We have just returned home from a week at Secrets Aura Cozumel and wanted to share both what we truly appreciated and a few things future guests may want to be aware of when planning their stay in the coming weeks and months.
Warm Welcome
We were warmly welcomed upon arrival by our concierge Alex, who quickly escorted us to the Preferred Members Lounge. There, we were given an overview of the resort and offered snacks and drinks while we waited for the 3:00 p.m. check-in. Although we arrived early and expected a short wait, we did not receive access to our room until between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. We had to check in five (5) separate times before the room was finally ready, which was disappointing. Alex was attentive to our needs as he kept encouraging use to speak to the staff in the Preferred Lounge, before taking matters into his own hands. While his efforts were appreciated, it did take more time than either he our us expected.
Resort and Maintenanace
The resort itself has a grand and impressive foyer, and there are many beautiful areas throughout the property to capture memories and photos - from the walk out pier, ocean hammock, to bar swings (Dreams) and Sky Lounge - a top of the main foyer building. However, some parts of the resort are showing signs of wear, including chipped paint, missing pool tiles, and cracked or uneven sidewalks. I am sure being near salt water expediates required upkeep. We understand renovations are planned, which will hopefully address these issues and quality of maintenance and upkeep sometime later this year.
Staff - Especially William.
What truly stood out during our stay was the exceptional staff. Every team member we encountered was kind, welcoming, and committed to providing a great guest experience. Special mentions go to Wendy from the Entertainment Team who made poolside events, beach entertainment and courtyard Karaoke memorable. Wendy, the server by the Preferred pool who was busy keeping everyone hydrated during the warm days. and especially WILLIAM, the Maitre D’ at the Market Cafe!!!!
WILLIAM went above and beyond in every sense. Early in our stay, he became aware of my dietary restrictions and made it a point to personally check in with us throughout the week—even when he wasn’t directly serving us. He remembered us, each time we saw him and he consistently offered thoughtful meal alternatives and ensured I always had suitable options at the buffet, Windows restaurant or during the beach special dinners. On one (1) occasion, he even prepared two (2) tuna steaks when one would have been more than sufficient to show that he takes guests medical restrictions and allergies very seriously. His attentiveness, kindness, and genuine care significantly enhanced our dining experiences. We also appreciated seeing him across different areas of the resort—from the Market Cafe to the beach dinners and other dining venues—which speaks to his dedication. We only wish we had more opportunity to properly thank him, before we had to leave so other guests will be able to experience the attention to detail he so kindly provided.
Housekeeping
Our room was consistently clean and well maintained; however, housekeeping was occasionally inconsistent, with missing towels or facecloths on certain days. While not a deal breaker, we also only experienced one (1) evening turndown service during our stay.
Preferred Guests
While we can appreciate the resort’s decision not to use wristbands to distinguish Preferred guests, from other guest or from the Dreams, the sister resort, this approach does create some challenges. Without a clear system in place, it allows non-Preferred guests to access amenities intended for upgraded guests - who have paid for such an experience, including the designated pools, lounge areas, beach chairs, and poolside seating. We understand that towel colour may have previously been used as a way to differentiate access; however, this did not appear to be enforced during our stay. On multiple occasions throughout the week, non-Preferred guests—as well as visitors from the neighboring Dreams resort—were using and, at times, dominating these spaces. As a result, the experience for Preferred guests often felt crowded and did not reflect the added value of the upgrade.
Unlimited Membership Experience
During our stay, we were invited to attend an Unlimited Membership presentation to explore potentially joining the program. We were told multiple times by Alex and members of the Unlimited team that this would involve a 30–45 minute breakfast followed by a 30–45 minute presentation, with no obligation to join if it the programme wasn’t a good fit. Unfortunately, this was not our experience. The meeting extended well over three (3) hours and involved interactions with approximately eight (8) different representatives, all attempting to upsell various World of Hyatt packages in what felt like a high-pressure sales environment. When we asked for time to review the information and consider the financial commitment privately, we were told this needed to be done within the sales centre rather than in the comfort of our room. Even after being moved to an outdoor patio space, in a last attempt to persuade us to join, the pressure continued, including being asked to commit to a destination choice "free of charge - just to try" without adequate time to research. Ultimately, it took several firm refusals before we were able to conclude the meeting and receive the promised $300 USD in Leisure Cash for attending. While we appreciate the opportunity that was presented, the overall experience felt overly aggressive and detracted from what was otherwise a relaxing vacation.
Overall
Overall, this resort offers a beautiful setting and truly OUTSTANDING STAFF but improvements in room readiness, general maintenance and enforcement of Preferred Guests experience/amenities would make a significant difference in the overall guest experience. I am confident that if the suggestions provided can be implemented with reasonable effort as has been experienced at other Dream and Secret locations throughout the Mexico and the Caribbean, that future guests will be able have an enhanced stay.