Visiting the area in June. Please help us with a day pass.

[netphysique]

My wife and I are visiting the Riviera Maya area the week of June 17 through the 23rd. We want to spend a day at one of the Desire Resorts to see if it is something we would enjoy. But we now realize that a guest has to invite us in order to pay for a day pass. Could someone assist us?

[CokeMann]

Nope - Desire does not offer day or night passes for purchase to those not staying one of their properties. I don't know where you read that a guest had to invite you but that old policy changed to the current no passes policy(see below) in 2009.

If you are already staying in one of our Desire Resorts, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a Day Pass at either Desire Riviera Maya or Desire Pearl at your convenience for $ 150 USD per couple.

[sonomapair]

Nope - Desire does not offer day or night passes for purchase to those not staying one of their properties. I don't know where you read that a guest had to invite you but that old policy changed to the current no passes policy(see below) in 2009.

Is there a minimum stay...or could they maybe just stay one night?

[CokeMann]

Is there a minimum stay...or could they maybe just stay one night?

Yes there is a minimum of two nights.

[gaviao]

Regardless of whether it is possible to get a day pass, I do not recommend that option for a couple going to Desire for the first time.
That way you will not be able to appreciate the special vibe of the place. That is why Desire only accepts reservations for a minimum of two nights.
We have gone with a day pass a few times, but we must take into account that we are veterans of 14 years there and that we have always come to visit friends hosted.

[Explorer79]

Agreed, a day pass seems like it would just be torture, plus most of the activity doesn't really even start until late afternoon/early evening.

[Lkncouple]

I think day passes are available for purchase. They roughly cost $500 and include a free nights stay.

[CokeMann]

I think day passes are available for purchase. They roughly cost $500 and include a free nights stay.

FYI - it's a two day minimum purchase - lol

[Lkncouple]

Correction. Day passes are available for $1,000 and they come with 2 free nights.

[werfun]

Why bother trying to get a 2 day pass for $1000 when you can book a 2 day stay for about $1100 and be sure you are staying there.

[danbo]

Correction. Day passes are available for $1,000 and they come with 2 free nights.

Ummm. That there was funny!

[WesleyButtercup]

Very interesting thread, not sure it is totally accurate though.

We were staying down the beach this past June/July 2017, "wandered" to Desire, enjoyed the wonderful place and walked from the beach to the office, requested a tour and got one. Then, we asked about the day passes and was told if we listened to the sales pitch, we could buy either a day pass or night pass for $150. So, we listened to the pitch, politely declined when it came time to buy and settled on purchasing a night pass, which went from 6pm to 2am on the 4th of July! It was a pure Godsend in my mind and has changed our lives forever. We are already scheduled for a week the end of November and first part of December 2017, and are already planning another trip for March 2018 and we really have never even stayed there yet. Granted, our experience was not even a "taste" of Desire, but maybe just a "nibble" and we are so enamored with the place, the people, the concept and everything about it. I am not sure I've met nicer and happier and more accepting people in my lifetime than the short experience we had at Desire. Also, to "Kate and Travis", thank you for making us feel so welcome and for putting the big fella at ease with himself. And Kate, the schoolgirl outfit was awesome...

[Explorer79]

In the end what can or can't be done is up to the resort's discretion. What you experienced is an exception to the rule but I don't think anyone else can necessarily count on getting that. You are just as likely, probably even more likely to be turned away at the beach by security rather than being even allowed access to the office - I've seen it play out that way before. So you might get lucky and be able to wheel and deal your way into a day pass but you might also come up empty. If you are already in the area then there's not much to lose by trying but I wouldn't recommend going out of your way, should just book nights at that point.

Also, a day pass doesn't make as much sense to me, a night pass is better, ideally probably a 3pm till close pass would be the closest approximation to the full experience. But then again, how much can you truly participate in with no place to transition from pool/hot tub to dinner/bar/disco, no shower, change of clothes etc would limit your options.

[gaviao]

The only time we could obtain a day pass, it was under these conditions:
There was a couple of near friends of us as guests of the hotel, so they made the tramits.
Our friends explained to Guest Service department that we were a kind of "regulars" of Desire, since its opening in 2003.
We paid $250 USD for a stay from 10:00 AM to 01:00 (actually they said the pass will expire at midnight).
We had the right to use the SPA for take a shower and change clothing before dinner.
In few words: we had an excellent day there.

Do we recommend for newbies? No, we think newbies should live the whole experience for at least 2 nights.

[WesleyButtercup]

In the end what can or can't be done is up to the resort's discretion. What you experienced is an exception to the rule but I don't think anyone else can necessarily count on getting that. You are just as likely, probably even more likely to be turned away at the beach by security rather than being even allowed access to the office - I've seen it play out that way before. So you might get lucky and be able to wheel and deal your way into a day pass but you might also come up empty. If you are already in the area then there's not much to lose by trying but I wouldn't recommend going out of your way, should just book nights at that point.

Also, a day pass doesn't make as much sense to me, a night pass is better, ideally probably a 3pm till close pass would be the closest approximation to the full experience. But then again, how much can you truly participate in with no place to transition from pool/hot tub to dinner/bar/disco, no shower, change of clothes etc would limit your options.

Totally agree.

Had we known about Desire before we stayed just down the beach, we would have booked Desire... Now, we have no excuse but to return to Desire as many times as possible before we die!