Secrets Playa Mujeres Resort in Cancun, Mexico

March 25, 2016

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Luxury Travel Advisor & Founder of Passport To Friday. Follow along on my travels and let me help you plan your dream trip or honeymoon!

I'm Chelsea.

Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Cancun, Secrets Playa Mujeres is its own hidden paradise. If you’re trying to unplug and get away from the distractions of everyday life, this is your place.

With 424 suites, you would think the resort would constantly feel crowded yet this is not the case. The spacious design of the resort allows guests to not be concentrated in one area and therefore rarely feel truly at capacity. And with 6 restaurants typically open for dinner, there are plenty of options each evening so that you never have to eat at the same place more than once. Winning!

I can best tell my story of Secrets Playa Mujeres through pictures, so enjoy my little montage & snipets of my experience.

Secrets Playa Mujeres Outside Cancun, Mexico

Secrets Playa Mujeres Outside Cancun, Mexico

Secrets Playa Mujeres Outside Cancun, Mexico

Secrets Playa Mujeres Outside Cancun, Mexico

The Resort

Secrets Playa Mujeres is large and pretty spread out. The lobby, spa, meeting space, and a few of the restaurants are situated on top of a small hill and then you take golf carts to where all of the rooms, pool, shops, and a few other restaurants are at the beach. You could definitely walk this in about 15 minutes too, but golf carts are consistently circling around so there is no need to. They have also installed a button you can press at the golf cart waiting areas signaling that you are there to ensure faster service. I personally never waited more than around 3 minutes for a golf cart.

There is one large main pool that extends out to an almost infinity edge looking over the beach. There are activities daily so you’ll never get bored and lounge chairs all over if just hanging out is more your jam.

You can also head down to the beach and relax under an umbrella on the sand or grab a drink at Barracuda Bar, complete with swings as bar stools. For the active traveler, play a round of beach volleyball or take a walk down the expansive beach.

The spa is exceptional as well, where I enjoyed a wonderful massage. There is a large variety of services available, although I wish there were more saunas and steam rooms.

While I have stayed at many Secrets properties, this was my first time with Preferred Club access and I’ve got to say it really does make a difference. Preferred Club amenities include: Preferred Club lounge with special check-in and concierge, daily breakfast at Oceana, snacks and appetizers throughout the day in the lounge, upgraded premium liquors, one day pass to the spa, & 20% off spa treatments.

Secrets Playa Mujeres Outside Cancun, Mexico

Secrets Playa Mujeres Outside Cancun, Mexico

The Room

I had a swim-out suite tucked away in a corner of the resort, and previously staying at this resort I have stayed in a suite with an ocean view balcony. Both offer completely different but equally enjoyable experiences. Note that unless you are in Building 1 (which are premium level rooms), you will not have an ocean view in a swim-out suite. So it just depends on your preferences!

One thing I love about Secrets Resorts are all of the in-room amenities. My favorites include the bathrobes & slippers, Nespresso machine, daily restocked mini-bar (with extra room for some of the food I bring!), the hydrotub, and toiletries like sunscreen, bug spray, and razor.

Secrets Playa Mujeres Outside Cancun, Mexico

Secrets Playa Mujeres Outside Cancun, Mexico

Secrets Playa Mujeres Outside Cancun, Mexico

Secrets Playa Mujeres Outside Cancun, Mexico

Secrets Playa Mujeres Outside Cancun, Mexico

Secrets Playa Mujeres Outside Cancun, Mexico

Secrets Playa Mujeres Outside Cancun, Mexico

Secrets Playa Mujeres Outside Cancun, Mexico

Food & Beverage

So all Secrets restaurants are pretty much the same everywhere you go, but I love how they feel different at each resort. At Secrets Playa Mujeres, my favorite ambience for breakfast, lunch and dinner is at Oceana because it is right on the beach. If you’re looking for something more upscale, Bourdeaux and Portofino are your best dinner choices. Enjoy sushi al fresco at Himitsu or experience their habachi table. I love me some good Mexican food so I always make it a point to go to El Patio. And if you don’t want to deal with dress code in the evening, head to Seaside Grill.

My Favorites

  • Breakfast:
    • Egg White Omelet with spinach & rosemary zucchini (no goat cheese) with a side of guacamole & Fruit Plate & Mango/Basil Agua at Oceana (Preferred Club only for breakfast)
    • Make your own omelet at The Market Cafe with egg whites & every veggie possible! Top with pico de gallo salsa
    • Crepes station at The Market Cafe… because crepes are everything
  • Lunch:
    • Make your own stir fry, the salad bar, and make your own quesadillas (sans cheese) at The Market Cafe
    • Tropical Salad and Chicken Tacos (note: these are rolled tacos) at Oceana
  • Dinner:
    • Tortilla Soup (omit dairy) & Al Pastor Tacos at El Patio
    • Scallops with Corn Vinaigrette appetizer, Shrimp Soup appetizer, Glazed Tuna with Lime, Rice, Black & Broad Beans entree, Grilled Salmon with Micro Citrus Salad & Mint Cous Cous entree at Oceana
    • Spring Rolls & Ahi Tuna at Himitsu
    • Mahi Mahi with Chimichurri sauce and side of veggies at Seaside Grill
  • Drinks:
    • “La Bebida de Chelsea”: Mezcal, lime juice, triple sec, splash of pineapple juice, Grand Marnier float, spicy salt rim
    • Espresso, soy milk & a splash of Frangelico blended at Coco Cafe
    • Champagne, always

Secrets Playa Mujeres Outside Cancun, Mexico

Secrets Playa Mujeres Outside Cancun, Mexico

Secrets Playa Mujeres Outside Cancun, Mexico

The Good

  • They catered well to my dairy-free dietary restrictions and made specialized off-the-menu dishes for me.
  • The Convention Services/Groups staff – Hector and his team go above and beyond.
  • The Entertainment staff, specifically David & Marco.
  • The Preferred Club – good alcohol selection, personalized bartending service.
  • Everyone seemed to really, truly love their jobs!

The Not As Good

  • The gym is beautiful, but there are not enough weights. A few mornings I was unable to get any weight workout in (which is why it’s good I travel with a resistance band so I can still get a good arm workout in!)
  • The restaurants do not take dinner reservations. I personally did not have a problem being seated for dinner because I never ate at the prime hours, but I heard stories of other people who did have issues.
  • Wifi was out for an entire morning once and the time it was supposed to be up & running again kept being pushed back. This could have been a freak incident, but it really affected my work.
  • There can be a long line for breakfast at The Market Cafe on certain days, although it is pretty rare. This happened once during my stay because it was a big departure day for a group staying on property.

Notable Mentions

  • Swim-out suites are not private nor oceanfront unless you are in Building 1.
  • Building 2 has construction on one side. If you are facing the pool, you won’t hear any noise though.
  • Get up early to claim pool chairs!

 

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Safe travels y’all!

Best,
Chelsea Rose Martin

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Hi, I'm Chelsea Martin, Luxury Travel Advisor & Founder of Passport To Friday. I've been planning bespoke luxury vacations and honeymoons for almost a decade now. I can't wait to help you plan the trip of a lifetime! 

A true Cancer, hotel-slipper-obsessed gal whose IG Explore page is full of dogs.

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