If you are in doubt in any way about SMB, just relax. And if, as we did, you wish to steal away to a sunny spot where you can just unwind and do nothing, this is the place. It is comparable to all other high-end properties in which we've stayed (here and elsewhere) in luxury, comfort, and service.
Check in: At the very first desk, we discussed reservations, bed requests, etc. as we did not want to visit long at the next desk (the VIP desk) where they also might discuss timeshares. Sure enough, right after check-in, we were ushered to the VIP desk in order to claim our discount coupons and talk about activities. They were gracious when we explained that we were tired, wanted to get settled and were not interested in a timeshare. With that, they left us alone.
Rooms/Grounds: superb, clean, well-tended. Wild pets such as coatimundi & iguana abound and are fun to watch. Swim-up rooms are pretty but don't appear appealing enough to pay up for, with so many pools otherwise (and not private enough for us). But the higher-floor rooms with more view of the jungle/ocean might be worth it. Comfort: excellent. Beds, oh-so-comfy. Pillows: to die for! And I'm a bit picky about pillows. Staff: couldn't be more attentive. We walked all the way North on the beach a few times to check out the other properties and compare. In style and quantity, SMB's beach furnishings were superior. Same around pool areas. We've never seen so many places to relax. Comfy, covered beds, all with drink/food service were everywhere. And tended very well between users. (Mind you, this comparison includes Maroma Spa just North of us which Travel Channel boasted as the best property in the Mayan Yucatan.) Some have mentioned a musty smell. Yes. That's the tropics. Our bag of souvenir sand had it. It comes with the territory. But we did not smell it in the rooms. Of course, we used a fellow TA tip (thank you) to override the AC system settings and kept it a cool, dry retreat the whole time. Wifi in rooms was nice, and room service superb. After you call, just leave a tip in the "secret box" cabinet near the front door and they'll leave your meal. The "American Breakfast" was very good. Wines: we didn't experience anyone up-selling wines, as some had. Beach drink service was very good and the margaritas were yummy. After 11:30 am, you could ask for chips and salsa with guacamole. Careful-it's good size. -Might end up being your lunch! One of the main pools was heated as well as any we've seen in any country on any resort we've been to. Nice, especially since we had our cool, rainy spells and it was fun early one morning after an ad hoc photo session. We had it all to ourselves! Also, two hot tubs, very nice. Concrete finish a bit rough, but just be careful and it's fine.
Shopping: we're not shoppers. But if one wanted to stay right on property and pick up a few souvenirs, the selection seemed nice, both in the lobby areas and in kiosks set up daily in the pool areas and room walkways.
Guests: while there, we noticed a mostly 40-50 yr old crowd with a good mixture of other ages.
Climate: in our four-trip experiences traveling to this area we've learned that in the first 3 months of the year not to be surprised with a bit of rain now and then (even days of it) and wind with wavy waters. You should get some sun even on a short trip (four days) such as ours. If a tan is a priority, better to do it NOW. You don't know what may happen later. Glad I did it the first two days as the last two had little sun and some rain. For which, they plan nicely. Umbrella containers are available in the main lobby area and in your room closet. If it looks like rain, take one with you.
Food/Fun: as mentioned, All-inclusive, but better. Fresh and innovative. And we rate Bordeaux a five of five. Service: top notch everywhere. Entertainment: very good. Notables: we enjoyed a two-piece (guitarist and female vocalist) evening Pop-rock show on the beach with a small campfire and a telescope for the curious alongside. The moon was nearly full (we book all our getaways with the moon if we can) and provided much romantic light for walks. The after-dinner singer in the foyer was excellent as was her keyboard accompanist. And the harpist at breakfast one morning had me spellbound with his skills. We didn't get to the theater shows. The disco was nice, but started a bit late for us most nights. Activities appeared fun, though we only watched. Beach and pool volleyball, exercise, etc. We were surprised by an elegant little coffee shop near the lobby which made a delicious latte which we enjoyed after breakfast each day. The business center (free for guest use) had 4 cpu's. Tip: As log-in for any machine usually includes the "@" symbol in your email address and Mexican computers don't all use the same keys for it, ask at the front desk for assistance & save some time.
Beach: The beach was almost as nice as others we've seen (Paraiso South of Tulum & Punta Sur on Coz to name two) but I cannot say nicer. But our weather was not as nice enough here to make a true apples to apples comparison.
Overall: very clean, location fairly close to airport, overall value is excellent! We would certainly recommend Secrets Maroma Beach to our friends. They do an excellent job!
There's that. Now, the following remarks have little or nothing to do with SMB, and are set apart for that reason. Positive or negative, they should not - and do not - affect our rating of the resort,
Booking: We booked through Travelocity, who partners with Olympus tours. We paid about $40 pp for our ride from the airport, and stopped in 2 places before "getting home." A private taxi might be more your taste and may be comparable in cost. But if you do use Olympus, they're always friendly and though they will want a followup visit to sell you activities, they do not sell timeshares. They are gracious upon decline. First timers to the airport: if you already have transportation set up (Olympus or otherwise), run, don't walk through the Cancun airport stopping NOWHERE along the way, allowing NO ONE to pull you aside and convince you that they are travel officials, etc. You don't need them. Get to the back door of the building asap and meet your ride in the back portico outside. Olympus is there, wearing orange polo shirts. Not sure why this gauntlet of activity is allowed in the airports, but as long as you are savvy, it's no big deal and you will waste no time.
Other: it is traditional that on our first full day, I sun in the morning while my dh tours the beach both ways to scope out interesting things to see & do later on. The beaches North are beautiful. But the beaches South, sadly, not so. There's a small spa and then an abandoned villa, which are nice, but then just after that, there is a literal dump. Bottles, shoes, and other trash which has floated ashore litters this lovely landscape about 18" deep. And it's been there for a while, obviously, there's so much trash. It affected him the rest of the morning, seeing such lovely beaches this way. When one sees the spoiled beauty of such a national treasure, then considers all the money that is made here, one marvels at why some of it is not used to address this issue. SMB's beaches are impeccable, and it is unlikely that it has anything to do with this. But it is part of our experience and we would want others to share it with us, so here it is.
Ok. Now. Have a wonderful time at SMB! And again, relax. They do it all for you, with a smile. Dress up, go out, raise a glass and celebrate.
