CANCUN — Going back to the 1980s, condos were built on a beautiful beach forming a point facing Isla Mujeres, in Cancun.

Wanting to strengthen its presence in Mexico, the Melia chain reached an agreement to manage the complex, renovate it, and turn it into a 258-room all-inclusive hotel – Melia Casa Maya Cancun – which opened in December 2024 (and which still includes a few condos).

“Since then, the hotel has continued to carry out certain improvements,” says GM Jean François Michel Girault Boutet. He cites as examples the YHI spa, the gym, and the snack bar at the water park, which were inaugurated last September.

A recent stay at Melia Casa Maya provided an opportunity to talk with Girault Boutet and to check out the property first-hand.

All The Level suites feature large living rooms 

PERFECT HOTEL FOR FAMILIES

When asked what travel advisors should know to better sell Melia Casa Maya, Girault Boutet notes that it’s a small all-inclusive resort, where guests can enjoy closer contact with the staff, among other things.

Another recent and much-appreciated change: the hotel’s pool is now heated – an improvement many guests had requested – which makes up for the fact that the location and angle of the buildings keep the pool in the shade for part of the day.

Girault Boutet is quick to add that the rooms are spacious, that the beach is one of the most beautiful in Cancun (largely unaffected by sargassum), and that the resort offers a good range of family activities, including the Splash Island water park, a kids’ club for children ages five to 12, as well as daily entertainment and shows, often held around the pool.

Welcome kit offered to families in The Level category

“On the other hand,” he points out, “it’s not really a hotel for those looking for an adults-only getaway. Even during the quieter low seasons, we can’t guarantee that there won’t be children on the property.”

In fact, among all the hotel’s facilities, only the gym (open 24 hours a day) is reserved exclusively for adults; children are present everywhere else, particularly in the pool.

Girault Boutet says the clientele best served by this hotel is definitely families with young children. “Even though it is located very close to the city of Cancun (and therefore its bars, nightlife, and shopping centres), the hotel offers somewhat fewer activities for teenagers,” he explains.

One thing is certain – and we saw this firsthand on site – the Melia Casa Maya makes a great deal of effort and shows a lot of care for its young guests, from the water park to the pool, as well as the main lobby (with pool tables and foosball) and the restaurants, all of which offer many child-friendly dishes.

ROOMS & RESTAURANTS

In a pre-trip chat with Nathalie Carpentier, Director of Sales, Eastern Canada at Meliá Hotels International, we learned that the intimate all-inclusive resort offers seven room categories. All of them feature a balcony, with the exception of the base-level rooms, which instead have large windows that open.

“During a fam trip, most of the travel advisors who accompanied me were pleasantly surprised by the hotel’s restaurant-to-guest ratio,” said Carpentier. “Often, a property of this size has only one or two restaurants, whereas the Meliá Casa Maya offers four: the Merkado buffet, the grill right next door (both with large terraces overlooking the pool), as well as the Italian restaurant Casa Nostra (equipped with a wood-fired pizza oven) and Cape Nao, which offers varied menus (Mexican, Mediterranean, etc.).”

THE LEVEL ADVANTAGES

Vacationers looking for special touches or a more upscale experience can opt for The Level at Melia Casa Maya.

The suites in this category are very spacious: in addition to the bedrooms and bathrooms (all equipped with showers only), they feature dining area– some even have kitchenettes – and living rooms that open onto balconies. They also include Nespresso coffee machines, sound systems, and upgraded bath amenities, as well as bathrobes, slippers, beach bags, and other welcome essentials for children.

As Carpentier explained, the size of the hotel does not allow guests in the The Level category to have a dedicated restaurant, but they are the only ones who can have breakfast at Cape Nao restaurant (with a choice between a buffet and à la carte dishes). They also have access to a VIP lounge, a dedicated beach area, concierge services, and other perks, such as the opportunity to experience the Chef’s Table at the Casa Nostra restaurant (about US$100 per person). A true feast for both the eyes and the palate, it was one of the highlights of our stay.

As Girault Boutet sums up well, Melia Casa Maya Cancun is small, tailor-made for young families, both lively and friendly – but not exactly quiet. And Canadians (who are increasingly numerous and now make up 35% of guests) are more than welcome there!

A DESTINATION THAT KEEPS GROWING

Although he’s been GM for only a few months, Girault Boutet has over 35 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including some 30 years in Mexico.

He loves and knows Mexican culture well. In an interview, he shared that Cancun hotels face significant challenges in carving out a niche, recruiting and retaining quality staff in this beach region, which now stretches from Costa Mujeres to Tulum. That’s almost 200 km, and the region is home to 137,000 rooms – 95% of which are all-inclusive – with an additional 4-5% more rooms added each year.

According to Girault Boutet, this destination continues to attract the North American market because it has developed offerings for all market niches and because it has managed to renew itself and offer something new to successive generations.

Some suggestions? Girault Boutet cites the Maya Museum, the MECO archaeological site, the JOIA dinner show by Cirque du Soleil (about an hour from the hotel), and the many theme parks operated by the Xcaret group.

Melia Casa Maya is also a 10-minute walk from the ferry to Isla Mujeres, another great diversion for vacationers here.

Lead image caption: The general manager of the Melia Casa Maya, Jean François Michel Girault Boutet (all images ©Nathalie DeGrandmont)