Havana, Dec 29, (RHC), – Meliá has announced the January opening of its 27th hotel in Cuba, the Meliá Jardines del Rey – a five star, all-inclusive on the Cayo Coco key.

The behemoth hotel (the largest on Cayo Coco) sits on Playa Flamenco, one of the newest stretches of beach to be colonized by hotels, and is built “in the style of a sugar plantation” with 1176 rooms dotted about 25 buildings, some of which overlook the Caribbean.

A central building will house the main buffet and bar, but there will be a “boulevard” with nine themed restaurants, handicraft stalls, sports facilities and pools. At night, there will be six bars and your typical all-inclusive live music.

The set up also includes an ice cream parlor, an “aquabar” actually in the pool, and dance classes at dusk.

Rooms look breezy beachside – all rattan furniture, hardwood floors and pops of color. They appear to be available from 3 January, when rates start at a whopping $306. This is high season, of course; by April, they drop to $198.