It was just what the doctor ordered.

For five glorious days and nights at Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres, it was all about me and my travelling companion. Calls went to voicemail. Emails formed a massive, happily ignored pile.

No one tried to sell me anything at this Hyatt Inclusive Collection resort, a slice of tropical paradise 20 km north of Cancun. There was no timeshare pitch. No hawking of spa specials. No-one suggested a tomahawk steak would satisfy my carnivore cravings for just a US$169 upcharge. There were no beach vendors. 

It was damn near perfect.

Just over a year old, Secrets Playa Blanca Costa has been warmly welcomed by fans of the brand. In fact, the very active ‘Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres Fans’ group on Facebook has over 30,000 members.

What sets this place apart from the dozens of other all-inclusive properties in the Cancun/Riviera Maya region? Many things, which largely boil down to one critical aspect – attention to every detail. 

“For a property to reach its full potential, it takes a combination of the brand, the owner and the staff,” said Rosy Dominguez, Director of Sales for the property.

“It’s about learning from mistakes and paying attention to every detail. Our owner now has three of the most successful properties in the Secrets portfolio – Secrets Akumal, Secrets Maroma and now Playa Blanca. 

“As the newest property, Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres is like Secrets Maroma and Secrets Akumal had a baby,” Dominguez said, during an interview in the cool, comfortable confines of the Preferred Lounge. “Our owner listens, corrects and reinvests in his properties. It’s a formula that works.” 

With just over 500 suites, a generous 40% of them in Preferred Club categories, Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres is a manageable size, easy to navigate with no need for transportation. On our arrival the property was close to 90% occupancy – quite an achievement in August.

During a site inspection led by Social Media Manager Diana Garcia shortly after our arrival, what stood out was the beauty of the property’s pools and gardens. Despite the resort being open just over a year, the flowering plants and trees are lush and appear fully mature.

Another standout is the resort’s design. Throughout the public areas and accommodations, the emphasis is on local artistry and handcrafted elements sourced from communities around Mexico. The décor incorporates local stone, wood, fibres, textiles, hand-painted tiles and other naturally-sourced ingredients, skilfully blended to create a serene, calming ambience.

Our accommodations were in the Preferred Club Junior Suite Swim Out category. Despite staying at dozens of all-inclusive resorts over the years, it was the first time I had a swimming pool located right off my terrace, shared with just six other suites. 

I didn’t think it would make much of a difference. It did. I loved it.

I loved the suite too, with its huge, comfortable bed, deep soaking Jacuzzi tub, room service box, Nespresso machine, and daily-filled minibar. As well as comprehensive daily cleaning, evening turn-down service offered a little extra pampering.

The beach was beautiful too and there are miles of it for those who love walking the sand. Yes, there was sargassum, but it was cleaned up each morning and there weren’t vast amounts. It was easy to enter the warm, turquoise waters for an ocean swim. 

Food is a critical element of any vacation, and Secrets Playa Blanca did not disappoint. Over a five-night stay, we enjoyed the French restaurant Bordeaux twice (I ordered the foie gras starter, French onion soup and Duck Magret on both occasions as once wasn’t enough), the Italian Portofino, the seafood-focused Oceana and the El Patio restaurant serving sophisticated Mexican fare.

The Market Café buffet offered a breakfast and lunch spread with dishes to please just about anyone. Preferred guests have an exclusive a la carte breakfast at the Seaside Grill, which is open to all for lunch and dinner. There’s also a pan-Asian a la carte dubbed Himitsu. The hibachi tables there are the only ones in the resort that require reservations.

During our visit at least, the Secrets Playa Blanca vibe was chill and relaxed. There was always music playing, but it tended toward instrumental EDM, with no thumping bass. There were musicians playing live every day – guitar players, sax players, harpists, cello players and more.

With the people of the Yucatan delivering some of the most genuine hospitality anywhere in the world, you sometimes forget how extraordinary they are. The staff at Secrets Playa Blanca were unfailingly friendly, helpful and their “It’s a pleasure” response to any thanks offered felt genuine rather than contrived.

“Our biggest asset is our staff,” said Brenda Landeros, Associate Director of Sales. “And our back of the house is really designed to give staff the space and equipment they need to serve our guests. When workers are happy, clients will be happy too.”

Here’s an example of Secrets Playa Blanca staff going above and beyond. Preferred Club guests enjoy concierge service from a desk in each of the Preferred Club buildings. Demetrios and Belen were the two beautiful humans who shared the position in our building. With my partner a tea drinker, the small Nespresso cups and machine were less than ideal. Not only did Belen and Demetrios source a kettle, they also presented my companion with a large ceramic tea mug – as a gift. If there are ‘Secrets’ to success in hospitality, that’s one of them right there.