Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya

Just returned from an AMAZING holiday. So much to comment on so sorry for the length of this post... From arrival we were welcomed 'home' and check in was quick and easy. We were swiftly taken to our swim out room which was huge and included a massive circular jacuzzi bathtub. The swim out didn't have sun loungers on which we might have liked and the water very cold in the swim out pool (but fine in temperature at the other pools) so didn't use it very often but still a wonderful room & we were really happy we had selected this one. The food & drink options are ridiculous - in a good way!! So much choice available 24/7. We went to all the restaurants (other than the preferred ones as we didn't book preferred) and every single one we enjoyed. We ended up going to the Hibatchi 3 times during our stay, once for the Tepanyaki which is a great performance/ display and twice for the usual menu which consists of their main menu and the sushi menu because we loved the choices. Nothing we asked for was too much trouble, my husband fancied the steak and also the ribs at the Seaside restaurant so they put the ribs with his steak. We have had better steaks but the ones here were not bad, just not the best. Pretty sure if we return we will still order a steak! The tuna slicing display and tasting was fantastic & a must see/ try, this takes place during the day by the main pool. It's worth mentioning along with the barefoot grill restaurant and freshly made pizza's each day at lunch there is always some sort of 'special' taking place, my highlight was the seafood market, huge paella, shrimp - so many options and for my husband who isn't a huge seafood fan there was huge steaks and chicken along with rice and vegetables. On other days there was tacos, salad stations, teppanyaki & often a margarita counter. The room service menu is extensive and available 24 hrs. The service we received was second to none across the whole stay, the pool concierge guys in particular were great- they always seem to be there when you need them, they come round each day and build rapport, tell you everything that is going on that day during the day and evening, tell you who your waiter for drinks will be that day and make sure you have everything you need. On numerous occasions we sat at the pool bar or had a little swim or walked to the beach and we always came back to fresh dry beds on our loungers all made up nicely with clean dry warm towels. Just a really nice touch and really appreciated. The drinks appeared frequently by the pool waiters and they work really really hard. You don't have to stick to the drinks menu, you can ask for whatever you like and they'll make that up for you. Top shelf spirits are used. Straws aren't always available so if you want to always use one I would recommend taking your own reusable straws. We took our own large reusable drink tumblers which they were always happy to fill up. I would recommend trying the snorkelling... it is out of this world! We had our own private tour just outside on the beach a couple of mins walk down to where the reef is. The reef area is for private tours only but you can snorkel without a tour just to the side of this directly outside the hotel. I understand a lot of people have plenty of success in snorkelling themselves but we opted for a guide twice. We paid 25 dollars each both times and both times it was just my husband, myself and the tour guide. We saw countless turtles - on the first trip we did we think we saw in excess of 10 turtles, possibly closer to 15. We saw a huge variety of fish, stingrays and even a couple of star fish. We were really impressed and loved the experience. Also the beach is really well maintained and beautifully clean. The pools are all great, we chose to be at the main pool which has activities and music and a swim up bar. There are other pools where it is slightly quieter. I saw a bad review for the pool being a rough surface- the steps are bumpy going in but to be honest if they weren't I'm sure people would be falling in all over the place and although bumpy we didn't have any scratches and it wasn't an inconvenience to us at all. We were surprised to see the negative review about this. The grounds are very well kept, stunning gardens & decorations. I loved the decorations hanging within the trees and ceilings inside which contributed towards the special vibe that Akumal seems to have, really beautiful. We were fortunate enough to witness various animals outside the ocean too!... iguanas, raccoons, little lizards all up close then a couple of little coatis which were hiding in the plants, also lots of pelicans can be spotted flying and dipping down into the sea. We've been to two other Secrets hotels (Jamaica & Cap Cana, DR) but I think Akumal is now my favourite, the staff are so welcoming and attentive, the resort is lush and has this beautiful rainforest feel, the fascinating wildlife, the delicious food and the crazy amount of food and drink options made for a wonderful holiday. Read less

DO NOT STAY HERE THEY ARE TERRIBLE This hotel has the worst service I have ever experienced I stayed here a week with my family our air-conditioning broke and stayed broken for half of our trip they did nothing to make it better after calling to have it fixed more than 10 times. The last few days of our trip were the hottest all of things were wet because it was so humid in our room nothing would dry. The sheets we slept in felt wet we e had terrible night sleep. Read less

This review is long overdue, but well deserved! The most outstanding thing about this resort is the atmosphere and the staff! From the moment you walk in you can tell that everyone really enjoys being there, and they go out of their way to make you happy. First comes the scented cool cloth and glass of champagne upon entering, as we’ve come to appreciate at all the Secrets. We were escorted to the Preferred Club and taken care of by Mario. I’ve read reviews that say Preferred Club isn’t worth it here, but I disagree. The rooms are the closest to the beach, we enjoy breakfast at Seaside instead of the buffet most days, and the lounge was a great meeting spot before dinner with a few other couples we were there with, which of course has top shelf alcohol. The grounds at this resort are impeccably maintained with many little featured spots for photo ops, and to help you navigate around. Back to Seaside…Edgar was first to serve us, and we made sure to sit in his section every time after that! He is welcoming, FUNNY, warm, and just a joy to be around. By the end of the week we felt like he was our friend. Fernando took care of us most days by the pool, and boy, does he work hard!!! He anticipates your needs even before you do! You will not go thirsty! Abraham and Francisco are also really great. We were lucky enough to meet Chef Ruben at the barefoot grill, and we enjoyed the best poolside food we’ve had at any of the Secrets. We had to make sure to save room for dinner because, again, the food was just perfection! Our waiter at Portofino, Diego, took care of us two times, and he was just so nice. I remember how I wanted to comment about the efficient service, but the thing that stands out most in my mind is the personalities of all the staff. They really make you feel so welcome. I recommend taking the bike tour that’s free. The ride is flat and easy, and very picturesque. You stop at a seaside spot with some amazing views, a huge open cenote that’s also gorgeous, and the ride through town is fun and interesting. Danielle (Danni), and Renee lead that tour and added some interesting information. Make sure to get there AT LEAST 30 minutes early to get in line for your bike, because this tour fills up fast! Another activity is snorkeling with the Sea Turtles. I wish we would have done this earlier in our trip, because the last day was rough water, which made it less visible for snorkeling. The roughness also messed with my equilibrium, and Renee was so nice to help me back to shore. I didn’t even have to say anything, he could see the look on my face. This tour is an additional charge, and is probably worth it on a better day. The prior day my husband went out and spotted several turtles swimming just outside of the protected area that anyone can swim at. I recommend using a GoPro if you want pictures. I’ve tried using the waterproof case for my phone, but it’s too hard to press the button for a picture, through the thick plastic. I’ve seen pictures posted that are done with a red filte on the camera, that are just stunning! We will definitely be going back to this resort! Maybe once the new Tulúm airport gets up and running, we’ll fly there for a quicker transfer to the resort. Read less

This was our second visit to Secrets Akumal.our first visit was just prior to Covid in March 2020. The resort was at 90% occupancy but we never once felt crowded. We never had trouble getting chairs at the pool or beach. The food was fabulous again. We ate at Portofino, Bordeaux, El Patio, Oceano, Seaside Grill ( both in am and as steakhouse). Food was great as were servers. We especially loved Raoul at Portofino and Edgar and Jose at the Seaside grill. The staff around the pool area were fantastic. Concierge David and Roberto quick to find you a chair, grab an extra towel and just converse about your day. The bartenders- four who were there in 2020 and remembered us concluding Francesco, Ana, Yvonne and Hector and a few new ones such as ishmal were absolutely great. We had our daughter and son in law here from Australia and we took in a lot of the activities that were offered. Daily pool volleyball, strong board, water bikes, archery, kayaks and crazy games. The entertainment staff was fabulous. Shout out to Rene, Jazmen, Bruno, Gina, Jorge, Luis, and Gabriel for helping us have a fantastic time. The resort is beautiful, the beach was beautiful as well. Everyone at this resort works very hard to ensure you have a fabulous time. We will certainly be back again soon. Read less