2014 Discounted Rates

[desireaddict]

Looking at the Desire website, I don't see any discounts for advance bookings in 2014. Esp interested if they typically discount April dates. I know typically there are 15% - 20% discounts in May through the end of the year.

Management is slow about updating the website (not quite into the 21st century in the IT dept) so wondering if there is any advance news.

Thanks.
DA

[CokeMann]

Typically there are no discount promos during High season (which ends April 30th).

[Play_Dough]

Discounted rates for January to April are usually for bookings prior to August I believe. We always go in January and book early enough to get the discounted rate. I think last year they extended it until November but now there are only two resorts, they probably didn't need to extend it.

[jeagree]

Looks like some rates for 2014 have been published under the special promos sections.

[Geedubyuh]

We've been going to Desire RM for 8 years now. We were a bit sticker shocked by the rates this year.

[CokeMann]

We were a bit sticker shocked by the rates this year.

There was a 5% hike in sales tax across the whole State of Quintana Roo, it used to enjoy a tax break as a 'Border State'. The newly elected party in power has removed this status and you should expect almost everything in Cancun and the Riviera Maya to go up by at least 5%.

[Geedubyuh]

We were a bit sticker shocked by the rates this year.

There was a 5% hike in sales tax across the whole State of Quintana Roo, it used to enjoy a tax break as a 'Border State'. The newly elected party in power has removed this status and you should expect almost everything in Cancun and the Riviera Maya to go up by at least 5%.

That might explain 5% of it. Our rate is 21% higher than last year.

[CokeMann]

That might explain 5% of it. Our rate is 21% higher than last year.

These are all low season pricing
2013 GV Std per couple per night = $ 376.00
2014 GV Std per couple per night pre tax increase = $ 394.00
2014 GV Std per couple per night post tax increase = $ 417.64

With the new tax it's about 17% more than 2013 rates - if you take out the mandatory tax increase, it looks more like a general 12% more than 2013 rates

None of us are happy about it but .....

[desireaddict]

if you take out the mandatory tax increase, it looks more like a general 12% more than 2013 rates

WOW! 12% is a serious increase in the market today.
What has gone up in the marketplace to affect their costs that significantly?
Labor? (haha)
Maintenance/Repairs (not seeing much of that)

Last week I'd estimate it was running at least 80% occupancy.
May 2014 is already virtually sold out.
With those kind of numbers it makes sense to push the rates up and see what the market will bear.

[eddieandjojo]

My two cents, yes rates have gone up and some will push back in one fashion or another........some won't return, some will make their feelings known by posting such. We chose to book our longest trip ever, twelve days in paradise this March as the time away with my wife is priceless!

This will be our 21st trip and we've been fortunate to never have a bad experience.

[SJCrazy]

I've been mulling a Desire trip over more seriously in the last day or two, and if we book by Valentine's Day for any time in Q3/4 we'd only be paying $177.50/pp/n. Seems like a steal to me. If we were trying to have the same fun piecemeal at home we'd pay, conservatively, $25 for breakfast, $25 for lunch, $100 for dinner, $100 for drinks, $100 for a room, $80 to get into a lifestyle club. That $430 we'd pay would be one helluva lot less fun than the $355 a night at Desire costs, never mind that if you play it right and leave super late after checkout you get what amounts to an extra day free. Even the max rate between Christmas and New Years isn't that bad compared to that $430+.

[desireaddict]

I've been mulling a Desire trip over more seriously in the last day or two, and if we book by Valentine's Day for any time in Q3/4 we'd only be paying $177.50/pp/n. Seems like a steal to me. If we were trying to have the same fun piecemeal at home we'd pay, conservatively, $25 for breakfast, $25 for lunch, $100 for dinner, $100 for drinks, $100 for a room, $80 to get into a lifestyle club. That $430 we'd pay would be one helluva lot less fun than the $355 a night at Desire costs, never mind that if you play it right and leave super late after checkout you get what amounts to an extra day free. Even the max rate between Christmas and New Years isn't that bad compared to that $430+.

As we sat at Desire last week, we ran through those same calculations in our head.
It's cheaper than trips we've taken to FLA (South Beach) or CALIF (La Jolla) where you couldn't begin to find a decent hotel or meal for that pricing.
It's a hell of alot cheaper than trips to DisneyWorld, but with grandkids now that seems a better choice in lieu of one of our annual Desire Trips.
Priorities change.
And so do the faces as a new younger (than us) crowd discovers Desire.

[Powderfinger]

If we owned these resorts, we'd do the same thing, push and see what the market will bear. However, price increases have far, far outpaced inflation, and income growth, and there is obvious cost-cutting going on there with the staff changeover, slashed entertainment, and not making the (relatively) cheaper improvements (i.e. beds, loungers, cushions). In our case, we watched January for a couple of months...resort, Cancun airfares, Expedia, Orbitz, etc. Airfare for us actually hit the lowest we've seen for Cancun in January in a few years, and we still couldn't get below a $4400 package. End result, we vote with dollars and aren't going. It just hits a point where I'm not going to pay what they want. For $1400 less we're headed elsewhere that won't give us anything resembling the Desire experience, but we're out of the snow and bone-chilling cold for a week and into the warmth, sun, and sand, and we'll still make our own fun. A relaxing, stress-free week with my hot wife...life is good. Now we're looking at Pearl for our annual July trip, and with similar airfares to this past July, its running $600 more than last trip. Increases are one thing, but the rapid rise is a bit much. And, the 5% tax rise can't take all the blame.....

[it's all good!]

It's funny, we are looking at renting a 5 bedroom executive home with friends in Hawaii for a month. On the beach, with it's own private pool and complete privacy for us to "enjoy"!
It's $5000............... FOR THE MONTH! ( vs. 9 days at Desire in a garden room )
Now like all of us, we love Desire, we are there in 12 days ( yaaay ), BUT with the rate increases, the pool chairs SHOULDN'T be plastic, the entertainment should be BETTER, the pool should ALWAYS be heated, etc.
If you are going to charge 5 star prices, you should NOT depend on the UNIQUE CUSTOMER that frequents Desire to keep footing the bill, relative to the value received or perceived!

There's my rant, Now, off to see Afrika, C.C. and our favorite staff ANYWHERE!

Remember, "it;s all good, we'll see you in the hot tub!"
Don

[eddieandjojo]

$5k, plus insurance, airfare, food, drinks, transportation, club entrance, chef, maid, tips, excursions, plus, plus plus

We've priced those as well but at the end of the day you are only there with four other couples....hope everyone gets along for that length of a trip. To each their own, I know once again my two cents!

Desire is our sweet spot and we will continue going twice a year as long as we can. 69 days till our next trip.

(insert cuban flag if I had the emoji)