Thank you to the Secrets Playa Mujeres staff for helping to make this week-long vacation for my boyfriend and me memorable and fun!
Facilities- This resort is only a few years old. The decor is suitable, think 2000s-style spa aesthetic with the dark wood and white walls. Personally, I'd think a luxury resort would have been built and designed with more modern decor, but that might be the south Floridian in me critiquing.
The resort itself is very clean. This is the first resort I have stayed where they offer room service twice a day instead of once. Love it! After tracking sand from the beach and accumulating shot glass after glass, you'll want the midday maid service.
Room- Unfortunately, the first day shocked my boyfriend and I both. We paid for an ocean view and got a room with a view of palms and trees blocking everything. To make it worse, we are convinced our first room contained mold. There was evidence of this as we first walked into the room- the A/C was on full blast, yet it was muggy and there was condensation on the mirror...also an odor in our small entry hallway.
After complaining to the front desk, they switched us to a true ocean view room that night. Much better but the first experience reflects on my overall rating.
The rooms come with a shower room, big enough to fit two people and a hot tub with jets that can fit two as well. I will say I am impressed that hot water is an abundance at this resort.
Food- If this section can get five stars alone, it would. From the flavors to the presentation to the portion sizes- we were both very happy.
~Bordeaux: The steak is the best thing on the menu- we actually preferred the French restaurant at the neighboring Dreams resort much better. If you sit outside, often there will be a small jazz band or a violin player on the Himitsu patio you can see and hear clearly.
~Market Cafe: One of the healthiest buffets I have seen at any resort. If you're vegan or maybe just need a little detox from all the partying, grab some tuna tataki and a kale salad here!
~Oceana & Portofino: Didn't try as we heard from every couple that the food was bland.
~Himitsu: Omg, omg. I wish we had this restaurant at home. This is just one of the tastiest Asian eateries we have been to and easily the best restaurant in the resort.
~Hang around Barefoot Grill around lunchtime- one day they will have strictly seafood- grilled octopus, sauteed prawns, grilled salmon, shucked oyster, and mussels. One day they will grill hotdogs and hamburgers. One day they will serve gin and coconut juice in a coconut. Yum. It varies so just keep visiting every day as it changes frequently.
If you are staying here make it a point to go to the Fiesta (typically on Sunday) and the BBQ (inquire the day at the front desk). These dinners are outside and included in your stay.
You'll get to taste many different types of food. The Fiesta bar had a taco station, a chicken station, a tequila station, a dude with a tequila cart, a dude making paella, and so many other things I forgot to mention! This is also a great way to view free entertainment and meet other vacationers.
Drinks- Ketel One is included so I was a happy girl! I would say that the liquors are mid-shelf. If you are a beer and wine drink, you're covered all the way around. If you just like pretty, fruity alcoholic mixed drinks- girl (or dude) this is the place for you! Bahama Mama and The Superman are super popular and live up to the hype.
Also, if you want to make your trip just a little more comfy, get a stack of dollar bills. Yes, the place is all-inclusive, but those dollar-tip-per-drink get you lightspeed service and often the staff will cue you in on little tips and tricks to make your experience even better.
Entertainment & Resort Culture- We stayed here for a week and frowned when we had to leave the resort. There are many classes and activities to do for every type of vacationer. You can wake up and do yoga- or go rifle shooting. Take a ride around the property on bikes or take Zumba at the pool with your fellow early AM drunks (which I highly recommend and you'll see that people-watching here is very entertaining).
The entertainment staff works very hard to keep the guests engaged in whatever is going on. We took a ceviche class, sushi rolling class, pole dancing class, went to a rock show, saw a Mariachi band, went to a Mayan ceremony, saw a rodeo performer, saw fire performers...and many other things. The entertainment staff has great English and are so personable. Chat it up with them and they will tell you after so many other things going on in the resort you may be unaware of.
As far a resort culture goes, my boyfriend and I met so many other fun couples! An extrovert's happy place.
Thank you again Secrets for the memories! We'd love to come back read more