Adults Only at Secrets The Vine Cancun

Nov 26, 2012

The trend over the years in resort destinations has been low-rise properties no higher than a palm tree. That’s all well and good, but there’s something refreshing about AMResort’s most recent all-inclusive property — Secrets The Vine Cancun, a 28-floor, high-rise beachfront resort soaring over Cancun’s Hotel Zone. This is a building designed to the max by the award-winning Rockwell Group. The interior design is a knockout, utilizing earth colors, natural fabrics and a lot of wood and stone. I arrived the morning the resort welcomed its first guests, and everything was gleaming and immaculate.

The 495-room Secrets The Vine Cancun is the first Secrets property in Cancun. It’s an adults-only resort, and guests need to be at least 18 years of age.

As you might guess from the resort’s name, the enjoyment of fine wine is a central motif. The lobby houses The Vine Bar, a designated wine-tasting area for guests, featuring a wine wall with nearly 3,000 varieties. While excellent wines are included in the all-inclusive package, guests can upgrade by purchasing pricier vintages. During the week, The Vine Bar also hosts sommelier-led tastings hosted at a handcrafted wood table with seating for up to 14 guests. Wine tastings are also included in the all-inclusive rate.

The wine motif extended to my Preferred Club Junior Suite Ocean View on the 26th floor, where a chilled bottle of Pol Remy Brut champagne awaited. The room reflected the minimalist and natural interior design of the resort’s public spaces. Standout elements included the polished wood-grain floor, teak wood headboards, a glass-enclosed rainforest shower imprinted with a pattern that managed to strike a balance between modest and sexy, and the extra-wide balcony with views of the Caribbean and Laguna Nichupte. Preferred Club rooms start on the 21st floor; the hotel has 80 suites with L-shaped balconies.

“All rooms are a combination of oceanview and lagoon rooms,” said Ana Rueda, sales manager, Secrets The Vine Cancun. “For the best sunsets, request a room that is mostly lagoon view.”

I noted to Rueda that I’d noticed my room lacked a desk.

“People don’t ask for desks,” said Rueda. “When they come here, they’re in vacation mode.”

While desks may seem like a thing of the past, people are still working and keeping connected via their phones and tablets. Secrets The Vine really delivers in this regard, with Unlimited Connectivity across the resort using the Secrets Resorts app, which is accessible for mobile download to iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android and Blackberry phones. The free app allows guests to stay connected and communicate with family and friends back home using the app-to-app calls feature. Guests can call local and international (U.S. and Canada) phones and send messages over the hotel’s complimentary Wi-Fi network without incurring any international mobile phone roaming charges. Guests can also create user profiles using their email, Facebook or Twitter accounts to contact staff directly, tailor personal deal preferences, book spa appointments, reserve excursions and more. Users can register the app with their room number to instantly view their folio and request hotel services.

“Only two hotels in Mexico have Unlimited Connectivity,” said Rueda. “The other properties are the Secrets Vallarta Bay Puerto Vallarta and Now Amber Puerto Vallarta.”

The hotel’s Secrets Spa by Pevonia has a main lounge called the Cenote Room, which recreates the effect of natural cenotes with a three-foot deep plunge pool walled in by rock formations. The spa also has 14 treatment rooms, a Jacuzzi, a steam room, a beauty salon, a pool and a fitness center.

Complimentary greens fees are provided for guests at the 18-hole Playa Mujeres Golf Course. Tee times need to be scheduled 24 hours in advance, and guests pay for their golf cart and transportation.

The hotel can handle up to 400 guests for wedding ceremonies and receptions at different locations within the resort. There is also a webcam service providing a live feed of outdoor wedding venues.