u/Round_Skirt8701

Last time I visited this resort was in 2021 and I'd heard some pretty divided opinions lately so I went back for a full week to see for myself. Here's my honest take.

Secrets The Vine Cancun is adults only, which I already knew and loved. That part hasn't changed. No kids, calm vibe, mostly couples and people celebrating something. The hotel zone location is convenient, you're right in the middle of everything and can walk to shops and feel the energy of Cancun around you without being stuck inside a massive sprawling property. That compact high-rise layout works for me but I know it's not for everyone who wants lush tropical grounds. 

The rooms are showing their age a bit more than I remembered. Nothing broken or dirty, the place is clean, but the furniture and finishes feel dated compared to some newer resorts in the area. Definitely not the wow factor I had on my first stay.

We did Preferred Club this time. The butler on our floor reachable via WhatsApp was legitimately useful, check in happened upstairs away from any lobby line which started things off on the right foot. The rooftop pool stays quieter than the main pools downstairs which was a big deal for us. The main pool areas fill up fast and chair-saving starts embarrassingly early in the morning. That part was frustrating.

Food is where Secrets The Vine really holds its own. The Bluewater Grill was probably my best meal of the entire trip, the steak there is not typical resort food. Olio for Italian was solid too. No-reservations dining means you just show up which removes a lot of stress. The wine program is a real thing here, not just branding. There's a wine wall in the lobby and actual sommelier-led tastings. If you care about wine even a little you'll appreciate it.

The bars were good overall. Plenty of options around the pools and beach, service was attentive most of the time. We never waited too long for a drink which sounds small but after a few bad experiences at other resorts it matters. The beach bar was my favorite spot in the late afternoon.

The beach itself is not the widest and sargassum can show up depending on when you go. We had a few good days and one day where the cleanup crew was working hard. Not the resort's fault but worth knowing before you go.

One thing that bothered me was the nightclub smell one evening, there was a sewer odor that was noticeable enough to cut the night short. Hopefully a one-off but I'm including it.

The spa voucher situation also felt a bit misleading when we got there. I'd just recommend asking very specific questions before you commit to anything.

Overall Secrets The Vine Cancun is still a solid pick for couples who care about food and wine more than having a massive resort layout. Not perfect, and the rooms could use some refreshing, but for what you pay it's genuinely good value. There are better resorts out there, I won't pretend otherwise, but those places also cost significantly more. For the price point Secrets The Vine sits at it's hard to complain too much.

So I just got back from 4 nights at Hyatt Zilara Cancun with my girlfriend. I've been there before in 2021, so I have a pretty clear comparison point.

Back then the resort was fine. Service was decent, location is hard to beat, but the whole property felt really worn down. Rooms were outdated, everything looked like it hadn't been touched in years. When they announced a full closure for renovation starting April 2025, I figured it was time.

They reopened May 2026 after a complete gut renovation. All suites were redone, with new bathrooms, new furniture, new design language throughout. The rooms have this warm earthy vibe with natural textures that ties into the Yucatan surroundings. Practically every tech outlet you'd need is there. Balcony with a jetted tub and ocean view from every room. Bathroom layout is clean, actual privacy between the shower and toilet. It's a proper upgrade from what it was.

Pools got reconfigured too. Two pools, north one is more active with swim-up bar, trivia, foam party. South one is quieter. New loungers, more shaded areas, no towel system drama. Where it gets annoying is that there's no food service at the pool or beach, so people were carrying takeout containers from the buffet. For a resort at this price point that's a gap.

Food was better than I expected for all inclusive. Pier 12 is right on the beach and focuses on Mediterranean and seafood. Good quality, well paced. The buffet at Spices has a lot going on for breakfast and lunch, Mexican options included, made to order items. The new speakeasy Bokeh fits 23 people max and needs to be reserved through the culinary concierge. We didn't get in.

Staff were genuinely impressive. Consistent service throughout the stay. There's a hand-over-heart gesture the whole Hyatt Zilara Cancun team does with every interaction, sounds gimmicky on paper but they actually pull it off.

Beach is still the best thing about this place. Widest stretch in the hotel zone, clear turquoise water. Sargassum is a real issue this season, not just at Zilara, it's all over Cancun right now. The hotel's stretch was manageable compared to some areas we walked, but it was there. The hotel doesn't clean it, that falls on the government. Just something to factor in if you're going this summer specifically.

One honest negative: the gym had 6 out of 11 treadmills out of order. Humidity damage from the renovation, parts still on order. For a brand new renovation that's a bit rough.

Overall for an adults-only couple's trip it does the job well. It's not perfect and it's not the most exciting resort if you want nightlife, it's pretty calm after dark. But compared to what it was in 2021 it's a completely different property.

Just got back with my wife a few days ago from 6 nights at Majestic Mirage Costa Mujeres and i've been seeing a lot of questions about this place lately so figured i'd share what we experienced. we stayed in the Family Club One Bedroom Suite with the outdoor jacuzzi. going in with some expectations because we've done other Cancun resorts before, and here's the full picture.

starting with the room because that's where most of the value is for this place. the suite is massive. Separate living area, proper bedroom, and the jacuzzi on the balcony with ocean breeze was genuinely one of the better touches i've seen at an all inclusive. they had a Nespresso machine, pillow menu, robes, slippers. it felt more like a boutique hotel than a typical resort room. housekeeping was immaculate. our housekeeper didn't just clean, she reorganized things on the bathroom counter in a way that actually made sense. little things like that add up over 6 nights.

the butler service is included for all guests here, which sounds like a gimmick but it's not. our butler Luis handled every dinner reservation for us, helped us schedule the spa, and when my wife wanted a specific breakfast that wasn't on the room service menu he figured it out. it took pressure off the whole trip in a way we didn't expect. check in was under 20 minutes. they walked us through the property, which is big but not overwhelming.

the beach is the real star of this resort. Costa Mujeres is quieter than the hotel zone, and the water here is calm, clear, and shallow for a decent stretch. no seaweed issues when we were there. white sand. we spent probably half the trip just on the beach or at the infinity pool. one thing that doesn't get mentioned enough is how different the pool areas actually feel from each other. it's not just 12 pools in a row. there's the infinity pool with the ocean view which we ended up at most mornings before it got crowded, the swim up bar pools which are more social and active during the day, and then 6 private Bali bed pools that are quieter and more for just sitting there doing nothing. Miguel at the infinity pool bar was the best we encountered the whole trip, makes strong drinks and actually keeps you entertained while doing it. tip, grab your towels early in the morning because the better spots go fast.

the grilling by the pool area, burgers and steaks during the day, was a nice casual option when we didn't feel like sitting down for a full meal.

for activities there's more than we expected. beach volleyball, parasailing, aqua zumba in the pool with instructors doing this daily, pilates and spinning classes in the fitness center. the gym itself is solid, real weights and cables, not the basic hotel gym with 3 machines. evenings had live shows at the theater, the Queen tribute show was the one people were talking about most and it lived up to it.

for families the Mayan Mystique Water Park is a big deal. lazy river, water slides, Tiny Tropics splash zone for younger kids, and a separate kids area with Nintendo consoles, a mini disco and pools with slides. Kids Club staff apparently know kids by name within the first day which a few people mentioned and we heard the same from families around us. the bowling is available too but only included with certain suite bookings so check that before assuming it's open to everyone.

now the stuff that frustrated us, and i want to be real about this because i've seen reviews that skip all of it.

the a la carte restaurants were a problem. not the food itself, the experience. you get seated quickly and then you wait. we waited over an hour for food at two different restaurants on two separate nights. the second time we were sitting in a room that had no real airflow and it was hot. the buffet had better food most nights than the sit down dinners, which was not what we expected at this price point. the L'Essence restaurant in the adults only section was the exception, the experience there was much more polished and the food was worth it. but getting a reservation through the butler took some back and forth.

there's also no signage at the restaurant entrances. we walked past the Italian restaurant twice before realizing it was there. and every menu is QR code only, no printed menus. small thing but it adds friction when you just want to sit down and eat.

the spa is at the neighboring Majestic Elegance property next door, not on site. you walk over, which is fine, but they don't always tell you that upfront. the spa itself was great, cenote-inspired water area was a highlight for my wife.

one thing that caught us off guard: sunscreen at the resort is outrageously expensive. bring your own from home or buy before you get there.

the Costa Mujeres location is about 20-25 minutes from the airport. it's not far but it's north of Cancun, so keep that in mind for transportation costs and plan ahead for the transfer.

overall for us it was a 4 out of 5. the room, the beach, the butler service, and the pool setup made it worth it. the food situation at the a la carte spots needs work and they know it based on the reviews i've read since getting back. if you go, lean into the buffet, the L'Essence, and the infinity pool bar. the Queen show at night. you'll have a good time.

Got back from Marriott Cancun All Inclusive Resort 4 days ago with my wife and our two kids (8 and 6). Took me a few days to even sit down and write this because the laundry pile after a Mexico trip with little kids is just insane lol. Wanted to put down our experience since I had a hard time finding recent reviews of the new version of the property.

Quick context for anyone who doesn't know. This used to be the old Marriott Cancun that originally opened in 1990. They closed it down for a massive renovation and reopened in September 2024 as the first ever Marriott branded all inclusive in the world. So when you read older reviews on Tripadvisor or Reddit you have to check the date because half of them are about the old property. We stayed 6 nights at the start of summer.

The Marriott Cancun All Inclusive feels brand new because it basically is. Terrazzo floors, minimalist design, light wood, big glass wall at the entrance with an ocean view that legit made my 8 year old say "whoaaa" when we walked in. The whole property is laid out so you can walk anywhere in just a few minutes which I loved. We had an ocean view room with two double beds and a balcony big enough for two loungers and a small table. Bathroom was modern, big walk in shower, tile floors easy to clean with sand all over.

Now the food, since I know this is what most people want to know. I read some older reviews from when the property first opened where people complained about the food and I want to push back on that. I don't know if things changed a lot or those people just got unlucky but we ate at almost every restaurant and the food was great across the board.

Casa Madre is the standout. It's the Mexican restaurant, open air, they had a mariachi band one night and a small Mayan dance performance another. The breakfast buffet there is Mexican focused with chilaquiles, fresh tortillas off the comal, tamales, horchata, the full thing. We did breakfast at Casa Madre 3 of the 6 mornings. Hana is the Polynesian one, my wife had the pork belly and still texts me about it. Inside Hana is also Toscani for Italian which is more of a hidden gem, we ate there once and the pasta was way better than what you get at an average all inclusive Italian spot. Mikado and Kasai is the Japanese setup. Mikado is the teppanyaki side with the chef show which my kids LOVED, the fire trick had them screaming. Kasai is the sushi side. We did teppanyaki twice. Delphina is Mediterranean, more health forward, we did it for lunch one day. Botanika is the Lebanese spot, smaller menu but solid hummus and shawarma. La Isla is the casual buffet style place with a family vibe and a huge variety so it became our default lunch when we didn't feel like deciding. There's Mo's Burgers on the lobby level for a late afternoon snack. Press + Start is a sports bar and arcade combo which sounds gimmicky but our kids spent 2 hours there one rainy afternoon while we sat at the bar with cocktails. There's also Cevicheria by the adults pool which has a fish taco cart while you wait for your order, I went there a few times when the kids were at the kids club.

For dinner you do need reservations at the sit down places (Hana, Casa Madre, Mikado, Kasai, Toscani). You can book on the Marriott Experiences app starting 5 days before arrival. We booked all of ours in advance and never had a wait. The casual restaurants are walk in.

The kids loved this place which is the most important part. The kids club is called CAMP Club, indoor and outdoor space, designed for kids roughly 4 to 12, and our two were right in the sweet spot. Themed slime stations, splatter paint cabin, sound cabin where they record music, a CAMP theater for performances, ziplining and a wall climbing area. Our 6 year old didn't want to leave on day 3, we had to literally bribe him to come back for dinner. They take kids basically all day with breaks for meals. There's also a separate teens club for older kids.

The water park area is smaller than what you get at SLS PM or Grand Fiesta Coral if that's what you're picturing, but it has a lazy river that loops, a few water slides, and a kids splash area with mushroom fountains and small slides for toddlers. Our kids spent every afternoon there. The main pool is big with an ocean view and a swim up bar. The adults only infinity pool is on the other side with a hot tub that fits a small crowd. My wife and I snuck off there twice while the kids were at CAMP Club and it was the highlight of the trip for us tbh.

Beach was great. The resort sits in a really nice spot in the hotel zone, in the section where the water turns that turquoise blue color you see on Instagram. Compared to the Riviera Maya beaches the water in this stretch is just bluer, there's no comparison. We didn't get any seaweed during our stay but I know that can change day to day. Sand was clean, lots of beach chairs and umbrellas available, beach service comes around with drinks.

Location wise its in the best part of the hotel zone in my opinion, the section where the beaches are nicest. La Isla shopping mall is walking distance which we did twice for ice cream and to walk around in the evening, theres also a pier with little boat rides over there. The resort connects internally to another Marriott property right next to it so you can walk over and even eat at some of their restaurants (not included in the all inclusive but worth knowing for a date night). Downtown Cancun is a 15 min taxi if you want to do anything off resort. We did one excursion to Isla Mujeres which was perfect for the kids.

Things that werent perfect because nothing is. Pool chairs by the main pool fill up by 8am if you want a prime spot, classic Cancun problem. Casa Madre is open air so a few mosquitoes show up in the evening, bring repellent or just douse yourself at the bar. The property has steps and elevation changes throughout, my mom was originally supposed to come with us and Im relieved she didnt because her knees would have struggled. Nighttime entertainment winds down around 10pm so this is not the place for a party crowd, more of a family vibe. Wifi was fine in the rooms but spotty by the pool. Coffee at breakfast was just ok which surprised me, I ended up walking to the lobby bar most mornings to get a real one before the kids woke up. And one random thing, the lobby has these big TVs that loop a video about Marriott's founder J. Willard Marriott on repeat which got a little weird by day 4 lol.

Cost wise the resort feels worth the value for money, we paid around $450/night which I thought was fair for what you get.

Overall this is now in my top 2 family resorts in Cancun. With kids in the 4 to 10 range the combination of the brand new everything, the food being solid, the CAMP Club being so well done, and the hotel zone beach is hard to beat. I would book Marriott Cancun again without a second thought. Asked my kids on the way to the airport if they wanted to come back and both said yes which never happens in our house.

We just got back from our anniversary at Atelier Playa Mujeres, 7 nights, and it was such an amazing experience.

We've stayed at le blanc cancun and secrets impression moxche before this and Atelier takes both of them for us. We booked through Travelingos and paid way less than what Costco and the resort site were showing us for the same dates. Did the junior suite ocean view which was beautiful. Saw the inspira level rooms and they looked INSANE but were out of our budget for these dates.

The design and art throughout the property sets the tone immediately. Every corner feels intentional, nothing generic about it.

Food was the real standout. takeshi and los abrazos were our favorites, genuinely some of the best meals we've had at any resort. maria dolores is not included in the all inclusive but worth doing at least once. We splurged one night and it felt like a proper restaurant experience, not a resort dinner. el suspiro was the one place that didn't match the level of everything else, skipped it after the first visit.

The rooftop pool was where we spent most of our evenings. Views up there are ridiculous and the cocktails are on another level, not the watered down stuff you usually get at resort pools. During the day we preferred the relaxation pool over the main pool which gets busy. One thing to know, the towel game is real at the cabanas especially at the main pool. Arrived around 9am most days and it was already being played.

There is also a rooftop bar and a small nightclub on the property. We are not really nightlife people but we spent one night there and it was actually really fun, good energy without feeling overwhelming.

Beach had some seaweed during our stay. Not the worst we've seen, nothing like what we've been seeing in photos from playa del carmen right now, but it was there. Staff cleaned every morning but it came back. For anyone who wants a guaranteed clean beach the hotel zone in Cancun might be a safer bet this time of year. That said the beach at Atelier Playa Mujeres is wide and well kept overall.

Service was the thing that really stuck with us. Attentive without being in your face. Staff remembered our names and preferences quickly. The one weak spot was the reservation department which felt a bit slow and impersonal compared to how warm everyone else on the property was.

Inspira sales pitch happens at check in, just a heads up. Easy to decline, nobody pushed after that.

Overall Atelier Playa Mujeres delivered on every level that matters to us.