Secrets The Vine Cancun

Just keep the hours of 6-7 in mind when at this resort. This was my first trip to Mexico and I was recommended the Vine by two sets of friends who had come on separate occasions over the last 5 years or so. It’s nice but I wouldn’t say it’s worth the money - and granted I was paying a premium as it was a solo trip so basically paying for two people. But I’d probably still say the same. I was told it was fantastic, luxurious, amazing service and food etc. some parts of the hotel smelt like drains or damp and the toilets in the lobby and by the pool were often blocked/wouldn’t flush. The ladies pool one in particular was blocked every day. I actually found it quite stressful at times. Mainly between the hours of 6am and 7am and 6pm and 7pm. Because if you wanted a decent sunbed (and as someone from England who had seen rain every day for three months solid I certainly needed one of those) you had to be down before 7am to grab one. One day I was there at 6.45am and 80% of the beds were still nabbed. Like other reviews people then didn’t turn up til 11am or midday, just to sit there for an hour and then head off again - still keeping their places. Now I’m on holiday here. I haven’t slept well for months due to personal reasons and wanted a chill stress free holiday where I don’t have to be up at the crack of dawn (literally - watched the sunrise from my sunbed every morning) to get a sunbed. This meant having to be in bed asleep at 9pm to be able to function well enough in the morning so i didn’t get to experience any of the evening entertainment. The one upside (if you could call it that) is that due to having to be in bed so early I had to go to dinner earlier. This is when the 6-7pm bit comes in. If you want to not wait 30-45mins for a table you need to be at the restaurants at 6pm on the dot to walk in. I made the mistake of thinking 6.40pm would be ok for Dragons and still had to wait an hour. Most of the time they had plenty of tables free (see pics) andi assume they don’t want to overwhelm the kitchen by having too many covers. Which is silly because people would prefer longer to eat their food with a full restaurant than 1 hour sitting time with a half empty restaurant. Which brings me to my next point. Once in any restaurant, again may be because I’m by myself, I was hurried through my courses. My mains were bought as I was still eating my appetisers some of the time, others there was only a 5min gap. Again it would be nice to appreciate the drink you’re having, take time for your food to digest etc. The restaurant choice is good don’t get me wrong, and the food I had was delicious it just wasn’t the relaxing experience I was hoping for.

Overall it was a luxury vacation in Cancun at Secrets the Vine. There were definitely many pros, and some cons for this hotel. I will start with the pros: - Location: Close to the airport, ~20 min drive - Atmosphere: Has the Secrets 5 star luxury vibe. The resort is well kept and clean. One of the biggest highlights was the staff at this resort. Everyone was so kind, respectful, and attentive. I would like highlight Miguel (server at Dragons, Nebbiolo), Juan (bartender) and Marco at the Market Cafe. The staff working by the main pool were fantastic as well. I don't recall their names, but super attentive and helpful. Also the staff working at the Vine Bazaar cafe were such a joy each day!! - The food: I very much enjoyed the food at this resort. The specialty restaurants were a highlight, particularly Dragons, Olio, Sea salt grill. The breakfast buffet was also great. - Rooms: We had an ocean view room, and it did not disappoint! We had a clear view of the ocean. Cons: - My biggest con is the lounge chair situation by the pools. Unfortunately, given the layout of the resort, there aren't enough chairs available for guests. As a result, we have people waking up at 6-7am to reserve chairs with towels... Biggest pet peeve! There were multiple days we would come down by 9-10am and there would be almost zero chairs available by ANY of the pools! The hotel should do something to reinforce or fix this issue. The one positive is that, twice, we asked the staff for some help and they located chairs that were unused/"reserved" by towels. They removed them, and gave to us but this shouldn't have to happen! - This is more of a preference, but I quickly learned I prefer a more flat resort vs a high-rise resort. This gave the resort more of a hotel vibe, so you can expect to wait for an elevator! - Gym: Not a huge deciding factor, but the gym is smaller than expected. If 10-15 people are there, it can feel crowded pretty quickly. A positive is the gym has a great view of the resort/pool/beach! Overall I'm happy with my vacation. I don't think I would return to this particular resort, but I would be open to checking out other Secret resorts :)

We have just checked out of secrets the vine after our honeymoon. We had never been to an all inclusive hotel before but this one will be very difficult to beat from the moment we arrived the staff were so welcoming. Special shout out to Miguel and Chaviel who were exceptional but honestly every staff member we met was friendlier than the last. We were early risers so always got a sunbed but if you ask the staff they will help you find one. We never waited more than 15/20 minutes for dinner and waited at the bar with a cocktail in hand so we can’t complain about this. The room was so big and spacious and had everything we needed. Atmosphere around the hotel was great. It’s great value for what you get. The hotel is modern, food was fantastic throughout the resort, the entertainment was excellent. Honestly I could not find any fault with this hotel. It was the dream honeymoon destination and I can only dream of ever staying in a hotel as nice as this again. Please tip the staff you deal with as the Work so hard and deserve it.

The service was absolutely phenomenal. Miguel, Xadani, Rodrigo, Jose, and Aisha kept the energy high at the pools and on the beach with water aerobics, beach volleyball, bocce ball, and plenty more to keep our group laughing and moving. Jose even showed up during the evening entertainment, which made the fun feel nonstop. Jaime, Alberto, and Juan were amazing all day long, always nearby and taking wonderful care of us. The food was delicious, the accommodations were beautiful, and the atmosphere was everything we could have wanted, but the staff truly made the trip unforgettable. They were warm, attentive, entertaining, and so much fun to be around. Our girls’ group spanned fifty years, and every one of us felt welcomed, included, and spoiled. It would have been hard not to have a great time in a setting like that, but this staff took it to another level. I’m already hoping to be back next year! It is also worth noting that there were widespread safety concerns circulating before our arrival, but at no point did our security feel questionable. The attended gates and visible care for guest safety added real peace of mind and allowed us to relax and enjoy ourselves fully.

Great hotel with fantastic staff and customer service - variety and options of different restaurants to eat at and great quality food. Room great and preferred club was a good experience and fitness centre also great.