Secrets Resorts & Spas changed my jaded opinion of all-inclusive resorts. Part of Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection, the brand sits squarely in the luxury travel category with elevated experiences at its adults-only beach resorts.

I checked out Hyatt’s spin on upscale all-inclusives at one of them, Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen. The AAA Five Diamond resort sits in the heart of Mexico’s Riviera Maya, about 10 minutes from Playa del Carmen’s Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue). Gone were the elements that give some budget all-inclusives a bad rap: bland buffets, watered-down drinks, crowded pools, cramped guestrooms and lackluster entertainment for wristband-wearing tourists traveling on the cheap. Instead, I found plush suites, gourmet restaurants, top-shelf drinks, expansive common spaces and top-notch nightly shows.

© Katherine Rodeghier

But no wristbands. My first impression after a 40-minute ride from Cancun International Airport? Jaw-dropping. The cavernous entrance opened to a breathtaking view overlooking tropical foliage fringed by the blue edge of the Caribbean Sea. Another wow moment came when I entered my suite, one of 485 on the property, and walked on to the terrace where a soaking tub and sofa overlooked manicured grounds. Inside, I found plenty of room for the king-sized bed, another sofa, double-sink marble bathroom, rain shower and ample closet space. The minibar was refreshed daily. My one complaint: no desk. Perhaps the designers didn’t figure guests would be working while here.

A compartment inside the closet contained a door staff could open from the outside for discreet room service deliveries. Yes, at the luxury level, these all-inclusives offer 24-hour room service.

© Katherine Rodeghier

Not that I would need it. I had my choice of 11 dining venues, including seven à la carte restaurants. Would it be seafood, Italian, Mexican, Pan-Asian or French at Bisou, which boasts a AAA Four Diamond rating and is known for its beef Wellington? Even the buffet in the Market Café offered an elevated experience with a huge spread of local and international foods, as well as several made-to-order stations.

Guests who upgrade to the resort’s Preferred Club category have access to the Rooftop and its Observatory restaurant and bar, a seventh-floor aerie that became my favorite spot. What began as a pleasant breakfast in the open-air eatery morphed into an entire morning spent swimming in the Rooftop’s infinity pool and lolling on a spacious pool deck while servers brought drinks and snacks.

Preferred Club perks also include a complimentary hydrotherapy circuit in Secrets Spa: sauna; steam room; cold plunge; targeted water jets for legs, neck, back in the co-ed pool; and relaxation on heated lounge chairs. The cenote-inspired spa also offers massages and facials and has a full-service beauty salon, double treatment rooms and a bridal suite.

All-inclusives are all about activities, and Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen has a wide variety of beach, pool and land happenings, including kayaking, sailing, volleyball, water aerobics and yoga. With eight swimming pools and three manmade cenotes tucked into the tropical landscaping, it didn’t feel crowded.

Eight bars meant I was never far from my favorite adult beverages. I learned more about one of them during an extra-cost experience, Mexican Spirits, with samples of four kinds of tequila. Other such experiences feature food and wine, private dining and spa treatments.

© Katherine Rodeghier

Entertainment revolves around evening shows in Moxché Theater and in some of the restaurants. At dinner in Seasoul seafood restaurant, I had a ringside seat to Cirque du Soleil-style performances by a talented troupe of musicians, acrobats and dancers. Those eager to dance themselves head to Gypsy, a speakeasy-style club requiring a password to enter.

For some guests, it isn’t all play and no work. The resort has 12,711 square feet of meeting and event space. I was part of a group attending a conference organized by tour operator ALG Vacations, also part of the Hyatt family, serving 2.6 million passengers a year.

Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen

Carr. Tulum – Cancún Supermanzana Km 294,
77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R., Mexico
tel 52 984 122 4750