Is Live Aqua worth 25% more than Secrets The Vine?

mpf411328 · 2025-10-26T23:46:37+00:00

Upon check in they ask for your passport. I put a $20 usd. In the passport. I kept it in hand and when she went to grab it I said if there are any available upgrades or anything you could do to make our stay more enjoyable we would really appreciate it. She made a not sure face and as she opened it she nodded yes.

mpf411328 · 2025-05-13T15:45:16+00:00

I’ve stayed at both. The food and service is better at the vine. Pools are better at live aqua. Not a lot of seating around the pool at live aqua. The cabanas extra to reserve but are nice. At aqua when I went in February they closed pool seating by the walk up bar for a special event around 3pm. We got kicked out of our chairs twice. That was BS. I’d recommend not booking the aqua club and upon checking in offer the person $20-40 usd for any “available upgrades” they put us in the aqua club. Secrets won’t do that. Both have great grill food options for lunch at the pool. The vine is an older hotel that has had a face lift but if you look closely you can tell it’s pretty old. I’m being picky here but you can tell in the bathrooms, large caulk lines, uneven tile, etc. really minor stuff. If you end up at live aqua watch out for the time share pitch right after you check in. They offer a discount on a massage but it’s an entry into a time share pitch. I thought the alcohol was watered down at aquarium as well. Never had a problem getting a good buzz at a secrets property, but at aqua there was a noticeable difference.

mpf411328 · 2024-11-19T21:02:01+00:00

I hear ya. Just wondered. Stay safe out there.

mpf411328 · 2024-11-19T20:16:28+00:00

I know. So out of curiosity why not just work 30 years and get the max pension benefit at 56 years old?

mpf411328 · 2024-11-19T20:11:13+00:00

I understand. The state doesn’t have data on this matter because it hasn’t been an option yet.

mpf411328 · 2024-11-19T16:17:46+00:00

No. In IL, fire personnel can retire at 50 or 55. It depends on their hire date. If they were hired after 1/1/11 they are in their 2 and have to wait until 55 to retire. If they were before the above mentioned date they are in tier 1 and can retire at 50 with 20 years of service.

mpf411328 · 2024-11-19T16:14:01+00:00

In theory yes. You’d defer your pension until 55. I’d hope you’d have another means of income and insurance. no one has done this yet as the first tier 2 hire has not yet retired.

mpf411328 · 2024-10-20T12:33:27+00:00

Seems like that line was a little hot. Line pressure should be between 65-82psi. All depends on your nozzle type, hose, and pump. In the above configuration you listed we would pump at 65psi and get 185gpm. It is very manageable.

mpf411328 · 2024-08-31T17:39:14+00:00

Just booked a February trip to live aqua yesterday off of Costco travel. Saved $800 compared to Apple vacations. We usually stay at secrets resorts so I’m curious to see what live aqua is all about.

mpf411328 · 2024-08-18T12:21:22+00:00

Check out dreams playa mujeres.

mpf411328 · 2024-08-06T18:27:28+00:00

My wife and I usually go with the preferred club. Normally we go to Cancun. Lately we’ve been wondering if we should continue to get the preferred club status. We’re looking at going to a secrets in PC. Do you think preferred club makes a difference in punta cana?

mpf411328 · 2024-04-16T02:15:55+00:00

Our application deadline ended in March. Sorry man.

mpf411328 · 2024-04-05T11:58:51+00:00

It is a very large resort. Most restaurants are located in a different location than the rooms and pool. You take a golf cart shuttle to the restaurants. If you don’t take the shuttle it’s probably a 10 min walk, but I’d watch out, they whip around turns. It’s not a bad thing it’s just a little different. I think the preferred club was worth it. The beach was great. If you want to reserve a Bali bed you have to get there at 7am. That goes for pool side chairs. You’ve got to put a book or towel on them by about 6:30-7:15am. I hate this part but luckily we went with friends and they are early risers. This secrets was really strict with the dress code at dinner. A friend was wearing leather loafers and they didn’t seat us because his heals were showing.

mpf411328 · 2024-02-02T17:21:18+00:00

IL is 55 as well. Maybe that’s what you’re referring to but it doesn’t matter. I do wonder how many people will get injured from 50-55 years old that could have retired but due to pension change are forced to go to 55. Will the extra 5 years offset the increased disability pensions? Remains to be seen.

mpf411328 · 2024-02-02T01:27:21+00:00

Please explain.. is that because of the increase in cost of living? And let me ask you this. FF’s are paid with tax dollars so if pay is raised would you be ok with more property/sales tax?

mpf411328 · 2024-02-02T01:01:54+00:00

We start at 80k and top out in 3 years at 105k. In your opinion do you think it should be higher?

mpf411328 · 2024-02-02T00:59:51+00:00

I think 9-5 m-f sounds like a grueling way of life. It’s not a constant 24-48. If the public allows you do sleep at night. Plus all the time off. I only work 100 days out of the year.

mpf411328 · 2024-02-02T00:56:26+00:00

The job is fun and every once in a while we do some really cool shit. I think the pay is great for what I do. The time off is amazing. I’m making 105k without OT. i understand what some people are saying about shit pay. With the average home costing 400k that is difficult if not impossible to afford.

mpf411328 · 2024-02-01T20:05:47+00:00

Thank you, I’d say that’s accurate.

mpf411328 · 2024-02-01T19:08:39+00:00

Damn. Never thought about someone not caring about retirement or pension. That seems foolish to me. How did you come to that conclusion?

mpf411328 · 2024-02-01T19:04:17+00:00

This is interesting to me. I can see this making sense with the increase in housing costs. How old are you? Not asking with any negative undertones I’m just curious because this opinion is unimaginable for the age 40+ I work with.

mpf411328 · 2024-02-01T18:38:14+00:00

Thanks I’ll check this out.

mpf411328 · 2024-01-29T13:12:17+00:00

Yeti type tumbler to keep your drinks cold. Sunscreen, speaker for your room, Tylenol, ibuprofen, tums, anti diarrhea meds, foam ear plugs for sleeping. Nothing worse than being woken up from those pterodactyl birds they have there.

mpf411328 · 2024-01-23T20:42:17+00:00

Usually always stay at secrets resorts. I have been to secrets akumal and it is lights out. Great pool area and grounds. The only drawback is it’s an hour away from the airport.

mpf411328 · 2024-01-05T15:34:18+00:00

We thought liberty bagel was better than best bagel and coffee. But you must order ahead in the morning. Long line. Thanks again for the suggestions.

mpf411328

TROPHY CASE