Adult Only Trip to Cozumel - Secrets Aura Resort
Anna Trosper
2/2/21
It was our 20th wedding anniversary in July and we were determined to go somewhere, have some fun, and relax. COVID was making that a little hard with travel restrictions and all, but Mexico opened for traveling and we booked tickets to Cozumel as soon as possible. We had no reservations about going to Mexico with all that was going on in the world. We have been to Cozumel more times than I can count and have made many friends on the island. So, we knew what to expect when we got there.
Only a few resorts where opened back up and even those were at a low capacity. I personally love the low occupancy limits. This will make it much easier to social distance at the resort.
We chose Secrets Aura Resort all-inclusive and adult-only, it was one of the resorts that was opening in our time frame. We wanted to get away and just spend time together, relax on the beach, and do some scuba diving. Secrets Aura allowed us to do just that and we felt very safe and well taken care of.
After we arrived at the airport,got through customs, picked up our rental car and off we went. We have done this drive many times and this one by far was a little different. Secrets Aura Cozumel's located on the southern edge of Cozumel. This is about a 20-minute drive and in the past you got to see all the island life that Cozumel has to offer on this drive. Not so much this trip! The main town and shopping area was closed. No cruise ships docked in the ports, no tourists walking the streets. Streets where empty, all but a few locals on their mopeds. Everyone you saw had a mask on, everyone! It was creepy but I kind of liked seeing it not so full of people. We took our time driving and stopped to see things we had miss before, due to always being so rushed. The island had a more laid-back feeling than ever before and that is just what we were looking for.
We arrived at Secrets Aura and was greeted by staff with a cool towel and a glass of bubbly waiting for us. Parking is free if you have a car, and they also have valet services if you would like. We just parked the car our self as we could park right up close to lobby. Limited capacity means open parking also! We also would be going out every day, so it made it easier on us.
When we started to enter the lobby to get checked in the staff made sure we stepped into a tray on the floor. This had disinfectant in it to clean our shoes. They also handed us hand sanitizer and as I looked there where hand sanitizer stations everywhere.
The lobby is set with a nature-inspired water fountain and there are several beige couches for seating. Water and coffee are set out for guests' convenience. Just off of the lobby is the smallest pool in the property, the Relax Pool, which overlooks the white sand beach and is home to a little crab that at night likes to come out and walk the walkways! Paved walkways meander through the large grounds which include palm trees, trimmed hedges, and tropical flowers.
As I said this is an all adult resort, but right next door is the sister property Sunscape Sabor, this is a family resort. When staying at Secrets you can also use Sunscape Sabor amenities, but guest staying at Sunscape Sabor cannot come over to Secrets.
Kids aren't allowed here (they are next door at Sunscape Sabor Cozumel, the sister property) and the bulk of guests are couples. Groups of friends stay here too and many people come back every single year. Sometimes there are several weddings happening at one time on the beach. There's a definite party vibe in the air, as expected when unlimited booze and the Mexican sun come together, but there are enough swimming pools and beach space to escape (and find some) quiet if that's what you're looking for.
Secrets Aura Cozumel's isolated location on the southern edge of Cozumel is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, the private beach and remote location means quiet and privacy, and on the other hand, it's a 20-minute drive to San Miguel and there's little chance to explore the island without a car. Parking is free and staff is on-hand to assist with valet services.
Spa, fitness center, and access to next door Sunscape Sabor's facilities
The features at Secrets Aura Cozumel are aimed squarely at adults, obviously, but some of them are located next door at the family-friendly sister property, Sunscape Sabor Cozumel. Guests at Secrets can also use Sunscape's two swimming pools, beach, and attend the nightly entertainment there. However, guests at Sunscape cannot access the Secrets portion of the property.
An all-suites hotel, but you get what you pay for
Each of the 238 rooms at Secrets is a spacious suite. Price varies depending on where the suite is located on the property and how recently it was renovated. Obviously, the best deals are found at the edge of the property, farthest from the pools and beach, and these suites have minor wear and tear. The best options are in the Preferred section of the hotel, between the beach and the Preferred swimming pool. Some suites have direct pool (or waterslide) access or private rooftop swimming pools that overlook the ocean.
When we got to our room it was in the middle of the resort and the room was a little run down. It could use a renovation. I am not one to complain, so only if it was really bad would I have said something.
Each suite comes standard with free Wi-Fi, a free minibar that's stocked daily with beer, water, soda, and snacks, coffeemaker and coffee, a flat-screen TV, king-size bed, sitting area, and furnished balcony or terrace. Decor and room configurations vary slightly, but the overall look is contemporary.
Bathrooms vary according to price as well. Standard Suites have a shower while the Preferred Club Suites include an enormous soaking tub and a rainfall shower. Toiletries and hairdryers are provided in all bathrooms. Cleanliness isn't an issue here at all.
We got all settled in and headed to the pool! We went to the closest pool with a pool bar and the water slides. The grounds and pool were well taken care of. I could tell the resort had been closed for a while as the grounds in places needed a little cleaning up, but staff was working hard on getting it all cleaned up.
We found out that this pool area was let us say the party pool. During the day it was nice and calm but later in the day it got a little rowdy! We headed back to our room and to get ready for dinner at about that time. At dinner my husband was talking with one of the staff, come to find out he was the manager on duty and in the morning we were upgraded to a preferred room up to the front of the resort with an ocean view.
What I found out some of the differences are, Preferred Club Suites come with loads of extra goodies. The rooms are larger, and the minibars include snacks and tequila -- even the toiletries are nicer. Chocolate covered strawberries are provided as a gift. Guests also get access to an air-conditioned private lounge that presents food services, a full bar, breakfast, and fast Wi-Fi. The best part though, is access to the Preferred swimming pool which has ocean views and a swim-up bar.
Spa, fitness center, and access to next door Sunscape Sabor's facilities
There is an enormous and relaxing spa. Men's and women's locker rooms have a hot tub, steam room, and sauna. There are treatment rooms for couples and singles, plus a relaxation lounge set with free tea. A full salon does nails, hair, and bridal makeup. A chocolate body wrap, and sea facial are a few of the more creative treatment options. The spa is quiet and decorated with luxurious elements such as large gemstones. Look for the fish pedicure in the reception area.
The large fitness center does not overlook the ocean, as it's near the front entrance of the Sunscape Sabor hotel. It includes Life fitness cardio and weight machines, but they're not the newest models. Flat-screen TVs, water, and towels are provided. Just across the hallway are a variety of gift shops that sell everything from sunscreen to cigars.
All-Inclusive / Food
Every guest that books at Secrets gets all-inclusive meals and drinks as well as 24-hour room service. Staff will serve guests in their suites, at the beach, and in the swim-up pools. Reservations for dinner are not required and was not needed at all on our trip. We never waited for a table one time.
Windows serves dinner in an air-conditioned dining room that overlooks the beach. Meals are seafood and steaks, and the dining room is a bit more formal -- men must wear pants and flip-flops are not allowed.
Oceana serves fresh seafood for dinner only, this was not open at night when we were their but is where we had breakfast every morning be for we headed out on our dive trip.
Bordeaux provides French fare for dinner and has an extensive wine list. The dining room is indoors and air-conditioned. We ate here twice the food is amazing!
Barefoot Grill is located just next to the beach pool and serves burgers and seafood for lunch (it was not open when we were there). The staff made up for it – if you wanted anything at all they brought it to you at the pool or on the beach!
Coco Cafe is tucked away near the tennis courts. It is open all day and serves specialty coffees and pastries in a cute cafe-style restaurant. Every night we would stop in and get a coffee and a dessert and sit outside and just relax.
Cocktails, wine, and beer are served in the variety of bars and lounges. Rendezvous is located just off the lobby and is a bit more elegant. Look for the coconut drinks decorated with fresh fruit at the bar. There are two swim-up bars, though these do close just before sunset, which is a bit of a buzzkill for those who want to float in the pool with a margarita while the sun sets.
Sky Bar serves drinks on the roof and Desires, next door at Sunscape, offers music entertainment and karaoke.
Pools
Four swimming pools and two waterslides
There are four swimming pool for guests to access at Secrets Aura Cozumel, though the Preferred Pool is only for guests who booked a suite in the Preferred section of the hotel. Beach towels are free and tucked into boxes around the resort. Finding a sun lounger or an umbrella is not really a problem and staff circulates to take drink and food orders.
The Relax Pool is the smallest and quietest option. It is between the lobby and the beach and does not see a lot of action, other than people sunbathing next to it. The water in this pool seems warmer than all the others. The Beach Pool is located near Barefoot Grill and overlooks the beach. This pool is nicely landscaped with palm trees and pedestrian bridges and winds toward the back of the property. In the middle of this aera you will find a secluded hot tub, if you do not look closely you will miss it! The Waterslide Pool is the party pool (that is where we started at the first day). There are two small waterslides and a swim-up bar here.
Beach
White sand and clear blue water
Cozumel is not known for its sandy beaches, but Secrets has a long private expanse of sand that's set with neat rows of cushioned sun loungers. Shade is provided under thatched umbrellas and there is a long pier that juts out into the ocean, plus 2 hammocks in the water. The ocean is calm and clear enough for snorkeling. Volleyball nets are set up and there is an area where guests can check out kayaks, life preservers, Hobie Cats, snorkel equipment, and paddles. Food and beverage service is offered on the sand, in keeping with the hotel's promise to serve drinks and food "anytime and anywhere." Guests can sign up for scuba lessons and excursions, for an added cost. Dive trips depart from the on-site pier and if you have a different dive company pick you up at the pier, they will charge you $5 a day.
All in all, this was a great trip, just what we needed. Would I stay here again? Yes! I do think the resort could use a few upgrades, but it was still a nice resort. I did not get to see everything the resort has as not everything was open. They did not have a full staff, but you would never known it. The staff that was there made sure you were having a great time and did not need anything. Room service was great and did not take a long time to get (our food). It did rain extremely hard one day and our room had water in it from under the door and the staff was there fast to take care of it for us.
If you would like to know more about this great resort or looking to book an adult get away, I would be happy to talk with you. You can reach out to me at: annat@wishesfamilytravel.com or you can follow me on my Facebook page. I look forward in helping you plan your next adventure soon!