We have never been to secrets but we liked Sandals Whitehouse. Best Sandals we have ever been too. Not one complaint. Food, service, staff, drinks, and resort was great. Best pool ever.

Both are excellent NEW resorts. You will not go wrong with either choice. They are both comparable.

Here is your choice: Do you want another "spanish" vacation which you've already done, or do you want a "Jamaican" experience. The experience that you had at Riveria maya will be similar to the DR. There is NO place like Jamaica!

esgordon:

We went to Secrets Punta Cana October 2004 and just returned from Beaches (Sandals) Turks & cacios. Secrets resort is really nice, very romantic for couples but....since we're both from the states I would recommend Sandals Whitehouse. The food is very different, not what your used too, Sandals is more american! We had diareaha and stomach aches for a few days into and after vaca. The beach is not like caribbean clear blue/green, it's like the east coast beach from Mass to South Carolina. It's the atlantic ocean, with waves and is blue gray like our ocean. It's a very long ride, bumpy, sad and scarey ride (1.5 hrs) from airport or off resort to any excursions (1+ hrs). Theres no snorkeling or much of any water sports, you have to go to another resort very far down beach. they do take you in pickup truck. the staff is very friendly but do expect tips for their service. Your in the dominican - everything is in spanish, very hard to understand. the resort is very romantic with the pool floating on rafts, the lobby is beautiful and the grounds are were beautiful with the landscaping, I didn't like the security carring machine guns on the beach. For me the beach, the food and the activities are what counts. It was very romantic but boring and we were with 2 other couples who couldn't wait to leave either. If it the Secrets experience - go to Mexico instead.