Going as part of a group - pros and cons

[nawty2sum]

After going to Desire on previous visits and booking as individuals, we're considering booking as part of a group (the February SDC Hot Lovers 10 group). They have a large block of the rooms that week.

What advantages are there in booking as part of a group block? Are there any disadvantages? Is there an expectation that you will participate with the other members of the group in various activities? Does it make it easier to meet others, and possibly hook up with other couples? I'm familiar with SDC, but has anyone here ever been at Desire during one of their events?

Thanks for any guidance you can provide.

[mfay]

There is often some kind of small financial advantage to booking with a group. Free transfers, free services, or some type of rebate - etc that you won't get booking direct with the resort.
But in our opinion the real advantages to booking with a group is that the groups almost always provide some ways to get to know your fellow guests before the trip. And they usually have some "activities" at the beginning of the trip to help people meet. To us, each day at Desire is precious and it seems foolish to have to spend so much time getting to meet and know folks after you arrive when , with a group, you can often "hit the ground running".
SDC sends several groups to Desire each year. We are not familiar with this particular one. But we have shared Desire with other SDC groups. Generally speaking they are folks just like the ones who visit Desire on any other week, but since they are with SDC you can generally assume that most of them are in the lifestyle in some way or another.
We've never seen any group that tries to force anyone to participate in any activities. That isn't what the lifestyle is all about, and it certainly isn't what Desire is about. Generally groups just make you feel more comfortable,more quickly, with your fellow guests and give you more oportunities.
So our recommendation is- absolutely- book with a group ! In our 16 Desire visits, only 5 have NOT been with a group. While each was still a great vacation, all of our best Desire experiences have been with groups.

[shore128]

We just returned from a week at Desire (Oct. 31 to Nov. 7) and booked with SDC. SDC Travel does a good job - no complaints - although we found out when we got there that SDC Travel guests are charged $5.00 for each room service order. No big deal, as the trip includes round trip airport transfers on Trans Beach, and that is worth $80.00, so that more than made up for room service charges. The week was originally supposed to be an SDC takeover week. But SDC apparently hadn't come close to booking the whole resort, so they released the rooms back to Desire about 3 months prior to the trip, and the prices dropped as well.
However, the majority of the SDC guests were from Mexico and South America, and this created to some extent a language barrier with English speaking guests. It was a very nice but diverse crowd and also very laid back. For alot of personal reasons, we will not book during an SDC week again. We had an ok week, but of our 5 times at Desire, this was our least favorite trip. The weather was bad as well - it rained 5 of 8 days we were there, including tropical storm conditions - torrential rains and high winds with beach erosion. BTW, we walked the beach before our departure Nov. 7 and it was decimated - serious erosion - very little beach left. This is our second consecutive Halloween trip when the weather has not been that good, and we will not return this time of year again.

[mfay]

Of course there is an exception to every rule. Not every group is compatible with every couple's interests- and it is always good to have some endorsements before you join up with one.
The most interesting thing to me is this $5 room service charge for SDC guests. Any idea why ? Never heard of anything like that before.

[eddieandjojo]

I would concur with Mike about traveling with a group or just being there during a take over week. Another good tip is to join a Yahoo Group that will be there during your stay, it gives a chance to "pre meet" some fellow Desire folks and helps break the ice. The whole key is to hit the ground running and not waste any precious time while there. As you'll read, it takes people a day or maybe two to get into the flow if you don't know anyone and you end up leaving saying I wish I would have done this or that......

I remember our first trip, we ended up going for 2 nights because we didn't book but just a month in advance and that was all the availibility at resort. Anyway, the APG group was there and they took us under wing wing immediately and we certainly made the best of our two night stay.

After visiting Desire 9 times, we just want to make the most of our 5 or 6 night stay so we're always on the move. We've met some great people on the various groups that we've belonged to over the years.....Mike & Barbara being two of them!

You'll have a great time either way, but at least this way you'll make the most of it!

E&J

[shore128]

Mike, the $5.00 room service charge took me by surprise. Maybe it was in the "fine print" of our contract but I wasn't aware of it prior to arrival. We have previously been on Yahoo groups prior to our other trips, but I wasn't aware of any for our week. It wasn't really a takeover week, as alot of people we met booked directly through Desire or with other agents. At the time we booked, we had to use SDC as it had all the rooms reserved, otherwise we would have used Denny. On our four previous trips to Desire, we had only been there during one true takeover, and that was Oct. 07 with Lifestyle Tours. We had a fantastic week. But we realize every week is different. And of course day after day of heavy rain takes its toll - can't use the beach beds, jacuzzi beds, no outdoor entertainment several nights, etc. On a positive note, service was excellent, food good, and the resort staff did the best they could under often severe conditions. And the resort did a great job with Halloween decorations.

[DesireWeek43]

Hello Shore128

Our "Week43" Group was at the resort last part of Oct, and just missed this new change.

In regards to your Question of charges, yes, as of Nov 1 2009, there is now a $5 US charge per room service call. This is a new policy and is not Travel SDC related, but for all guests regardless of who you book with. I am sure that a resort staff member will post regarding this new policy change soon.

There are some exceptions however, so best to get the resorts official reply rather then second hand information