We stayed 4 nights in this hotel, The management have enough background and knowledge how a 5 star hotel should run and they do their best but, technical infrastructure in Cuba permits this goodwill up to some extent.

Although they were often in short of tropical fruits the breakfast buffet was satisfactory in general and the Italian restaurant at the central court was very reasonable too. You eate there good portions and tasty food. Avoid buying bottled water at the bar, for a 1/2 lt bottle you pay same price as in the USA ! (2.5 $). At any market outside 1.5 lt costs 70 centavos (= 3 quarters)

Rooms are clean, confortable but old oil paintings of doors and very low water pressure at the bath tube makes one of the 5 stars a "shooting star" (!)

Anyhow, Santiago is a city of music and dance. It is not within the target area of Cuban Government to increase the income. The all inclusive hotels at Varadero and Cayos are far more important than the ones in Santiago. In such a circumstance, Melia Santiago remains as the best option from the comfort point of view

I advise to everybody. Very close to high standards of luxury hotels in US and Europa. Clean rooms and nice buffet. Very nice music at lobby. Don't go to down town for Cuban music especially to music houses. It's much better to stay at lobby.

This hotel is a surprise in a Socialist country because it is very much what a 4-5 star hotel would be in the "developed" world. It is not as such a very Cuban experience, but that is available all around and at night it is nice to retreat to a comfortable place.

we were here for 4 nights.on the first night the buffet dinner was large and varied and we looked forward to the rest of our meals.However on the next 3 nights there were obviously not so many guests and the result was only half the variety of the first night!Service in the night club on the 15th floor was such a joke that we waited for wine for 20 mins and then left.What we did find is that the bar opposite the hotel did excellent food!Finally even tho the hotel had plenty of rooms they tried to charge us 42 cucs for a late check out which left a bad taste in the mouth.The hotel itself and the pool area is very good.