Desire Trip Report
Mark and Rebecca
September 12-19, 2004
This was our second trip to Desire, meant to be a birthday present to myself. I’m not good at these trip reports, so if it bores the hell out of you, you were adequately warned! In any case, we were a part of the hurricane evacuation, which of course will be reflected in my opinion/discussion, etc.
Air:
We flew US Airways from Columbus to Cancun. We were removed from the flight that would have arrived at 10:30 a.m., and instead arrived at 12:30 p.m. We were told that it was because the first flight no longer existed. It does still exist and plenty of guests used it, so I’m not sure what is up with US Airways. Despite the airline b.s., this was our best flight ever on US Airways. Everything was on time, if not ½ hour early, in both directions, and only the flight attendants on the way to Cancun were surly, rather than every flight crew member. To be honest, any flight that lands in Cancun on the way to Desire is probably a good flight. We cleared immigration, had our luggage, and cleared customs in no time.
Transportation:
We rented a car this time, and due to circumstances, this was an excellent decision. Total time, from the time we touched down, until we arrived at Desire, was only 1.25 hours. That’s getting off the plane, clearing immigration, getting luggage, clearing customs, renting the car, driving down to the resort, and removing the luggage. Driving in the Yucatan is amazingly simple, and I like the freedom of not being held to someone else’s time table, such as drivers and tour groups.
The car was good for the evacuation. At the time we were evacuated, we thought we were going to an evacuation center in Cancun, not Blue Bay Getaway. Cancun is north of the resort and was more in the projected hurricane’s path. Because of the car, we had the option to go south to get out of the way. However, the thought of a bed for the night won out, and we were able to simply head north on our own, and meet the buses on the other end. Had we been evacuated again, we again were not restricted to the evacuation center, but could have gone south, or to Merida, out of the way of the storm. When we were told we could return, due to having our own car, we were able to be at the resort at 1 p.m., instead of waiting for buses. Additionally, that day we went down to Tulum, instead of driving ourselves crazy waiting to go back, sitting at “Blue Balls” (the moniker for Blue Bay Getaway coined by several of the guests).
The car was a sanity saver, and made me feel a lot less trapped by the situation, given I tend to obsess over situations in which I feel I lack control. Had we not lost two days, we would have taken a couple other morning trips, making the car just as useful to us.
The Resort:
We arrived at Desire about 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, and were immediately checked in. No champagne or towels, but we learned later that mgt was worrying over the storm surge, and we may have been lucky to have been checked in at all, based on some of the other guests’ comments. We were placed in Building 24, ground floor, which was the building we were in last time. I like the quiet on the far north end of the resort and not stumbling on the stairs intoxicated in 6 inch heels. This is a garden view room with a double/queen bed.
I immediately unpacked, which was very unusual for me. This deviation from my standard operating procedure is pretty funny in retrospect, since we had to pack up 8 hrs later; I usually wait to unpack until the next morning after arriving. After unpacking, we went out to the pool area and got started on our party. We met internet people (M & C) within 20 minutes, whom we “partied” with for the rest of the trip. We also met a couple from New York right away. Mark immediately got involved with volleyball, and I immediately got involved in fruity rum drinks. I am an Atkins follower, so falling off the wagon with sugared drinks is a treat during Desire visits.
Our day progressed with a nap and a visit to the fancy Mexican restaurant (very good), and we went up to the disco, where we met R & L. Then the announcement came to evacuate. The first announcement was to grab an overnight bag and that we’d be transported via bus to a shelter. At some point, after much discussion, it appeared we could sign a waiver and stay. A bunch of us went to the internet to look at the National Hurricane Center’s latest report, where we quickly realized ol’ Ivan never turned north as expected. A few of us thought we’d still sit it out at the resort, under the alcoholic notion that the hot tub would be a safe place. Finally, we were all told to get all of our stuff, as well as pillows and blankets, and we’d be transported to Blue Bay Getaway, in two large buses.
Given we had our own car and that we got tired of waiting for the buses to get under way (which we were instructed to follow), we were the second to arrive at Blue Bay. It turned out to be very easy to get from Desire to Blue Bay with only minimal in transit arguments about directions, road signs and signals, negotiating roundabouts, and dodging maniacal taxi drivers. Fortunately we encountered no donkeys to further add to the lively in-transit “discussion”. I believe the general manager (Miguel Soto) was there to help coordinate the arrival when we arrived; I think I gave him the status as to when the buses were due to arrive. In all, I thought it went relatively smoothly. We were given a room and we were told to be up and eat by 7:00 a.m., as we were likely to be evacuated again.
Short story: We were never evacuated although Cancun was under an evacuation alert/warning. Probably most the most egregious attack on our pursuit of a good time was the city-wide ban on the service of alcohol. In the morning we circumvented that particular buzz-kill policy by finding a store willing to sell us 2 bottles of tequila, which was well received by both ourselves and our new friends. A lot of the Desire refugees formed groups and hung out the best they could. We found ourselves congregating in each other’s rooms, clothing rapidly shed, and alcohol readily consumed. One of our friends (R), had the foresight to score a bottle of rum from the resort prior to the evacuation so we were in no way lacking in social lubricant. Some Desire folks played naked darts and naked water basketball, but I also know that caused a big stink among the regular Blue Bay guests. We did not partake in such activities, because we knew we were already offending half the guests with our mere presence (those wicked swingers!), much less the nudity, and because the other half of the resort was taking photos, and that isn’t our bag to be on the internet. Eventually, we figured out we were not being evacuated when they started serving alcohol at the resort, so we finally went to bed and slept for a bit for the first time since leaving for the airport on Sunday. I wish that announcement had been posted.
I had posted updates about the situation on the internet, so that doesn’t need to be rehashed that much. In retrospect, I feel bad for Sajid and Jhonna. They were the only representatives we saw from Desire on Monday (occasionally, we saw Miguel, but it was always with Blue Bay management). Management and PR swooped in on Tuesday, but Sajid and Jhonna were the only ones available on Monday, and they little authority to do much of anything. They had little power to find a space for the exclusive use by Desire guests. Upon reflection, I feel badly that they took the brunt of the frustrations felt by many Desire displacees. By 6:00 p.m., there were some hot tempers flaring because Sajid and Jhonna knew probably little more than we did and therefore could tell us very little. This lack of information was viewed as stonewalling by many (and I do not claim this for all the guests, just many).
The storm actually seemed worse Monday night and when I got up at 6:00 a.m., I thought it was just as bad, so I was really upset by then thinking that we were never going back to Desire. By the time the sun started to rise, the weather calmed down amazingly. By 9:00 a.m., new issues had arisen regarding alcohol and treatment of Desire guests by the Blue Bay Staff. In spite of our insistence that our wrist bands were platinum (rather than silver as viewed by Blue Bay bartenders), premium alcohol was only being served to gold-banded Blue Bay guests. I guess the blue-banded Blue Bay guests where really low on the totem pole. Because most of Desire management staff was at Blue Bay by then, changes began to occur by 10 a.m., if not earlier. We were given the appropriate gold-colored bands for premium alcohol. A spontaneous Desire guest movement erupted to disallow the removal of our platinum bands, so that we then double-banded, insuring our differentiation from the Blue Bay “Goldies”. We were then advised we were getting a party room and that we would be going home to Desire the next day. Not bad, considering the resort was trashed. K & G actually went south in their own car during the storm, and stopped by the resort on their way to Blue Bay for the party, and they have amazing pictures of just how bad it really was.
To the credit of the Desire staff: I thought the move was well done, and it was good to be in a hotel. Sajid and Jhonna took our disappointment in stride and didn’t ever yell back at us, considering their crappy position and lack of support. Mgt and PR came in the nick of time to salvage the situation on Tuesday. The workers busted their butts at the resort to get us back there. And I feel we were compensated very well, and because of the Tuesday response, I’d guess 80-90% are coming back.
The party room was nice. A group of us decided to use it all afternoon to make sure the staff knew we appreciated it. I recall tequila and jenga, and some dice game that we made sure breasts and butts were a part of, and a lap dance with D & B before my husband made me go eat a meal to sober up. Let’s just say that Aaron pours a wicked drink. That night, we had a great party, with a fun game involving dancing, changing partners, and a lot of laughing. While I was out early in the game, Mark lasted almost to the end lifting countless women countless times. In spite of his skillful attempts to cheat at the game and b.s. Sajid, he was eliminated, once again daunted in his quest for a Desire t-shirt prize. They even created a play room for us. Desire barkeepers and the D.J. were in attendance, and it was good!
We arrived back at the resort at 12:45 p.m., after a quick run to Tulum to kill time. Miguel (I’m pretty sure it was him) served us champagne upon arrival, we were given our keys, and we were back in business. K & G were right behind us, followed by the Wednesday arrivals from the airport. Finally, the bus people began arriving, in cabs impatient to get back to Desire. The rest of the refugees (perhaps the more patient) later arrived via the buses. The hot tub rapidly filled with the returnees and the party was on with a vengeance. I think it an understatement that we were all happy to be back! I slept superbly that night, knowing we were back, that the general staff were happy to see us, and that we could be ourselves.
The front pool was filled by 7 p.m., I think, on Wednesday, and a group of us skinny dipped that night in it. The main pool was mostly filled by 1 p.m., and water volleyball promptly started, followed by water polo. The pool-hot tub- disco routine was quickly re-established.
The food was good, service in the fancy restaurant was great. We met great people. The people are the most important part of the trip, and again, we met outstanding people. Groups tend to form at this resort, but it doesn’t matter what group you are in, everyone is friendly and you can mix it up any way you’d like.
I will say this: the lost two days did have an impact. The most appropriate description was that the hurricane was “coitus interruptus”. Relationships were being formed at the time we moved. While relationships continued to be formed during the hurricane, pressure and uncertainty somewhat strained the process, so we felt somewhat behind in the relationship forming process when we returned to the resort. Given the stress of the situation, and I know others will agree, that the trip may have lost some zing and/or sexually-inclined activities, due to the evacuation. I am glad I went; still, I regret what might have been being lost. Oh well. On the positive side, we have great new friends and acquaintances, Desire is likely putting a hurricane policy in place, and we all survived being “blown by Ivan”.
Oh, I have to say I had the most excellent birthday. Mark won the Mr. Desire contest on Friday, despite having to do pushups with me on his back on the concrete. We now have this joke:
Two trips to Desire: $5000
One dislocated knee, one strained back, 162 bug bites, and other minor injuries while during trips to Desire: $1000
50 activities participated in… part of the all inclusive
1 T-Shirt won in a contest…. Priceless!
So my first birthday gift was my husband being on cloud nine for finally winning a contest at Desire. The actual day (the 18th) was kind of sad because most of our friends were gone and because we met people we connected with, but we also realized how we missed opportunities due to the hurricane. A few remained, and new friends helped participate. I played a lot of volleyball and games, and my husband and I somehow won the body shot contest. I don’t know how we beat J. and her friend from New York, but it was nice. I wasn’t able to do the human birthday cake, but the staff created a little dessert for me and it was presented at the pool, along with a round of happy birthday. The hot tub was cool, the disco okay, etc. It was easily the most fun, most relaxing birthday I’ve ever had. Loved it. Thank you to everyone that was there that made it great, including the staff.
My thanks to many of the staff for putting up with us, for trying their damndest and for responding on Tuesday by giving us our own space. My thanks to our hurricane buddies, for the camaraderie and entertainment on Monday. I am glad to have met all of those we met, if even just in passing at a party, or the Blue Bay pool (who could forget the attempt to make thongs out of swim trunks for the men by K.)
We will return, and hopefully will actually get to experience 7 days at Desire. The staff and the people, and the environment make the trip. I hope to see M & C, R & L, T & A, K & G, D & B, K & J, among many others, on some future trip to Desire, or in real life, even (but we all know Desire would be a better place to meet up!).