Looking forward to a comparison between Hedo and DRM

[STL-MO-CPL]

Greetings everyone. My wife and I have been to Hedonism II twice since 2011 and are leaning towards giving Desire a shot for our next adults only vacation. We have some good friends who have been to DRM multiple times and they love it. We're hoping to give it a shot and be able to compare the two resorts. I've read multiple reviews from people who have been to both. I'm looking forward to seeing it with our own eyes. Depending on where you live in the US, it can be easier to get to Hedo vs. Desire. Because we live in the Midwest, we're almost guaranteed a connecting flight to either Jamaica or Cancun, so there might not be much difference to us from a travel hassle standpoint. It may end up boiling down to nothing more than how expensive the plane tickets are.

[latinos28]

Both resorts are great each one has it's on charm so with what ever resort you choose you'll have fun. At the end of the day it's very hard to say one or other so what my wife are doing we are visiting each resort once per yr

[eddieandjojo]

As Latino points out you'll have fun at either resort, it all boils down to your personal preference. Our first CO trip was Hedo III in 2006 and after 22 Desire trips we have no interest in going back to Hedo although we love Jamaica and have gone back on cruises. Good for you guys, go with an open mind and try not to compare one to another while there.

[desireaddict]

Because we live in the Midwest, we're almost guaranteed a connecting flight to either Jamaica or Cancun, so there might not be much difference to us from a travel hassle standpoint. It may end up boiling down to nothing more than how expensive the plane tickets are.

Frontier Airlines is now flying nonstop from STL (judging by your ID) but the return flight is at 10am. We prefer the 5:00pm return flight on American so as to enjoy another day at Desire.

[eddieandjojo]

Used them in March from IND and it was great having a non-stop flight.....had it booked on the return but they cancelled the flight about a month out and had to connect through Denver. Oh well at least one leg was great!

[STL-MO-CPL]

Direct flight to Cancun is the only leg I care about. I'm in a hurry to get there, not to get home!

[desireaddict]

Apply for a Frontier Mastercard and spend $500 in 90 days and you'll be awarded enough FFMiles for one ticket.
BarclayBank USA

FYI -- We frequented Hedo III before it was sold and loved it. Did not much care for Hedo II. Run down and in disrepair, but hoping the new Ownership makes some investment and improvement. Also found the guests there much more aggressive than any on Hedo III visits, but it may have been the week we were there. While Hedo is more of a blowout party atmosphere, we found Desire to be more "upscale" in every way. This review based on over 10 trips to each, but your mileage may vary.

[STL-MO-CPL]

The new ownership has put a significant investment already in the property. As early as November 2013 when we were there last, they had already begun renovating each of the rooms. The new rooms will definitely put Hedo II on a whole new level with their competition. We know Desire has a classier, more upscale, feel to it. Hopefully we'll soon see if the extra cost per day is worth it.

[SLINON]

The only rooms that have been really renovated are the "Premium Rooms." They are $500 + a night...same par with Desire but very very small. We just looked at them one week ago. Not worth the money....Basics of the room are still there such as the flooring and doors and size and patio door. It's not worth it considering all other areas of the resort have just been given a "lick and and a promise". If you like the nicer things in life you will be more satisfied with Desire. The beach at Hedo is awful. Don't let the location fool you. Although it is technically on 7 mile beach, it is the last resort before the crescent end of the beach and one of the servers at Hedo told us that the Sea "dumps" all of the waste there. That is why we saw so many stingrays and sea urchins and sea weed and algae in the water. It feels gross to wade around in the beach water when there is so much algae on the surface water. It just clings to your body.

If you are a pool person, you will not have ANY view from your pool lounger other than a rock wall opposite you with a black fence up above, no water views, nothing peaceful. Just people watching if you are into that and earplugs because of the extremely loud music.

If you are a beach person then the above beach info. applies but you will have a nicer view if you can stay on the part of the beach without huge seagrapes trees that obstruct your view. Then you will have to get used to the boats from all other resorts that sail to the Hedo shoreline to watch the " monkeys in a cage view" They all know that Hedo has "adults behaving badly" and want to see a bunch of adults acting out various sex scenarios from the boat so get ready for that view and get ready for the beach vendors who do not EVER stop trying to sell you pot, jewellery, lobster, brownies and anything else money can buy.

Just saying.....from recent experience. Be warned.

The clothing optional side is very very quite with all of the water sports docked there. There is no music and nothing really going on there but it is peaceful.

We have entered a complete trip review of Hedo vs. Desire under trip reports if you are interested.

Keep in mind a lot of the renovations are just smoke and mirrors. I haven't heard of one person that has had a decent working shower in their room with decent water temperature or pressure if that matters to you. Beware of the Air Conditioners in the room....they are old and I suspect very dirty/mouldy. We left after 13 nights with respiratory problems and coughing....still trying to get back to normal after 8 days back home.

[EmptyNesters]

Everyone has their own opinion. We had a OVN Jacuzzi Premium room in February and loved it. I have seen similar sized rooms at Desire. We think it was worth the money and have the same room booked for February next year. Those Premium Rooms were designed by the same designer that Desire used. We do like the finer things in life at times but doubt we will ever find a Ritz Carlton or four Seasons with the type of atmosphere and the people we encounter at Hedo. If you went to Hedo looking for a 5 star resort and gourmet food, whoever told you you could find that there should be shot.

The only rooms that have been really renovated are the "Premium Rooms." They are $500 + a night...same par with Desire but very very small. We just looked at them one week ago. Not worth the money....Basics of the room are still there such as the flooring and doors and size and patio door. It's not worth it considering all other areas of the resort have just been given a "lick and and a promise". If you like the nicer things in life you will be more satisfied with Desire. The beach at Hedo is awful. .

[SLINON]

I knew that nothing about Hedo or the rooms would be 5* that's for sure but to have mould in the room and a paint job done over mould and a rock hard "new" mattress and a shower that didn't work and no cold water and rarely enough towels in the room, trouble closing the door etc. etc that I didn't really expect. I would never stay in those rooms again after getting sick from the air conditioning. Other people were sick as well. I find it's just a dump overall.

The oceanview nude Jacuzzi Premium is showing $948. a night this coming February. For that price I could surely get a Master Suite which we have had at Pearl which is way nicer in my opinion.

[EmptyNesters]

I will be there in February and have a rate of about $700 per night for a OVN Jacuzzi Premium room. I have never had a problem sleeping on the mattresses at Hedo. In fact, I sleep better there than at any other hotel. In the past four years, I have seen them do a complete change out of mattresses twice. We have never had problems closing any of the doors. When housekeeping does the room, if they are short on towels, they always come back later in the day with clean ones and replace the used ones again.

SuperClubs, the previous owners, milked that resort for all it had. It had, and possibly still has, the highest repeat rate of any hotel in the Caribbean. SC would funnel the profits into other resorts because they knew people would go to Hedo. When the new owners came in, they had an immediate $10M USD for upgrades and improvements. They are now 1 1/2 years into a five year plan and IMHO, they are doing a great job.

I do get it though. You are jaded and nothing can compare to YOUR Desire. You made one trip to Hedo and it wasn't Desire. Some of us like various places for different reasons. I'm looking forward to comparing my NEW Hedo room to a Desire room this year. I'm looking forward to comparing the Desire food, which at one time I thought was better than Hedo's food, the the new food offerings the the acclaimed new chef puts out at Hedo. I'm also looking forward to comparing the people we meet at both resorts becuase on my last trip to Desire, the camaraderie of the Desire guests could not hold a candle to the Hedo guests.

I knew that nothing about Hedo or the rooms would be 5* that's for sure but to have mould in the room and a paint job done over mould and a rock hard "new" mattress and a shower that didn't work and no cold water and rarely enough towels in the room, trouble closing the door etc. etc that I didn't really expect. I would never stay in those rooms again after getting sick from the air conditioning. Other people were sick as well. I find it's just a dump overall.

The oceanview nude Jacuzzi Premium is showing $948. a night this coming February. For that price I could surely get a Master Suite which we have had at Pearl which is way nicer in my opinion.

[olderII]

Well said Joe…..

[SLINON]

Well I guess it goes both ways I guess.
Overall I just don't want that type of vacation, I can appreciate the good points to Hedo which I have already listed in my review, I was just comparing room to room and if you got the best room in the house that is good for you. Enjoy.

[EmptyNesters]

I should note that on our last trip to Desire RM, we were in a Passion Suite, the best room in the house. To me, it wasn't worth the money. Again, my opinion only.