Secrets St. Martin Resort & Spa

Excellent stay at Secrets St. Martin in January 2024. My husband and I along with another couple. -Food was good, especially the poolside lunch cookouts, restaurants had enough options for all preferences in our opinion. -Service was good/great, many people were very happy, interactive, and helpful; some didn’t even look up to help at times. -Room was great! It was clean and comfortable - we had a swim out in building 1, so I recommend upgrading to more than garden or basic rooms if that’s your preference. -Beach was great, but water clarity depended on day and the sea. Overall, we’d give a 4 out of 5 in comparison to other resorts but they will be remodeling over the next two years. Our expectations were met and we were not surprised by anything, but a lot of reviews are worse than reality in our opinion.

We just got back from an enjoyable stay in St. Matin. While the rooms are clean and spacious, they could use some updating. My one complaint with the room is the mildew/musty scent that permeates each room. I booked a Jr Suite Garden View and the only view I had was of a hedge which was disappointing. For a room with a view, you would need to upgrade to a premier room. While we were there, the resort was not at full capacity so it was always easy to find a chair at the pool. While the staff was seen cleaning the pool every morning, there was always sand on the bottom. The beach and view is beautiful and like many resorts, you should plan to claim a spot early. The food was fine and we had both good and not so good meals. While only certain restaurants were open each night, we only had to wait once to get seated. As many reviews have noted, this resort is a solid 3 star rating. In my opinion, there is a certain standard of customer service one expects when traveling to a 5-star all inclusive resort. The staff at this resort is lacking the skills needed in this regard. In one instance, we were never offered coffee with breakfast and in another our dinner drink orders did not arrive until almost dessert time. The bar and wait staffing, while nice, they were not friendly beyond just doing their job. At every other resort I have traveled to, the staff has made the stay and genuinely seemed happy that you chose to come to that destination. It what makes a 5-star experience and this is what the resort is lacking. Improvement is needed in service and people skills within the resort staff. With this improvement, it would also allow travelers to ignore some of the other areas that were lacking around the resort.

It is about a forty (40) minute ride to and from the airport. Right through the heart of a couple of small towns so there is much to see. The resort itself is right next to a marina in Anse Marcel. The marina has a nice assortment of shops and dining as well as charter options. Check in was a breeze in the "preferred club" area/bar. This resort is a bracelet free resort so no resort guests had to wear one. They did however sell day passes to non-guests and these people had to wear a pink wristband. The resort was spectacularly clean and staffed by friendly efficient people. Pool was excellent as were the bar(s) adjacent to the pool and beach area. Beach was okay. Still recovering from the hurricane of 2017 so it wasn't really wide. The only downside was there was a lot of seaweed washing up every day. They did try and remove it by machine (twice in the week we were there) but perhaps they should have done it more frequently. The ocean area in front of the resort had a clearly defined swimming area marked off by a string of bouys and the water was nice and warm. We found the food options excellent. Not all outlets were open every day but the variety daily was fine. The breakfast buffet at "Market Cafe" was amazing. We availed ourselves of all dining options at least once and also frequented the coffee shop. Our room was gorgeous. Almost like a small apartment. It was way more than we needed. The only other comment I would make is I'm not sure what the value of the "preferred club" was to us specifically. The only discernable benefits were the room (again, spectacular but way more than we needed) and "top shelf" liquor in the preferred bar (which we barely used) and since this was a no bracelet resort, many people would avoid the queue at the regular lobby bar and scoot into the preferred bar. In any event, this resort would get our highest possible endorsement and we would recommend it to anyone.

Avoid this place at all costs. It looks nothing like the pictures. The facilities are in disrepair. There is not enough staff, and those who are there are totally untrained and mostly unfriendly. We did not see a waiter at the pool or the beach the entire week. But we did see piles of iguana poop that we had to ask to have removed. Very little choices for restaurants, and the food was acceptable at best and inedible at worst.I understand they’re about to do a major renovation. Which is desperately needed. But you can’t take money for what you are billing is a luxury resort and leave your current guest hanging. This was profoundly disappointing. Nowhere near worth the money. I wouldn’t book again here.

I read all these negative reviews before our trip to Secrets St Martin & I was concerned! After spending a week at this resort, I cannot believe how opposite our experience was! We very much enjoyed our week in paradise! We had exceptional service at all of the restaurants. Our favorite staff was Ivan at the breakfast buffet though! He had our coffee & cream ready & waiting, always fast, friendly & efficient. Our favorite dinner was at Olio’s. If you love sushi like we do, go ahead & skip the sushi at the on site sushi restaurant. Our suite was immaculate. Our bed was very comfortable. The room was spacious. We had zero issues with cleanliness or any mold/mildew smells. Housekeeping cleaned our suite daily. I loved having a new bag of Peanut M&M’s everyday in my suite! Yes, the bathroom walls are all glass, the design is a little different than what we are accustomed to, but it did not bother us in the least. I was there with my spouse though. I guess the bathroom situation may have been a problem had I been there with my kids or a friend instead of my husband. Some people have mentioned the grounds needing maintenance &/or the resort needing work/repairs, etc. I saw staff working, cleaning, maintaining, around the resort everyday! Also, maintenance is never ending in salt air! The beach area was probably my favorite spot. The sand was very soft. We had no issues finding loungers each day. We swam each evening & watched the sunset. The water was clear & calm. We did not see or smell any seaweed the entire week. We did not use the pool, so I can not speak to that. We walked through the pool area to get to the beach though. It looked like a nice large size pool, we just prefer beach over pool. Overall, we were highly satisfied with our stay at Secrets. The staff were so friendly & hard working. I loved seeing the cats & the iguanas!

Update: HORRIBLE! STAY AWAY! We went back in April to celebrate my wife's birthday. Seven out of the eight days, the pool was unusable. It was green with algae caked on the walls and floating debris/trash in the water. We advised the staff the first and second day, the manager the third, emailed Hyatt the fourth with pictures, and contributed to update each day. Finally on the seventh day, the pool pumps were on, the pool was skimmed, and the water was a lighter shade of green. We were given a signed letter by management that they would refund two days. We told them it was a nice gesture but at least five days was more appropriate. We have received nothing yet. We contacted Hyatt again who ensured that if Secrets did nothing by May 10, Hyatt would do something. I emailed Hyatt on the 10th and let them know that we haven't heard a word. No response from Hyatt. Original post. Fabulous hideaway. The staff are very friendly and helpful. The food is mostly good, depending on what you select, but the whole atmosphere is serene. Don't look for wild nightlife. There is some entertainment, which is somewhat subdued but perfect for easy fun and relaxation. Five days were perfect for our first time here, and we will absolutely return for a possibly longer trip.