Secrets Aura Cozumel

We have just arrived home from a 2 1/2 week stay at Secrets Aura. We will start with the room. The room temperature was comfortable for the whole stay. It was clean, big and nicely furnished. Our housekeepers were on top of it! We were furnished with fresh towels and bed made everyday. The fridge was stocked on a daily basis also. We feel the restaurants were better than average. Some limitations on when they might be opened but overall good food choices since we were able to use Dreams for dinner accommodations. The buffets were better with choices than some of the sit down restaurants. Don't discard the buffet when it's available especially when it is held by the beach. The pool areas and entertainment (music choices and staff) were better than average also. When staff entertain at the pools or play volleyball at the beach don't hesitate to join in. They make it fun and interactive! While the chairs situation could stand to be improved. The chairs in all areas are very lacking. A quick solution would be to have a staff member make rounds in each area and when noticed that chairs are not being used while towels are placed on them, the towels should be removed. A lot of people don't clean up their own towels (shame on them). We have been to a UVC resort where a staff member took towels and small items to a certain area at the bar around the pool. Then the member who was gone 1 hour or longer could collect their items. We feel it isn't fair to keep other guests to have to search and search for empty chairs. Simple solutions would stop the "chair game" of "saving" chairs in any area. Now on to the outstanding people who helped our stay at Secrets Aura so nice. The mentions are in no particular order, we found these individual were great at their jobs.....Gaudencio, bartender, the BEST! He was friendly and knew what we wanted before we even got our turn at the bar. The attendees at the pool area were Wendy and Miguel. Lobby, we were accommodated by Sergio and Athuro, Information from them were helpful. At breakfast, Market Cafe, the sweetest staff included Kenia, Mario, Ricardo, Gastov, Moises and Rene! Lastly, the entertainments amazing team Irving, Wendy, Luz and Temo!!!

We have just returned home from a week at Secrets Aura Cozumel and wanted to share both what we truly appreciated and a few things future guests may want to be aware of when planning their stay in the coming weeks and months. Warm Welcome We were warmly welcomed upon arrival by our concierge Alex, who quickly escorted us to the Preferred Members Lounge. There, we were given an overview of the resort and offered snacks and drinks while we waited for the 3:00 p.m. check-in. Although we arrived early and expected a short wait, we did not receive access to our room until between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. We had to check in five (5) separate times before the room was finally ready, which was disappointing. Alex was attentive to our needs as he kept encouraging use to speak to the staff in the Preferred Lounge, before taking matters into his own hands. While his efforts were appreciated, it did take more time than either he our us expected. Resort and Maintenanace The resort itself has a grand and impressive foyer, and there are many beautiful areas throughout the property to capture memories and photos - from the walk out pier, ocean hammock, to bar swings (Dreams) and Sky Lounge - a top of the main foyer building. However, some parts of the resort are showing signs of wear, including chipped paint, missing pool tiles, and cracked or uneven sidewalks. I am sure being near salt water expediates required upkeep. We understand renovations are planned, which will hopefully address these issues and quality of maintenance and upkeep sometime later this year. Staff - Especially William. What truly stood out during our stay was the exceptional staff. Every team member we encountered was kind, welcoming, and committed to providing a great guest experience. Special mentions go to Wendy from the Entertainment Team who made poolside events, beach entertainment and courtyard Karaoke memorable. Wendy, the server by the Preferred pool who was busy keeping everyone hydrated during the warm days. and especially WILLIAM, the Maitre D’ at the Market Cafe!!!! WILLIAM went above and beyond in every sense. Early in our stay, he became aware of my dietary restrictions and made it a point to personally check in with us throughout the week—even when he wasn’t directly serving us. He remembered us, each time we saw him and he consistently offered thoughtful meal alternatives and ensured I always had suitable options at the buffet, Windows restaurant or during the beach special dinners. On one (1) occasion, he even prepared two (2) tuna steaks when one would have been more than sufficient to show that he takes guests medical restrictions and allergies very seriously. His attentiveness, kindness, and genuine care significantly enhanced our dining experiences. We also appreciated seeing him across different areas of the resort—from the Market Cafe to the beach dinners and other dining venues—which speaks to his dedication. We only wish we had more opportunity to properly thank him, before we had to leave so other guests will be able to experience the attention to detail he so kindly provided. Housekeeping Our room was consistently clean and well maintained; however, housekeeping was occasionally inconsistent, with missing towels or facecloths on certain days. While not a deal breaker, we also only experienced one (1) evening turndown service during our stay. Preferred Guests While we can appreciate the resort’s decision not to use wristbands to distinguish Preferred guests, from other guest or from the Dreams, the sister resort, this approach does create some challenges. Without a clear system in place, it allows non-Preferred guests to access amenities intended for upgraded guests - who have paid for such an experience, including the designated pools, lounge areas, beach chairs, and poolside seating. We understand that towel colour may have previously been used as a way to differentiate access; however, this did not appear to be enforced during our stay. On multiple occasions throughout the week, non-Preferred guests—as well as visitors from the neighboring Dreams resort—were using and, at times, dominating these spaces. As a result, the experience for Preferred guests often felt crowded and did not reflect the added value of the upgrade. Unlimited Membership Experience During our stay, we were invited to attend an Unlimited Membership presentation to explore potentially joining the program. We were told multiple times by Alex and members of the Unlimited team that this would involve a 30–45 minute breakfast followed by a 30–45 minute presentation, with no obligation to join if it the programme wasn’t a good fit. Unfortunately, this was not our experience. The meeting extended well over three (3) hours and involved interactions with approximately eight (8) different representatives, all attempting to upsell various World of Hyatt packages in what felt like a high-pressure sales environment. When we asked for time to review the information and consider the financial commitment privately, we were told this needed to be done within the sales centre rather than in the comfort of our room. Even after being moved to an outdoor patio space, in a last attempt to persuade us to join, the pressure continued, including being asked to commit to a destination choice "free of charge - just to try" without adequate time to research. Ultimately, it took several firm refusals before we were able to conclude the meeting and receive the promised $300 USD in Leisure Cash for attending. While we appreciate the opportunity that was presented, the overall experience felt overly aggressive and detracted from what was otherwise a relaxing vacation. Overall Overall, this resort offers a beautiful setting and truly OUTSTANDING STAFF but improvements in room readiness, general maintenance and enforcement of Preferred Guests experience/amenities would make a significant difference in the overall guest experience. I am confident that if the suggestions provided can be implemented with reasonable effort as has been experienced at other Dream and Secret locations throughout the Mexico and the Caribbean, that future guests will be able have an enhanced stay.

We had a wonderful time at this resort. Going into it our expectations were sort of low based on other reviews. Please do not judge it solely on another person's opinion. I realize a lot if people travel more than us and may experience more high end places. Maybe thats the difference... to us... this was high end. But the resort while maybe needing some upgrades in some ways... was absolutely fabulous. The rooms were clean and the bed was sooo comfortable. Pool areas were beautiful and clean. Staff was incredible and friendly. The spa... while pricey... was Very Impressive!! Food was great in all restaurants and the location was great for snorkeling and scuba. Our favorite thing to do each night was enjoy a drink at the SkyBar and watch the sunsets. My only complaint is not having the advertised hammock or any sort of lounge chair on our private sitting area with our swimup room. Such a waste to not be able to lay back and chill at our room. And to get a chair at the pool you need to be up and reserve with a towel before 630am. Some guests did this multiple days and never came back to use the chairs. Although I applaud the resort staff who eventually started taking notice and freeing up those chairs for others.

Secrets Aura Cozumel: A High-End Perspective on a Budget-Friendly Stay The Context Coming from a history of frequenting the brand’s top-tier properties—including Moxché, Impressions, Maroma, Playa Blanca, and Akumal—we adjusted our expectations for this stay. However, paying 1/3 of the price of a peak stay at Maroma, we found Secrets Aura to be an incredible value when approached with the right strategy. The "Secret" to a Great Stay While Aura is a more modest property compared to the flagship resorts, a few specific upgrades and choices transformed this from an "okay" resort into a fantastic vacation: * The Room: We upgraded to an Oceanfront Corner Suite. The views were spectacular and provided the high-end feel we are accustomed to. * The Bali Bed Strategy: The "chair game" here is intense, with most lounges claimed before 6:00 AM. We bypassed the stress by renting a Bali Bed for the week, ensuring a dedicated spot without the early morning rush. * Dining Hack: Wait times for dinner can be significant. We found that ordering bottles of wine secured us special tables and menus, effectively skipping the long queues. The Highlights * Water & Beach: This is where the resort truly shines. The water is crystal clear, and the swimming and snorkeling were nothing short of amazing. * Service Stars: The staff truly elevated our experience: * Luis (Sommelier): A true service gem; he coordinated our dining arrangements and wine service perfectly and repeatedly checked in on us throughout the days to ensure we were well taken care of. * Geidi (Concierge): Located in the front lobby, she was constantly checking in on us with a smile, making sure our trip felt extra special. * Cristal (Oceana): Provided wonderful service during our lunches. The Food Being honest, the culinary experience does not reach the heights of a property like Impressions or Moxché. However, if you are discerning, there are definitely good things to be found across the menus. The Verdict If you go in expecting Maroma-level luxury at a fraction of the cost, you’ll be disappointed. But if you upgrade the room, book a Bali bed, and connect with the sommelier, Secrets Aura Cozumel offers a phenomenal beach experience that is well worth the investment.

My husband and I stayed at Secrets Aura in Cozumel to beat the winter in the Northeast. The resort was lovely! Our room was clean, comfy and spacious, and the beach and pools were gorgeous. However - it's the people that made it exceptional! We ate most of our meals at Oceana, and Rosana, Cristel and their team (Ricardo, Omar, Luis, Gabriel, Elizabeth and Yonatan) went our of their way to make us feel welcome and serve the delicious food. I'm a bit of a pain - I'm always making special requests - and every morning Cristel would say, "Can I get you decaf with warm milk? And your favorite enchiladas with no onions and extra sauce?". The last day was my husband's birthday, and Rosana arranged for him to have a "pancake" birthday cake with a huge sparkler. It was a hoot and he felt so special! I also have to shout out the entertainment team. We loved playing the poolside games - name that tune, the movie game and bingo. Artemio, Wendy and Luz kept us laughing and engaged. We hope to come back!