Desire Resort Forums

Last miscellanious thoughts.

Tipping.:

There are all kinds of threads on this forum about tipping. But for thoroughness, I'll cover it here from my perspective. DP is ALL INCLUSIVE, so tipping is neither required, nor expected. I did not see how others handled the bellman or maids. But I didn't see many people tipping after each meal. I did see some $1's and $5's in the tip jars at the various bars.

My approach. I gave the bellman $10 upon checkin for unloading our bags from the van, and then taking them with us to our room. He got another $10 for getting our bags from the room upon departure and making sure they were loaded into the taxi. I tipped our maid $5 each day. Keep in mind, if you wait until your departure, it might be your favorite person's day off and you have no way of knowing whether he or she will get your trip and know of your appreciation.

I consistantly tipped our waiter $5 at each meal. I assumed/hoped he would share it with the busboy who served us equally well. I tipped the pool concierge $10 the first morning (Thursday) to save us lounge chairs where we perferred. I renewed that tip two subsequent days. I randomly gave the bartenders a dollar or two as we ordered drinks from time to time. Same with the pool hostesses.

I firmly believe that our service from these wonderful people would not have differed if I had not tipped. But it was a reflection of what I wanted to do for them...not what I was obligated to do.

Fantasy Menu/Photographer:

There are quite a few forum entries about the items on the fantasy menu, such as the lobster/champaign dinner on the pier, the sensual or erotic massage etc. For me, they seem intriguing, but over-priced. So we did not partake. However, the resort does offer a photography session which is free, and you pay for what you purchase. After talking with two other couples who had done a session and were thrilled with the results, we signed up and my SO spent three hours posing in positions she hasn't put herself in for a few years. All well worth it. Her photographer, Jonathan, produced some fantastic photos. Now it is up for me to restrain myself from going overboard in my purchase.

The Spa:

Can't quite figure this one out. The Spa, in a building about 30 feet from the lobby, has an exercise room, beauty parlor, locker room, and sauna, steam room and jacuzzi. As everything else, meticulously clean and well maintained. Use of the exercise room ( two treadmills, a full machine circuit, free weights etc) is free, as is the locker room. But we were given a coupon for two free sessions in "the wet area" of the spa, which seemed to refer to the sauna, jacuzzi, steam room etc. How they differenciate once you enter the locker room is beyond me. Once in the locker room I used what I wanted, never producing the coupon.

The spa lockers are separated male and female. But the first day I used the male locker, a couple was just finishing getting dressed. And my SO was blow drying her hair on the women's side another day just after having spent time with me in the mens' sauna and steam room, when she encountered a young couple dressing in the women's side getting ready to catch a late flight to Europe. (Must have had to check out of their room earlier.) So the spa rules seem to be fairly relaxed.

That's it. Can't think of what I have missed. But I'm sure I have. But it's been fun reliving each day at DP in detail, in hopes of letting others who are venturing into something totally foreign know as much as possible what is in store.

My last thought is I hope those of you who are veterans of DP will weigh in with you contradictory or confirmatory experiences. That's how we all learn how to have the most fun ever at DP.

Thank you RSM for the great read, we enjoy each one of them. We were at DP last June so it was great to know all the places you were talking about and bring back all those memories that we have. We are returning again this coming June so it was great to hear that things are just as we remembered. We agree totally with you for all new couples coming to DP is don't worry about feeling uneasy because the atmosphere and the people at DP will put you at ease just minutes after you arrive. Again thank you for the detailed report and hopefully one day our paths may cross in paradise.

Shelley and Martin

The disco and theme nights were the last two topics we were hoping to hear about. Hoping you'll make one more post?

Thanks for the effort you've put into this. Very helpful and a great job!

K&J

Great thorough report!

Gotta confess though, might be the only one, but I giggled like I was in junior high when I read "DP is ALL INCLUSIVE" just a little bit different than you intended.....

Sugar77 wrote:The disco and theme nights were the last two topics we were hoping to hear about. Hoping you'll make one more post?

Thanks for the effort you've put into this. Very helpful and a great job!

K&J

Sorry Sugar,

I wrote at length about the topic, but must have slipped up in the posting. I'll try to track it down but will rewrite it if necessary. Obviously an important subject.