All inclusive honeymoons in Cabo are perfect for couples that like sunshine, sport fishing, whale watching, golf, low humidity, nightlife, scenic views and the amazing values that only all inclusive honeymoon destinations in Mexico can deliver. The weather is as close to perfect as I’ve ever experienced. We’ve had a ton of calls since hurricane Odile hit in September asking how the destination fared. The damage was pretty severe, but already 2 months later more than 60% of the resort rooms are open for business. By December, close to 80% of rooms will be ready and by summer 2015, the destination should be close to 100%. The eye went over the Cabo San Lucas area, so that area suffered the least damage. The Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas was one of the first resorts to re-open. Resorts near San Jose del Cabo did not fare as well, but I just got back from the newly re-opened Secrets Puerto Los Cabos, which is 100% open and beautiful.
Since I just got back from a split stay with half my time at the Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas and half my time at the Secrets Puerto Los Cabos, it would be good to share how different they are. The difference between these 2 will generally speaking be true if you compare a Riu Palace Resort to a Secrets Resort at any destination they share (Jamaica, Puerto Vallarta, Punta Cana, Cancun and the Riviera Maya). Both have beautiful public areas and really nice landscaping.
Secrets Resorts are adults only all inclusive resorts, so the ambiance was much more romantic. Riu Resorts allow all ages. This was not too much of a factor on my trip in the middle of November, because most children are in school. The atmosphere is quiet different during the summer and other times when school is out.
On the food front, the Riu Palace makes the specialty dining inconvenient with their reservations required policy. Secrets requires no reservations. In my opinion Secrets has the best food, but i’ll have to say the buffet set ups at the Riu Palace have been perfected.
On the room front, Secrets Resorts rooms have nicer tubs, showers, nicer beds and nicer pillows. All the rooms at Secrets are nice and they have preferred club rooms (concierge), swim out rooms, rooms with outdoor jacuzzis and rooms with private pools. At the Riu Palace, the jacuzzi suites on the top floor with a winding stair case that takes you to your private jacuzzi deck are not only very popular, but hard to reserve, because they have so few.
If you love to golf, the Secrets Resort is located adjacent to a fantastic championship course with 9 holes designed by Jack Nicklaus and 9 holes designed by Greg Norman. Neither resort includes golf. My room at Secrets had a beautiful view of one of the fairways.
When it comes to all inclusive honeymoon packages, Secrets wins. They have 2 Cabo honeymoon packages or as they say “newlywed package”.
Free all inclusive honeymoon package:
- Welcome letter
- Fresh fruit
- Bottle of sparkling wine
- Special turndown service
- Breakfast in bed with mimosas
- 15% discount on all spa treatments
Eternity Honeymoon Package, $999
This Mexico honeymoon package is free if you stay a minimum of 7 nights in a preferred club junior suite ocean view category or higher.
- Sparkling wine on arrival
- Fresh flowers and exotic fruit basket in room upon arrival
- Champagne breakfast in bed the first morning after arrival
- Tension Release Massage for two in the couple massage suite room at the Spa (25 minutes)
- Choice of either a European Facial or a Salt Glow Scrub body treatment (25 minutes) for each person
- Private beachfront dinner one evening
- Petit fours each evening at turn down service
- Earn 1 free anniversary night stay with a 4 night stay and 2 free anniversary nights with a 5 night stay or longer, must return over anniversary date
Riu Resorts offer honeymoon couples a free surprise gift, which is frequently a bottle of wine in the room.
Now for the one difference, which will vary by destination. I prefer the location of the Riu Palace. The resort sits on Medano beach very close to Cabo San Lucas. The views are spectacular. You have a direct view of the world famous arches, Los Arcos. You also get to watch a couple times a week as cruise ships come in the bay nearby and at night you can see the twinkling lights of the city. The scenery is second only to the views from resorts around the Pitons like Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet in St Lucia. Medano beach is swimmable, but i would not recommend getting in the water for anyone not comfortable in and around the water. While we were there, my wife was standing water’s edge about halfway to her knees. When the wave when out, so much sand was taken from under feet she wobbled and next thing she knew, she was all in. I was actually laughing so hard and not paying attention, when the same thing happened to me. By the time the wave let me back up, i also had a sand bag full of sand in my swim trunks. My wife got the last laugh.
