- This is our 7th trip to DRM since our first visit in April of 2011. We also became members on that first visit. We have also been to Hedo twice. We don't consider ourselves in the lifestyle although we have experienced a little bit of mild touching play. We mainly enjoy the freedom of being nude and wear as little as is required by the property. We also enjoy exhibition and watching.
Arrival
- Coming in on a Tuesday was amazing since the airport wasn't busy. We made it from "wheels down" to our transportation in 26 minutes. We stopped at a roadside taco stand on the way "home"; something we had always wanted to do before but we're always in too much of a hurry. We made time for it on this trip and it was worth it... they were outstanding. Our driver even ordered some, so we figured it was a good one. We arrived and completed the check-in process pretty quickly. Our room wasn't ready so we changed at the spa and headed to the pool. Danny got us a couple of chairs and by 11am we were naked with drinks in hand and enjoying some sun.
Pool
- This is our first time back since the pool was renovated. We like it. The swim-up bar is a great feature. They also leveled the depth so it is uniform. Great for pool volleyball and the foam party. The new lunch area is great as well. The remodeled buffet area makes it look much better. We did hear someone say that they may have to re-do the pool due to some cracking. There are many more deck chairs and now several beds as well at the pool now. I'm sure some people won't like them but we thought it was OK. One bad aspect is now the beds block the view from some of the 1st level rooms under the jacuzzi. The beds have seemed to promote a more sensual vibe since there was much more "playing" going on than we normally see at the pool area.
- The only real change to the beach is that they have added several more beds close to the volleyball area. These are first come first served and non-reservable. The ocean water level seemed higher than normal. One evening the water came all the way up to the sea wall. Not sure if there has been some erosion or if everything was high due to the full moon. The wind/water was rough most of our visit and produced rough water and a lot of seaweed. No snorkeling on this trip
Food/Restaurants
- The food was even better than we remember from our last visit in July. The new management and chef have definitely stepped it up in this area. I had a glass of the house Cabernet and I thought it was pretty good despite some of the comments in other reviews. I'm no sommelier but I know bad wine and this was not. The members' dinner was the best meal we have ever had at DRM. One change is that you can no longer order anything from the restaurant during lunch. In the past we would order ceviche if it wasn't on the lunch buffet but were told this was no longer an option. The selection at the bar had most of the liquors found in the US as far as tequila, vodka and rum. Plenty of bottom shelf Caribbean off-brands as well.
Rooms
- No real comments or issues regarding our room. We had an oceanfront in the 15 block upstairs and loved it! We had sex on the small shared balcony overlooking the ocean. Glad our neighbors didn't want to use it at the time. the hot water was hard to control in the shower but we had plenty of it, so no complaints.
- As always the service at DRM is the best! Sylvia, Africa, Carmen, Abraham, Alejandro, and Louis are always the best of the best!
- My wife got a 1 hr relaxing massage on the gazebo and loved it (using our member coupons). She also worked out each morning in the gym. She noted it was pretty crowded this trip and she wished it was a little larger.
- This is the area that has undergone the biggest changes since we first started going 4 years ago. Vanessa and her charismatic personality are gone unfortunately. The new director (Alex) is a little ADHD, periodically seen running around frantically trying to whip up participation in some events and absent at other times. The 4 members of the daily crew are nice enough but just seem unsure at times how to get things going or interact with the patrons and are not usually on time. There is just no consistency in anything. One day the white board of activities is at the towel concierge stand but others it is not there. There are several activities one day and few the next. In the 1 week we were there, we had 3, 2 hour pool parties with a loud DJ (too loud, too long). They also tried having the foam party on the beach one day. It was fun for awhile but the sand gets mixed in with the foam and becomes like a body scrub. Still fun though. They don't really have couples games at the pool or the evenings anymore. No sexy darts, ring toss, sexy positions, nor competition for schoolgirl, lingerie, casino, etc... At the disco, during those first few minutes when no one wants to be the first couple on the dance floor, none of the EC would help get things started and so the empty floor lasted quite a while. They also tried a few "female only" events like body desert building, massage lessons, and playroom for girls only 'till midnight but none were well attended that we could tell. Again, I'm not saying any of this is for the better or worse... just quite different that what we have been used to. The staff was not shy either, many times getting completely nude. Another issue that I will include here is the event/theme schedule. No one new what the theme was too well. With it being the end of a year, special New Years Eve event, a new year, and International swingers Month, the schedule was all messed up. The real problem here in my opinion is that the Desire website is not updated rapidly enough for these types of overlapping weeks. Not a big deal to us since we have done enough of the theme stuff but was confusing for others.
Jacuzzi
- Not as much action at the Jacuzzi as we have seen in the past. We enjoyed one of the beds one night but otherwise we just hung out at the bar or in the jacuzzi. Met a few new nice people as always. No changes otherwise.
- There was a lesbian couple there a few days. I know that question has arisen from time to time. The midnight pizza is still awesome. The disco music is still pop club music, this probably will never change, not sure why some people still complain about this. The New Years Eve party was great. The vibe of DRM is still well in tact. Ages varied from late 20's to early 70's. Body types varied as well from big and small to hard and soft as usual.
- Great trip! We had no major issues and will return many times. Met some new friends and enjoyed hanging out with some familiar faces. Already counting down the days to the next trip.