Secrets Maroma or Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso?
 

My husband & I, and another couple, will celebrate our anniversaries next fall in Mexico. I've posted a couple of other questions and got lots of great info regarding the where to go. We've narrowed it down to 2 resorts: Secrets Maroma and Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso. We had pretty much decided on Iberostar Grand Hotel, but for 5 nights with everything included (airfare, hotel, transfers, trip insurance, tax) it comes up to $1200 more than Secrets. Also, this is comparing oceanview rooms at each resort.

So now we're trying to make up our minds. We will spend most of our time by the pool and beach, eating and drinking, and we'll probably venture into Playa one day. Is Iberostar worth the extra $1200? Please send me your opinions. Thanks!

That's a lot more for five days.
The beach at Secrets is wonderful. The beach at the IB Grand is also big and beautiful, but there are some big rocks in the water directly in front of the Grand. A short walk to the right or left gives you a clear shot though.
The pools at the Grand are much nicer than the pool at Secrets which is a bit small for a resort that size.
The IB Grand has true ocean front rooms--Secrets does not.
Food and service are good at both.
You really can't go wrong with either one.

Really only you can decide which hotel and how much money your willing to spend. Both are great choices and we've provided you with about everything we know about the resorts already. The final decision is yours.

Personally, after being to 14 AI resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean, I'm not willing to put down that kind of money for either and we chose a hotel in Playa directly on the beach for our trip next year.

Good luck and hope you're happy with your final choice.

So its over $200 extra a night to stay at Iberostar. I don't think it's worth it. We have stayed at both hotels. The beach is better at Secrets, but the pool is better at Iberostar. But not $200 a day better. There are more and better (IMHO) restaurants at Secrets. At Secrets you could eat outside at three of the restaurants. So we liked that better. Sometimes Iberostar and Secrets will run a "sale" - keep checking both hotels, maybe you can catch one. Then I would go to the cheaper one, telling the hotel you are both celebrating wedding anniversaries. They might upgrade you at checkin or if the don't, asked to be upgraded at checkin.

Thanks. That helps a lot. Sorry KVR, I know you provided a lot of input on my other postings, but one was on the wrong forum so I was hoping to get more on this forum with my final two choices.

I loved Secrets Maroma for my anniversary. THey really treat you right if you are celebrating a special occasion. We had an ocean VIEW room, wasn't really close to the water, but a good view. An ocean FRONT room there is much more as there are very few of them, bu the beach is so big that your still not all that close to the water anyway. I thought the pools at secrets are plenty big, as I would get tired swimming from one end of the front infinity pool to the other. They weren't very crowded when either, but I went in July when travel was down to mexico. I don't know much about the Iberostar, but it's a little hard for me to imagine anywhere else would be worth an extra $200 a night when Secrets provides so much.

It's way too early to book one of these hotels. If they run any "sales" it probably won't be until after March or April. When we went to Secrets in October, 2009, we booked about one month before departure and we were able to take advantage of the "pay to two nights and get the third night free" - So we paid for 5 nights and stayed 7. So we saved about $1,000 because we were going to go for 7 nights anyway. At that time Iberostar wasn't running any sales so we went to Secrets and took advantage of their sale.

Didn't think about it being too early. We were worried it would book up, so we were going to do it ASAP. One travel agency said we could book now and as long as we purchase the insurance (which we will) we will get the lower price if it goes down. Does anyone know if that's a standard offer?

You'll only get a lower price if the cost of the hotel goes down. Once you purchase airfare that's the price. They won't be able to get you a lower price on that. I agree it's way to early. We're in the same delimna as you for our July trip to Jamaica. We put down a deposit on the hotel, but haven't purchased air yet. We usually book packages because it's much cheaper, but we had decided to cash in some of our air miles, but then changed on mind. Wanted to wait until we went on a more expensive trip to make it worth it.

We booked the hotel in September. Almost a year out, and the price has come down once since than about $100. I won't start looking for air until around February or March when all the on-line booking sites start putting out their summer specials. Right now there going to start offering Spring Break deals.

Price out seperate hotel and air vs. packages and see which one gives you the better deal. I usually book anywhere between 3 months and 6 weeks out, but I'm on-line everyday looking for deals so if I find something I can't live without I'll book it. Also, if your willing to leave on a weekday instead of a weekend you'll get a better price.

I know if you book a package through Apple Vacations and get their insurance, you get the lower rate if the price drops after you purchase your package.

But that's only if the price of the hotel goes down, not the airfare price. Once air is booked that the price. If it goes down before your trip you're out of luck. I probably did not articualte that well in my last post.

If you book a "package"throug Apple, that includes the air fare. So....the price of the package goes down if airfare goes down and you get reimbursed the difference if you took out the insurance.

I have never experienced that though with any other booking site and it's not the information I've received from my personal TA. However, Apple vacations does not service my departure area, so it may will be accurate with them.

For the OP, just check carefully and read the fine print before booking.

thanks again for all the info!

camsi, if you are really set on Secrets Maroma, join their "club" (free) by going to www.iprefer.com and see if you can do better with their club specials. Currently, they are running "pay for 2, stay for 3" specials at Capri and Silversand until March. I didn't see anything for Maroma right now, but if you keep checking you might catch it. Anyway it will give you an upgrade at checkin (if available).

awesome, will do... thanks!!

no questions, Secrets Maroma Beach is incredible!!!! the food is delicious, the drinks are wonderful, the hotel is spectacular, the staff is so nice and caring. the beach is beautiful, so clean! definitely Secrets!!!

I think that by saving the $1200 by not going to Iberostar that you could upgrade at Secrets Maroma for an oceanfront room and still save a ton. Secrets is almost as nice as Iberostar, but I would personally have no doubt in going to Secrets for that price! You will love it!
Beth
www.riviera-maya-hotels.com/secrets-maroma.html

Go with Secrets Maroma. It sits on one of the nicest beaches in the world. Secrets staff are wonderful. Pay for a room upgrade at Secrets. It will be worth it and still cheaper. You are also closer to Playa, so cheaper cab ride. and shop around as prices are so different with different agents.

thanks for all the input!!