Melia Las Dunas

Our shortest vacation so far, usually going for 7 days. The best are the beach and most of the people working in the resort to make your vacation special. The okay part is that it's a big resort spread out and involves a lot of walking and you loose the candid experience of medium to small sized resorts were the service is more personal. The not so good part is that you'll notice a lot of double standard especially on the management side. I only recommend it with reservations, try it at your own risk and your own expense. [Details]

We had a very enjoyable time at Melia Las Dunas with plenty of food, drinks, beach, pool and sun.

Melia Las Dunas in Cayo Santa Maria is a lovely all inclusive resort in the Caribbean on the north shore of Cuba, 90 miles directly south of Florida. This resort is a 1 1/2 hour bus ride from the nearest airport of Santa Maria.

Everyone should consider at least one Cuban holiday.

Cuba relies on tourism for survival. Canadians are represent about half of all tourists. They rest are European and South American. We met people from Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, Argentina and others.

Cuba is an extremely poor country with wonderfully friendly appreciative people. Cuba is not Punta Cana, Cancun nor Panama. It certainly is not Sandals or anything like that.

Melia Las Dunes resort was built about 10 years ago. It has multiple two story villas each containing 8 to 16 air conditioned spacious units. The buildings are separated by extensive plantings of flowering shrubs and palms arranged over a large area, meticulously landscaped, and connected by pathways giving privacy between each building. Our second floor unit was a suite overlooking the ocean. It had a living room, 2 balconies, sofa, TV, table, chairs, fridge, kettle, safe, bedroom with king bed, 2 full baths, TV, and balcony. Each bath had toilet, bidet, vanity, and tub/shower.

The resort has a large open lobby with bar and barista with bistro tables and chairs many of which were rocking chairs. The best drinks were espresso, Spanish Coffee, beer, rum on ice (Cuban aged rum right up there with Scotch). We found most mixed drinks too sweet.

Facilities included a huge family pool, two huge adult only pools, with swim up bars; entertainment amphitheater, breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets, 3 a la carte restaurants, grill snack bar, and beach bar.

The beach is one of the gems of the Caribbean. It is soft white sand stretching for miles. The ocean is clear turquoise aqua, warm and shallow.

There were plenty of loungers available everywhere. (Perhaps because the resort seemed to be only partially occupied.) Beach towels were supplied and could be exchanged daily.

The employees we met were extremely friendly and went out of their way to offer help. Once you greeted them as a friend they reciprocated, often showing pictures of their children and family. Many of the guests we met have been returning to the same resort for years.

My review :

Beach 4-5 star
Pools 4 star
Grounds and landscaping 3-4 star
Room overall 3 star
Room cleanliness 4 star
Restaurants/buffets 2-3 star
Entertainment 1-2 star

Where did they lose stars?

Grounds and landscaping suffered hurricane damage 3 years ago which has not all been repaired. Some pathway lighting missing.

Room water pressure very low to barely adequate. Water was only lukewarm at best. Insufficient water pressure to operate bidet. Towels and linens clean, but some small stains on sheets. Air conditioning controls sub standard. No lighting in the halls one night.

Restaurants and food.
Food tended to be bland. Cubans apparently are not into spices. Nothing very fancy.
Breakfast buffet offered eggs cooked to order except for 1 day. Lots of fresh fruit and vegetable. Fruit juices way too sweet.
Supper buffet offered fresh chicken, pork, beef and fish grilled to order. Pasta table. Bread table. Plenty of salads and fresh vegetables. Dessert bar had fresh fruit and pastries.

Entertainment was like amateur hour. They tried hard.

Other comments. Though wifi is advertised as available it generally doesn't work. Even though our devices showed strong signal strength and were connected by password it generally would not upload or download data. We were only able to retrieve our mail twice in the two weeks we were there. If you really want to stay in touch buy a prepaid SIM card in the lobby for your smart phone (US$100 and up).

What to bring if you go to Cuba? Plenty of sunscreen, hats, bathing suits, sandals, shorts and casual tops. (We brought insect repellant, but didn't need it.) Dress up for dinners optional but fun. Don't flash expensive jewelry.

All inclusive resorts include pretty well everything. However cash tips are usually given. $5-10 a day for maid service, $10-15 day for bar, restaurant, towel boys, chair attendants, baggage handlers.
Bring $5 and $10 dollar bills and maybe US$1 bills. Loonies and toonies are not exchangeable at the local bank. What most guests do is change your $10 and $20 bills with the bar tender for loonies and toonies which can be given as individual tips. Do them a favor and buy back the change from the servers before leaving for home. They will appreciate it.

Canadians are aware of the economic difficulties facing ordinary Cubans and many bring gifts. Items that guests bring are either locally very expensive or simply not available. Most sought items include acetaminophen, ibuprofen, first aid items, lip balm, topical antibiotic, toothpaste and brushes, feminine products, nail files and emery boards, bar soap, and deodorant. Other items include retractable pens, note paper, playing cards, infant clothing and children toys, especially baseballs and tennis balls. What we discovered is chewing gum was a big hit - they invariably refer to it as Chiclets. If you want to bring a special gift bring a Domino set.

Overall we had an enjoyable holiday. We particularly loved the pools and beach. We drank plenty of cerveza, vino tinto, and aged rum. My wife developed a taste for Chocolate Tequila (a local liqueur). We met and shared stories with guests from around the world and bonded with many of the local Cuban employees. Seeing the struggles of the people, especially those outside of the resort makes one appreciative of our privileged life in Canada. [Details]

This past week my daughter and I visited Meliá Las DUNAS and we didn't want to return home. The pool, the beach but the kindness of the Cuba people cannot be matched. [Details]

We actually changed to this resort in order to have easy beach access. There are 3 different boardwalks that are wheelchair accessible, as it the entire resort. The food was very good, with a selection and changes in the buffet, we ate at 2 alacart restaurants and they were both excellent meals. It had some of the best food we have had in Cuba.

The resort has golf carts to assist with luggage and mobility however it appeared only 2 of the several were working. We would call and either wait 30-90 minutes or no one would show up. Suggestion to management would be to have a special code for mobility challenged guest to use when calling as opposed to just someone who didn't feel like a 5 minute walk. [Details]

Overall, very good stay at Melia Last Dunas. It is our first time in this part of Cuba and in this hotel.
We really enjoyed the clean beach and the amount of space available. Rarely did we have a hard time finding a spot to lay down on and enjoy the ocean and the sunshine.

Drinks – has most of what you need, but don't forget that because of the embargo and the situation in Cuba, some items might not be available.

Gym - not bad, has all of the basic items that you need to get a good workout

Spa – I found the price to be very elevated and it almost matches what we pay in Canada. In my opinion, if you lower your prices a little bit, you will have a lot more clientele.

Medical help – we all had food poisoning at some point, and had to contact the hotel doctor. He was extremely punctual, helped with his advice, and we felt reassured that we could get help if the poisoning progressed

Kids Club – an amazing place for children and for parents who need a bit of a break .

Pool – very spacious and good animation / activities for those who wish to partake. The swimup bar is also great with amazing bartenders

Jeep Safari tour - nice outing if you want to see the surrounding countryside

La Estrella - not a part of the hotel, but very close by. It's a nice market if you want to buy some souvenirs.

The entertainment in the evening is great! Lots of dancing, activities and things to do. We never felt bored. We also enjoyed the entertainment for children. Our little one was dancing all night!

I would like the hotel administration to note the very positive employees that you have and strongly consider them for future promotions. These superstars are:

- Lisa-Maylee in the buffet - thank you for your excellent service and for being so attentive to us
- All the ladies who made amazing morning omelettes. I wish I remembered to take down their names, but one lady is a grandmother, and works in the kitchen at lunch, and another lady has a Canada bandana. Both are amazing and made great omelettes
- Hector and his team - thank you for the wonderful hat that you wove for us
- Juan Manual who cleaned the pool - thank you for making a wonderful toy for my little boy
- Luis Manual at the Ranchon - thank you for your excellent service
- Our server, the gentleman with glasses at the Isabel and Fernando restaurant. I did not get his name, but what an amazing individual, with a very positive energy and very cultured approach to dining. We really liked how he treated us.
- The pianist at the Isabel and Fernando restaurant. Very talented individual who made the atmosphere extremely romantic and enjoyable for my wife and myself.

Very big thanks to the entertainment team - Yeisy, Geadry, Keila, Jennifer, Clausio, Isel, Rafael - you are a very talented group, thank you for the amazing evening animation. I really enjoyed all of your performances (especially the one themed on Love). [Details]

Beautiful as always!!!
Welcomed by friendly and helpful staff. Our room was ready as soon as we arrived. Very clean and stocked with everything we needed.
Food was plentiful whether it was at the buffet or the 24 snack bar. Our first a la Carter at Columbus was delicious!
The pool area was clean and it was nice to see familiar faces from our previous trip last October.
Entertainment was amazing as well! Ricardo and Yeleinis were very helpful and it was great to see them again! [Details]

Beautiful resort with miles of white sand beaches. I can't say enough about how friendly the staff is. Always smiling and happy to see you. They go the extra mile to make you feel at home. The entertainment staff is best you will find anywhere. This the 3rd time we have been here and plan on many more returns here [Details]

It was the worst vacation stay we ever experienced due to few reasons. Web advertised services were not available (Ex: Restaurants, food options, beverages). Several restaurants were arbitrarily and randomly closed in many days. Though it was advertised that there are 7 specialty restaurants, it was only 3 restaurants were said opened. But two of them were still closed over two days even without any notifications, keeping us waiting in front of the restaurants. Beach buffet was also closed at least for 2 days. Only one buffet restaurant was opened making huge line ups outside. Even with them, several food items was ran out quickly. Several beverages were not available all all restaurants and bars. No bar had any type of vodkas during our complete stay. Restaurants and Bars didn't have lemonade, orange juices' or even syrups like grenadine to have a proper cocktail. some had run out even Milk some cases. Had to eat the same food everyday.
Was given room with a bad condition (with broken tub) and the room even had a one extra bed in side for some reason. I brought it to front desk attention but they did not show much willingness to help. They asked me to come and check with the front office every day to see if they have any rooms available. So I had to give after going there few times. At one time I even met with Guest services to get some resolution on some matter and realized there were not prepared to own it and to provide any resolution. [Details]

Le meilleur hôtel avec les meilleurs employés. La plage et la piscine sont incroyables. La nourriture est excellente. Merci beaucoup à Ricardo et à son équipe ! [Details]

Cette hôtel est formidable. La vue de plage ainsi que la plage elle même est formidable. La piscine l'est tout aussi. Perfect endroit pour profiter en famille. Il y'a des spectacles la nuit ainsi que une équipe d'animations qui saura vous divertir. Les serveurs des restaurant sont très souriant. Merci à Ricardo et à son équipe pour cette expérience inoubliable. On reviendra bientôt ! [Details]

Beach party was the best. Food was very good. The entertainment was amazing. Even for kids was amazing. Yeleinis the lady in charge of kids is lovely with them. I recommend this hotel for all the people I will comeback very soon I really enjoy the place. [Details]

entertainment was excellent, they had very good shows with professional dancers they were amazing. The salsa & fitness instructor was very friendly enthusiastic. The food was very good they had everything and all sorts of food and delicious the staff were very friendly and efficient at all times. We highly recommend Melia las Dunas in Cayo Santa Maria to everyone that want to come, to Cuba ️ [Details]

Waste of money! Terrible rooms and service. I won't recommend this resort and never will come back there.
1. Towels and sheets not exchanging every day. Calling to reception or service desk does work, our towels was exchanged after complaint to resort manager.
2. No warm water afternoon, so you taking a shower under cold water.
3. Very Poor entertainment, especially on the beach.
4. We saw bee swarn/nest in swimming pool area, informed stuff about it. Nobody cares! Be careful if you visiting this resort with kids.
5. Poor choice of alcohol drinks in a bar, usually just Cuban brands and 2-3 kind of Whisky. If you like Cappuccino or other hot drinks with milk, forget it. I stayed in that resort for 5 days, 3 of them no milk in a bar!
Good Luck to guys, who will take a risk to visit this resort.
Read less [Details]

The hotel layout and staff were lovely. The rooms were a nice size. Do have some power outages at various times of the day. The a la carte restaurants were good. Bathrooms around resort are few and far between. [Details]

Melia Las Dunas is a great getaway for families with children or seniors. The night life was nonexistent and there was no good music played ever. All slow songs, not even the Spanish music played was upbeat. Every single moment was choreographed or turned into a “competition”. It didn't really live up to the party vibe which was advertised. The entertainment team definitely tried their best, but again, was not at all geared towards a young adult/party vibe.

The staff however was the best. Regardless of where you were on the resort or who you were being helped by, everyone was extremely welcoming and happy to help. Manuel & Deybis from the dining hall are truly one of a kind and the kindest people I've ever met. Yobal at the bar is so funny and kind. These gentlemen were truly the highlight of our stay and we are so grateful to have met them all. [Details]

The hotel is wonderful it has very good attention, the entertainment team makes your days even better especially Keily,Eissa and Ricardo. This place can be your second home I recommend [Details]

The people!!
The people make all the difference for me, friendly always asking if I'm ok or if I need anything, from the garner to the entertainment personal to the bar tenders I have been to other Countries the service is not the same. [Details]

very nice hotel i alwais comeback because here i fell like home. the beach is beautifull and the people very frendly. the enterteiment activities are the best in cuba and latin america. they make you have fun yes or yes ricardo and yeleinis super fun. i will comeback again and again super recomendable. [Details]

From the moment we stepped off the bus at this beautiful resort, everything was amazing. From the friendly staff who make you feel like family, especially Ricardo and Yelleinis, they are amazing to the spectacular views along the 10 km stretch of soft sand and warm ocean water. The food is plentiful, entertainment daily and nightly, definitely something for everyone young and old. This is our second time here in 10 months and we are already planning our third trip here for April 2023. [Details]

Friendly staff. 10km of beautiful beach. Entertainment staff is the best ricardo yeleinis and eliany very enterteiment goes above expectations. Never a dull moment at the resort we was here in January end here we are again super recommendable [Details]

The hotel was not very busy (time of year). There was always plenty of chairs at the beach. Only a few a la carte restaurants are open, but the food and service were good. What is fun about this time of year, with less people, is you don't line up and wait for anything. The table and bar service are really swift. I see a lot of people complaining about food choices. Its true, there is not as much choice as I would have liked, but this is due to seasonal and supply shortages. We had a good selection, and always found what we needed. The best part of this vacation was the staff. Always smiling. Always making extra effort to make us comfortable. Their best asset is Ricardo. He is unbelievable. Super positive, gets you involved in activities and is the best Activity Coordinator I have ever seen at any of the hotels I have been to. He is a key reason I would return in a heartbeat. If you are reading this Melia management, give this man a huge raise !!!! [Details]

Came to this resort with my husband for 2 weeks for our baby moon. We had a beautiful experience. Everything was perfect from the stunning views to the most amazing staff. They had entertainment every night and fun activities all day long. They really know how to have a good time here!! [Details]

Absolutely amazing resort! Super friendly and accommodating staff, fun entertainment, good food, beautiful beach. Will definitely be coming back with my family. [Details]

The staff are amazing. Ricardo in entertainment is a lot of fun, high energy and keeps the party going. Love him!! Osliedy in the beer garden is such a sweet lady, love her. If you need anything Sandra is your girl!!
She will accommodate as much as she can.T his is my 5th time here and I will keep returning as it is the best hotel in Cayo Santa Maria [Details]

The entertainment crew was one of the biggest highlights of our trip. They always have something new going and the staff is the friendliest. Beach party, white party, shows at the stage and the live cuban music are some of the most important activities in the hotel. Ricardo in particular made our trip full of fun activities and entertainment. Highly recommend! [Details]

I loved everything about Meliá, the staff, the hotel, the service, everything was perfect. Everyone is so friendly, I had such a good time practicing my Spanish with them. All of the activities were well organized and fun for all ages - I could tell that the clients enjoyed them very much. I'm 16 and I had a lot of things to do, and many people to talk to. All of the gardeners were so talkative, always saying hello! Mi mejor amigo de los jardineros se llama Frank. I also made friends with the lady who made pancakes in the morning. She is so nice and talented (she drew designs on the pancakes for the kids). There are lots of activities one can take part in. For example, my personal favourite was the aqua gym - when it was led by Ricardo. He's so engaging and is always making sure everyone is having a good time. Another thing I loved were the daily shows at night. I loved watching the dancers perform - they had a different theme every night. I watched every single one of their shows for 14 days, and even talked to them in the end. Once again, everybody is so friendly! The bar services are really good as well, a good variety of drinks and lots of friendly staff always there. I miss Meliá and all of the people I met there <3 ¡espero volver pronto! [Details]

Beach is very nice, the crew is so welcoming and fun - especially the animation crew. The activities are entertaining and engaging, my favorite was aqua gym with Ricardo, he has such good energy, and provides a fun space for all to enjoy. [Details]

J ai passé un merveilleux moment à las dunas spécialement avec Ricardo une personne vivante et agréable et généreux avec son temps et ma fille avec yeleinys au club enfants très intentionné et aimante le cite et magnifique et la plage et à coupé le souffle..... [Details]

Je suis présentement là, 22juillet au 29juillet.
Plage est magnifique! Resort super! Je dors toujours mal partout, mais j'ai super bien dormis! La nourriture est très bonne pour la
Place. Les gens sont tellement gentils, toujours de bonne humeur! Vous voulez danser ou apprendre des « moove » Ricardo is the guy! The moves he's got, wow! J'y retournerai et recommande a tous!. [Details]

Best beach I've been to! Entertainment staff is phenomenal! Ricardo on the beach always kept us busy and having a great time! Food was much better than expected! Rooms very clean and AC always working. Can't wait to come back and see all our friends! [Details]