Walt Disney World 101...Part 4 (Disney Dining Explained)

Mexico...My Little "Secret" (Part 2)

Well I am finally back to finish my review of our latest trip to Cancun and the Riviera Maya. As promised in the previous installment, this review will cover our stay at AMResort’s first Riviera Maya property, Secrets Capri Resort and Spa.

I must admit that for the first time in all of my travels, I went into this trip with very high expectations based on reviews I had read prior to our trip. That is in violation of my own rules about travel. I usually try to down play the overly positive and take the extreme negative with several grains of salt. But this time, I had listened too much to all of the VERY positive remarks as they related to the service at Capri. So many reviewers had mentioned that they were always greeted by name after the first day of being at the resort. So I was very excited to be able to experience what I call “Ritz Carlton service” at a non-Ritz Carlton resort. That was my mistake because I basically set the resort up for failure in that regard by possibly having unreasonable expectations based on some other’s supposed experience.

The service was good so let me get that out there right now. You will not be disappointed in the service once you arrive. The staff is very friendly and courteous. They will do what they can to help if you need assistance of any kind. You will receive a plethora of “hola’s” during your stay from every staff member that you pass along the way. So again...the service was good. But it was not near the level of great that I had read about before arriving. No one ever remembered our name after the first day. Some servers were less than good, but that does not take away from my overall opinion. Some pool bar servers were actually not good at all, but some other fantastic servers made up for their incompetence and lack of attention. You will find that variety at most resorts so I will not give Capri a bad review based on just a few bad server apples.

The same goes for some of the restaurant staff. Some servers were awesome while some others were non-existent after the first greeting, especially during breakfast in La Riviera.

Moving on...the food was good as well. The breakfast buffet was probably one of the best I have ever experienced as far as food and selection goes. One of the best omelet makers in the world works at Secrets Capri and her name is Rita. Make sure you try one of her very fluffy omelets during your stay. She is also a very warm and friendly person so say “hola” to her as you wait. We tried basically every restaurant during our stay and we enjoyed every one. There are 5 restaurants including their outside grill. All have nice ambience and some come with an awesome view of the Caribbean which always makes a meal taste better in my opinion. Some meals were better than others, but no complaints as far as overall taste and quantity. And don’t hesitate to order room service. It was always prompt and they have a nice variety offered on their room service menu.

The resort is smaller than some of the other all-inclusive resorts up and down the Riviera Maya.  It has a more intimate feel which I like.  The grounds and common areas are beautiful and the beach was fantastic.  They have added some new pool chairs which are very comfortable and we never had any issues when trying to a find nice spot by the pool or out on the beach.

The room was smaller than my previous stay at Secrets Silversands, but it was adequate and well appointed.  The bed was comfortable and the bathroom was huge and came with dual sinks, nice large shower and also a whirlpool tub.  We had an ocean view room with a balcony and the view was something that kept making me stroll out to the balcony to take it all in realizing it was not going to be my view anymore after 6 days.  The only complaint I have about the room was the furniture on the balcony.  It was very uncomfortable.  We had to stack towels on top of the chairs just to be able to sit for any length of time.  I hope management addresses that at some point.

Hastening on.  I have to mention the spa.  Probably one of the nicest spa experiences we have had.  Their facilities are beautiful and you cannot help but feel relaxed as soon as you step through the doors.  Yes the prices are high for any of their treatments, but you are on vacation for crying out loud so plan on splurging a little.  It is well worth it if you take the time to enjoy all that their spa has to offer.  Make sure you get to the spa about an hour before your appointment so you can relax in the saunas and pools. 

The one thing that I wish AMResorts would address is the tipping or gratuity policy.  They (and a lot of other resort chains do as well) advertise that their pricing also includes gratuities.  This should mean that employees at the resorts should decline gratuities when offered since their superior service is supposed to reflect the idea they have already been tipped.   But it appears that sometimes bar service is somehow on par with how much you have have tipped a particular server or bartender throughout your trip.  The resorts need to go one way or the other.  Either train their staff to refuse tips because they are already included or lower the room rates and then make it clear that your rate does NOT include gratuities.

Before I close I also want to give a shout out to AMSTAR tours.  They are on-site at Capri and they (and their drivers and tour guide) do a great job with excursions so look for them on the main level once you arrive. 

In summary, Secrets Capri Resort and Spa is a very nice resort and we had a great trip while staying with them.  Just go into your trip with reasonable expectations and you will not be disappointed.  You can view photos of the resort by clicking on this link...Secrets Capri Resort and Spa

Joplin Tornado: How You Can Help

Mexico...My Little “Secret” (Part 1)

I find it interesting that a major all-inclusive resort chain would choose to name one of their products “Secrets.”  No business anywhere of any kind wants to be a secret.  Maybe their goal was to aim for a name that would conjure up an image of exclusivity. That might well be the case with AMResorts when they decided they would build their first Secrets Resort and Spa in Mexico’s Riviera Maya back in 2003.  You get a sense that they almost like to keep their resorts a “secret” when you compare even the size of their gated entrances to those of some of the other big name resort players throughout the Cancun/Playa del Carmen area.   

But before I get into my review related to the resort itself and share my little “secret” with you, let me start by offering some tips on how best to navigate your way through customs and beyond once you arrive in Cancun.  First...have your customs and declaration forms filled out BEFORE you get off the plane in Cancun.  Sometimes this is unavoidable since Mexico does not always equip incoming planes with the proper number of forms needed.  But that was not the case on our latest American Airlines flight and, to much surprise, several passengers were huddled in a cramped gate area immediately off the plane because they did not have their forms pre-filled out before they landed.  The Mexican officials will not let you head on down towards the customs area unless you have your forms filled out.  So try really hard to get your hands on those forms before landing in Cancun.

Then, once you have navigated the customs and immigration area with luggage in tow, head straight through the sliding doors and outside to the transfer and transportation area with purpose.  If you are traveling to Mexico for the first time, do NOT wait until you arrive in Cancun before you start considering how you will get from the airport to your hotel or resort.  This will sound like an understatement to those who have been to Mexico before, but vendors in Mexico are pushy!  If you don’t know where you are going or what you are doing, they will sense that like a lion smells food on the Serengeti.  Make sure you have your transfers pre-arranged before arriving in Cancun and then follow your transfer company’s instructions to a T.  Vendors inside the airport (after you leave the customs area) will act as if they need to see your reservation or confirmation to “help you make sure you know where you are going” which they don’t so keep your eyes looking forward and walk with purpose past their nonsense and out to the area where you were told to go. 

We chose USA Transfers again for this trip and they were wonderful.  They greet you by name and offer clean and well-maintained vans for their shuttle service whether private or shared.  Their prices are reasonable as well. Various other suppliers that I use such as GOGO and Pleasant Holidays all use reputable transfer companies and have clear instructions to follow so, again, make sure you have your transfers pre-arranged before heading off on your vacation.

Second tip to consider.  Take along about $100 to $200 in US dollars and try to take along small bills such as $1’s and $5’s.  Even though most resorts will advertise that “tips are included,”  most every employee still expects some form of small gratuity when fetching you a beverage or calling a taxi etc.  If you go down with larger bills and then try to buy something to get change, you will most likely be given pesos in return.  So try as best as you can to set aside some money just for tipping.

Third tip...be patient for crying out loud.  Remember that you are the visitor.  You are the tourist.  Your ways are not their ways.  Your customs are not their customs.  Mexico has its own speed.  Schedules can sometimes have a plus or minus of 15-30 minutes (usually a plus).  Be patient with that and with the drivers and guides that you come across.  Remember that English is NOT their national language and the fact that many of them speak both Spanish and English means they are probably more intelligent than you and I.  So when your bus makes it 4th or 5th stop, take a deep breath and remember that you are in Mexico where life is harder for most of its citizens and they have the same goals as you and I which is to provide for ourselves and our family and try to live as comfortably as we can and at peace. 

Fourth and final tip...spend a day away from your resort.  The local economy is better supported when tourists remove themselves from the confines of the resort.  Taxi drivers, tour guides, local vendors and artisans reap the benefits of your visit when you buy their wares or use their services.  These service providers and vendors are mostly those who have called Cancun and Playa del Carmen their home for most of their lives versus some of the employees at the resorts who may have been transplanted in because of their education and their ability to speak English fluently. So get out and experience more of what Mexico has to offer.  While their sales techniques can be a bit much compared to what we are used to in the United States, you will still meet some of the nicest, most hospitable people found anywhere on the planet.  So get out there and see what they have to offer.

So now please stay tuned for my review and observations of AMResort’s first resort of the Riviera Maya...Secrets Capri Resort and Spa.

Walt Disney World 101...Part 3

I hear so many first-time visitors question the need to visit every park at Walt Disney World. Some have heard that certain parks are not as "kid-friendly" etc and that is simply false information which is why I felt the need to briefly describe each of the 4 MAIN parks that make up Walt Disney World. I hope this short video helps clarify what each park can offer guests of all ages.

Walt Disney World 101...Part 2

This segment discusses the various ticket options that someone will need to consider when planning a Walt Disney World vacation.

Walt Disney World 101--Part 1

A very long-overdue series related to booking a Walt Disney World vacation. This the first part in a series that I have planned which are directed more towards the 1st time Disney vacationer. Please feel free to ask questions or leave comments. And as always...thanks for watching and reading.