Secrets vs. Sandals: Which Adults-Only All-Inclusive Resorts Are Best for You?

Share This Post

We talk a lot about the amazing adults-only all-inclusive Sandals resorts here, but did you know that there are other luxury all-inclusive brands for adults? One of these is Secrets, and while there are some similarities, there are some key differences.

Read on to learn more about Secrets vs. Sandals so you can decide which one is best for you.

Secrets vs. Sandals Overview

Perhaps the biggest difference between Secrets and Sandals is where you’ll find the resorts. Secrets has a lot more resorts than Sandals, in areas all over the world, while Sandals just has 18 resorts in the Caribbean. You can find Secrets resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and Europe.

And while both are all-inclusive, covering food, drink, and activities, another key difference is that more is included at Sandals resorts. Airport transfers and all tips are covered in your rate at Sandals, but these are not included at Secrets. Tips especially can really be a big extra expense.

Sandals also includes scuba diving for certified divers, which can be quite expensive on its own.

Both Secrets and Sandals do not allow children; guests must be 18 or over. However, although they are adults-only resorts, they are not couples-only resorts. While guests will vary depending on which resort you’re visiting and what time of year it is, in general you will find more singles and groups at Secrets resorts, while Sandals tends to have more couples.

Both brands have beautiful beachfront settings and well-landscaped grounds, but Sandals resorts tend to be more spectacular than Secrets, with some incredible features like a bilevel infinity pool (in Curacao) and overwater bars. And while both have a variety of room types with most locations featuring swim-up suites, Sandals resorts have way more amazing accommodations.

Both Sandals and Secrets resorts are known for excellent and friendly service, and both offer a range of dining options including casual and fine dining. While some of the nicer Sandals restaurants require reservations, no Secrets restaurants do.

Secrets vs. Sandals: What’s Special About Sandals

• Airport transfers are included (and at some resorts in some room levels, they can be private luxury vehicles like Rolls Royces!).
• There is no tipping allowed—all gratuities are included in your rate (unless you’re staying in a butler suite, in which case you should tip your butler).
• Truly unique luxury suite options like overwater bungalows, thatched-roof Rondovals, SkyPool suites, and more.
• Butler-level suites that include 24-hour private butler service.
• Scuba diving is included in addition to the usual nonmotorized watersports.
• Premium spirits and Robert Mondavi wines are included.
• Some Sandals resorts offer access to neighboring or nearby Sandals locations, doubling or even tripling the restaurants, bars, and amenities you can enjoy.

Secrets vs. Sandals: What’s Special About Secrets

• Activities include a lot of fun extras like dance lessons, local language lessons, wine tastings (and tequila tastings in Mexico), cooking classes, guided bike rides, and more.
• 24-hour room service is available in all rooms.
• The minibar in your room also comes with snacks. (It is refreshed daily, as at Sandals.)
• No restaurants require reservations. (However, this can lead to long wait times.)
• There’s a lot of entertainment at night and it’s pretty cool. You’ll see things like live bands and big shows with special music and lighting. These tend to be more extravagant than what you will typically find at a Sandals resort.
• It offers options in places where Sandals doesn’t have a resort, such as the Dominican Republic, St. Martin, Costa Rica, Europe, and Mexico.
• Some Secrets resorts are located next to and offer access to a Dreams resort, which is a family-friendly all-inclusive with a wide range of amenities (often including waterparks). However, this can mean that the Secrets location feels less peaceful, due to the presence of children at the neighboring Dreams.

Secrets vs. Sandals: Disadvantages of Sandals Resorts

• Not as many locations as Secrets.
• Can be more expensive than Secrets.
• Don’t have the extra activities like wine tastings, dance and language lessons, etc. (but do have scuba diving, so this may balance out).

Secrets vs. Sandals: Disadvantages of Secrets Resorts

• You have to book and pay for airport transfers, and tips aren’t included.
• Not as many options in the minibars—just beer and nonalcoholic drinks.
• Accommodations are not as amazing as Sandals.

Secrets vs. Sandals: Locations

There are currently 18 Sandals resorts in the Caribbean: 7 in Jamaica, 3 in St. Lucia, 2 in The Bahamas, 2 in Barbados, 1 in Grenada, 1 in Antigua, 1 in Curacao, and 1 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Top Sandals resorts are Sandals Dunn’s River and Sandals Royal Plantation in Jamaica; Sandals Grenada; our new favorite Sandals St. Vincent & the Grenadines; and Sandals Grande St. Lucian.

Secrets has more resorts than Sandals (21), in more locations. You can find them in the Caribbean as well as Costa Rica, Mexico, Spain, and Bulgaria. The only Caribbean island with both Secrets and Sandals resorts is Jamaica. There are also Secrets resorts in the Dominican Republic and St. Martin.

Top Secrets resorts are Secrets Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic, Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya in Mexico, Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun in Mexico, and Secrets Puerto Los Cabos in Mexico.

Secrets vs. Sandals: Rooms and Suites

While accommodations at Secrets resorts are nice and they offer special options like swim-up suites, Sandals rooms and suites are far more amazing.

Although rooms and suites at Secrets differ some from location to location, they are all luxurious and come with a private furnished patio or balcony. Every room at Secrets also comes with 24-hour room service and a minibar that is restocked daily with beer, water, and sodas. Most rooms also have a soaking tub for two.

You can upgrade to the Preferred Club at Secrets, which gives you special concierge service, access to a private lounge, top-shelf liquor in the minibar, and upgraded room choices. Some resorts also have a private Preferred Club pool.

Room types at Secrets include swim-out suites; oceanfront bungalow suites; Honeymoon Suites with living rooms and outdoor hot tubs for two; Junior Suites with ocean, pool, or garden views and private balconies with soaking tubs for two. The swankiest options are Presidential Suites with separate living rooms and dining areas, plus a kitchenette and full bar, bathroom with dual showers and a whirlpool for two, and a private balcony with a plunge pool.

In addition to beachfront walk-out suites, swim-up suites, and oceanfront rooms with private balconies that feature an oversized Tranquility Soaking Tub™ for Two, Sandals resorts have some truly spectacular accommodations—and they are raising the bar at every new resort they open.

Some of the most incredible accommodations at Sandals are the Overwater Bungalows (some with private plunge pools, all with outdoor soaking tubs for two) including the new two-story Overwater Villas at the new Sandals St. Vincent. The luxurious overwater bungalows at Sandals feature extended private sun decks with access to the water, overwater hammocks for two, and glass floor panels so you can view marine life.

Additional amazing options at Sandals include the Skypool Suites with elevated infinity pools; Millionaire Butler Villas; Beachfront Rondoval Suites with private plunge pools; villas with private pool sanctuaries; and Coyaba Sky Rondoval Villas with rooftop decks, private plunge pools, and swim-up access to a river pool. Many of the top suites come with 24-hour private butler service.

Secrets vs. Sandals: Activities and Amenities

Both Secrets and Sandals resorts have all sorts of included activities and a wide range of nice facilities to enjoy including beautiful beaches, pools, and hot tubs as well as full fitness centers. They also all have spas which cost extra.

Complimentary activities at Secrets include watersports like snorkeling and paddleboarding (but not scuba diving); water aerobics and water polo; tennis; beach volleyball; archery; yoga classes; dance lessons; Spanish lessons; tastings of wine, rum, or tequila; and cooking classes. Some Secrets locations include golf as well.

Scuba diving is extra at Secrets, as are excursions like deep sea fishing and area tours.

The design at Sandals resorts tends to be a bit more over-the-top, including things like the two-level glass-front infinity pool at Sandals Royal Curacao and some of the largest pools in the Caribbean.

Complimentary activities at Sandals include watersports like snorkeling, paddleboarding, kayaking, Hobie cat sailing, and scuba diving; some locations have extras like waterskiing, glass-bottom boat rides, tubing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding, and SNUBA. Other activities include day and night tennis, pickleball, beach volleyball, basketball, croquet, bocce ball pool tables, and more (specifics vary depending on the resort).

Area excursions are extra at Sandals as well.

Both Sandals and Secrets resorts have nightly entertainment. The extent and liveliness of what’s offered varies from resort to resort at Sandals, with some resorts offering a more active nightlife than others.

In general, Secrets resorts tend to have more going on at night and the shows are bigger productions.

Nightly entertainment at both includes live shows, music, theme nights, beach parties, and dancing.

Secrets vs. Sandals: Food and Drink

Both Secrets and Sandals resorts offer multiple dining options serving a variety of cuisines from around the world, and it’s all included. There are casual cafes, buffet-style restaurants, and gourmet restaurants. Many choices are open-air, waterfront, or beachfront. You can also reserve a private candlelit dinner on the beach for an extra fee at both.

Sandals resorts tend to have a few more choices available than Secrets. Cuisine types include Jamaican/Caribbean, international, French haute cuisine, Italian, Japanese, Mediterranean, Thai, Pan-Asian, Indian, steak, seafood, grilled specialties, sushi, healthy, and Caribbean jerk. There are also coffee shops, pastry and dessert shops, and sometimes food trucks. The newer resorts are constantly introducing new concepts.

Cuisine options at Secrets resorts include Jamaican, seafood, Pan-Asian, Mediterranean, Mexican, Italian, grilled specialties, international, healthy, and contemporary French, as well as coffee shops. Secrets the Vine Cancun also has a great wine cellar.

Some of the upscale restaurants at Sandals require reservations for dinner, but no restaurants at Secrets do. This can be a positive or a negative—while it allows for greater flexibility, it can also lead to longer wait times if a particular restaurant is crowded.

While all rooms at Secrets resorts have 24-hour room service, room service at Sandals varies depending on your room level. Luxury rooms do not have room service. Club rooms have room service during limited hours. Butler rooms have 24-hour room service.

Both Secrets and Sandals resorts have multiple bars offering unlimited drinks. Bars at Sandals resorts include swim-up bars, beach bars, piano bars, English pubs, and pool bars. Some resorts have unique options like a rum club, a speakeasy, a SkyTerrace with infinity pool, a bowling alley, or overwater bars.

Secrets resorts have swim-up bars, beach bars, piano bars, pool bars, sports bars, theater bars, Sky Bars, and music clubs with dancing.

What is included at Secrets resorts?

Secrets resorts include all meals and snacks at all onsite restaurants; unlimited nonalcoholic and alcoholic drinks; an in-room minibar that has beer, soda and water and is restocked each day; nonmotorized watersports; land activities including tennis, plus golf where available; group activities like dance lessons, Spanish lessons, and rum/wine/tequila tastings; a fitness center; daily and nightly entertainment; 24-hour room service in every room; WiFi; and taxes.

Some Secrets resorts are located next to family-friendly Dreams resorts and offer access to the amenities at those.

You can get a free wedding at Secrets resorts if you stay at least 7 nights in certain room categories.

What is included at Sandals resorts?

Sandals resorts include all meals and snacks at all onsite restaurants; unlimited nonalcoholic and alcoholic drinks including premium spirits and Robert Mondavi wines; an inroom minibar with beer, wine, soda, juice, and water that is restocked daily; an inroom coffeemaker with Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee; nonmotorized watersports like snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and Hobie Cat sailing (including instruction); scuba diving for certified divers; land sports including tennis, beach volleyball, and more, plus golf at some locations; a fitness center; daily and nightly entertainment; airport transfers; WiFi; and all taxes and tips.

Some Sandals resorts also offer access to all the amenities at nearby locations.

You can get a free wedding at Sandals resorts if you stay at least 7 nights in a club or butler-level room.

Secrets vs. Sandals Conclusion

While both of these adults-only all-inclusive resort brands have plenty to offer, we prefer Sandals due to the enhanced inclusions and outstanding luxury accommodations and extras. However, you really can’t go wrong with either.

Now that you’ve read our comparison of Secrets vs. Sandals, which sounds like the best fit for you? Let us know in the comments!

Share This Post