December 18th to 26th, 2011 Desire Cancun Trip Report

[ottawa_cuple]

Our December 18th to 21st, 2011 trip to Desire Cancun.

Written by me, Marci, because by now pretty much everyone knows what is written by "Howard & Marci" is written by me, Marci

It seems I end up with mixed feelings about Desire every time we go (and I did again this trip), and I was very hesitant to write a trip report because I wasn't sure I could explain my feelings in a way that wouldn't attract a lot of negative (ie: "well if you don't like it, why don't you go somewhere else?") responses, and I didn't want to go thru that or try to justify my opinion. People can be cruel sometimes and I don't have a really thick skin.

That said, I've decided to bite the bullet and post this “trip reportâ€

[CLG]

We were there from 12/21 - 12/26. We also had issues with the water pressure & temp this trip, we don't recall this in prior trips. The bugs are always difficult for my wife and sure enough, several bites that create egg sized marks. Other than that, we had a great time but with the change in Cabo, we are not sure of our next trip to Cancun after visiting there 3 times last year.

[oldseadog]

This tipping/bribery thing needs to be sorted out once and for all.

[eddieandjojo]

Marci,

How can anyone ever criticize you of all people for having an opinion on this site! Your countless hours of time devoted to the forum and frequent trips to the resort most certainly have earned you the right to express your opinion!!! Plus, you're so darn cute!!!

Hopefully management reads the trip reports and tries to address some of the issues outlined. Let's face it, with Pearl and Los Cabos opening up, travel to Cancun will be cut back. I know I'll catch some grief from the Desire Cancun purist but we absolutely love the Los Cabos location and will certainly be splitting our time going forward. Yes, I love the Cancun location too but it's nice to have options once again!!!

Hopefully our trip in June to Los Cabos overlaps with your time there as we'd like to finally meet you both and say hello in person.

Thanks for you time and effort to post this report.

XOXO
E&J

[Lkncouple]

Thanks for the post. My wife and I have been thinking about going to desire for our first trip. We are trying to get in a little better shape and are thinking about doing it as an reward for our hard work. We typically go to at least 1 really high end resort a year on a couples get away. my biggest hesitation with desire has been the bugs and the consistency of the rooms. It sounds like if you get the right room it is fantastic if you get the wrong room it can be not as good. There is a website that I use that you can pull up any plane seat on any plane on any airline and see comments about the seat. Too bad there is not a way to do the same with the rooms at desire.

I don't think your comments will stop us from going, but it sounds like I really need to really do some research to find the right room and then really demand that I get that room.

[miranda]

Great trip report. It's nice to read a realistic trip report about the 'little things' that really do affect our vacations. We had no idea there was such a variety of rooms - we always 'request' a specific room and have been lucky enough to get it - now we know that we are not 'missing out' on trying a different room.

The tipping and the lounger saving and paying to reserve a lounger - those are things that, IMHO, should be dealt with. We pay enough money for this resort that there should not be an extra charge to reserve a bed - that is just ridiculous!

The tipping aspect has been 'created' by the guests - guests tip, workers know which side their bread is buttered on. Don't get me wrong, we tip FOR great service, but we don't go overboard. We don't tip to GET service. We get great service no matter what. And you may have something there, Marci, in that you tip at the end of your stay and really, who knows if the tips are spread around to those who made your stay so wonderful?

No resort is perfect, as we all know, but after a few visits, we really stop looking at this resort through rose-coloured glasses and see the realities of life.

It's still a wonderful resort in all aspects but your open and honest review is very helpful to all of us - veterans and newbies alike.

Nice to hear that Vanessa is still there - we look forward to seeing her again!

[mfay]

"The good outweighs the bad and we have yet to find a resort that offers us as much of what we want in a vacation as Desire Cancun. That said, though, we're considering trying Desire Los Cabos and Desire Pearl at least once each before we come back to Desire Cancun. "

Boiled down, that is what it all comes down to isn't it?
Desire isn't perfect, and it never claimed to be a 4 star property. But for a lot of us there just isn't anything better when it comes to a clothing optional/lifestyles vacation. And for hundreds of couples out there it has opened up a whole new way of thinking about what the "perfect" vacation is or could be. Having visited Pearl a few months ago I can say that all of the rooms there are head and shoulders above everything at Desire RM. And the location- no swamp- should make for less of a bug problem although it won't ever be a total non issue anywhere in the area. It will cost a little more, but we too are looking forward to seeing if that extra cost is worthwhile in what it might be able to add to our Desire experience.

By the way- just so nobody gets the wrong impression- only about a dozen of the beach beds are available for rental at the $20 day/$100 per week. The rest of the 40 or so beds are free- just as long as you can find one open.

[johnjeri417]

mfay..is anything ever a "non-issue" really.. someone will always find fault in something...we love desire as a whole. we will be going to cabos for the grand opening (or reopening as we like to call it). cinco, re opening and jeris birthday should make it a blast.

[Cali_desire_cpl]

Great honest report. we had many of the same issues the last few trips to Desire. It seems that for the price we pay, the resort hasn't done much to upgrade. Each of our last 3 trips we had various issues with our rooms. We had the electricty go out for over 24 hours while they tried to fix it (request to be moved, but were offered a room by the tennis courts when we had an ocean view), No hot water followed by no water as they tried to fix the problem, and air conditioning not working and jacuzzi jets not working. I wouldn't have a problem if only one of these things happened, but something each trip??? We also hated to see the palapa area enclosed.....we loved to sit there and talk with friends prior to going up to the disco.
The people are what make the resort that is for sure and the service is top notch. I just think for the $500 + a night, we shouldn't be having the issues we've had. We have gone to the last couple of takeovers in Cabo and enjoyed ourselves. The only thing missing is the nude sunbathing on the beach, however, with the amount of families passing by on the beach in Cancun we don't spend much time there.
I hope management can handle 3 resorts and haven't bitten off more than they can chew and let the facilities suffer further.

[Powderfinger]

Seven trips, six different rooms, EVERY single one had water issues. Pressure surges to dripping, ice cold to scalding hot, every shower every trip.....

The enclosed lobby palapa really ticks us off as well....

Tipping isn't going to change....we tip based on service, AND when I actually remember to carry a few bucks on me. We haven't really notice much difference on whether or not we do, but I tend to remember better, (or rather, Mrs PF reminds me better)when we first arrive, so maybe we're just remembered for having tipped and that carries through the rest of our time.....

Bugs we've never had issues with, but some are more prone than others. We do take vitamin B1 prior to our trips, and there have been times we may have been bit once, while others we're spending time with have been attacked. With the swamp, no matter what they do there will always be bugs there. Look forward to the Pearl reports.....

Nothing's ever perfect, don't give a second thought to getting negative feedback for posting this!

[eddieandjojo]

We too have had issues with the rooms over our several trips but the way we look at it is that we typically spend less than 5 hours in the room per day and 4 1/2 hours of that is sleep time. So, for us it's always been go-go-go as we only have 5 to 6 precious days in paradise! It's a time to reconnect with old friends, make time for new friends, enjoy not being on a schedule and most of all having an open mind to what sexy ass adventure awaits us each day! We have found that the most surreal moments we have had at either Desire location have happened totally spontaneous!

Again, everyone has their opinion and/or tolerance to different situations, I suppose we just leave our 4 or 5 star resort expectations to other vanilla trips and see Desire for what it's worth. A place to open your mind, enjoy the ability to explore your fantasies and above all else be 100% connected with your partner!

Respectfully submitted!

[Headstone]

This is a repost of what I put in the Desire Yahoo group

Its too bad not all worked to your liking this trip. We were there at the
beginning of November and stayed in room 1212 and in fact requested it or 1211.
We really dont mind the lack of closet/drawer space. I can live out of my
suitcase so my wife took the closet. There was not a day that we had any
trouble getting a pool lounger this year as opposed to last year for the same
week. Many more chairs have made it easier to get one. As to the beach beds you
do NOT have to pay to reserve one even for one day. The only time you need to
pay is if you want a guarantee for the whole week. Last year we had one every
day and all it took was for me to be up at 8am to put my name down for one.

One thing we have never had a problem with are the bugs. Even though each time
I bring spray we never end up using it.

Just as a side note on air conditioning the first full day we were there this
year the staff noticed the AC unit was not functioning properly before we did
and had it fixed within a couple of hours.

I do agree with the water issue but I think that is the resort as a whole. We
did not have a problem last year and had much hotter water. I wonder if the
hurricane had anything to do with that.

For us the way we manage our tipping is if we get extra special service on a
night (in Il Piacere the waiter kept the Chivis 15yr flowing) or if someone goes
out of their way to do something we tip at the end of the service. If there was
a staff member that did a great job for us during the week we seek out that
staff member and tip them on our last day. That seems to work the best for us.

I know it can be difficult to keep up with the theme nights but for us we kept
track on the desire web site as much as possible to track any changes. We also
brought outfits that could function for different nights if needed just by
putting things together.

Hopefully your next trip will be better for you. Our plan is to try Cabo this
fall and see how it compares.

B&C

[jahppycple]

Honest report. As far as the tipping goes I feel bad for these guys working there asses off!! It's like putting some extra cash in your favorite donation box. It makes you feel good. An extra couple of bucks for these people is a big deal. I guess I just love to see the smiles on there faces when you reward extra service. There r many who tip and many who don't. Danny still gets you a chair and towel with a smile. Africa still gets you a drink with a smile. It makes us feel like we may be helping out some good people who could use the cash to take care of there families.

[miranda]

ottawa_cuple (and anyone else) since you have been to Desire Cancun a number of times, what did you think of the new arrangement at the jacuzzi area? Where there were loungers around the one side of the jacuzzi, what is there now? What about by the cubby holes near the washrooms - what's there? I understand they took some of the tables out and put them where the beds originally were? Or am I confused (which is very typical).

[ottawa_cuple]

... what did you think of the new arrangement at the jacuzzi area? Where there were loungers around the one side of the jacuzzi, what is there now? What about by the cubby holes near the washrooms - what's there? ...

Hi Miranda,

There are now three beds on the upper deck by the pool. Those are great spots for people who like their PDA's watched.

There are 7 loungers on the west side of the lower deck, and there are 3 beds back in the corner on the north side of the lower deck. People who enjoy a little more privacy often use those.

Additionally, there are 3 bar-height square teak tables w/ 4 stools each in the centre of the lower deck, and by the cubbies next to the washroom are two 3-person cushioned couches with a low wicker coffee table in between.

We personally don't spend much time out of the jacuzzi when we're up there, so we don't really have an opinion on the pros or cons of the new layout.