Comparsions to Vanilla Resorts - Newbie ?

[DC7300]

Hi,
We are planning our first visit to Pearl in March for our anniversary. Besides the obvious C/O difference and overall sexy people vibe that we are excited about how does Pearl compare to someplace like perhaps a Secrets all-inclusive ( we have been to several of those)
Has anyone been to both who can share some details about the comparisons in quality of food, rooms, staff, beach, pool, etc.?

PS - this forum is awesome and we have found answers to many of our questions and concerns that have really helped put our minds at ease about our first time C/O resort visit.

Thanks in advance for your replies!

DC7300

[claudio]

I'd like to know this too. We are regular secrets and sandals users who are about to pay our first visit to Desire at the end of the year.

[CokeMann]

IMHO the food, rooms, beach, pool, etc. are all adequate not 5star but good. The staff are all definitely 5star - been to many resorts never found better staff than at Desire !!

- Secrets and most vanilla resorts basically close up shop by 10pm - the fun at Desire is just getting started at 10pm
- trying to talk to and make friends with others at Secrets and most vanilla resorts just never seems to happen - it's the norm at Desire.
- getting romantic with your SO at Secrets and most vanilla resorts can happen(but to carry it further, even just PDA you will be shamed into your room) - not at Desire
- etc

[arcouple]

I stayed at Secrets Silver Sands a couple of years ago...

SSS - It was fun and the activity people were really into getting you to join.
DP - It was also fun, but the activity people were not near as 'pushy' about having you join. It seemed that they did just enough pushing...

SSS - Was very crowded and we couldn't ever get a good spot by the pool.
DP - While there was a lot of people at times, we never had any problems getting a spot at the pool or beach.

SSS - While most people seemed to be having a good time, they all had their own little 'groups'. We didn't talk to one other couple the whole time while there.
DP - Everybody is having a good time, and even when you'd walk past a group in the pool, they would engage you and invite you in (we are not in the lifestyle and were NEVER put in an awkward position). We made several friends while there.

SSS - Staff was fantastic
DP - Staff was fantastic

SSS - Food was great with several different restaurants.
DP - Food was ok, not bad, but nothing that I remember. Restaurants are more limited, but they change their 'type of food' each night.

[K&RinTX]

IMHO the food, rooms, beach, pool, etc. are all adequate not 5star but good. The staff are all definitely 5star - been to many resorts never found better staff than at Desire !!

- Secrets and most vanilla resorts basically close up shop by 10pm - the fun at Desire is just getting started at 10pm
- trying to talk to and make friends with others at Secrets and most vanilla resorts just never seems to happen - it's the norm at Desire.
- getting romantic with your SO at Secrets and most vanilla resorts can happen(but to carry it further, even just PDA you will be shamed into your room) - not at Desire
- etc

I completely agree with Coke's answer. The physical facility and food aren't quite as good as Secrets, but the staff, other guests and overall "vibe" of Desire more than makes up for it.

[init4fun]

IMHO the food, rooms, beach, pool, etc. are all adequate not 5star but good. The staff are all definitely 5star - been to many resorts never found better staff than at Desire !!

- Secrets and most vanilla resorts basically close up shop by 10pm - the fun at Desire is just getting started at 10pm
- trying to talk to and make friends with others at Secrets and most vanilla resorts just never seems to happen - it's the norm at Desire.
- getting romantic with your SO at Secrets and most vanilla resorts can happen(but to carry it further, even just PDA you will be shamed into your room) - not at Desire
- etc

Holy cow!! CokeMann nailed everything!!!

[tikihutguy]

IMHO the food, rooms, beach, pool, etc. are all adequate not 5star but good. The staff are all definitely 5star - been to many resorts never found better staff than at Desire !!

- Secrets and most vanilla resorts basically close up shop by 10pm - the fun at Desire is just getting started at 10pm
- trying to talk to and make friends with others at Secrets and most vanilla resorts just never seems to happen - it's the norm at Desire.
- getting romantic with your SO at Secrets and most vanilla resorts can happen(but to carry it further, even just PDA you will be shamed into your room) - not at Desire
- etc

Holy cow!! CokeMann nailed everything!!!

Indeed. Voice of vast experience I think

[goldfish1]

Not sure why people are saying that at Desire the food is just okay????The wife and I really really enjoyed it, and after all the meals there only one was crap, so if one fail makes the food just okay, then I guess it is just okay. But exclude our one crappy dinner, the food was excellent.

On another note, I'm also pretty confident that Silver Sands doesn't have a Lingerie contest

[claudio]

I'll take the lingerie contest over 5 star cuisine any day!

[here2benaughty]

We spent our honeymoon at Secrets Capri Riviera and our first anniversary at Desire Pearl.

Rooms: I actually would put the rooms at DP on a higher level than Secrets. We had a leaking ceiling and 2 or 3 nights of no hot water at Secrets.
Food: Fairly close. I would give Secrets the edge due to variety but the larger the resort, the easier it is to provide more amenities and choices in dining.
Staff: DP hands down. Entertainment staff is top notch. Because there are fewer restaurant venues you end up with the same wait staff at meals and they remember your preferences.
Other Guests: DP by a long shot. We found it difficult to strike up a conversation with people at Secrets. People generally kept to themselves and when you did get to talking to someone, they were kind of boring. People are very social at Desire Pearl.

By the end of our week at Secrets we wished we had booked a couple of nights at Desire to experience the environment. When it came time to planning our anniversary trip there was very little question about booking Desire. It will be difficult to return to a textile all-inclusive in the future. In fact, we went on a cruise this past January and there were a bunch of times we wished we could get naked and jump in the jacuzzi.