waiting for review for secrets capri
 

booked & paid for 12/18/03 at secrets capri and am anxiously waiting for someones experience with any hints for good room etc

Hi. Just got back from Secrets Capri last night (Sat). There for 7 nights. All I can say is change your reservation -- facility has numerous problems / issues. If you feel comfortable posting your email address I will email you more. Good luck. -Windsurfer

windsurfer, I would really like to hear a detailed report about Secrets, we have booked a trip for Feb 19 for one week. Hopefully all the kinks will be worked out. I am especially interested in the quality and types of food that are offered and ?reservations for dinner,heard that it was not necessary. But how can they plan ahead and do you have to wait a long time for a table? any info would be appreciated Thanks JulieR my email is [email protected]

Windsurfer- I have this hotel booked for December. If you can't post the problems here, can you email me? [email protected]

We just returned from Secrets Capri.
Yes, the resort has issues and problems.
About the room: the telephone in the room is not working, leakage from the bath, safe is not working, balkony door does't lock (on the ground floor).
However the room is a big size, has sitting area (junior suite), rugs, marble floor, coffee/tea maker, TV with 2 HBO's and other channels, DVD/CD (was working!), alarm clock, etc The bathroom has bath with whirlpool (for 1 person), double marble vanity, big mirror, also they provide toothbrushes (they gave one), toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, hairdryier, etc which is nice, separate shower and toilit with glass door. Between bathroom and bedroom there are double wooden shutters. Everything is new and beatuiful. The garden view means view of the jungles which is not pretty. They didn't want to update us for an ocean view room. Apparently not all rooms are ready for guests, spa is also not completed.
The food quality in restaurants is outstanding, but service is sometimes slow (you can ask for the manager, and it will improve). Drinks are premium, you can choose, but service is slow mostly. There is a waiter service at the beach and pool.
The pool is beautiful with zero entry point, beach is huge and beatiful too. There is a lot of shade from comfortable umbrellas. You don't have to get up early to find a spot. At the time we were at Capri, there were some waves at the ocean, but still you can swim. The waiters will come to you and ask you about the drinks.
Everybody is smiling and very polite.
However when you wait for 1.5 hours for your ordered food, you can get irritated - it's too long.
This resort is upscale, it belongs to the Preferred Hotels Brand (there are few in Caribbeans including Royal Hideway Playcar), and supposed to give you outstanding service and luxury rooms, but it's not working this way yet. Probably in 8-10 months they will get a lot better.
Feel free to ask any questions.

Thanks for the post! We are going to Secrets Capri in 3 weeks. When you say they have premium liquor-do you mean they have Bacardi, Crown Royal, Captain Morgans, etc.? What types of beers did they have- bottled/draft? I have been to Cancun but never to Playa del Carmen; what types of activites are off the resort? We are late 20's and like to sight see & usually rent mopeds or a jeep. Is the area around the resort pretty safe? Any suggestions on things to see off the resort?

Also, is there any type of nightlife on the resort or in the nearby town?

Thanks in advance!

windsurfer-- we have booked this resort in jan. would like any information you have. [email protected]

For the most part, I agree with Svetaky's description of the resort, however, in my experience the food was terrible. On one occassion chicken arrived uncooked and on another fish came uncooked. Unexcusable. Slow service on top of bad food. I've been to other preferred hotels: Greenbiar, Boston Harbor Hotel, etc. this is definitely not in the same class...snipcut I will respond via email shortly -

Hi,
I just had clients rturn on Monday from a 9 night stay at Secrets and they were not very happy. The reort is not fully operational yet. They were awaken everymorning by construction, the spa was not open yet, the restaurants did not have full menus, the hot water was cut on numerous occasions, they had a flood in their room after a rain storm and the list goes on. They did say the resort is and will be beautiful it just needs more time and they should have waited before opening. If anyone is going in the next month I would look at another resort!!

Going on Jan 15 I hope things are worked out by then but really considering changing resorts.can someone tell me about the shuttle to playa del carmen from this resort? Where does it drop you off at? and how much to take a taxi to town from this resort? also I heard it had a heated pool which is a plus for the end of january was wondering if that was true also? do they have a snack bar at the pool or do you have to order food from one of the waiters?

As I recall, it was approx $15 USD for a taxi to PDC. Rate is negotiable. Antonio the doorman was great at getting a preferable rate with the driver. The weather was warm there last week so if the pool was unheated, I didn't notice. The hot tub was typically freezing & you had to request that the heat be turned up. Also, bathroom fans can't be shut off, can't get telephone messages b/c no one (mgt included) knows the password to enter. Computers were being removed from the business center and on our last day the biz center was not open at all. The refrigerators are in an enclosed armoire with no ventilation, so the refridge is warm inside. The resort will have many burned-out refridge motors very shortly. And on, and on. There is a swim up bar, but no food offered there. Waiter service on beach and a "beachside" restaurant --

Windsurfer,

We are considering our honeymoon plans for next May and were deciding between Royal Hideaway or Secrets.

Can you email your thoughts on Secrets?

[email protected]

Wow, this is distressing, I'm going with 5 other couples on 12/6/03. It's too late to change. Is there anything positive you can offer? If it shouldn't be open, why isn't everyone demanding a refund. I doubt they can finish the construction in two weeks, but surely they can learn how to cook food?

Windsurfer:

Concerned about early June honeymoon. Please email problems/issues you have encountered and do you think they will be fixed 6 months from now?
[email protected]

Thanks

Going to Secrets in a couple of weeks with 2 other couples.

What is the best time to go to dinner to beat the crowds?

Is there anywhere nearby to go sailing? Also, which phone card would you recommend to make calls to the US? Saw one by TelMex- 50 cents/min. flat rate to US.

Thanks!

windsurfer --I leave thanksgiving day for secrets will there be anything to be thankful for? What about watersports? Is there sailing? Hobie cata? Lasers? Anything?

One Hobie. While I was there someone turtled the hobie cat and ripped the sail & the sail was never replaced. Water was a bit too choppy for windsurfing (for me). There are a # of plastic kayaks that you can take out. I saw some people with boogie boards, I don't know where they got them...

to mm5819 Just to let you know you can change your plans I just did we are leaving on Friday to go to P. Vallarta and the couple who invited us to go along w/them cancelled at the last minute. We changed our hotel 10 days before and everything was fine. If I were you I would try to go to Royal Hideaway at least you are sur eyou won't have any problems. Good Luck

leaving this weekend for secrets capri. Anyone else have a review of the hotel? Suggestions on best time to go to dinner to avoid a long wait?