Just checked out of Secrets Tulum and wanted to share my final review! Hope you enjoy!
So highlights:
Tulum airport - uh-mazing! Modern, clean, fast, Starbucks on your way out, smooth escape!
Resort, absolutely beautiful! Located in the jungle with beautiful, lush surroundings and well-kept pools. Water temperature was lovely all-around! Buffet was one of the better ones I've been to, good selection, fresh vegetables/salads, clean, great service. No sushi there, but most other things are available. The staff work their butts off and are SO wonderful! They worked so hard and went above and beyond, so courteous! I was blown away by how attentive they were despite being bitten by more mosquitos than all guests combined I felt especially badly for the lobby staff given lobby is open air, and mosquitos were extra bad because of recent rains. Do use lots of bug spray! The rooms were beautiful, minimalistic and lovely, had everything I needed from blow dryer to coffeemaker to slippers, safe and beverages.
Less great things: Mosquito bites were relentless! I'm personally a fan of smaller, more intimate resorts that require less walking and with fewer pool options so more fun ends up centrally located That said, if you like a bigger resort, it's great and spread out. The restaurant selection was limited. Basically, Peruvian (had sushi), Mediterranean, steak/seafood, and buffet (although the latter 2 at times alternated due to weather conditions or events). The menu options and creativity of items looked great but I honestly found much of the food underwhelming. It was just 'okay.' Come here for relaxation, beauty, peace, and lovely connections, not food food or lively shows. At least not yet. There were limited shows, and if you're used to Breathless-level shows, you might be disappointed. I'm sure they'll be much more refined as time goes on though and they did a lovely job of showing their passion.
UVC check-in experience was frustrating at arrival, which is my usual impression. Despite my saying I had no interest in upgrade/presentation, as soon as I arrived they did their usual spiel about wanting to talk me into excursions/presentations. I replied again my 2nd day that I was not here for that information, paid for peace of mind, and value my time over money, kindly asking again that they not bring it up again and that I'd ask if I wanted to know more. They respected that and did not bring it up again, which I greatly appreciated! Despite that initial rocky start, the UVC team and entertainment teams were great!
The week I went was the UVC Member VIP week and I must say, I loved their efforts to arrange activities for members to meet and feel appreciated. That was really lovely. The food tasting and art sessions with Charlie were especially wonderful! We did Mexican art, we beaded little turtles, we created bracelets/anklets...really relaxing and I met so many wonderful people!
Names that stood out to me during my stay (and I'm so sorry I don't recall where they all work) but they included: Wilburt, Edel with Bell Service, Oscar, Jose and Carlos in buffet/Bluewater, and Edvin at Veranda. I believe Edvin's server was Fernando? There was a gentleman who worked there yesterday 6/29 with him until afternoon who was amazing! I hope I got his name right.
Guiliano with UVC was truly amazing! Repeatedly went out of his way to help and was so personable and lovely!
Aldo and Johnny with entertainment staff were hilarious! Loved them both! Loved joking with them! If you have a chance to do their events, please do! You won't regret it!
Fernanda with UVC Corporate was such a gem, beautiful inside and out. Literally offered me the shirt off her back when I complimented her on the color!
I agree with previous reviews that the site is not well set up for handicap limitations and folks with difficulties walking. They layout is not ideal from getting places quickly or conveniently and I didn't find a swim-up bar anywhere but all in all, it was a great stay with great people. I highly recommend at least a short 3-4 night stay once, but then scooting to another resort for a longer, different experience/livelier vibe. I'm moving to Cancun today!
I will also add there were a lot of younger folks and groups here and everyone was SO nice! Great vibe among people, just more of a quiet, sleepy environment at the resort so over time I hope they bring in a bit more liveliness. The beach club shuttles are convenient and there is a beautiful view and great music at the beach club but honestly I wasn't impressed with the food there and it was also rather quiet at the beach club so I only went once. I did get a great a great deep tissue massage a bit down the beach to the left with Eloy. I'll post a photo in my photo albums of Tulum on Facebook, feel free to go there to see all the photos I post.
Excursion-wise, I did Riu Secreto (uh-mazing!) and Mayan Ruins combo - The ruins were incredible but honestly it was SO read more