When some hotel chains open, you barely hear about it.
- Another Holiday Inn Express opened in Orlando. Big deal.
- A Residence Inn near LAX? Meh.
- Frankfurt’s got a Premier Inn now? Well, I suppose that’s nice.
But other hotels open and it seems like everyone notices. And if it’s in a popular location, even more so. AND if you include the terms “all inclusive” and “adults only?” People practically get whiplash in checking the place out.
Such was the case for Secrets Mirabel Resort & Spa, Hyatt’s adults-only all-inclusive luxury resort in Cancun’s Hotel Zone.
The resort opened in November 2025 – so just about a month ago. Located about 8.5 miles from Cancun International Airport, cradled between the Caribbean Sea and the Nichupté Lagoon, it features modern design, diverse dining, a wellness spa, and what they call “practical sustainable initiatives.”
What the resort promises
Their website touts:
- Unlimited Dining
- Unlimited Drinks
- Best-in-Class Service
- Wi-Fi
- Endless Entertainment
The resort offers 487 rooms and suites with ocean, lagoon, or garden views. Many of the rooms include private balconies, and higher-end Preferred Club options include swim-out or plunge-pool terraces, private oceanfront terraces, rooftop bar access, an infinity pool, and club-level breakfast service.
The resort boasts eight restaurants that range from French and Mediterranean cuisine to Asian flavors and a premier steakhouse. And all restaurants are available without reservations. There are also multiple bars and lounges, including some swim-up options, perfect for casual daytime drinks. Guests can also pay extra to dine by the sea or in the resort’s exclusive wine or agave cellars, if they’re looking for a more romantic night.
The reviews
Generally speaking, it’s rarely recommended to visit a hotel or resort during its first few weeks of being open. Staff are still getting used to their respective roles, spaces may not be open yet (to be fair, Secrets Mirabel Cancun’s “Secret Spa”, “will offer a full menu of treatments, including massages, facials, aromatherapy, reflexology and hydrotherapy experiences inspired by ancient Mayan traditions” isn’t open yet), and sometimes general construction might not even be finished (remember the cluster of the TWA Hotel when it first opened?)
In other words, it’s not the best place to visit if you’re looking for a mistake-free, “perfect” vacation.
And yet, having been open for just a month, Secrets Mirabel Resort & Spa can boast 40 reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 on TripAdvisor.
The one “Terrible” review
You’ll notice that 34 of the reviews say the resort is “excellent,” 5 say it’s “Good” and one says it’s “Terrible.”
So of course, we checked out that “terrible” review first 😉
>Do not stay at this hotel. Several amenities and restaurants such as the spa, Desires Bar and Barefoot Grill are not available. If you’ve stayed at other Secrets properties before, this property does not meet the standard, it’s still under construction. Paint smells throughout the hotel. Most online platforms indicate all is available along with photos which is misleading.
Sounds like “resort wasn’t really ready,” doesn’t it?
And what about those 4-star reviews? Plenty of positives (beautiful room, great drinks, nice beach) but they were honest about the negatives, too:
Just OK
Breakfast & Lunch at Market Café: Food was good, but service was a bit inexperienced and slow compared to other areas of the hotel.
Needs Improvement
Room location noise (Room 483): Avoid this room — it’s next to the elevator and you hear it constantly.
Safety concerns: Many stair areas need railings, which could be a hazard.
Housekeeping & Turndown: No turndown service even though we left the room before 6:30 PM, and cleaning staff didn’t seem to operate after 4 PM.
UVC Timeshare Pressure: We did not appreciate being approached about presentations at Breathless. This disrupts the luxury experience.
No evening entertainment: Understandable for a new resort, but something to improve as occupancy grows.
Cold pools: Pools are not heated, which can make them hard to enjoy.
Light room service menu: Food quality is great, but options are limited.
Preferred Club issues: We paid for Preferred, but there was no checking at the Sky Bar or Preferred pool — anyone could use the amenities without paying.
Beach amenities: The beach needs cabanas to create a true luxury experience.
Pool loungers: They need padding to match the level of comfort expected at a high-end resort.
Comparison to Other Resorts
I’ve stayed at Secrets Maroma, The Vine, Excellence, and Le Blanc. Mirabel has a lot of potential, especially with its stunning rooms and great dining, but it still needs work to reach the same level in service consistency, amenities and luxury touches.
The room had some quirks (poor shower drainage, fluctuating water temperature, under-bed light turning on/off, and a basic minibar). Elevators were slow, and while stairs worked fine going up, the door to go down was stuck — a potential safety issue.
Pool & Beach: Spacious and uncrowded, but with the Barefoot Grill closed, pool/beach food service was minimal. Staff were willing to accommodate when asked, but snacks weren’t proactively offered. Beach lounge chairs could also be nicer for an adults-only resort.
Overall: At $400–500 per night, this is a decent option for a short stay, but compared to competitors like Le Blanc, Zilara, or Excellence, it currently sits at the lower end. Rating: 3/5.
We had details in the room failed the motion sensors, in our opinion in our room 1 curtain was missing to have a pleasant rest, the most unfortunate thing was not being able to enjoy the spa. When I was repeatedly assured that it would be 100% ready.
Some cost-cutting measures mixed in with things that just weren’t ready yet (inexperienced food servers, stairs still need railings[!!!], spa closed, distinct lack of “endless entertainment,” etc.)
I wonder whether the 34 people who posted those 5-star ratings were compensated in some way?
Yeah, I’d still hold off for a bit if I were considering staying there.
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