There are plenty of all-inclusive options along the Cancun hotel zone, but few that are able to side-step some of the more common resort stereotypes. Created as a beach getaway with a wine focus, Secrets the Vine has an incredibly long list of wines from around the world. You are always welcome to order from the extensive menu, but if you’d like to try a few things before you do, you can attend the twice-weekly wine tasting at the Piano Lodge Red Vine bar near the lobby.
If wine is not your thing, the lobby bar has a good selection of cocktails in a semi-upscale setting (which doesn’t mean that you also can’t come in flipflops), and the Vine Bar, also on the first floor, hosts ruckus karaoke nights and live music later in the evening.
The hotel boasts seven restaurants — They have a no-reservations policy, which means less stress if you want a little serendipity in your life. Each is ample enough in size that it’s rare that there’s much of a wait anyway. The private chef’s table is another option, in your own private dining room off the main lobby.
The upgrade to preferred club level allows guests to access the 11th floor clubhouse with a private pool and dining areas that serve all day. In the evening, intimate tables for two are set up on the lagoon side of the hotel to watch the sunset.
Secrets has a full-sized gym with views of the blue blue Caribbean below and a spa that offers hairstyling, pedicures, manicures, massages, and hydrotherapy, making it a good place for wedding parties.
Every room is ample and comfortable and doesn’t feel like the churned-out sameness of some all-inclusives. Seating areas, double vanities, large showers, separate toilet stalls, and large, comfortable beds provide enough space for lounging and truly enjoying your room.
Because the building sits perpendicular to the hotel zone peninsula, views from the balconies are of both the Caribbean and the Nichupte lagoon, sunset and sunrise, and the hotel zone, which stretches out in front of you like a glittering jewel surrounded by water.
Amenities here include Pharmacopia bath products, robes, slippers, lock-boxes, a mini fridge with soda and juices (and alcohol at higher levels), hairdryers, a welcome snack and bottle of wine, and flat screen TVs.
Beyond the preferred club pool are two more massive hotel pools, one running east to west alongside the building, meaning maximum sun all day long. Bars are set up next to each pool, and waiters will occasionally come by to tempt you with a libation or snack from the menu.
- Buy Travel Insurance
- Get an eSim to be able to use your smartphone abroad.
- Skip the Line: Cancun Coco Bongo Entrance Ticket
- Guided Tours in Mexico
- Get a Car Rental
There are some fun activities like pool float races and other things, but generally, the vibe is mellow and fun. A beach access allows you to get your feet in the sand, and when the summer months bring sargassum seaweed, you can just slip back into the property and take advantage of the pool.
The downstairs main dining area has a buffet breakfast that covers almost any craving, from raw tuna to granola to chilaquiles, and the quick-stop Market Cafe has coffee, pastries, and other things to go. A lobby-level shop sells anything you might have forgotten, like sunscreen or a hat, as well as linen clothing, souvenirs, sunglasses, and more.
There are no obligatory all-inclusive bracelets here, and you won’t be expected to do much more than simply enjoy yourself. For an adults-only experience that doesn’t fall into the cheesy stereotypes of all-inclusive Cancun hotels, Secrets is a breath of fresh air in its refinement and style. The average daily room rate is $299 USD, depending on the season and level you choose, with the high season from December to April and the slowest from September to mid-November.
Check rates for Secrets The Vine Cancun online at Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda.com, or Hotels.com.
