| Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun | J&P ~ Montreal |
September 2009
Arrival: Aug.29th-Sept.6th 2009
We booked a very last-minute vaction to Secrets Silversand for my wife’s birthday. We previously have been to Secrets Capri twice and to Dreams Tulum, Royal Playa Del Carmen, Excellence Riviera Cancun and Excellence Playa Mujeres.
Rooms:
We booked a Sterling suite simply because it was only $70 more for the entire week. If the upgrade was any more expensive we wouldn’t have taken it as the room was huge!
Our room was in building 4 on the 4th floor and facing the main pool and the ocean. Great location!
The bathroom is very nice, the toilet is separated by a glass door and the shower worked great. We never had issue with water pressure or hot water.
We had a king-size bed and what a bed!!! It was SOOOOooooo comfortable! Before checking out we took the sheets off and wrote down the brand name of the matresses.
Maid service was done early every morning so that was very nice. The mini-bar wasn’t replenished two of the seven days but no big deal. Ditto for turn down service, again no big deal as long as we got our "Sundial" newsletter delivered each night.
We had internet access and the speed was good, not fast but not slow. REMINDER TO ALL: it’s not wireless so bring your own network cable.
We used the free in-room safe for all our valuables.
Restaurants and Bars:
We went to the World Cafe each morning for breakfast. Unlike Secrets Capri this resort doesn’t have a restaurant open for à la carte breakfast. Buffet got kind of boring without it by the end of the week.
The French restaurant was good but not outstanding. The decor of the restaurant was VERY nice. However we found the tables for two to be much too close to each other and it sure takes away the romance out of the experience.
The Italian restaurant was very nice, again a very nice decor. The food was very good and we really enjoyed it.
The Mexican restaurant was really nice but the menu wasn’t very elaborate. The atmosphere was fun but the food wasn’t that great.
The Asian restaurant was outstanding in everything! The food, the service, the ambiance, everything was fantastic. We loved it!
The outdoor Grill restaurant was nice although the menu was quite restricted.
The outdoor Seaside restaurant was delicious.
We had very fast service in all restaurants. No reservation are required at all restaurant except if you want to sit at one of the Hibachi station in the Asian restaurant. We love not having to make dinner reservation and deciding on the spot where we would eat.
The Veranda bar and Baracuda bar were both nices places to hang out during the day or after supper but both were obviously understaffed during the day.
The Lobby bar was great. We had fantastic service from everyone there at all times. Each evening they had either a saxophone or trumpet player playing smooth music in the lobby, it was really nice.
Drinks at all bars were very well prepared and certainly not diluted.
Hint: ask for a frozen Coconut margarita at the Mexina restaurant, to die for!
Beach/Pools/Grounds:
There are six pools (that counted) and some are busier than others. The temperatue of the pools were perfect, not cold but yet still refreshing. The main pool has a pool bar and floaties. It was kind of funny to see what some people would do not to lose their floaties. We saw some hidden just about everywhere on the resort at the end of each day, too funny!
The beach wasn’t nice at all but we knew that so we were not disappointed. Swimming is almost impossible becaude of all the seaweed and rocks.
There are only 9 palapas and a few palm trees on the beach. I would go reserve two chairs under a palapa each morning at 07:30 and there were always all available. Only a few chairs by the main pool would be reserved by then.
Towels were always available throughout the resort.
Other Comments:
We loved this resort! It wasn’t the best resort we’ve been to but for the price we paid it was a fantastic trip and we’re really happy we chose Secrets Silversands. I’m not sure we would return, I think we would pay a bit more and go to Secrets Maroma Beach instead.
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| Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun | Bill ~ Pittsburgh |
July 2009
Arrival: June 28 to July 5
We arrived at this resort without our luggage, United sent it to Chicago. Upon hearing that the staff took our luggage info and did all the follow-up for us till we received our luggage the next day. Extra amenities were also sent to our room. That is the extra care that I like about Amresorts. This was our 14th Trip with an Amresort property and we continue with them because of their great staff, beautiful resorts, friendliness and a no worry vacation.
SSS is a trendy, hip, sexy, resort. It is Miami Beach in Mexico. Instead of wicker chairs you have beds. You check in sitting on a couch or at a small desk. No check in counter. Relax and have a glass of Champagne. Walk over to see the lobby bar below. Large glass windows, lit columns and the beds. Very trendy.
We were shown to our room, which was a swim out room. There are not many poor room locations and each building has a pool (except maybe one in the back), which is large and very nice. Rooms are large, really neat lighting, large sliding doors, patio or deck with beds, large walk in shower with rainbow shower head, separate toilet, double bowl sink, lighted mirror, safe, mini bar, refrigerator, 2 person Jacuzzi with a speaker above for ambiance, room service door for food, very comfortable beds. The top of the room divider lights up as well as the frame on the ceiling over the bed, again really sharp. Really nice rooms.
The main pool is large and winds around the Oceana and Seaside Grill with a swim up bar in the center. There are wooden trusses around all the pools, which gives partial shade. Plenty of chairs and towel are everywhere. Pools are all extremely clean and all have easy access in and out. The main pool has a Jacuzzi type section with jets. There is a large hot tub overlooking the beach and ocean. Pools stay open till 8PM I believe. The smaller pools are like being in a private club. Very nice and romantic.
The beach is pretty but the water is really only good for wading and cooling off. The sand is nice, some palapas, many chairs, water sports at one end. Can walk North for many miles, the walk south is a little tougher with erosion. Drink service at the beach.
They have an entertainment team that has activities all day. Beach volleyball, poll volleyball, stretching, yoga, aerobics, gambling game, dancing lessons etc. Check your daily schedule(The Sundial).
The drink and food service at the beach and pools (even the back pools) is excellent. They start you off with a cold bottle of water. You can order any drink and hamburger, hot dogs and nachos from them. They are around constantly. I always take an insulated mug but it wasn’t necessary here.
When we left they had a barbeque grilling hamburger, hot dogs and chicken. Oceana and Seaside Grill open and the inside buffet (very good pasta, actually everything very good) open for lunch. The lobby bar, veranda bar, the Barracuda Bar all-open for during the day. Many places to sit and drink. The Barracuda bar has great seats overlooking the beach and the ocean. Service can be slow in the outside restaurants. The buffet is a nice break from the heat. Wear a dry suite and a cover-up or shirt. Very good food, great hamburgers. You can sit at the outside restaurants and they each have a different menu. If you just want a hamburger or hot dog just ask, not on the menus.
For breakfast the buffet is in the Ratatouille Restaurant and the Portofino for overflow. You are seated and introduced to you host or hostess, you napkin unfolded on your lap, and then you are introduces to your waiter/waitress and asked what you would like to drink. Coffee, juice, Bloody Mary’s, Mimosas. Breakfast is very good with an omelet station and waffle maker.
At night the lobby bar will have mood entertainment at 7PM(a violinist, trumpet, sax player all with backup tapes) will relax you while laying on a bed having a drink. The Veranda bar is right outside the door and has seating around the bar and sections to the side to have a drink but not be at the bar. This is the main hangout bar in the evening. Bars will serve you the regular alcohol but have premium alcohol if you ask and they have a large selection.
No reservations are required and the only wait I saw was Portofino and the Hibachi show cooking. Four restaurants were open nightly and they rotated, no problem eating at all of them. The other restaurants just walk in or just a very small wait, you will get a beeper and go have a drink. Food is good to very good. Try different dishes to see what you like. Huge beef filets, very good Lamb chops, good pastas, loved all the shrimp, try the hot bowl dishes in the Mexican, try the sushi, the chocolate souffle in the Mexican is as good as Morton’s. House wine is very good for an all-inclusive, they also have an extra charge wine list if you prefer. Slacks are required in all restaurants except one (one outside restaurant, I forget which one) so dress-up, the restaurants are very pretty.
Entertainment after dinner varies and you will be informed each day in you daily newsletter. Live bands, DJ’s, etc play till 11; 30PM some nights till 1AM. Shows are at 9:45 and run till 10:30. Some are very good others are OK. They do a wall video in the evening on one of the buildings. Plenty to do unless you are a very late night person.
Had turn down each night, no towel art. Room cleaned 2 times a day with fresh towels. If bar is not refilled just order what you want. Mine was refilled about 3 times during the week without me asking. Room service took 25mins for us and we ordered a lot plus 6 beers.
There is a gym which looked very stocked with high end machines but we didn’t use them. The Spa is beautiful with a vast array of services.
The grounds are not the jungle type resort with flowers everywhere. More a clean, artsy, trendy style resort. At nigh round balls are through the grounds that change colors. Pools are lit, music around the walkways. Very pretty.
4th of July they had an amazing day. Decorations everywhere, a live band played above the swim up bar for 2 ½ hours and rocked the place, many games, special decorated tables at Oceana and Seaside grill with a seafood and steak buffet, band and DJ on the Barracuda bar looking over the beach. A stage and large screen on the beach for the show, which was a mix of Broadway shows. A mechanical bull on the beach with pads around it for safety for anyone to ride. Very nice day.
Every employee I met at this resort was very friendly. The management I chatted with was very proud of this resort. It is a very nice resort and just gives you a different feel than most resorts. Feels more like you might meet a star here more than other resorts. The resort had been slow like most other resorts but there were very few signs of that except a few slower times at dinner when they got very busy. Sometimes they miss a restocking of the mini bar but all the amenities are there. I spoke to very few people who were not impressed with this resort. Only real complaints were some slow dinners (mine were 50 mins to 1 hr 20mins for 3 to 4 courses), not enough shade for a few, and some liked a more old fashioned resort.
I would highly recommend this resort. One thing it is only 20 mins from the airport. My favorite thing was probably all the private pools. They were larger and nicer than I thought they would be and they were everywhere, never saw so much pool water even in the resorts with the lake pools. Good food and drinks, special staff, the buildings and grounds are really sharp along with the art sculptures, pictures and just the overall design. Go feel hip, fun and romantic. I am a big fan of Amresorts (Dreams and Secrets) and this resort has a feeling around it that makes it special and different that most other resorts but it is a good feeling. It may not be the resort for everyone but I am sure that many will prefer this resort. You can have activity or just relax in a pool that sometimes you have all for yourself. You really don’t want to leave and you will want to return.
Hope this helps. If you have question I will try to help. I am at: bbgamer1@yahoo.com
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| Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun | Harvey ~ Toronto, Ontario |
January 2009
Arrival: Dec 14-23/08
As we arrived without any luggage due to the inemptness of Delta Airlines, we wre processed (not greeted) by the front desk personel
Rooms:
The rooms were were more than adequate, but not specaculiar. The bathroom sink taps splashed you whenever then were turned on. This was due to the positioning of the faucet. The whirl pool tub was quite deep with no hold rails to assist older people in and out. We locked ourselves out onto the balcony as the patio door automatically locks when closed, leaving us stranded for approximately 20 minutes. As we were a anniversary couple, a very nice floral arrangement, champagne, 2 rosy red apples and a letter welcomed us, which was a nice touch. There was also a storage closet which allowed you to place glasses and room service items in, which were picked up on a timely basis. The only negative to this storage area was that it did not even have an inside latch on it, which allowed the staff to open the door into your room. A very good view could have been had as this door was adjacent to the bathroom. The shower stall was quite large. Sufficient closet space was available. The King Bed was quite confortable as was the loveseat.
Restaurants and Bars:
The 7 or 8 restaurants, were quite adequate, due mainly to the fact that the occupancy rate for this property was only 27% full. The property could accomodate over 800 people. We had dinner at all the various restaurants, at various times, and counted a maximum of 22 guests dining. The buffet was quite good with an array of breakfast and luncheon specialties and the usual fare.
We can honestly say that none of restaurants were great. The one that was quite good was called the Seaside Grill. It was open on occasion for lunch and dinner. The draw back to this restaurant was that it was outside. It did not have any type of a windbreak, and therefore, it was cool at night because of the excessive winds that we experienced for 9 days. It was a welcome breeze during the daytime. The staff was friendly for the most part and Language was not much of an issue. The 5 bars were situated to accomodate most everyone. As is typical, if you wanted the "better" alcohol, you had to ask as it was usually concealed under the counter.
Due to the few number of guest, commencing Dec. 21, they only opened 4 restaurants daily, rather than 5 or 6. They also closed 2 bars, including the swim up bar. The next topic explains the swim up bar situation. There is a small sports bar inside , where they have a pool table, games area and a big screen to watch TV . I dropped in about 9 P.M. Sunday night to watch a bit of the football game, and was greeted by 2 other lonely guests who were watching the game. The bar appeared at the back of the room to be self serve, as I did see a bartender. I didn’t see anyone else either.
Beach/Pools/Grounds:
If anyone has read other forums on this property, they will know about the beach. We booked this resort, before it was opened and were unaware of the beach problem. If we knew then, what we know now, we would have booked the Secrets Marona, which was being built the same time as this resort. The beach deepth was quite small, but adequate. The groundskeepers were racking and cleaning the beach, non stop, attempting to keep up with the seaweed that rolled in constantly. Beyond the seaweed into the water, you were greeted with mud and sand, beyond that, and only 30 feet from shore you now met "Mr Coral Reef" who liked to chew on the soles of your feet. No, the beach was not one of the draws to this resort. They did have about 7 pools. One large central one and the others scattered throughout the property. This should have been adequate to pacify the water lovers amongst us, but behold —–NONE WERE HEATED and not even the 2 large Hot Tubs. We used one of the small pools to dip our toe in to cool off. A few brave diehards, used the swimup bar, but for the most part, the bartender could have taken a part time job cleaing the pool. The grounds were typical of a new resort, everything was trying to grow and needed some TLC.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
The usual activities at the resort, were available, but mainly due to the lack of guests and a cold pool, the particpation was quite limited, at best. They had the usual nightime shows and of course, Monday Night Football at the beach. This was also poorly attended as we were there for a short while, with only 8 others.
We have done all the outside activities in the area, (this is our 5th visit) but still managed one; the Jungle Tour. Quite a name for a boat,snorkel excursion. We were on the tour with 3 other couples into Cancun, where each couple had their own boat with a 30 hp motor being led by a guide into the mangroves to a snorkeling area, where we spent about 50 minutes. The whole trip out and back lasted about 2 1/2 hours. It was enjoyable. We did know before hand that it was not really a Jungle Tour, so we were not surprised; just the name was odd.
The Spa part of this property was poorly attended due mainly to the high prices for their services. The resort seemed to be trying to cater to the younger crowd (25-40 yrs) and attemped to solicit spa users from around the pool area, with very limited success. My wife usually takes 2 or 3 spa services, when available, when we vacation, but not this time.
Other Comments:
I befriended one of the bartenders, who filled me in about the 27% occupancy and the need to close down the bars and restaurants, due to non support (I tried to support the bars as much as I could, but I guess it was still insufficient). He advised that some of the employees were sent home. I had heard from a travel agent and on line sites, that this property was not taking any new reservations until April/09. I asked my bartender what the reason for this was, and he just looked at me with a puzzled expression on his face. I guess possibly, I opened a "can of worms", as I’m sure management would not want their present employees to know this until they, themselves, told the employees.
To summarize, I would not be at all suprised, if this property is in the hands of new ownership, in April, or at least, not under the "Secrets" banner, as it is not in the same class as other Secrets that we have visited. So, be aware that until the pool and hot tub situation, gets addressed, and if you are there for water activities, they will be quite limited. Unfortunately for ownership and guests, the beach problem will always remain. This property should not be rated as a 5 Star, but will be a good 4 Star property when problem areas are addressed.
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| Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun | Bernhard ~ Canada |
December 2008
Arrival: Dec.5.-20 /08
Sunwing was on time but pick up at the Airport was not on time mixup with the Minibusses.Check in at Resort was excelent and where guided to our room .
Rooms:
The rooms are very spacias & exactly like in the brochure very clean & comfortble.32 inch flatscreen,mp3,DVD.Player,Phone.sitting area,jetted tub,fantastic walk in showers,2 sinks,firm beds,Save,suntan lotion,shampoo,body soap,lots of towels.& bathrobs.” But moskitos.”
Restaurants and Bars:
Restaurant are 8 all exellent ,food very tasty and exellent service Bars are also very well stock with international spirits.We where disapointed from the Dress code of the Males ”very slopy” ,woman are always elegant dressed.
Beach/Pools/Grounds:
If you like to run into the Ocean from your lounge? ”this is noy the resort for you”lots of weeds & dirty water & coral cleaning goes on all day.The grounds are nicely kept everything is young 8 pools all not heated good for 80 deg.weather we had a few days of 70 deg.then the water is cold.Towels are plentyfull no need to reserve a spot on the pools or beach,personal objects will be removed after 2 hrs.from lost & found.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
Everything they say in the bruchore is available .Resort is perfect for one week vacation not 2 weeks !Did not go on any tours ,to exspencive .
Other Comments: Bigest drawback NO ocean swimming , Moskitos [no seem]cold pools,no courtesy bus Cancun or Playacar,nothing to do at nights ,Entertainment 3 stars, make sure to take after bite & Anti-Itch Lotions.
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