Click ICI pour français
Cayo Santa Maria from Nov. 25th to Dec. 2nd 2011
Hi,
We stayed two nights at the Melia Cayo Santa Maria and five nights at the Melia Buenavista. A small hotel of 105 rooms (adult only) located at the west end of Cayo Santa Maria, in the quiet sector called Punta Madruguilla.
Here's the latest news from Cayo Santa Maria ...
Melia Buenavista
The hotel is in its first year of operation, and it is a great success. It is already ranked as the fifth of all hotels in Cuba, according to TripAdvisor. The Melia Buenavista fills the demand for an adult only hotel in this part of Cuba, like the Paradisus Rio de Oro in Holguin and the Melia in Cayo Coco. The service is exceptional and the atmosphere perfect for those seeking tranquility in a small hotel.
A free transport (starting from 6 pm) is available for customers of the Melia Buenavista for dinner at the restaurants of the other Melia Hotels International in Cayo Santa Maria. No reservations are required for the buffets, but you must see your Butler for reservation of the « A la carte » restaurants. The butlers are always near the buffet in the morning to schedule your restaurant for dinner. They are effective and what a relief not to lined up to book the dinner restaurants! There is no wrist band at this hotel.
We met the hotel manager, Ernesto, with whom we discussed of several topics, including the clothing optional beach in Cayo Santa Maria. It is always a delicate topic in Cuba. We explained that having an « Au Natural » sector for a 5-star adult only hotel, ensures repeat customers. He discussed with his supervisor and to our surprise, the next day he told us the decision has been made to install several palapas about ten meters to the east of those existing on the main beach (Playa Santa Maria, the same one leading to the Sol). Even more surprising, he said that there would be a sign to inform customers of this new « Au Natural » beach. Photos coming from the management of the hotel. We really hope it is will be done!
Melia Cayo Santa Maria
The two new « A la carte » restaurants are operational. We liked the French cuisine restaurant. We did not have the time to try the Japanese. Although the hotel is now family oriented, we did not see any children. This hotel is an excellent ratio quality price, especially considering the number of restaurants for a hotel of only 358 rooms. The two new restaurants are located north of the buffet. They share a small lounge bar where you can drink while waiting for your table. Good idea!
Sol Cayo Santa Maria
The naturist beach of the Sol is still very popular. We have seen more people in this sector that in the regular « textile ». After 10 years of existence, natursim of the beach is well established, as there are enough adepts to support this privilege. However, there is no sign to inform people. The area is still the same, west of the last footbridge. There are several palapas (but never enough!) and shelters made of palm leaves and several beach chairs. We saw some people sitting in the east of the sector, for lack of space in the « Au Natural » beach.
Melia Las Dunas
The two buffet restaurants « Remedios » and « Caibarien » are now air conditioned. The grill restaurant « Los Siboney » will be air-conditioned and divided into two new restaurants, Italian and oriental cuisine. Everything should be in place for the holidays 2011. Changes will be announced soon about the steak house « Maria Coraje ».
Barcelo Cayo Santa Maria Beach Colonial
The Beach sector is currently closed. All customers are now located in the Colonial sector. We visited this section for the photos of the site. Every Tuesday there is the « Cuban Day », an activity to discover the Cuban cuisine and customs to the hotel's guests. Beach sector should open when the occupancy rate justifies it (probably for the holidays).
Memories Paraiso Beach Resort and Memories Azul Beach Resort
The Memories Azul Beach Resort (formerly Barcelo Tropical) is now open. We did not have the chance to visit the two Memories hotels (due to lack of time). It will be for another trip, probably in spring 2012. Both hotels are managed by Blue Diamond, a division of Sunwing Travel Group. Sunwing has already contracts in other hotels in Cayo Santa Maria. With two new exclusive hotels for a total of 1,386 rooms, how are they going to book all their rooms on the island? To be continued ...
Hotel Piedra Movida
This is the construction name of the hotel located East of the Memories Azul Beach Resort. In fact, it is the name of this segment of beach in Cayo Santa Maria. The same one that leads to the red-roofed house (government). It will be a 5-star hotel of 846 rooms (18 bungalows on 17.1 hectares). To be continued ...
Hotel near the Pueblo La Estrella
We still do not know who will be the administrator. Is it a Premium sector of the Barcelo? A Royal Service sector of the Melia Las Dunas? The construction is well underway, but it will not be ready for 2011. To be continued ...
Playa Perla Blanca
There is no ongoing work on this pristine virgin beach. HOWEVER, the road that goes to the « Laguna del Este » is already done (a sandy road for construction trucks). It suggests other hotels in this area as they are digging a trench for a water pipe. There are supposed to have two hotels in this sector of the island.
Santa Clara airport (SNU)
There is a new construction to expand the departure's area. Good news! There are definitely not enough check-in counters. There is also a project to extend the runway to accommodate larger aircraft. When will we see an Airbus A-380 in Santa Clara? Services in the waiting area are the same.
The transfer is still around an hour and half. However, a bypass road is being built to avoid the town of Remedios. This road should be in service in few months. There's another one for the city of Caibarien. The authorities hope to come to reduce the transfer time to one hour. To be continued ...
Pedraplen
The long pedraplen (the causeway) was hit in September 2008 by Hurricane Ike. Four bridges were damaged and there is now bypass (paved road) near the damaged bridges. Cubans call these bridges ... « Champlain bridge » ". We did not see employees of the reconstruction on the damaged bridges.
Fishing
As fishing on the causeway is « officially » forbidden, we saw many fishermen doing in this activity on the bridges, mainly Cubans. The bridge No. 9 (Canal de los barcos) seems to be the best for fishing.
Pueblo Las Dunas
Everything is in operation. This small village is very nice with restaurants and services. They built a huge pirate style boat at the entrance of the village. There is a bowling with multiple alleys with an electronic counting system.
Pueblo La Estrella
A nice little village, a ghost town, like the Pueblo Las Dunas :o( Carnivals are held every week. Wednesday at the Pueblo Las Dunas and Friday at the Pueblo La Estrella. There is no entrance fee to the Pueblos, but services are not part of your all-inclusive package. All the artcraft shops at the hotels are now grouped into the two Pueblos.
hop-on/hop-off buses
What a great initiative to have established this system of transportation on the island. This open top two-storey bus travel from hotels in Cayo Santa Maria, the Iberostar Ensenachos to the dolphinarium. The cost is 1 CUC per person, even for customers staying at the Melia Buenavista. More affordable than a taxi or to rent a scooter. An opportunity to visit the Pueblos of Cayo Santa Maria. The cost of a cab rides between the hotels in Cayo Santa Maria, and the Pueblos varies from 3 to 5 CUC per taxi.
Scooter, bicycles and car rentals
A few months ago, all rental centers were repatriated in two pueblos, but it is no longer the case. Guests of the Sol Cayo Santa Maria must go to its neighbor hotel, the Melia. There are rental centers in Melia Cayo Santa Maria, Melia Las Dunas and Barcelo Colonial Beach CSM. We do not know about the Memories hotels. Info to come.
CUC vs CAD
The fees charged by the hotels are, as always, depending on the number of stars. It is best to exchange money in a « Cadeca », the hotel's banks. The rate is better. At Melia Buenavista, we exchanged 200 CAD to get 174 CUC, which represents about 10% fees. At this rate, you should consider paying 1 CUC for the bus and go to « Cadeca » at the Sol Cayo Santa Maria.
Disco
There is no more disco in hotels in Cayo Santa Maria, they were converted into « Fun Pubs ». There is a nightclub in the Pueblo Las Dunas, the « Marcaribe » and at the Pueblo La Estrella. The cost is 5 CUC (including 4 CUC of drinks) or 10 CUC (including 9 CUC of drinks) if you purchase the coupon at the hotel reception. On site, there is only the 10 CUC package.
Dolphinarium
We visited the Cayo Santa Maria dolphinarium (located near Cayo Ensenachos). WOW! six large pools for swimming with dolphins and two areas for dolphins and sea lions shows. The dolphinarium is not fully operational because the shows are planned for January. You can visit the facilities for 3 CUC per person. It is the largest dolphinarium in Latin America. There will be an aquarium and a breeding farm for lobsters. Total: 21 dolphins and two shows per day, when the project is fully operational. The catamaran excursion stops at the dolphinarium to swim and for a lobster meal in a nice air-conditioned restaurant. More info to come on the website.
In conclusion ...
Our website will be updated in weeks to come up with hundreds of new photos, information and excursions. We hope you enjoyed this report of our visit. Do not worry, we still had some time to relax, maybe not enough: o)
Visit our website: http://www.cayosantamaria.info
Normand and Lily
destilino.com