!

Stephanie and Tony [Details]

From the moment we stepped off the bus at Melia Cayo Coco, we felt instantly taken care of. Ricardo was waiting for us to help us with our bags, take us to our rooms, and give us a quick late-night resort tour.
The resort was clean, beautiful, and filled with attentive, friendly staff. The food was great, my 4 year old quite enjoyed the mini-disco every night, and Vladimir at the lobby bar makes the BEST pina coladas!!

Juan Carlos at front desk/reception truly made us feel at home there, and because of his help throughout our trip and amazing hospitality/customer service we will be returning to Melia Cayo Coco instead of traveling to another country for our next vacation as we had originally planned. I can't say enough great things about Melia, I can't wait to return ️

During our trip when we had the chance to speak to tourists staying at other resorts in Cayo Coco (during excursions, on airport bus, on the plane) they were ALL complaining about their resorts food choices, water supply, etc. So if you are trying to decide between resorts- definitely go with Melia. I'd hate to see anyone else bummed out like that on vacation, and I can say I actually MISS the food at Melia!! We also had our mini fridge restocked daily with water and beer. [Details]

Family We are sharing a large hotel with good beach options [Details]

This was my 6th time staying at this hotel… the staff are truly what makes me keep returning back..they are some of the most helpful, thoughtful and kind people i have ever had the pleasure of getting to know. The front desk reception always goes above and beyond to help me feel like i am at home. Juan Carlos has been so great to me every time i have been here and goes out of his way to ensure i have the best holiday.

Abril, who is an entertainer but also works at the club house, has been someone I have grown to call family and he always has a warm contagious smile on his face. My room was always kept clean and never had any issue with the room… if you do run into issues.. just visit the front desk and they will be sure to do everything in their power to fix the issue.

Everyone always asks me why I would return to the same hotel so many times and the simple answer is that I love coming back to a place where i get treated like family… i will most definitely be returning for the 7th time in the near future. [Details]

Vacation | Friends
The resort is beautiful, very nice beaches, entertainment and staff is very kind
Rooms: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Location: 5/5

Hotel highlights
Great view, Great value [Details]

GREAT STAFF, loved my stay here lots of fun people working at reception, bar, pool side everyone is alot of fun. The drinks were amazing. Had lots of fun once again amazing stay! The zooma classes were a great wake up activity in the morning! [Details]

I loved my stay here, the staff was incredible the weather was great and the price was fair!
There were a few people from the staff that were so friendly and made you feel incredibly welcomed and part of the family! They would run up and give us hugs or simply wave from the other side of the room with ear to ear smiles everytime they made eye contact with me.

*Lisbette & *Aldalberto (management) went above and beyond for our group even organizing a private dinner on the beach for us!
Juan Carlos (front desk) speaks perfect English and solved my key card issue extremely quickly and made sure I got a ride back to my room after walking to the lobby!

Michel (pizza bar waiter) was funny, friendly and always made sure your glass was full and was apologetic for any wait times.
Irochi (buffet waiter) was great and always saved us a seat, got us complimentary bottles of champagne and wine. Was also really good at making sure used dishes were taken and glasses were full!
*Calderon (entertainment) this man is incredible! Almost felt like he was a brother by the time I left, he gets the party going and dancing never saw him without a smile!!
Dayeris & Yonatan (entertainment) were also great and helped the party get started, always smiling and very polite.
Reny (mojito bar bartender)
*Papa (pool bartender)
*Yesi (pool bartender)
Leonardo (snack bar bartender)
I spent most my time at the pool bar and the team there was incredible! They party with you! They would dance with us, even spray us with water guns, throw the football with us and then cheers us with empty glasses lol (not allowed to actually drink on the job clearly)!
Yonlit & Mandy (gardener - coconuts) were beyond friendly also! (In a good way) and they are all so incredibly grateful for any tips and gifts. Mandy loves when people bring him straws so he can put them into the coconuts! We brought a few packs for him!
The room itself was nice but the ocean view I had was breath taking and perfect for watching the sunset! Unfortunately they do have a section between bungalow 19(where I stayed) and the beach that has some old bush and stuff that I think should really get cleaned up for cosmetic purposes. Also I feel like they can make better use of the baseball diamond area (doesn't look like it belongs there lol).
The beach was great but water shoes are a MUST they have a lot of rocks in the water when you first walk in, depending what area your walking in at. I think a racking tractor that extended across all 3 resorts that are on that stretch of beach would be an incredibly beneficial use of resources.
That lack of resources was noticable for Canadians that take those resources for granted. For example the snack bar ran out of French fries regularly! Also ran out of lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes for the sandwiches fairly often as well!! I do think the addition of a poutine at the 24hour snack bar and a pasta bar at the dinner buffet would upgrade the food at this resort substantially!! I never struggled to find something I liked to eat but I have to say I've been happier with the food at other resorts!
Things I found they ran out of (even though it was short lived) was hand soap, toilet paper (some bathrooms), and vodka.
The pool bar had the best drinks and I was confused and disappointed that I couldn't get the same drinks at other bars! Not sure why some bars always had sweet liquors and others didn't.
Pros: incredible staff, gorgeous beach/views, party environment, pretty good food and decent amount of things to do on or JUST off resort (disco, market, spa, bowling) you can also rent boats for free!
Areas to improve: some areas need more landscaping, beach can use some regular rock and shell removal, and additional food selection would get me to 5 stars!
Also not sure what can be done without damaging the ecosystem but the mosquitoes were really bad. Maybe increase insect predators like bats, dragonflies and specific species of birds to assist in lowering mosquito population!
Overall it was a great trip, I'm going back for sure and Id recommend to everyone! [Details]

Just returned from a 7 day vacation at Melia Jardines Del Ray with a group of 10. The resort is beautiful with a wide variety of food for everyone. The staff are by far what made the trip exceptional. Swim up bar bartenders Papa and Yeisy were always quick with our drinks and remembered them for our group. We were definitely a loud group and we're always cheering while drinking, which they always responded to with cheers and smiles! Reny at the mojito bar was also very quick and extremely friendly to everyone. Leonardo at the 24hour snack bar was incredible! He was always dancing, playing music, smiling, laughing with us and seemed to really enjoy our groups cheer for the week. Michel was our waiter at the pizza bar and good on him. We ordered close to 25 pizzas for our group of 10 and he was always smiling and joking around with our group. Irochi at the lobby dinner buffet was also great! He saved our group a table every night and would bring us champagne and was very quick with checking if we needed anything.
For entertainment, Calderon was fantastic!!! He got the crowd going every single time, always with a huge smile on his face and so much energy! Along side him was Dayeris and Yonatan who were also always very good and cheerful.
Management: Lisbette and her assistant Aldalberto did so much for our group. They wanted to show their appreciation for us and surprised our group with a private dinner on the beach, it was truly amazing! They are phenomenal people and really just want you to be happy. Every time we ran into them they made sure to say hi and that we were enjoying our stay.
Juan Carlos at the front desk was very friendly and helpful. Always made sure to give us hugs and see if we needed anything.

Cons:
Some resources were lacking. For example, lack of toilet paper in the evenings in public washrooms was a regular occurrence, just make sure you bring your own Kleenex on you and you will be good. Hand soap was also an issue, but hand sanitizer is easy enough to bring. Cucumber, tomato, lettuce, and French fries at the 24 hour snack bar were lacking temporarily and we got them close to the end of our trip. Some bars would run out of vodka in the evenings but we're stocked the next day. One thing I'd recommend if they could get access to is a pasta bar. We went to a previous resort with a pasta bar and it was a huge hit for everyone, especially children. The entry to the ocean is extremely rocky, water shows are a must otherwise you'll hurt yourself! Wi-Fi kind of sucks. Only really get access at the front lobby and pool bar but you have to create an account and you only have access for 30 minutes until you have to log in again, and it's very slow. It's better than nothing but Roam Like Home with Rogers works well there.

An added bonus is the disco club and bowling alley they have. It costs $20USD per person for night club with free drinks all night (cheaper than any night club in Canada). Plus, I found they had better alcohol at the club in terms of sweetness (such as sour puss liqueurs). We didn't go bowling but we checked it out, I believe it's $5 per person per round. It looked fun but we enjoyed our time outside more!
I think it's so creative what the staff do with the garbage on the resort. For example plastic candy wrappers are created Into decorations, water bottles are reused for multiple purposes, aluminum cans are recycled into nick nacks at the market, etc.

Truly a beautiful resort with incredibly friendly staff at Melia Jardines. You will not regret this place! [Details]

Overall, the stay was not great. The room was not cleaned, the food was poor, and a lot of the staff was not very helpful. [Details]

Beautiful resort. I've been coming to this resort for over 10 years. Love it. People are so friendly, and inviting. Beaches are to die for with crystal clear waters. Food is very good, lots of selection for all. Grounds crew always working with a smile as well as the service staff. [Details]

This is our fourth time at this resort, and we always have a wonderful time. The beaches are unlike anywhere you have seen, and the staff are so friendly and welcoming. Spectacular weather that's been perfect by the pool or at the beach. We will definitely be [Details]

This is my third time coming to Cayo Coco, and it is the best vacation spot I have ever been to. I've travelled around: Jamaica, Mexico, California, but Cayo Coco is by far my favorite for many reasons. Firstly, the beach is incredible. They have the whitest sand and the bluest water. Secondly, the privacy. Everywhere else i've traveled, my family and I get bothered constantly on the beach to buy things, however it is very peaceful in Cuba. Another great thing is the weather, never a cloud in the sky! The final and most important thing they have here is the great community. Every worker greats you with a smile on their face, they are always extremely positive and it makes for a great atmosphere. I recommend everyone to come here, you will not regret it. (ps. their chocolate ice cream is to die for) [Details]

Vacation | Family
Beautiful beach and excellent service by the bar and restaurant staff. Wedding staff was very helpful on short notice. Great experience overall would go back
Rooms: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Location: 5/5 [Details]

Hotel 3.5 to 4 star
Food 2 star
people, service, beach, 5 star [Details]

Great accommodations & people are absolutely great.. and of course the beautiful beach… [Details]