Secrets Maroma / Iberostar Grand? Riviera Maya... (1 Viewer)

[fantasycurse42]

Wife and I are taking a quick vacay without our son, first time away from him... Going to Riviera Maya, now just deciding on the hotel. 5 days/4 nights quick stint.

Has anyone here stayed at either Secrets Maroma or Iberostar Grand? Leaning towards Secrets due to beach reviews, but would love some feedback...

 

[Mr. Pickles]

Have been to Secrets Silver Sands. Terrific vacation. The beach was rocky, so no swimming in the ocean. Everything was first rate.

 

[culdeus]

secrets maroma is pretty expensive. Around 550/nt for base rate?

It's right on the same beach as probably my favorite hotel experience ever, until it got bought up by a multi national.

For 100 less a night excellence resorts do just as good a job as secrets most people say and you don't get constantly upsold on condos and #### like that.

 

[fantasycurse42]

Have been to Secrets Silver Sands. Terrific vacation. The beach was rocky, so no swimming in the ocean. Everything was first rate.

I've heard lots of good stuff about all the Secrets resorts... The beach was one of the reasons we are looking at Maroma over other spots, reviews say smooth calm seas, private beach.

secrets maroma is pretty expensive. Around 550/nt for base rate?

It's right on the same beach as probably my favorite hotel experience ever, until it got bought up by a multi national.

For 100 less a night excellence resorts do just as good a job as secrets most people say and you don't get constantly upsold on condos and #### like that.

I'll look into Excellence... Which hotel was your best experience?

 

[culdeus]

Have been to Secrets Silver Sands. Terrific vacation. The beach was rocky, so no swimming in the ocean. Everything was first rate.

I've heard lots of good stuff about all the Secrets resorts... The beach was one of the reasons we are looking at Maroma over other spots, reviews say smooth calm seas, private beach.

secrets maroma is pretty expensive. Around 550/nt for base rate?

It's right on the same beach as probably my favorite hotel experience ever, until it got bought up by a multi national.

For 100 less a night excellence resorts do just as good a job as secrets most people say and you don't get constantly upsold on condos and #### like that.

I'll look into Excellence... Which hotel was your best experience?

At the time it was called just simply "maroma". The hotel where secrets is was called ventaclub and was for Italian guidos only and was mostly topless. Maroma was bought by orient express and later someone else. Room rates doubled each time. First time i went we got in for about. 140 nt. now same room is maybe 450-600

 

[bentley]

We stayed at Maroma back before we had kids once. We also used to do excursions there every year when we to Riviera Maya. Beach was pimp.

 

[Abashail]

Wife and I had an awesome stay at the Iberostar Grand a few years ago. The resort is part of a complex with 3-4 other Iberostar properties (paraiso maya?, some others), but the Grand is the only adults only zone. You can wander to the other resorts if you want to, but only Grand guests get to use Grand facilities, and they really take care of you well, We wandered off to the other properties a few times on the first day or two just to check out the beaches and such, but the Grand was just miles above anything. We were walking past the pool one of the other connected resorts where they were having some kind of kids water trampoline event, crossed the tall hedge into the Grand, took five steps and ahh... tranquil oasis. Like night and day.

Highly, highly recommended.

 

[fantasycurse42]

Grand has been booked for mid September... I'll report back.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-AllInclusive

Trip Advisor ranked it number 1 in the world and it was slightly less expensive than Secrets Maroma, so that was the tie breaker.

 

[culdeus]

Grand has been booked for mid September... I'll report back.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-AllInclusive

Trip Advisor ranked it number 1 in the world and it was slightly less expensive than Secrets Maroma, so that was the tie breaker.

It has kids fwiw. That would be a dealbreaker for me.

 

[fantasycurse42]

Grand has been booked for mid September... I'll report back.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-AllInclusive

Trip Advisor ranked it number 1 in the world and it was slightly less expensive than Secrets Maroma, so that was the tie breaker.

It has kids fwiw. That would be a dealbreaker for me.

Not the Grand... Iberostar has 4 resorts connected, however the Grand and all their amenities (rooms, pool, restaurants, etc.) are no children zone and strictly for Grand patrons.

ETA:

Just double checked the website as I was in slight panic mode, but it says:

- Be awed by the majestic décor of this Adults-Only hotel and spa on the Mayan Riviera.

- designed for guests 18 years and older only

http://www.iberostar.com/en/hotels/riviera-maya/iberostar-grand-hotel-paraiso

 

[culdeus]

Grand has been booked for mid September... I'll report back.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-AllInclusive

Trip Advisor ranked it number 1 in the world and it was slightly less expensive than Secrets Maroma, so that was the tie breaker.

It has kids fwiw. That would be a dealbreaker for me.

Not the Grand... Iberostar has 4 resorts connected, however the Grand and all their amenities (rooms, pool, restaurants, etc.) are no children zone and strictly for Grand patrons.

If you run thru the reviews they really don't enforce that very well. If you are there in September I do imagine there won't be any kids at all though.

 

[fantasycurse42]

Grand has been booked for mid September... I'll report back.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-AllInclusive

Trip Advisor ranked it number 1 in the world and it was slightly less expensive than Secrets Maroma, so that was the tie breaker.

It has kids fwiw. That would be a dealbreaker for me.

Not the Grand... Iberostar has 4 resorts connected, however the Grand and all their amenities (rooms, pool, restaurants, etc.) are no children zone and strictly for Grand patrons.

If you run thru the reviews they really don't enforce that very well. If you are there in September I do imagine there won't be any kids at all though.

I was at Bucuti and Tara in Aruba with the wife... There was a small family there, all in their 30's to 50's, but one person who was slightly younger, prob 15-16ish... Weren't causing any problems at all, but out of nowhere the manager walks over, we see a slight argument ensue, and then the young one leaves. Pretty amazing. Highly recommend that hotel for adults only in Aruba.

We are more pool people than ocean people, so even though the beach at Secrets was undeniably better, we went with the better pool at The Grand. I'll be sure to complain if any children are infringing on the peace and quiet, although I REALLY HOPE IT DOESN'T COME TO THAT!

 

[Angry Beavers]

I have not been to either but would throw in a pitch for Secrets Capri.. No kids. Great atmosphere. Smaller resort. Great pool. We have been here twice. HTH

ETA - see you already booked. Hope you have a great time. Curious for the review.

 

[Emerson Biggens]

I have not been to either but would throw in a pitch for Secrets Capri.. No kids. Great atmosphere. Smaller resort. Great pool. We have been here twice. HTH

I've been to Secrets Capri twice also, April this year and last. Absolutely loved it, can't wait to be there again.

My girlfriends family went to Secrets Maroma and loved it.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

I've stayed at the El Dorado in Maroma. Beach was great. Resort was fine. Nice room. Nice pool. Pretty good all-inclusive food. Drinks were rail-ish (my attempt to teach the bartender at the "Martini bar" how to make an actual acceptable martini at least amused some of the other guests). Entertainment was pretty cheesy.

 

[fantasycurse42]

Due to logistics with having our son watched, we had to push this into December

Still excited, but this trip won't be for a few months. Hearing great things about this place, I'll report back then.

 

[Card Trader]

Just got back from 8 nights at Maroma, resort is nice. We had an issue with our shower so they immediately moved us into a penthouse suite, which is similar to the normal rooms but has a full bed and full tub on the balcony.

The beach is great, it's far enough away from the other resorts so there isn't a ton of traffic. No kids was nice. There's always someone around to bring you another drink.

We had a great time and the resort was very nice, I'm not sure it was worth the money though. Interested to know how you like the Grand.

Just tell the resort when you check in that you have zero interest in timeshare/vacation club, they should leave you alone.

 

[fantasycurse42]

Just got back from 8 nights at Maroma, resort is nice. We had an issue with our shower so they immediately moved us into a penthouse suite, which is similar to the normal rooms but has a full bed and full tub on the balcony.

The beach is great, it's far enough away from the other resorts so there isn't a ton of traffic. No kids was nice. There's always someone around to bring you another drink.

We had a great time and the resort was very nice, I'm not sure it was worth the money though. Interested to know how you like the Grand.

Just tell the resort when you check in that you have zero interest in timeshare/vacation club, they should leave you alone.

Culdeus mentioned this above. WTF is this? This is an expensive hotel, not like a free vacation. We've got 5 days and I'm not wasting 15 seconds on this ####. This really happens there?

From everything I read comparing the Grand and Secrets, the reviews were comparable, but supposedly the Grand has a nicer pool while Secrets has a better and more private beach... Would you say this accurate?

 

[Card Trader]

Just got back from 8 nights at Maroma, resort is nice. We had an issue with our shower so they immediately moved us into a penthouse suite, which is similar to the normal rooms but has a full bed and full tub on the balcony.

The beach is great, it's far enough away from the other resorts so there isn't a ton of traffic. No kids was nice. There's always someone around to bring you another drink.

We had a great time and the resort was very nice, I'm not sure it was worth the money though. Interested to know how you like the Grand.

Just tell the resort when you check in that you have zero interest in timeshare/vacation club, they should leave you alone.

Culdeus mentioned this above. WTF is this? This is an expensive hotel, not like a free vacation. We've got 5 days and I'm not wasting 15 seconds on this ####. This really happens there?

From everything I read comparing the Grand and Secrets, the reviews were comparable, but supposedly the Grand has a nicer pool while Secrets has a better and more private beach... Would you say this accurate?

I can't speak to the Grand's pool, but the Secrets beach is GREAT. Tons of chairs and palapas to lay under. The beach and ocean is 100% sand here, no rocks at all, it's pretty much perfect. The pool looked nice, there was a nice swim up bar but I didn't do the pool thing since the world's biggest pool was a few feet away.

And yes, even spending $6k+ they will try to sell you, just a Cancun thing I guess. Different resorts have different ways to do this, they'll call your room and tell you there is a gift for you at the front desk, or they'll tell you they have a special breakfast setup for you etc.

Another thing, make your transfer arrangements before you get to the airport, use a travel company (we normally use Best Day when we go to Cancun), there are vultures there at the airport that will try to timeshare you too. Just walk right where you need to for your transfer, don't let someone fast talk you into a "free" ride or anything.

EDIT: Picture of part of the beach: http://i.imgur.com/n5gF0xy.jpg

 

[culdeus]

Just got back from 8 nights at Maroma, resort is nice. We had an issue with our shower so they immediately moved us into a penthouse suite, which is similar to the normal rooms but has a full bed and full tub on the balcony.

The beach is great, it's far enough away from the other resorts so there isn't a ton of traffic. No kids was nice. There's always someone around to bring you another drink.

We had a great time and the resort was very nice, I'm not sure it was worth the money though. Interested to know how you like the Grand.

Just tell the resort when you check in that you have zero interest in timeshare/vacation club, they should leave you alone.

Culdeus mentioned this above. WTF is this? This is an expensive hotel, not like a free vacation. We've got 5 days and I'm not wasting 15 seconds on this ####. This really happens there?

From everything I read comparing the Grand and Secrets, the reviews were comparable, but supposedly the Grand has a nicer pool while Secrets has a better and more private beach... Would you say this accurate?

I can't speak to the Grand's pool, but the Secrets beach is GREAT. Tons of chairs and palapas to lay under. The beach and ocean is 100% sand here, no rocks at all, it's pretty much perfect. The pool looked nice, there was a nice swim up bar but I didn't do the pool thing since the world's biggest pool was a few feet away.

And yes, even spending $6k+ they will try to sell you, just a Cancun thing I guess. Different resorts have different ways to do this, they'll call your room and tell you there is a gift for you at the front desk, or they'll tell you they have a special breakfast setup for you etc.

Another thing, make your transfer arrangements before you get to the airport, use a travel company (we normally use Best Day when we go to Cancun), there are vultures there at the airport that will try to timeshare you too. Just walk right where you need to for your transfer, don't let someone fast talk you into a "free" ride or anything.

EDIT: Picture of part of the beach: http://i.imgur.com/n5gF0xy.jpg

Secrets will for sure hit you up for a timeshare on your first visit. People have mixed results stating prior to showing up and at the front desk that they are not to contact you with special offers. Just be aware that they might try to pull you in and anticipate how that would be presented to you.

Secrets is mostly alone in this practice. Most other places it's an opt-in.

 

[fantasycurse42]

EDIT: Picture of part of the beach: http://i.imgur.com/n5gF0xy.jpg

 

[chet]

Wife and I are taking a quick vacay without our son, first time away from him... Going to Riviera Maya, now just deciding on the hotel. 5 days/4 nights quick stint.

Has anyone here stayed at either Secrets Maroma or Iberostar Grand? Leaning towards Secrets due to beach reviews, but would love some feedback...

My friend got married at Maroma and basically took almost the whole hotel for a week. It's spectacular. Our room was $2k/night and had a massage room, plunge pool etc. Highly recommend.

 

[fantasycurse42]

Due to logistics with having our son watched, we had to push this into December

Still excited, but this trip won't be for a few months. Hearing great things about this place, I'll report back then.

Leaving Wed morning

Can't wait... Hopefully the weather tomm doesn't cause big problems at the airport.

 

[Emerson Biggens]

Where did you end up picking?

 

[fantasycurse42]

Where did you end up picking?

Iberostar Grand... I'll give a detailed write up in the next few days... Very nice, good food, top shelf liquor. A few small complaints. When we go back, we might go to Maroma and compare.