First looks at new Eden expansion - Feb 2024

[jem8381]

We just got back yesterday. Here is our take on the new Eden expansion at Desire RM .

What's Open:
The main pool, new melange, new lobby, and Eros restaurant are now open.
The new disco, hot tub, playroom and additional restaurants are not. The rumor around the resort was that the hot tub was supposed to be opening imminently. They supposedly filled it last Tuesday but it had a leak so the opening was delayed.

What's Good:

• The harrowing dirt road that used to lead to the resort has been replaced with a suitable paved road. No more worrying if you are going to fall into the crocodile trenches
  
• Eros, the new Mediterranean restaurant is located immediately by the new pool. It is a gorgeous facility. The lunch buffet has been moved there and it is a significant upgrade over the old one. I am not sure why but the food being served at Eros is much higher quality. We did not eat dinner at Eros but the reviews from all the guests we chatted too were super positive.
  
• Contrary to what another posted mentioned, there is considerably more pool chairs at the new pool and, unlike the old pool, they are not stacked right on top of each other. The new pool must be 2-3x the size of the old pool and there are chairs around the entire perimeter so its very obviously a ton more seating. We had zero issue getting seating, in fact by throwing a few bucks at the pool guys we were able to get a cabana every day and we aren't members.
  
• The new entertainment area has a lot more seating and also a proper dedicated stage for bands.
  
• While we didn't get to experience it, the proximity of the new hot tub, disco, and playroom is going to be really amazing and create a better nightlife.
  
• We spoke to someone who was allowed to tour the new hot tub. They said it was 2-3x the size of the old one. Glimpses of the hot tub from the pool deck seem to confirm that. It will be awesome when open.

What's not so good:

• By far the biggest issue for us was that the new pool was not heated. The rumor was that it was a power issue. Not enough power to run the heaters. The pool was very cold. This meant that few people were in the pool and it pushed folks to the old quiet pool, further spreading out the crowd.
  
• General level of unfinish. I totally agree that the resort opened too early. If Desire was in the States, building inspectors would not have allowed Eden to open due to various safety issues. There are exposed wires, unfinished venting, and unfinished drainage grates everywhere. On the last day we were there the water had a brown tinge and "the swamp water smell" that you probably have noticed up at the old hot tub. I am not sure if that is because of increased usage due to the new rooms or because it was a rainy day and their well had issues. Either way, it was very off putting. As others have said there were many construction workers around during the day. That being said, they were all super well behaved. I didn't see a single one gawking or being creepy. Hard to imagine that being the case in the states! lol
  
• We did not stay in the new Eden rooms but the reviews from other guests were not good. While guests said the room itself was beautiful, complaints about additional water issues and construction noise were pretty universal. A few folks we talked to relocated to a room on the old section of the resort after a night in Eden. If you have paid the additional money for a room at Eden, I would recommend calling them and moving back to the old section and saving your money until at least April or May.

Up for debate
* The feel and vibe of the new Eden section is "swanky South Beach" rather than the quaint Caribbean paradise vibe of the old resort. I am sure some folks will like it and others will not.
* To be seen how the new main pool affects the vibe of the resort. It's a big pool. It might make it harder to bump into people and socialize.

Overall
We had a great time. Eden is open but far from done. It has tremendous promise. If you are going to Desire in the next few weeks/month, don't sweat it. I can't say you will get the best version of Desire in this in between state, but there is still a lot of fun to be had.

-J and M

[Luckycharms]

Great job... thank you. We'll be there in 48 hours, will also chime in upon our return next week.

[BashfulDesires]

Appreciate the review! Our assumption is they took the basic blueprints from Miches and placed it at RM. "Swanky South Beach" was the architectural vibe there as well.

With a hot-tub 3x larger, I'm sure the forced mingling we've all grown accustomed to will be a big change.

[ninaandfrank]

Excellent report, thanks. Could tell if the new lobby bar is still outdoors like it was always at RM or is it inside like at Pearl?

[Powerswayerz]

Excellent report, thanks. Could tell if the new lobby bar is still outdoors like it was always at RM or is it inside like at Pearl?

It’s an open air bar. It’s a patio that is still outdoors but completely covered. We think that it’s a major movement from before since it’s protected from the rain, has numerous fans, and catches a great breeze from the ocean. The old one was nice, but all shows had to be moved to the disco if it rained, and that got tight. Its central location also blocked the breeze and made for very hot hot evenings in the summer.

The new location also has a lot more tables and chairs which is nice.

If there’s anything bad to say, it’s that it’s still not quite big enough. It can be difficult to move around during show times.

[ninaandfrank]

Wow thanks for that update. It is good that they won't have to move the shows into the disco. That was never a good option. BTW is the swing bar by the beach still there?

[lisaa59]

We just returned March 1 from DRM. Here are some of our observations. The jacuzzi was never opened - a pipe is leaking and they haven't narrowed it down yet- looks nice from what we could see. The new pool has a very different vibe to it, not a lot of shade yet, the new playmakers turn the music up way loud- people did ask them to turn it down- we ended up at the "quiet pool" after 2 days, which was great. What started as an empty pool ended up very busy as the week went on, fascinating to see it happen. The old pool had the original Desire vibe there. People talked and mingled like they always have, chatting with strangers and we had whatever music we all wanted and made our own games up in the pool. Had the regular good time. Someone posted the new pool was like a big resort vibe - I agree with that assessment. In regards to the evening entertainment- the shows are still good, you just can't see them unless you are sitting right up front. The bird gage light covers present a real safety issue to the performers, one night one of the performers foot hit the birdcage while being lifted . At the old bar they did their shows on the raised stages so everyone could see them - at the new bar it is all done on the floor, so it is very difficult to see. Also the new bar has a roof, the music is so loud you can't hear anybody when you are talking to them. That was the general complaint from so many people. The late night pizza was at the new bar- it was moved back to the old bar after complaints, the only problem is there is no liquor there now. People went up to the jacuzzi to bring a drink down to eat pizza. The jacuzzi seemed to have all the same vibe. The coffee clatch in the morning was still a great place to talk- just like normal. Disco is still the old disco, no one could say when the new one would be open or where it will be in the resort.

In conclusion those of us that remember the old Desire and the old Vibe really tried to find it and create it on the property. I believe that there were enough of us that wanted it that we all were willing to make it happen. We found it at the "quiet pool" with like minded people willing to create it. With everything said, we had a terrific time we will go back and find our happy place.

[2good4better]

We are returning next month after not being at Desire for 8 years.

One of our favorite parts of the trip was arriving before our room was ready and relaxing at the lobby bar and meeting people. From the trip reports it's hard to tell if that bar is still there or if it was moved elsewhere. Can anyone confirm?

[lisaa59]

when we were there the "old" lobby bar only had coffee, no more alcohol. There is alcohol at the new bar once you check in. I didn't see people hanging out and mingling, mostly spread out on there phones or computers.

[ninaandfrank]

In years gone by, after dinner we would put our theme night costumes on and go sit at the lobby bar. We did not go to the disco because it was too loud and disorientating. It was a great way of meeting people and we had some fun escapades there. Is there an equivalent now? What about the new bar? Is it a similar experience?

[Hd04]

Yes. At 9pm last night there was a decent crowd at the new lobby bar waiting for the show to start.

[jjonnboy]

Yes. At 9pm last night there was a decent crowd at the new lobby bar waiting for the show to start.

Was it "normal" after that; to the old disco first then up to the new jacuzzi? Was the playroom still open? The new jacuzzi area looks large, how are the beds distributed around the jacuzzi? Ta

[Hd04]

Pretty big crowd at the new lobby bar and then a lot of people go to the old disco since the new one still has issues. (I see water dripping down right now right inside the main entrance. I guess there is a bar above it?). We didn't make it to the hot tubs after the disco the last 2 nights when the water was warm. I want to say there 11 beds now but also like 2 couches, 4 chairs and then a bunch of those square ottomans pushed together in groups of 6 that could be used for fun time.

It is big but with the additional rooms the hot tub as the right size when we were it in. You weren't on top of others unless you wanted to be.

[ninaandfrank]

OK thanks, excellent report there. It sounds like the new Jacuzzi could almost been considered another pool given its size. Is there a swim up bar in the Jacuzzi like there is at Pearl?

[Hd04]

Yes.