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Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? #186341
03/06/2019 09:27 AM
03/06/2019 09:27 AM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,288
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PelicanPirate Offline OP
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PelicanPirate  Offline OP
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Any truth to this rumor coming true?

Last edited by PelicanPirate; 03/06/2019 09:28 AM.
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Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: PelicanPirate] #186350
03/06/2019 10:05 AM
03/06/2019 10:05 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,479
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Central Florida!
It was definitely announced a while ago, but apparently there is no action at the resort yet.


Carol Hill
Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: PelicanPirate] #186352
03/06/2019 10:07 AM
03/06/2019 10:07 AM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 490
MILford,CT.
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bonsie Offline
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MILford,CT.
What do you mean when you say Secrets? Is this a resort ?

Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: bonsie] #186355
03/06/2019 10:14 AM
03/06/2019 10:14 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,479
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Central Florida!
Secrets is a chain of resorts, yes.


Carol Hill
Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: Carol_Hill] #186356
03/06/2019 10:20 AM
03/06/2019 10:20 AM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 490
MILford,CT.
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bonsie Offline
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MILford,CT.
Thanks for replying

Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: PelicanPirate] #186358
03/06/2019 10:25 AM
03/06/2019 10:25 AM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 368
Kansas City Missouri
kccouple Offline
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Many of the Secrets are in the Cancun area and south of Cancun

Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: PelicanPirate] #186373
03/06/2019 11:43 AM
03/06/2019 11:43 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Online content
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SXMScubaman  Online Content
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Auburn, WA
They advertise a lot of the Television. Projected opening is sometime in 2020 or 2021 in Anse Marcel.

Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: PelicanPirate] #186388
03/06/2019 12:41 PM
03/06/2019 12:41 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
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pat  Offline
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It has definitely been announced that this resort, most recently known as RIU, is slated to become an All inclusive resort when it currently opens.

We were there when it first opened, perhaps thirty plus years ago, and I have always marveled that this property has never done better or lasted longer under any of its reincarnations. It was beautiful from day one and yes, quite out of the way back in the day, but it’s always been beautiful and even as out of the way as it is, it shares the beach with the Anse Marcel Beach Club and AMBC has always done well.

The original name escapes me but it didn’t last. Radisson didn’t last very long either. RIU? I sort of get it because it was AI and marketed as such on an island that doesn’t really lend itself to AI as much as so many other destinations do. I really hope Secrets happens and is successful as an AI destination and perhaps if they go as high-end as they’re proclaiming themselves to be, this time it will work.


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: pat] #186394
03/06/2019 01:16 PM
03/06/2019 01:16 PM
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,193
Virginia
Snorkeller Offline
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Was Le Meridien the original name? I am not sure.

Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: Snorkeller] #186415
03/06/2019 02:42 PM
03/06/2019 02:42 PM
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 67
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EWortman Offline
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yes I believe so!

Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: EWortman] #186431
03/06/2019 03:47 PM
03/06/2019 03:47 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
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pat  Offline
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Brookfield, CT.
Thank you, Snorkeler and EWortman. For some reason I have a mental block regarding that name and it’s always been that way.

As an aside, and yes, i’m Hi-jacking this thread a bit, but the original question has already been answered, so forgive me, please.

About 28 or 29 years ago, one of my daughters and her husband to be along with his Mom and Dad accompanied us to SXM for a week at our then fairly new timeshare at the Towers. The future FIL was a professional wedding photographer and had done the weddings of two couples who were, coincidentally, spending at least some of their honeymoon time on SXM that same week.

We were able to get him into P’berg in time to see one couple emerge from one of the tenders that at that time brought cruise passengers to the Wathey pier. A few days later, we drove him to Le Meridian to see if he could find ‘Carl and his bride’ who were enjoying their honeymoon there. He was able to shoot extra photos for both couples that he included in their wedding albums. Not everyone can get their honeymoon documented in their wedding albums so I thought that was pretty neat.

Le Meridian was absolutely gorgeous at that time.


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: pat] #186447
03/06/2019 06:11 PM
03/06/2019 06:11 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,288
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PelicanPirate Offline OP
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PelicanPirate  Offline OP
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Don’t apologize. I routinely take conversations on compounding tangents. It is fun to ask “how did we get on this Topic?”

Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: PelicanPirate] #186477
03/06/2019 10:53 PM
03/06/2019 10:53 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,225
Middle Tennessee
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TravelHat Offline
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Middle Tennessee
Did they ever complete or start the road to connect to Grand Case?

Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: pat] #186483
03/07/2019 01:05 AM
03/07/2019 01:05 AM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,141
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
islandgem Offline
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Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Pat, I think Secrets is also an all inclusive resort. It will be interesting to see if it survives.




Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: PelicanPirate] #186492
03/07/2019 08:05 AM
03/07/2019 08:05 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,348
Rhode Island
RonDon Offline
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Rhode Island
Secrets is part of the AMRESORTS group. Some of the others are Sunscape, Dreams...

Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: PelicanPirate] #186524
03/07/2019 11:30 AM
03/07/2019 11:30 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,666
MIA
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irina Offline
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Yes we were there back in 1994 for a conference. It was Le Meridien and it was lovely.

Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: islandgem] #186527
03/07/2019 11:44 AM
03/07/2019 11:44 AM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
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pat  Offline
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Brookfield, CT.
Originally Posted by islandgem
Pat, I think Secrets is also an all inclusive resort. It will be interesting to see if it survives.


Elizabeth,

According to both articles I have recently read, Secrets is definitely coming in that location and will definitely be AI but supposedly, a very high-end AI property. I will never believe that SXM, unlike so many other islands, lends itself well to AI. Many of the islands that are heavily AI are not islands where people are encouraged to travel around and instead, they encourage guests to remain safely ensconced in their resorts unlike the habits of most of us on SXM. In these places AI works well.

Note, please, I have nothing against AI and often, on a first visit to some of the islands we took advantage of the AI options. We were in Antigua last March and did two weeks of AI and to me, even with the advantage of five or six different restaurants on site, it got old after a bit, and particularly so the buffet options, but I will admit to enjoying the beach bar every time it drove up to our chaise lounges and offered us libations which of course, we felt obligated to enjoy since he drove all the way up to where we were sitting...................................


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: pat] #186768
03/09/2019 05:59 PM
03/09/2019 05:59 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 347
Long island
VGerfo Offline
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Posts: 347
Long island
l’Habitation?

Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: PelicanPirate] #186775
03/09/2019 06:23 PM
03/09/2019 06:23 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
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pat  Offline
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Brookfield, CT.
Yes, the name l’Habitation was also associated with this property and to be totally honest, I was never a hundred percent certain which was which or if they were all the same property with separately named areas within the over-all development

Once upon a time there was a hilltop pool and lunch spot along with a very nice dining spot and even a helicopter pad on top of the hill and a hotel and marina down on the beach in the area last known as RIU. The incident I mentioned earlier with the photographer would have been somewhere around ‘91 or thereabout and it was definitely Le Meridian then down by the water. The atrium area was spectacular or at least in my memory........

Somehow we missed the entire development of that area and were shocked when we saw it for the first time. But in fairness, back then the island roads in general were not particularly great and out in that area they were really bad, and coupled with the fact MBR & C was so complete in itself, we weren’t too inclined to do as much exploring back in the day.

The drive to the very top of the property was interesting back then to say the least, but the drive down to the marina wasnt exactly a piece of cake either. The first time we went there, we stopped and had lunch at the poolside bar and restaurant and I remember wondering why anyone would want to stay in such a remote location and now we live to go there for a peaceful and lovely beach day. Go figger.......................


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: PelicanPirate] #186843
03/10/2019 01:25 PM
03/10/2019 01:25 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,666
MIA
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irina Offline
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I believe Le Meridien was the hotel part and L'Habitation was the apartment side. And yes, the top of the hill had a spa and
lunch place.

Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: irina] #186846
03/10/2019 01:48 PM
03/10/2019 01:48 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
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pat  Offline
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Brookfield, CT.
Thanks, Irina.

I believe they use to also do pricey sight-seeing helicopter tours of both SXM and AXA from up there in the early nineties along with providing airport to hotel transportation for those who were so inclined . The few times we’ve been up there in the last few years I really didn’t pay much attention but I can’t help but wonder if they still do this.


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: pat] #186848
03/10/2019 02:02 PM
03/10/2019 02:02 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye Offline
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Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
It was Le Meridien, and was the first place we stayed on the island.

Re: Riu Anse Marcel converting to a Secrets? [Re: Snorkeller] #187045
03/12/2019 09:02 AM
03/12/2019 09:02 AM
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 14
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SUEL Offline
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Posts: 14
L'Habitation back in 1990.


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