CHECK IN

This was the most efficient check in we have ever had on any holiday you are given an envelope on the coach which contains various details including your room allocation, On arrival at the hotel you are given a drink, hand in details to the reception and off you go to your room (there was however about an hours wait before the luggage arrived in our room)

Although I had been for warned by reading many reviews prior to departure my first impression was a big disappointment the complex seemed to owe more to the style of an English holiday camp than tropical 4 star and the standard of construction in parts also leaves a lot to be desired. The hotel is also very isolated we were aware of this when booking and didn’t mind. Most of the other hotels in the Cayos are in groups so it is pos to walk from one to another. However the Playa Coco is at present 10 miles either direction from any other hotel. (This is about to change as there is a building site for a new hotel immediately adjacent to the East, looks like major construction due to commence anytime)

The bathroom was good I have seen some complaints re dirty grout but ours was fine the grout however was more of a gritty mortar mix than the smooth grout we are used to, only complaint the hot water was a bit hit and miss but this is OK if you are sunburnt.

The room we were allocated 6309 (third floor block 6) was clean and airy, the furniture was basic but adequate and the bed huge plus after enduring many concrete like beds in hotels it was a pleasure to get a bed with some give in it and I have slept better here than anywhere else. Another plus is the air con which again worked perfectly. The room was cleaned to a decent standard daily (I didn’t know there were so many different ways to make a bed not to mention the things you can do with a towel, nice touches.

It has been said in many of the reviews the grounds are very very bare of vegetation I would have thought that a professional landscaper could come up with some short term measures that would improve the situation as the main trees are going to take years to grow. There were some parts of the grounds in particular by the main amenities block where some effort had been made and thing were looking better. The other problem in the grounds was the lack on maintenance of some facilities i.e. none of the small Jacuzzis were working.

The food was better than we expected and I would think most people would find something to their liking the only exception being the soups never had one nice one and it’s the first time as far as I am aware that I have had boiled egg in soups.The Buffet this is probably the best bet to get exactly what you want we also enjoyed eating alfresco on the verhanda at most meal times.

The Italian we thought was the worst of the specialist restaurants the menu seemed a bit complex as to which dishes were in which course, pizza was not an option (although pizza is available in the Seafood Restaurant) The food was exactly the same as the buffet except it came in smaller portions with a bit of artistically applied dressing. A bit of Italian mood music would have improved the atmosphere, as the room itself was quite pleasant. We visited once

As always the staff varied there are always the ones you jell with and others who don’t seem bothered but the former were definitely in the majority. As a Brit I am still unsure about the tipping dilemma I am used to tipping at the end of my hols and will reward extra special service with a bigger tip however I think the Canadian way prevails here and if going to Cuba again I would tip little but often it certainly makes the wheels go round easier and the smiles bigger. I did find tipping a problem you cant tip everybody I would have thought that provision of a communal tips box in the restaurants and bars would have been a better way to ensure everybody gets a fair deal.

70s style Butlins, the animation ream are enthusiastic and try hard its Ok during the day if you want to indulge but there was never anything remotely likely to tempt us to the open air theatre at night. There is a disco but we didn’t indulge.

The Seafood this was our favourite lunchtime spot on our favourite table overlooking the ocean the food was good and the service excellent however as a specialist restaurant at night the quality of the food seemed to deteriorate. We visited twice

The Japanese this is without doubt the hotels best claim to approaching anything like 4 star the food is good (except the soup) and the show put on by the chefs beats any of the other entertainment hands down. We broke the rules and visited 3 times

The full day Catamaran an excellent day out especially when the weathers hot various stops for snorkelling the best meal we had all fortnight and we were followed part way by a school of dolphins.

The 24 hour Quick food burger bar we visited a couple of times, food fair felt sorry for the bar staff this spot is a late afternoon suntrap ideal for guest but a bit hot for the workers

Coffee, the only decent coffee was from the lobby /piano bar although we did meet one Canadian girl who raved about the coffee provided for the percolators in the rooms said it was better than anything in Canada (looks like Canada is off my holiday list) Never got to the bottom of the great tea spoon shortage, we only saw one in the 14 days usually you get nothing or a desert size plastic spoon.

The cayos lie off the Northern coast of Cuba and are reached directly to the international airport Jardine del Rey or via a 17-mile causeway from the mainland. The area is for tourists only there is no local town on the islands all the resort workers are brought in daily mostly from the town of Moron on the mainland.

The islands are fairly flat and featureless covered in low growing shrub like trees but there are some of Cuba’s best beaches in this area The hotels are mainly in small groups adjacent to a beach Its ideal for beach lovers who just want to chill out but not the place if its local nightlife and the real Cuba you are wanting to see.

As everyone else says mosquito’s are a BIG BIG PROBLEM even though they send the fogging machine round the complex most evenings. Fortunately my wife who is a mosquito magnet had been well prepared taking a course of slow release vitamin tablets from the health food shop prior to departure and while there also having a daily dose of tonic water up to and during our stay supplemented with use of repellent while there, a bit excessive you think but she didn’t get one bite! I am one the fortunate ones who don’t seem to attract the little devils. We saw many very badly bitten guests many with 80 or more bites. There was a long queue at the doctors each day paying their £40 for pills and injections

We went on: the Jungle Tour a good half-day out, white knuckle driving your own speedboat and snorkelling in the mangroves.

Day trip to Trinidad the historic town was well worth seeing but not worth the 7 hrs on a boneshaker coach there and back. Only book this if you are architecture nut and masochistic traveller

Although I have been on better beaches in Europe it is an excellent beach and the sea is definitely warmer and a beautiful turquoise blue. The beach by the seafood bar is a bit rocky but about 60M East towards the water sports area the rocks disappear. The sandy part of the beach is a bit narrow and practically disappears at high tide but it goes on for miles The water sports are also excellent we went on the Hobie Cats several times you cant skipper yourself there is a laser and windsurfers which you can use solo if you sign a form to pay for any damage.

The guests were mainly Canadian with some Italians and Brits and we met some very nice people there.So if you can get a deal and want a cheap and cheerful break it’s Ok but if its tropical luxury regardless of expense go to the Mellia.

As I said earlier theinitial impresion was not good but we did enjoy our holiday.We had not paid anywhere near the brochure price and thought the deal we got was value for money if I had paid more I would have been miffed.

THE GROUNDS AND POOLS

The pools although not large were clean but cold

FOOD

MOSQUITOES

CONCLUSION

THE CAYOS

THE BEACH

TRIPS