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In isolation at Desire

PostPosted: Sat Jan 08, 2022 4:03 pm
by Whoneedssunscreencpl
We have been to Desire properties over 20 times over the years. We have not been in almost 2 years. Are currently at Pearl, and it has been a new experience, to say the least.

A couple we know had been exposed here to another couple who then tested positive for Covid. The couple here began experiencing symptoms and did the right thing. They got tested and also tested positive. A couple of days later we began experiencing symptoms. Since we brought our own test kit, we used it and tested positive. We told the resort, who told us we had to isolate in our room. We are not even allowed at the beach, which we get to some extent.

Since the United States requires a negative antigen test the day before return, and since we knew we would not test negative by yesterday morning, we extended our stay three nights until Tuesday, changing all of our travel plans. The resort stated that we could stay up to 10 additional days at a reduced rate of $300 per night.

Canada and parts of Europe require negative PCR tests. One couple we spoke with from our balcony down to the sidewalk, stated that the testers here told them that 60% of the tests have been coming back positive! That is crazy!

So, we are currently in isolation. The major problem has been room service has been taking up to three hours to bring food/drink and longer to bring toilet paper and Kleenex. Literally sitting in the room weak and starving.

We thought folks who are on the fence about possibly delaying their trips might be interested in our current experience.

Re: In isolation at Desire

PostPosted: Sat Jan 08, 2022 4:44 pm
by Vixen and Him
Difficult time to go to our favorite place. I’m sorry your having this experience.

Re: In isolation at Desire

PostPosted: Sat Jan 08, 2022 6:06 pm
by Cheers2US
So sorry about your experience! I hope the room service gets better.

I want to thank you for being responsible and doing the right thing. I have read posts on other boards of people testing positive, but cheating the system or ignoring the rules and pretending nothing happened.

We were planning a trip to DRM or DP this month actually. The dates we wanted were sold out, so we considered another resort, just to feel the Mexican sand and sun.

We kept flipping back & forth whether or not to go. We had everything: the vacation time, the money set aside, the kids were out of school. We are also vaxxed and boosted. The only thing holding us back was the possibility of testing positive and delaying our return to the US.

We sit here in 20°F temps in Ohio wishing we could be in Mexico.

Much luck to you both! Hopefully you can still enjoy your stay.

Re: In isolation at Desire

PostPosted: Sat Jan 08, 2022 9:55 pm
by randtcanucks2
Thank you for the post.

We have cancelled twice over last 1.5 years. Would be no fun stuck in room.
Back oct week 1 Good luck on quick recovery,

Re: In isolation at Desire

PostPosted: Sat Jan 08, 2022 10:47 pm
by LuckySevens
Whoneedssunscreencpl wrote:One couple we spoke with from our balcony down to the sidewalk, stated that the testers here told them that 60% of the tests have been coming back positive! That is crazy!


Thanks for the post, we all appreciate the information. I do have a couple questions though:

- Based on the quote above, are you saying 60% of the resort is in isolation?! How can that be?
- You mentioned you tested positive with a test you brought along, did you ever take the resort-provided test? As far as I know there have never been widespread positive tests on-site.
- Given that Omicron is asymptomatic in a majority of people, and only mildly symptomatic (like a cold) in the vast majority of the rest, are you or anyone experiencing symptoms? Or are people just testing positive?

Curious times, these… more information is always better. Truly appreciate you and yours!

Re: In isolation at Desire

PostPosted: Sun Jan 09, 2022 9:29 am
by Whoneedssunscreencpl
60% positivity rate was a statement made by a lab tech. Take that for what it is worth. No, the resort population in general is not likely 60% positive. The people getting tested are typically doing so because of either illness, exposure, or they need to go home to a country that requires testing. Also, many of us who are sick are getting tested multiple times in a row until it becomes negative because we want to leave. So the high test positivity rate likely also represents multiple positive tests on the same sick people. Our balcony neighbors have tested several times. The husband finally tested negative but as of yesterday the wife was still positive so they are still stuck here. We will see what today’s test brings. We did briefly talk to a couple who were walking by on the sidewalk that we had met earlier in the week. They were definitely showing mild symptoms because we heard them coughing. They stated they had positive tests here at the resort but they “did not trust them.“ Apparently they went into Puerto Morelos and obtained negative test results. Not sure if they bribed somebody or if the lab test there really was less sensitive.

As far as widespread testing results, we spoke to many people who had friends test positive. This is a new outbreak.

There are definitely multiple people experiencing symptoms. We are symptomatic. Thankfully, we had all three vaccines so it does feel like a bad cold to a mild flu. Wife had a fever during the first day. We have not done the resort test yet, because it is expensive, and we figured we want to wait until the day before we are rescheduled to return home.

Oh, by the way, the room service greatly improved last night and this morning.

Re: In isolation at Desire

PostPosted: Sun Jan 09, 2022 6:01 pm
by Cheers2US
Whoneedssunscreencpl wrote:...

Oh, by the way, the room service greatly improved last night and this morning.


Glad to hear! So can I ask, how do you spend your days? Are you in the room the entire time? How do you pass the time?

Re: In isolation at Desire

PostPosted: Sun Jan 09, 2022 6:05 pm
by Whoneedssunscreencpl
Not the way we usually spend time at Desire because we are Ill. We spend most of the time on the balcony reading books, people watching and looking at our phones.

Re: In isolation at Desire

PostPosted: Mon Jan 10, 2022 8:18 am
by tj71903
Several staff are testing negative but there is a flu strain going around as well which has gotten a number of them as well.

We've heard from several since we left that fall into this category.

Re: In isolation at Desire

PostPosted: Mon Jan 10, 2022 10:29 am
by LuckySevens
Hopefully, as COVID exits the pandemic phase, and enters the endemic phase these requirements such as isolation and testing for international travel will go away sooner than later. We don’t isolate or test for the flu or common cold, and Omicron is that, by every measure. Our hope is very sincerely that by April at the latest COVID will just be another cold, or flu, that goes around.

Stay strong and healthy out there!

Re: In isolation at Desire

PostPosted: Mon Jan 10, 2022 10:49 am
by Vixen and Him
LuckySevens wrote:Hopefully, as COVID exits the pandemic phase, and enters the endemic phase these requirements such as isolation and testing for international travel will go away sooner than later. We don’t isolate or test for the flu or common cold, and Omicron is that, by every measure. Our hope is very sincerely that by April at the latest COVID will just be another cold, or flu, that goes around.

Stay strong and healthy out there!


Amen to this.

Re: In isolation at Desire

PostPosted: Mon Jan 10, 2022 2:07 pm
by Whoneedssunscreencpl
We tested negative this morning! Out of prison.

Re: In isolation at Desire

PostPosted: Mon Jan 10, 2022 2:19 pm
by 2342
Congrats! Hopefully you're feeling better as well?

We're planning to arrive at Desire this Saturday. Do you have any thoughts on how the resort is handling things and if going this weekend is still a good idea? Going to just isolate in our room defeats the point.

Thanks!

Re: In isolation at Desire

PostPosted: Mon Jan 10, 2022 2:22 pm
by boygirlnextdoor2u
Whoneedssunscreencpl wrote:We have been to Desire properties over 20 times over the years. We have not been in almost 2 years. Are currently at Pearl, and it has been a new experience, to say the least.

A couple we know had been exposed here to another couple who then tested positive for Covid. The couple here began experiencing symptoms and did the right thing. They got tested and also tested positive. A couple of days later we began experiencing symptoms. Since we brought our own test kit, we used it and tested positive. We told the resort, who told us we had to isolate in our room. We are not even allowed at the beach, which we get to some extent.

Since the United States requires a negative antigen test the day before return, and since we knew we would not test negative by yesterday morning, we extended our stay three nights until Tuesday, changing all of our travel plans. The resort stated that we could stay up to 10 additional days at a reduced rate of $300 per night.

Canada and parts of Europe require negative PCR tests. One couple we spoke with from our balcony down to the sidewalk, stated that the testers here told them that 60% of the tests have been coming back positive! That is crazy!

So, we are currently in isolation. The major problem has been room service has been taking up to three hours to bring food/drink and longer to bring toilet paper and Kleenex. Literally sitting in the room weak and starving.

We thought folks who are on the fence about possibly delaying their trips might be interested in our current experience.


Really appreciate this post, especially the Covid bit. We had friends staying at RM the same time you were at Pearl. They reported they tested negative and they were unaware that anyone was sick at the resort. We're headed to Pearl (maybe) on the 24th. Your trip report makes it sound like Covid is widespread among the guests. As Canadians who need a PCR test we're struggling with making the decision to go or cancel. Today is the drop dead date for final payment or forfeit deposit. Trying to figure out if this is going to be worth it or to push the trip by a few months. Appreciate any feedback or advice.

Re: In isolation at Desire

PostPosted: Mon Jan 10, 2022 2:33 pm
by LuckySevens
boygirlnextdoor2u wrote:
Whoneedssunscreencpl wrote:We have been to Desire properties over 20 times over the years. We have not been in almost 2 years. Are currently at Pearl, and it has been a new experience, to say the least.

A couple we know had been exposed here to another couple who then tested positive for Covid. The couple here began experiencing symptoms and did the right thing. They got tested and also tested positive. A couple of days later we began experiencing symptoms. Since we brought our own test kit, we used it and tested positive. We told the resort, who told us we had to isolate in our room. We are not even allowed at the beach, which we get to some extent.

Since the United States requires a negative antigen test the day before return, and since we knew we would not test negative by yesterday morning, we extended our stay three nights until Tuesday, changing all of our travel plans. The resort stated that we could stay up to 10 additional days at a reduced rate of $300 per night.

Canada and parts of Europe require negative PCR tests. One couple we spoke with from our balcony down to the sidewalk, stated that the testers here told them that 60% of the tests have been coming back positive! That is crazy!

So, we are currently in isolation. The major problem has been room service has been taking up to three hours to bring food/drink and longer to bring toilet paper and Kleenex. Literally sitting in the room weak and starving.

We thought folks who are on the fence about possibly delaying their trips might be interested in our current experience.


Really appreciate this post, especially the Covid bit. We had friends staying at RM the same time you were at Pearl. They reported they tested negative and they were unaware that anyone was sick at the resort. We're headed to Pearl (maybe) on the 24th. Your trip report makes it sound like Covid is widespread among the guests. As Canadians who need a PCR test we're struggling with making the decision to go or cancel. Today is the drop dead date for final payment or forfeit deposit. Trying to figure out if this is going to be worth it or to push the trip by a few months. Appreciate any feedback or advice.


Depends when your trip is. Omicron is HIGHLY infectious, and fortunately not very pathogenic. Here's the chart from South Africa where it started, and where it has now ended. The spike is very steep on the way up, but just as steep on the way down. Compared to other spikes, it's only a couple months in duration... this data pis playing out much the same in the UK and US/Canada. Depending on when your trip is, you can almost guarantee it'll be over by a certain date, likely :

SOUTH AFRICA
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CANADA
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