Mexico .... Dos Mas'

Got Two more coming up this year!  Booked Secrets the Vine for a quick three nighter following a bike related trip, then decided on a follow up at Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mueres a few weeks later.  Had to twist Lucy's arm for both so hoping they both meet our expectations as Maroma Beach and Akumal have.  Got a great value via UVC and AA airline miles/points.  Good days ahead. Viva La' Mexico!

The Vine

Experience the Preferred Club

  • Daily continental breakfast service
  • Afternoon hot and cold hors d’oeuvres
  • Exquisite desserts and premium liquors
  • Access to Preferred Club lounge and bar open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Service with Our Compliments
  • Preferred Club suites in premium locations
  • Personalized check-in and check-out
  • Butler Service
  • Upgraded mini-bar
  • Upgraded bath amenities
  • Pillow menu

Privacy Reserved for You

  • Exclusive access to private Preferred Club pool
The Vine

Preferred Club Pool

Comprehensive PRO vs. CON list for Secrets The Vine Resort (Cancún) based on the visitor reviews and experiences shared:

🌴 PROS – What Guests Loved

🏨 Rooms & Views

  • Spectacular ocean and lagoon views from high-rise floors (especially 21+).

  • Spacious, clean, and modern rooms — many guests received free upgrades to Preferred Club or suites.

  • Comfortable beds and well-maintained rooms.

  • High-rise feel offers quick access to amenities (everything close together).

🍽️ Food & Dining

  • Dragons (Asian) and Blue Water Grill (steakhouse) consistently praised for food and service.

  • Breakfast and lunch buffets at Market Café were excellent and fresh.

  • Pastries and coffee at the café were a hit (especially pretzels and vanilla iced lattes).

  • Wide variety of restaurants with international options; some guests called the food among the best of all AMR resorts.

  • Room service breakfast rated excellent by several guests.

🍹 Bars & Drinks

  • Sugar Reef Bar: best-tasting cocktails.

  • Manatees Bar: strongest drinks.

  • Great beach and poolside drink service if you tip early and regularly.

🏖️ Beach, Pools & Atmosphere

  • Preferred pool highly praised — warm, shielded from wind, quieter vibe.

  • Multiple pools allow guests to choose between party or relaxed atmospheres.

  • Beautiful, busy beach with access to parasailing and water sports.

  • Gorgeous rooftop and ocean views throughout property.

  • Small resort footprint makes it easy to walk everywhere.

💼 Service & Staff

  • Outstanding service from butlers, concierges, waiters, and UVC reps.

  • Staff frequently go above and beyond (e.g., leaving gifts, special touches for anniversaries).

  • Fast elevators and easy navigation of resort.

🎉 Activities & Entertainment

  • Plenty of activities and shows throughout the day (poolside games, music, wine tastings).

  • Nightly fireworks on lagoon side (some dates).

  • Lively but not overwhelming for those seeking a mix of fun and relaxation.

🏝️ Location

  • Located directly on the Cancún Hotel Zone strip — easy access to shops, restaurants, Coco Bongo, and Isla Mujeres ferry.

  • Convenient for nightlife and excursions.

💎 Preferred Club Benefits

  • Larger rooms, private pool, better wind protection, and exclusive restaurant (Olio).

  • Private check-in and sometimes butler service (especially on higher tiers like Black Impression).

⚠️ CONS – Common Complaints

😴 Noise & Atmosphere

  • Elevator noise early in the morning; concierges greet loudly near rooms.

  • Feels more like a hotel than a tropical resort; high-rise vibe not for everyone.

  • Crowded pools and beach; chairs tightly packed and “chair game” starts early (by 7:30 AM).

  • Loud neighboring resorts and kids from adjacent hotels entering The Vine’s beach area.

🛏️ Room Issues

  • Pillows described as terrible despite a “pillow menu.”

  • Dim lighting in rooms and throughout resort.

  • Some rooms face loud HVAC systems (avoid that side).

  • Balcony privacy limited due to side slats.

🍽️ Dining Challenges

  • Long waits (40–60 minutes) for dinner unless you buy wine/lobster.

  • Room service food hit or miss — limited menu and average quality.

  • Service inconsistency — some restaurants (like Olio, Sea Salt Grill) cited for slow or inattentive service.

  • No full dinner buffet most nights, only breakfast/lunch buffets.

🍸 Drinks & Bars

  • Some guests found drinks weak or inconsistent; “drink of the day” often unavailable.

  • Limited high-end liquor options unless you know where to look.

💆‍♀️ Spa & Cleanliness

  • Massage quality varies greatly; one guest’s therapist reportedly fell asleep mid-session.

  • Public bathrooms sometimes dirty or not cleaned frequently enough.

🧘 Vibe & Entertainment

  • Can feel too quiet or sleepy — minimal music and subdued nightlife.

  • No large-scale evening shows; mostly musicians and small acts.

  • Not ideal for those wanting a relaxing tropical resort or party scene — feels in-between.

💰 Value

  • Some guests feel pricey for what you get, especially compared to other Secrets resorts.

  • Preferred Lounge small and crowded; underwhelming for its name.

🧾 Overall Summary

Secrets The Vine Cancún shines for:

  • Modern luxury and stunning high-rise views

  • Great food (especially at Dragons and Blue Water Grill)

  • Excellent staff and service

  • Convenient location in the Hotel Zone

…but may disappoint those expecting:

  • A spread-out, tropical resort atmosphere

  • Consistently top-tier food/drink quality

  • Quiet relaxation or vibrant nightlife (it’s somewhat in between)

Best suited for:
Couples or adults who enjoy a modern, upscale, high-rise resort with great service and views, and don’t mind a bustling, urban-beach atmosphere.





Playa Blanca

Experience the Preferred Club

  • Personalized check-in and check-out
  • Afternoon hot and cold hors d’oeuvres
  • Exquisite desserts and premium liquors
  • Access to Preferred Club lounge and Beach Bar
  • Complimentary computer access

Service with Our Compliments

  • Preferred Club suites in premium locations
  • Upgraded mini-bar 
  • Upgraded bath amenities

Privacy Reserved for You

  • Butler service
  • Preferred Club Beach Bar
  • Bali beds in the pool and beach area exclusively for Preferred Club guests*
  • Exclusive dining access at the Preferred Club Beach restaurant



Playa Blanco






Condensed PRO vs. CON list for Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres based strictly on the reviews provided:

🌴 PROS

Staff & Service

  • Outstanding, personable staff across the resort (butlers, concierges, pool teams, bar staff).

  • Concierge via WhatsApp is super helpful for reservations, fixes, daily activity updates.

  • Housekeeping & turndown generally quick, thorough, and responsive.

Preferred Club Perks (when the upcharge is reasonable)

  • Private lounge, pool, and beach area with top-shelf liquor and strong service (cold towels, sunglass cleaning, umbrella setup).

  • Extras like a Secrets beach bag, in-room liquor bottle, and private check-in.

  • Many felt PC was worth it for the PC pool (less so just for liquor).

Rooms

  • Large, modern, well-equipped (steamer, hairdryer, makeup mirror; bug spray provided).

  • Swim-out Junior Suites praised; strong A/C and ceiling fan.

  • Views (oceanview buildings) often excellent; some TVs include NY channels + Netflix/YouTube.

  • Minibar restocked; turn-down nightly.

Grounds, Pools & Beach

  • Beautiful, clean, lush property with a jungle/beach vibe; easy to navigate after day 1.

  • Multiple pools for different moods: Jungle (quiet/shaded), Infinity/Preferred (relaxed), Social (lively).

  • Warm, clear ocean and soft white sand; typically minimal seaweed.

  • Plenty of beach chairs reported by some (others wanted more—see Cons).

Food & Drink

  • Overall good to very good food; standouts mentioned:

    • Himitsu (Asian): hibachi + tempura/miso; often a favorite.

    • Bordeaux (French): strong meals, great filet.

    • Seaside Grill: great breakfasts (PC), steaks, mahi mahi, shrimp; gorgeous views.

    • Portofino (Italian): gnocchi/lasagna loved by several.

    • Market Café buffet: big variety, Saturday raw bar, fresh tortillas/quesadillas.

    • Coco Café: excellent coffee, affogato, pastries.

    • Sugar Reef & Rendezvous: consistently great cocktails; fun center hub with fire pits.

  • Room service often fast and reliable, especially breakfast/coffee pre-scheduled via app.

Activities, Spa & Extras

  • Daytime entertainment solid (pickleball, yoga, pottery, silent disco a hit).

  • Excursions easy (Isla Mujeres, fishing) with good operators.

  • Hydrotherapy included with 80-min massage (experience varies—see Cons).

  • LGBTQ+-friendly with guests feeling comfortable and welcomed.

⚠️ CONS

Dining & Reservations

  • Dinner can be slow (often ~2 hours).

  • Himitsu/hibachi slots book up; reported long waits or reservation issues.

  • Service inconsistency across restaurants; a few mix-ups and one poor hibachi experience.

  • Seaside Grill lunch sometimes rushed (courses stacked).

  • Allergy labeling errors noted (e.g., El Patio menu mis-labeled) though staff accommodated once alerted.

  • A few stomach issues reported by one party.

Nightlife & Venues

  • Nightlife is limited; shows described as “okay/cheesy” (burlesque best).

  • No true indoor lobby/piano bar—on hot/humid nights, Sports Bar is the only cool indoor hangout.

Spa & Hydro

  • Hydrotherapy features temperamental (short cycles, buttons finicky; some stations out of order).

  • Massage quality mixed; some felt not worth the price.

Rooms & Facilities

  • Limited outlets (only one at the nightstand in 2-queen rooms—bring a multi-plug).

  • Bathroom privacy can be lacking in some room layouts.

  • Occasional housekeeping misses (some guests had to request cleaning).

Beach & Pool Seating / Shade

  • Not enough palapas/huts right on the beach for shade per some guests.

  • Chair availability reviewed as mixed (fine for some, tight for others).

Policies & Logistics

  • Mosquitoes can be noticeable (especially near hydro/“tropical” areas) though some visits were fine.

  • Strict dress code at dinner indoors (men need trousers; no vests even at breakfast/lunch inside).

  • Resort credit coupons sometimes delivered late and not very valuable.

💡 Good to Know (Tips from the reviews)

  • Book hibachi with your concierge on arrival.

  • Use the Hyatt app to pre-schedule morning room-service coffee and check menus/activities.

  • WhatsApp your concierge for fixes, reservations, and daily schedules.

  • Quesadilla/tortilla station at the buffet is a don’t-miss; Saturday raw bar too.

  • Bring a multi-plug, light bug spray (though rooms often include OFF), and trousers for indoor dinners.

  • If shade is crucial, consider Bali beds or target the Jungle/Preferred pools.

  • Tipping appreciated but service doesn’t appear to depend on it.

🧾 Bottom Line

A gorgeous, modern, service-forward resort with excellent pools, solid food, and lovely rooms. Best for travelers who value relaxation by varied pools, attentive staff, and a polished vibe more than late-night shows or high-energy nightlife. Preferred Club is most worthwhile if you’ll use the PC pool and beach area; otherwise the standard offering still delivers a great experience.




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