Hola; it’s Friday and time for another room category review!  I’m highlighting the Preferred Club Jr. Suite Ocean View at Secrets the Vine located in Cancun’s Hotel Zone.  Secrets the Vine is a great adults-only resort situated between two other popular and well regarded all-inclusives, Hard Rock Hotel Cancun and Sandos Cancun Lifestyle Resort, all facing the beautiful Caribbean Sea.  This area of the Hotel Zone is representative of the Cancun that most people see in media–turquoise sea, miles of white sandy beach, and breathtaking views from chic resorts and beachfront pools.

As is common for Secrets resorts, it’s a beautifully done property with many restaurants and bars; wine offerings are a specialty here with opportunities for wine tastings and a large selection of both red and white wines available by the glass or bottle (be prepared for your waiters to urge bottle purchases at mealtimes).  I especially like the gym location–it’s got a better ocean view than most guest rooms!  There are several heated pools on-site which makes the resort a good winter vacation choice, a beachfront Jacuzzi, and poolside BBQ opportunities.  Potential guests should note that this resort has no swim-up bar–a deal breaker for some all-inclusive vacationers.

There are few truly oceanfront guest rooms at this Secrets resort since the main building was constructed perpendicular to the beach in order to offer the most amenities on a slip of prime oceanfront real estate.  So, if you want a full-on ocean view you will have to book a Honeymoon, Master, Governor, or Presidential Suite, all a massively expensive upgrade.  If you are like me and you enjoy a great room with a lot to offer at a reasonable price, you will enjoy the Preferred Club Jr. Suite Ocean View room.  Preferred Club is an upgraded room choice; check-in is done on the 21st floor, and all PC rooms are guaranteed 21st floor or above (up to the 28th floor).  The room numbers are done in a rather unique fashion since there are really only 18 floors at this resort–just roll with it to not stress yourself out.

I like this PC suite over the Deluxe room category for several reasons:

• as previously stated, you get more expansive views since you will be on the upper floors
• with just a few basic room alterations done with the PC Jr. Suite, the room seems larger than the Deluxe Suite and the total bathroom area doesn’t feel like it’s squeezed in as an afterthought
• PC rooms get to enjoy the private pool/bar/restaurant located on the 12th floor.  It is definitely worth it to upgrade at this resort.

Some people may not like the shower–it is in plain view of the bedroom/bed so there may be a privacy issue for those traveling as friends or with other adult family members.  Keep in mind this is primarily a couples’ resort; if the shower situation isn’t a reminder of that then the evening dining situation may be just that (not a complaint, per se, but a la carte restaurant staff at any Secrets resort expect there to be two people eating dinner–you may get “looks” or staff peering behind you to see where the other person might be hiding, lol).

Take a look at this room category video and tell me what you think–part of what I liked about this particular video is that you also get a very good idea of what the grounds look like since the videographer records views from the balcony as well.  Would you stay here?