I recently stayed at Secrets the Vine Cancun and Breathless Cancun Soul which confirmed why Secrets, Breathless, and Dreams are among my favorite all-inclusive resort brands. From food to entertainment, property to service, each delivers a great experience and a good value for consumers who value vacations with the option to be active or simply relax, have healthy meal options, enjoy beautiful beaches and pools, and experience top level service.
Secrets Resorts & Spas is an adults only resort focused on four pillars that explain perfectly what you will experience. The pillars are romantic, tranquil, special dining experiences, and a beautiful spa. Secrets the Vine, like all the other Secrets resorts caters specifically to couples who are more interested in relaxing and quality alone time than loud, thumping music around the pools and parties every evening.
Secrets The Vine: Romance
From the moment you step on the property you’ll notice the subtle touches that are the hallmark of relaxation and romance. Beautiful decorative touches in the lobby are the first thing you’ll notice but as you explore the property you’ll find multiple places to watch beautiful sunrises and sunsets, a beach perfect for hand in hand strolls with your special someone, and beautiful pools surrounded by lounge chairs and umbrellas — that you don’t have to fight over with other guests.
Turn the romance up to 11 with some extra special options that cost a little extra but are well worth the up-charge — you can thank me later. The first upgrade I’d suggest is Love Unlimited (if it’s available). It includes a 25 minute couples massage and breakfast in bed with mimosas. Other romantic upgrades include dinner on the beach and wine tastings.
If this is a really important romantic getaway and you are planning to get engaged, make sure you check out the Pop the Question package for an extra memorable experience. Secrets the Vine also has wedding, honeymoon, and vow renewal packages.
Even without these optional packages and activities, from beautiful views and turquoise waters to beautiful rooms and intimate dining venues, Secrets the Vine delivers on their promise of a romantic getaway.
Secrets the Vine: Tranquility, Pampering and Fun
What comes to mind when you think of the words tranquility and all inclusive resort? If you see a mental picture of a spa, at Secrets the Vine you wouldn’t be wrong. You might see a picture of the world-class Pevonia Spa next to the word “tranquility” in the dictionary.
The Secrets Spa by Pevonia is the perfect place to treat yourself to a tropical body wrap, signature facial treatment or share a couples massage. The phrase, “pure indulgence” is what comes to my mind. A chance to turn off your cell phone, ditch the smart watch, and enjoy being pampered.
Shop: Secrets Resorts & Spas
A spa may be the obvious example of tranquility and being pampered, but as mentioned before, the entire property is peaceful. Imagine sitting quietly on the beach and being able to hear the waves lap at the shore, having friendly waiters and waitresses serve you right on the beach (or pool side), and having a concierge assist with all your requests.
We had just come from Breathless Soul and, while it’s a beautiful property, it is not relaxing. We were amazed at the quiet, relaxing environment, especially since Secrets the Vine is right in the middle of the hotel zone. There were places to relax on comfortable furniture throughout the property, and even though the resort was completely booked, we never felt crowded and the ambiance was consistent everywhere we went.
If you’re like me and get bored lounging around, there are plenty of activities to get you off the lounge chair and many of them are free. From musical performances and shows to beach and pool volleyball and theme nights, focusing on fitness in the gym or taking cooking or mixology classes, the choice of whether to just relax or find something to do is yours.
Secrets The Vine: Dining and Drinks
With nine restaurant options (five formal gourmet restaurants, a buffet, a grill and a cafe), you can choose from a wide variety of local and international flavors. Whether you choose an elegant fine-dining experience, more casual fare, or just a quick snack, there is a place that will meet your comfort level — and reservations are never required.
Jen and I only stayed one night, so our experience with the meal options was limited. We enjoyed lunch at Barefoot Grill, a very casual restaurant near the pool on our first day and Sea Salt Grill the second. We ate dinner at the fantastic Italian restaurant, Nebbiolo, which I highly recommend based on both food, service, and the sommelier who paired delicious wine with our meals.
In the morning, before checking out, we decided to sit on the beach and then eat breakfast. When we got there, the beach chairs weren’t set up yet so instead we sat to the side of one of the pools and faced the beach. We watched the sky get darker by the minute and as the clouds rolled in we could see the rain falling. Needless to say, a few sprinkles, which we thought might only last a few minutes, turned into a heavy downpour.
It’s important to have a general sense of where things are when you’re at a resort. We didn’t, but we were lucky because we ran for cover and ended up in the Market Cafe where the breakfast buffet is located. The staff, who were smart enough to get under cover before the heavy rain brought us towels, and we enjoyed a big laugh with them over our misreading of the clouds.
As far as the food at Secrets the Vine, I’d separate our formal dinner from casual breakfast and lunches. In all cases the service was impressive, the decor and ambiance fit the overall mood of the resort, but a serious foodie would be underwhelmed. At the casual restaurants there are lots of choices, and Jen and I enjoyed our meals, especially dinner, and we\’d happily go back in a second, but if you’re the type of person who enjoys dining at Michelin star or James Beard experiences, there are better all-inclusive options.
I like good food but what I really like are vacation cocktails. A quick search for “bars” would prove that to be true. But I digress.
Secrets the Vine features seven bars and lounges. They are, in no particular order, Manatees and Sugar Reef (poolside), Barracuda (on the beach), Halftime (sports bar), Red Vine (a piano lounge), Red Vine Bazaar (wine cellar bar) and what ended up to be my favorite, The Vine Lounge & Terrace which was in the lobby. Of course you can also order drinks from each of the restaurants.
Each location has signature drinks and the bartenders at each had their own cocktails if you’re feeling adventurous. The cocktails were delicious and in addition to the most common options, I had some amazing twists on the classics, and some bartender originals which were both beautiful to look at and pleasing to drink.
One nice thing Secrets offers is something they call Sip, Savor, and See. This complimentary program lets you visit a nearby “sister” resort for an evening where you can enjoy dinner, drinks, and entertainment before heading back to your “home resort” for the night. You’ll have to pay for the transportation between the resorts, but the concierge will help in making arrangements.
Secrets The Vine Room Categories / Preferred Club
What would a review of an all inclusive resort be without referencing the rooms? For general information, there are 497 non-smoking guest rooms and suites. Each has Italian porcelain floors and teak wood furnishings which make every room both beautiful and sophisticated. All rooms have one king or two queen size beds, a private terrace or balcony, complimentary mini-bar (that is restocked daily), and a lavish bathroom wrapped in white glass.
There are a variety of room categories at Secrets the Vine including Deluxe Partial Ocean View, Deluxe Ocean View, Junior Suite Ocean View, Honeymoon Suite Ocean View and Ocean Front, and Master Suite Ocean View and Ocean Front. The two deluxe categories (partial ocean view and ocean view) can hold up to three guests, Master Suites can hold 3 (if one is willing to sleep on a pull out sofa) and the rest are double occupancy.
You may think the difference in these categories is the size of the room which is accurate. Deluxe rooms are 475 sq. ft. Junior and Honeymoon Suites are 712 and 770 respectively, and the Master Suites are 1,324 sq. ft. but it’s not just the size of the room, it’s where the rooms are located. Bigger rooms, better location, better views and the Master Suites have a separate “living area” which is a fancy way of saying there’s a partition. By way of example, I stayed in a Preferred Club Deluxe Ocean View and my balcony (pictured above) was facing another building but had a great unobstructed “side view” of the ocean.
On the topic of Preferred Club, it is 100% worth it to upgrade. Not only does Preferred Club add extra room categories, PC Governor Suite and PC Presidential Suite, there are perks!
- 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.
- Personalized check-in and check-out
- Butler Service
- Upgraded mini-bar
- Upgraded bath amenities
- and a Private PC pool
In conclusion, Secrets the Vine in Cancun is a great all inclusive resort for couples who want a luxury experience in a laid back, relaxing environment where they can focus on each other.
