Sandals vs Secrets
Two adults-only giants with opposite theories of scale. Sandals concentrates on the Caribbean with a deep, ritualized couples product; Secrets spreads Hyatt's Unlimited-Luxury plan across dozens of resorts from Cancun to the Canaries, trading some consistency for enormous choice, and World of Hyatt points.
Sandals ranking · Secrets ranking · Sandals history · Secrets history · How we score · Share as a post ↗ · Last reviewed July 2026
By the numbers
| Sandals | Measure | Secrets |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Resorts in our catalog | 17 |
| ★ 4.5 (better) | Average guest rating | ★ 4.4 |
| 34,565 | Guest reviews analyzed | 47,635 |
| $258–$459/night pp | Nightly rates | $159–$261/night pp |
| All adults-only | Adults-only resorts | All adults-only |
| 13 of 13 | Five-star resorts | 17 of 17 |
| Antigua, Barbados, Curaçao, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia | Where | Aruba, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, Spain |
| 8.5/10 (better) | Overall score | 8.5/10 |
| 8.5/10 | Beach score | 8.6/10 (better) |
| 8.4/10 (better) | Food score | 8.1/10 |
| 8.3/10 | Service score | 8.4/10 (better) |
| 8.3/10 | Rooms score | 8.4/10 (better) |
| 8.7/10 (better) | Pools score | 8.5/10 |
| 7.9/10 (better) | Value score | 7.7/10 |
| 9.1/10 (better) | Romance score | 8.8/10 |
| 8.0/10 (better) | Nightlife score | 7.9/10 |
| 8.3/10 | Wellness score | 8.5/10 (better) |
Chain averages across the resorts in our catalog. Individual properties vary, so tap into each ranking before you book.
Round by round
Sandals: transfers, tips, and scuba push its list past Secrets' (already honest) Unlimited-Luxury. Secrets' no-reservations dining and 24-hour room service are the counterpunch.
Secrets, easily: Mexico's Pacific and Caribbean coasts, the DR, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Spain. Sandals is Caribbean-only, which is either a limitation or the whole point.
Sandals: a tighter fleet with a narrower quality band. Secrets' best properties are superb; its weakest coast on the name. With Secrets, rank the property, not the brand.
Secrets, no contest: World of Hyatt earning and redemptions can make these trips shockingly cheap for points players. Sandals' loyalty program rewards repeaters but isn't transferable currency.
Sandals is couples-romance staged; Secrets is adults-only but broader: girlfriend trips, milestone birthdays, couples who want a lively pool rather than a paired-off one.
Of the 11 measures we call, Sandals leads on 7 and Secrets leads on 4.
The verdict
Points and flexibility say Secrets; ceremony and inclusion depth say Sandals. For a honeymoon with a set budget and no points balance, Sandals' all-in certainty is hard to beat. For everyone else (especially Hyatt loyalists and travelers who want Pacific Mexico or Europe on the menu), Secrets' breadth usually wins, provided you pick the property by its scores rather than its logo.
The properties to shortlist
Want it property-level? Put Sandals Grenada Resort & Spa and Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya head-to-head, or open any two resorts in our resort comparator.
Frequently asked questions
Do Sandals resorts earn hotel points?
No major transferable currency; Sandals runs its own Select Rewards program. Secrets earns World of Hyatt points, which is a meaningful financial difference for frequent travelers.
Is Secrets cheaper than Sandals?
The band is wider: entry-level Secrets properties undercut Sandals meaningfully, while flagship Secrets resorts price right alongside it. Comparable tiers are usually close, with Sandals' extra inclusions narrowing the real gap.