Upscale World of Hyatt retreat opened this spring
IAN STALKER
Those preparing to check out of Cancun-area Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets needn’t expect lengthy waits as 11 a.m. draws near.
If fact, the likelihood is that they won’t encounter a line at all thanks to the resort’s quite possibly unique departure process, with departing guests only needing to leave the resort before midnight to avoid being charged for another day, a remarkably unusual policy.
“They can leave at 10 p.m.,” reports Michelle Raoult, the resort’s director of sales and marketing.
“It’s completely unusual worldwide. I’ve never heard of it elsewhere,” she adds of the policy.
The all-inclusive resort — which opened this spring with what it describes as 125 “ultra-luxurious suites” and is part of the World of Hyatt — is able to offer nighttime checkouts because it hasn’t been full, something Raoult says it’s agreeable to as that enables it to maintain a particularly relaxed ambiance.
The island of Isla Mujeres is about a 25-minute catamaran ride from Cancun and Raoult says it is a particularly laid back part of the world that frequently has people to travel from one point to another by golf cart or electric bike.
Raoult says her resort is the most upscale on Isla Mujeres and may be at an unmatched level when it comes to nearby Cancun as well, citing the likes of butler service and all restaurants being a la carte. Guests may find their meals were prepared by chefs who have worked in Michelin-starred restaurants, with those chefs being full-time Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets employees, rather than simply visiting.
A spa with a hamman is another feature.
Beachfront Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets is on a coastal bluff, with guests looking onto the Caribbean Sea and views of Cancun.
Resort features include a four-story water slide and an al fresco theatre, while a rooftop bar allows guests to choose between sitting on chairs or on swings. Another rooftop feature is a pool.
The resort says its commitment to sustainability is demonstrated in part by solar panels used to heat water and an on-site bottling plant.
Meanwhile, Raoult says full resort occupancy would create an interesting development, given her resort’s willingness to let guests check out at night.
“That’s going to be a good problem,” she states. “I would love to have that problem.”
World of Hyatt has a widespread presence in the region, with other resorts including Dreams Sands Cancun Resort & Spa, which hosted some of the delegates to the recent Cancun Travel Mart.
