By now, quite a few visitors have graced the steps of SMB. I was hunting around in TripAdvisor tonight to see what the latest and greatest had to say, and I found this post - which was pretty helpful on a few details I have not heard about yet! Here are some snippets, followed by the full link - see everyone Monday! Happy Labor Day!
From StoneCreek67:
"Landed at 11 am, at SMB 12:45 ! Literally a 30 minute drive from the airport "including" a 5 minute stop to buy a lighter for my cigars !
Waiting for my wife to finish dressing to got o the managers cocktail party then off to Bordeaux for dinner.
Had lunch at the World Cafe buffet, didn't think it would top Capri, but it was simply phenomenal, tremendous presentation and selection, way over the top and everything was excellent.
The pool water is like a warm bath, a breeze blowing, great swim-up bar and poolside service.
We're in an oceanview preferred club 4th floor room overlooking the pool and beach in the 3rd building from the beach on the left if you're looking from the beach. Preferred club lounge not open yet.
Room is great so far, a/c is like ice, excercise room is definitely open and being used.
Slight construction going on around the edged, nothing intrusive at all.
The driveway in from the main road is shared by three resorts, and unlike some descriptions of " a war zone " is really just still under construction and dusty."
And from a later post...
"Had dinner at Bordeaux ! Must preface that we live just 20 minutes from mid-town Manhattan, some of the best food in the world available at all times, having said that, the french cuisine at Bordeaux was excellent ! Wife had duck, I had the veal chop, frizee salads with shrimp, and a mediterranean bouliabase ( spelling ) al of which were very, very good ! Creme brulee and something else I can't remember, both of which were excellent. Also had a very dry chilean cabernet, very tasty I must say !"
And more...
"Had the breakfast buffet, just like Capri and all the other food here so far... excellent ! I find ALL the food excellent, not spicy / but not bland either, very tasty.
Again, gym IS open now and a&c on, spa supposedly Sept 15 from Eric the GM.
The preferred club lounge looks to be complete to me and will be very nice however is not open yet. Dont know why, aside from that that the difference in preferred club is the tub on the balcony, and location of the building closer to the pool & beach, which our fourth floor room has a view of the pool and ocean that is breathtaking !
Witnessed a wedding last nite under the wedding palapa by the pool, how was it... it looked ok to me, they both apparently said I do, 15 or so people, seemed very nice .
Cigars, they have a good selection in a walkin humidor, didn/t look at all the brands, noticed romeo julieta, hoyo de monterray, MUCHO, MUCHO others, they were running $ 20 US and up ! Cigar smoking lounge is up a spiral staircase over the humidor looking out a glass window over the lobby, kinda nice, unique. Why would one sit inside when you can have a stogie outside at one of the restaurants overlooking the beach / pool with the breeze.
The whole place, except for finishing the inside of half the rooms, is 90% complete. Needs decorating inside.
Grass, long conversation with Eric GM, the land it is built on is some kind of prtotected area and flora, state says they cannot plant grass, only indiginous plantings, so they are planting what amounts to ground cover of small plants, cactuslike things, greenery. It will be absolutely georgous when its done, but not for a while til these things mature. But It still is really pretty right now in person, it just appears barren in pictures, anyway thats my opinion.
The road in... also protected by the government. As others have reported, not a war zone, but not very appealing either, they have no control over that situation, cannot be paved, must remain gravel and sides in the natural state. Went down on the beach this am, absolutley stupendous, just as everyone says. You can see and walk for miles in iether direction, just fabulous, really ! Clear turqoise water, like a bath, just beautiful.
I am now going to joinn my boss and partake of some of that atmosphere at the swim/up bar and pool. I really have just on final word at this time...FREAKIN/HOT/HERE !!!!! But not on the beach or at the pool, wonderful strong breeze. "
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g659488-i11442-k2214682-o20-On_the_ground_at_Secrets_Maroma_8_27-Riviera_Maya_Yucatan_Peninsula.html
From StoneCreek67:
"Landed at 11 am, at SMB 12:45 ! Literally a 30 minute drive from the airport "including" a 5 minute stop to buy a lighter for my cigars !
Waiting for my wife to finish dressing to got o the managers cocktail party then off to Bordeaux for dinner.
Had lunch at the World Cafe buffet, didn't think it would top Capri, but it was simply phenomenal, tremendous presentation and selection, way over the top and everything was excellent.
The pool water is like a warm bath, a breeze blowing, great swim-up bar and poolside service.
We're in an oceanview preferred club 4th floor room overlooking the pool and beach in the 3rd building from the beach on the left if you're looking from the beach. Preferred club lounge not open yet.
Room is great so far, a/c is like ice, excercise room is definitely open and being used.
Slight construction going on around the edged, nothing intrusive at all.
The driveway in from the main road is shared by three resorts, and unlike some descriptions of " a war zone " is really just still under construction and dusty."
And from a later post...
"Had dinner at Bordeaux ! Must preface that we live just 20 minutes from mid-town Manhattan, some of the best food in the world available at all times, having said that, the french cuisine at Bordeaux was excellent ! Wife had duck, I had the veal chop, frizee salads with shrimp, and a mediterranean bouliabase ( spelling ) al of which were very, very good ! Creme brulee and something else I can't remember, both of which were excellent. Also had a very dry chilean cabernet, very tasty I must say !"
And more...
"Had the breakfast buffet, just like Capri and all the other food here so far... excellent ! I find ALL the food excellent, not spicy / but not bland either, very tasty.
Again, gym IS open now and a&c on, spa supposedly Sept 15 from Eric the GM.
The preferred club lounge looks to be complete to me and will be very nice however is not open yet. Dont know why, aside from that that the difference in preferred club is the tub on the balcony, and location of the building closer to the pool & beach, which our fourth floor room has a view of the pool and ocean that is breathtaking !
Witnessed a wedding last nite under the wedding palapa by the pool, how was it... it looked ok to me, they both apparently said I do, 15 or so people, seemed very nice .
Cigars, they have a good selection in a walkin humidor, didn/t look at all the brands, noticed romeo julieta, hoyo de monterray, MUCHO, MUCHO others, they were running $ 20 US and up ! Cigar smoking lounge is up a spiral staircase over the humidor looking out a glass window over the lobby, kinda nice, unique. Why would one sit inside when you can have a stogie outside at one of the restaurants overlooking the beach / pool with the breeze.
The whole place, except for finishing the inside of half the rooms, is 90% complete. Needs decorating inside.
Grass, long conversation with Eric GM, the land it is built on is some kind of prtotected area and flora, state says they cannot plant grass, only indiginous plantings, so they are planting what amounts to ground cover of small plants, cactuslike things, greenery. It will be absolutely georgous when its done, but not for a while til these things mature. But It still is really pretty right now in person, it just appears barren in pictures, anyway thats my opinion.
The road in... also protected by the government. As others have reported, not a war zone, but not very appealing either, they have no control over that situation, cannot be paved, must remain gravel and sides in the natural state. Went down on the beach this am, absolutley stupendous, just as everyone says. You can see and walk for miles in iether direction, just fabulous, really ! Clear turqoise water, like a bath, just beautiful.
I am now going to joinn my boss and partake of some of that atmosphere at the swim/up bar and pool. I really have just on final word at this time...FREAKIN/HOT/HERE !!!!! But not on the beach or at the pool, wonderful strong breeze. "
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g659488-i11442-k2214682-o20-On_the_ground_at_Secrets_Maroma_8_27-Riviera_Maya_Yucatan_Peninsula.html
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