So I’m writing this pre-trip report while I’m underway on Nuclear power on a U.S. Submarine.
The Mrs. and I are beyond excited for this upcoming vacation. We have been together for over 20 years (high school sweethearts) and married for almost 15. This trip is an anniversary gift to each other. We actually fly home 2 days before our actual anniversary, but the kids need to go to school and we need to be home for it. We have never taken a vacation together (weekend trips to Vegas when we lived in So Cal do not count). I am senior enlisted in the military and have never really had a chance to take the time or had the means to take this kind of trip. When we first started discussing a vacation in early March it felt like we wouldn’t find a resort that met everything we were looking for. Our criteria had to be strict since we wanted to knock our first vacation out of the park.
1. We have 5 children of our own, ages from 16 to 2 ½ year old twins, and a 4 month old foster daughter, so obviously adults only was the #1 priority.
2. All inclusive was a MUST! If I can drop one lump sum before I leave and not worry about a single thing as far as money is concerned then we will be able to enjoy our vacation all that much more.
3. Paradise! Beaches, white sandy beaches. Caribbean, Mexico, Bahamas, anywhere outside of the U.S. where we can enjoy the sun, the beaches, drinks and an awesome pool.
4. Peace and quiet, and relaxation, mixed with fun activities. We want to lay by the pool and read our books. Cool off by lying in an awesome pool, or sit on the beach and watch the waves. We are from So Cal but live in the Seattle area, we need sun desperately. I didn’t want to go on a cruise because let’s be honest, I’m out to sea enough as it is.
So there’s our starting point. Now the search is on. My mother has timeshares so she gives us her login and password for the company that runs hers and we look through there. The MRS. is on Trip Advisor for hours a day looking through there. We come across Oyster and that was a huge help. Through the time share site we find Desire RM. “Interesting”, “There’s a thought”. So to Trip advisor and Oyster we go for research. The MRS. comes across Pearl. Beautiful pictures on the site, HUGE pool and amazing spa, everything looks perfect. Then the question, “Do we really want to go to a clothing optional resort?” Me being the analytical mind I am, I start making a Pro’s and Con’s list. Self-consciousness tops the list of Con’s. The resort pictures and the trip reports weighed heavily in the Pro’s. All inclusive including drinks, white sandy beaches, “quiet” side of the pool, beautiful rooms and amazing looking resort. WE’RE SOLD! Now to book it. Through the site it is way more than we are willing to spend, even with the buy 3 get 1 free. So off to the internet I go. Thanks to this forum I find Cheap Tickets and a code for 50% off (cheapskate). $2400 for the “ocean view” rooms. Priceline was the cheapest for airfare. $1200 round trip with 4-5 hour layovers in Dallas Fort-Worth. That works out perfectly for me, my “brother” just moved 30 minutes away from that airport. So we get to visit him and his young bride and their new child that we have yet to meet when we get there. I think $70 for USA Transfers for the round trip (Thanks to this forum for that advice too). What else is there? When we get there we will sit through the sales pitch to get the coupon book, why not? It’s only an hour or 2 for huge deals and rebates; we won’t buy, but we LOVE deals. We do the same in Vegas when we go, it’s always worth it. So all we really have left to spend money on is clothes and gear for the trip and massages and scuba trip for each of our birthday gifts to each other. I will come prepared (I don’t have to, but it is in my nature to,) with $200 in $2 bills for tipping. I always carry $2 bills; you are memorable when you tip with a $2 bill. Now we have 5 months to read the forum and Trip Advisor trip reports and think and anticipate and second guess and wonder and flat out worry ourselves about the upcoming vacation.
(I will use this pre-report to write my post-report when we come back. I will try to take notes while we are there for the post-report) so the questions I (we) have:
1. Can we go naked? ME: HELL YEA! I have no problem being naked; I have no problem in my own skin. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no Adonis. I’m not as physically fit as I want to be, but who is? From the time we paid for this vacation I hit the gym and I hit it hard, down 20 lbs as of this morning (03 July) and still just under 2 months to go. THE MRS.: “Maybe topless, no chance of losing the bottoms.” We’ll see about that. She is gorgeous and honestly doesn’t think it. I don’t care, I love her, I love her body, and I want her to have the best vacation she can have. Topless, full nude or in a bikini and a wrap, it doesn’t matter to me as long as she is happy. But 8 days and 7 nights in that environment and I am confident she will go the Full Monty.
2. Public sex? Can we do it? ME: HELL YEA!!! Are you kidding me? HELL YEA! Sounds amazing. A dream come true. I have been waiting for an opportunity for public sex with my bride since May of 1994. THE MRS.: “We’ll see. The beach under the stars, definitely. Under the sun? We’ll see.” ME: In the pool, in the Hot tub, on a bed by the pool/hot tub, in the shower by the hot tub, on the beach or on our balcony, it doesn’t matter. I just want to show my public display of sex.
3. Nightly shows and the “play” room. ME: I want to see the shows, I want to dress up for the themes, and I want to enjoy all that Pearl has to offer. So we’ll see. THE MRS.: I don’t think so, I am going to relax and have a romantic vacation with you.” (While underway she sends me an email about the clothes she has bought and that she will have a fashion show for me when I get home. I think we will be dressing up for some, if not all of the theme nights). The play room? ME: Probably not. As much as I want to show our PDS, I doubt we would ever get to the point of swapping. I know the room isn’t just for swapping, but it doesn’t appeal to me to go the room. I’ve never used a swing and that definitely appeals to my inquisitive nature, but I still doubt we go there.
4. Foam party and outside activities. ME: foam party: I’m not sure. I’ve seen pictures, I saw a video someone posted on You Tube, it looks like fun, but it looks like fun if you are soft swapping and we just aren’t sure about that yet. We’ll probably do it, but who knows if we will have as much fun doing it as we would if we were swapping/soft swapping. Outside activities: ME: Volley ball? Sounds like a blast THE MRS.: not going to happen. Distracted darts? ME: HELL YEA! Any chance to get head. THE MRS.: “I’ll do that. That looks fun” SWEET! Water aerobics? US: probably not, not really our thing. Pool side / Hot tub swim up bars (body shots): ME: I love my alcohol, anyway I can get it. It sounds fun, new and exciting. I’m all about it. THE MRS.: “I’m not sure, it sounds more trouble than it’s worth.” We’ll see. If she lets me I will have no problem taking body shots off of other women. Obviously she will be calling all the shots and whatever happens or doesn’t happen will be her call and I will more than respect her views and wishes. It’s her world; I’m just paying rent here. I just want to make sure that when we are flying home that we have no regrets. No regrets for what we did and no regrets for what we didn’t do. I don’t want to have that conversation that starts with “I wish I hadn’t done that...” “I wish I would have done that…”
By the way, this forum has changed my vocabulary so much, there are a ton of words I never thought I would know or relate to.
5. Massages – Couples / Sensual which one? This one I need help with. The sensual massage is it an actual massage or is it just an excuse to get a couple of cute hard bodies to rub on your good parts? I want my wife to get the best massage she has ever had, hell I’ll get her one of each if need be, she deserves it. A mother of 6, I’ll give her a massage a day if she wants it, again she deserves it. But I want to know exactly what is involved with both. I read on this forum that for massages you fill out a form stating what parts of your body you don’t want them to touch, is that just sensual or is that for couples too? Would they give a happy ending for a couples massage to one or both of us? Like I said, I am very analytical and want to research every aspect of this trip to maximize our time.
This is a long report, and I really appreciate anyone that has read this much so far and especially appreciate any and all comments to help us out before we leave. The MRS. and I have really appreciated this forum and the people in it for all of the Intel they have given us before our trip. YOU GUYS ROCK!
6. The food. This is actually the big one for us. We are picky, the MRS. way more than me, but picky none-the-less. We don’t eat sea food. None. Mine is from an earlier childhood bad experience, hers is from just not liking it. I’m sure the food is good, but we hear about small servings and food theme nights. We love our food and we just want to enjoy that part of our trip. Maybe we’re too worried about it, I don’t know. Can you order multiple entrées per visit to the restaurants? Does room service cost? I really hope they carry Jameson’s Whiskey as well.
I’m cutting off the last 3 I had (Going into town, Ages of the visitors, and how not to waste time while we’re there) since this is now a 3 page Word document already. I really hope people read this and give us the feedback we’re hoping for.
I’ve read on this forum about the “Lover’s Upgrade” How much is that and what is involved? I am really interested in that. What I think it is, is a bigger suite with a Jacuzzi or spa tub and 1st floor patio that walks out onto the beach. Is that correct? Is there anything else to it?
Thank you all very much!