babas1 2014-07-03 13:53:08 UTC #1
Hello, I’m a seasoned Melia Cayo Santa Maria client, but was looking at the Melia Cayo Guillermo to make a change. After doing some research such as reading reviews and looking at pictures, my perception is that Melia’s beach doesn’t look very wide and it looks like it’s lacking palapas. Can someone shed some light on this? I am a beach person which means I’m there from sun-up to sun-down. I’m not a big fan of hotel pools as there always seems to be loud music/activities. I prefer the peace and quiet of a beach.
eeeefarm 2014-07-03 17:24:11 UTC #2
I haven’t personally stayed at Guillermo, but my sister has, and enjoyed it. One point to note is that the water is very shallow for a long way out…great for waders, not so much for swimmers. The resort itself is very nice, and I believe you have access to the other Sol/Melia resorts in the area.
babas1 2014-07-03 18:53:38 UTC #3
Thanks eeeefarm. I read on several posts that when the tide’s high, there’s practically no beach so I’m a bit worried. I will have to check the tides for the week that I’ll be there in November.
babas1 2014-07-04 13:15:41 UTC #5
Admin 2014-07-05 15:44:13 UTC #6
Hello Babas. Sometimes change is good and if you never tried before Melia Cayo Guillermo you should. I know that Santa Maria resorts are newer comparing to Cayo Guillermo hotels but I liked stay in Cayo Guillermo and I am sure you will enjoy it as well as long as you like quite place to escape everything. Have you been before in Cayo Largo?
babas1 2014-07-07 14:25:16 UTC #7
Hi Admin. I’ve been to Cayo Largo 6 times, Cayo Santa Maria 4 times, once in Holguin and once in Cayo Coco; all at Melia or Sol hotels. We wanted to go back to Cayo Largo in November, but the only departure from Montreal is a Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. and I hate those early morning flights, i.e. room’s not ready on arrival and you have to get up at 4:00 to get to the airport for the proverbial 3-hour wait. Not my cup of tea. The Cayo Santa Maria and Cayo Coco departures are late day on Friday which is much better. My concern about Cayo Guillermo is the lack of beach at high tide and it looks like the Melia is lacking shade as well.
babas1 2014-08-18 19:39:36 UTC #8
It looks like the MCSM is the winner. It’s $100 cheaper per person than the MCG and let’s face it, many more amenities/restaurants, i.e. more bang for the buck. So this will be my 5th stay, but am looking forward to it.
crabby1 2014-08-19 01:24:03 UTC #9
Hola
lets hope the hot water and ac problem is finally fixed…lol…then again probably not…
babas1 2014-08-19 15:18:21 UTC #10
What’s wrong with the hot water and AC?
crabby1 2014-08-19 15:58:34 UTC #11
Many times the ac will not be sufficient enough to really cool down the room, compared to other hotels on the cayo, in the buffet the ac is nearly non existent along with the hot water, again many times nothing.
Again love the staff but the above really should get fixed once and for all…
babas1 2014-08-19 20:40:59 UTC #12
I never had a problem there.
crabby1 2014-08-19 23:18:33 UTC #13
Then you have not been staying at the same hotel…lol…this problem been around for years…try may or sept…rooms can be a killer…
Spunky 2014-08-19 23:46:38 UTC #14
Our experience is common for many. Resorts have different personalities, sometimes huge differences between high and low seasons.
Our favourite room in January can be a torture chamber in August.
Times change and off-season is sold and loudly complained about.
Maybe that’s why many closed from June to December in previous years.
babas1 2014-08-20 13:26:27 UTC #15
I’m not going to worry about it. The last time I was there was in November and they were only running at half capacity (one of the reasons I like going in November). If something isn’t working in the room, I’ll simply ask to be moved. Checking everything out on arrival is the first thing I do when I check in before I unpack. If something’s not working, come and get me and my luggage and move me to a room that’s functional.
Admin 2014-09-04 12:44:56 UTC #16
@Babas did you make your decision yet where you will go Cayo Guillermo or back to Cayo Santa Maria?
babas1 2014-09-05 13:24:21 UTC #17
Yes, we are going back to the Melia Cayo Santa Maria. It was $100 cheaper than the Melia Cayo Guillermo. Seeing that the MCSM has more choice for a-la-carte restaurants, the beach is a lot wider, and we know a lot of the staff, it was a no-brainer. Also, the flight out of Montreal is at 3:30 p.m. on a Friday which really appeals to us because we get 7 full days of beach time. If the flight had been an early morning flight to CSM, we wouldn’t have chosen it seeing that you lose 2 days travelling. We are very happy with our decision and can’t wait. Thanks for asking.