Ray & Terri - January, 2004

Trip report Jan 24-31, Canadian Eh ?!

Cancun Airport….
Boo…. Over crowded, understaffed, slow moving. Too many flights for the size of it. Although our plane was only a few hundred feet from the terminal it took over an hour for our luggage to show up on the conveyor. Enough said.

Arriving at Desire,
A late arrival ( 11pm for us ) causes you to lose the day and night. By the time you get to your room, changed and find your way to the disco the night is basically over. An earlier arrival is recommended.

Rooms
We had the ocean view upper level with the king sized bed and jumbo shower. Both the shower and bed would fit 4 people easily.
Large closets worked fine for us as we brought our own removable hangers.
The A/C unit worked fine but sounds like you have a helicopter in your room. The bidet was a nice touch but some ppl may need instructions on how to use it. Lots of big towels, hair dryer, and shower supplies. Even a little sewing kit just in case. The maid service did an excellent job, even organized Terri’s large array of shoes on a daily basis. A 2nd key would also be appreciated for those that are on different time tables.

Spa and Gym
This is first class. Very clean and up to date. Terri was treated to a hot stone massage by Veronique that left her near comatose with pleasure. Would recommend any treatment they offer. Reasonable prices.

Gators & Crocs
When entering the resort you pass a gatehouse then over a wooden boardwalk. On either side are large ponds that are home to some very large Crocs. There are signs warning you so beware. We walked out a few times to see them and took some pictures. One had to be well over 500 lbs. Piece of advice, don’t join the knucklehead club of people throwing things at the crocs to see what will happen. Duh. Those things can run fast. Overall a cool addition to the resort.

The Grounds
Very well maintained and neatly landscaped. There were always people cutting or trimming something to make it as perfect as could be. We saw many geckos and other wild life as we strolled from place to place.
The beach receives our only criticism of the grounds. Too much seaweed. There was a worker raking it one day but never did see him again. Because of this we avoided the beach. The sand was very white and well taken care of by the pool area where the horseshoes and volleyball are.

Games
Imaginative with a subtle sexual twist. Participation is key. We jumped into pretty much every game & contest being offered thus earning Ray the nickname “Mr Contest” by the staff.
We came away with 6 t-shirts and a water bottle. One piece of advice would be to have a variety of prizes or prize coupons redeemable in the gift shop. On the Tuesday morning it rained for about an hour. While many scurried to their rooms in horror, our group of 10 was offered a friendly game of Tequila Jenga. What a hoot! Some interesting game pieces and lots of Tequila made for some great fun. We were actually disappointed when the rain stopped.

Roof Top Hot Tub
Great location for a hot tub. Plenty of room in the tub and in close proximity to the open-air beds made for some interesting times. The tub over looks the resort and ocean where we could watch the cruise ships sail by in the distance. Happy hour from 4-6pm was definitely a highlight of our day. Great time to socialize (talking) and make new friends. We have read many complaints of overt act ivies during this time however; we did not encounter or witness any high-pressure come-ons. No still means No. Yes there were body shots amongst friends; foot massages, flirting and of course nudity galore but we did not find anything offensive. Definitely safe for non-lifestylers as long as you have an open mind. This was also the place to meet after the disco as well. The bar could use two bar tenders during happy hour and the tub temperature could be hotter. The surface on the rooftop does get quite slippery when wet so take care when getting out.

Bar Service
The bar service at all four bars was good, friendly and they even remembered what you drank most times. Having drinks brought to you while lounging around the pool is a definite plus.

Restaurants & Grills
The main restaurant “ El Arrecife “ served up breakfast, lunch and dinner. Throughout the entire week we did not have a bad meal. Having the option of the buffet and or food grilled to your liking right in front of you was a nice touch. Have Mary make you an omelette in the morning. Mmmm
The theme nights also added some flair and adventure for your taste buds.
If your not sure what’s in it, just ask. If you don’t see it out, just ask, they will make it or get it for you for the next day.

The specialty restaurant, Il Piacere, was out of this world. We had the pleasure of dining with a couple celebrating their First anniversary. The staff knew it and went out of their way to make it a special night. They even escorted the lady to the powder room, waited for her and brought her back. The food selection and preparation was outstanding. Ray thoroughly enjoyed the Beef Carpaccio and the Rib Eye steak. You will not leave this restaurant hungry. The atmosphere was cosy and intimate. Even our table for 8.

The pool Side Grill “Coconut Grill” has a nice selection of snacks all day long. They will make you up a freshly grilled sandwich or burger to your liking.

Evening snacks were available by the lobby bar right up until close of the disco. Hotdogs, wings, nachos were the usual.

Shopping,
Thanks to our BC friends for telling us about the shopping in Puerto Moreles which is about a 10 minute cab ride. ( $8. US ) Saved us from going into Cancun or Playa-Del-Carman. Great shops and bargains to be had everywhere. The locals were friendly and accommodating. We bought a great hammock that will grace our back yard when it gets warm here. (Starting price, 800Pesos- final selling price, 320Pesos ) Ray loves to barter. Also worth mentioning is the resort gift shop, which has a wide variety of souvenirs at reasonable prices- no, dickering here.

Resort Staff
Where to start? Fantastic, Excellent, Wahoo, Yee Haa, Yippee !!
Felix, Sabino, Victor, Juvenal, Ivan, Phillipe, Pedro, Pablo, Alfredo, Javier and especially Mary and Abdias !! These people treated us like Royal guests in the dining room and bars.
Hats off to Abdias for adding comedy and excitement to every meal. He truly goes the extra mile for everyone he meets. His late night antics at the Disco had everyone in stitches.

The Entertainment Crew,
Enrique – or as Terri called him, Rico Suave. Sexy and smart, great combo!
Careful when he says, “touch his pipi” ! lol
Saul – Tall, dark and handsome, Terri says. Watch his score keeping while playing volleyball. I’m Telling You !!!!! Great talent on the dance floor too.
David – shy and sexy, Terri says. Although new to the crew we sure broke him in fast.
Charbel – Bedroom eyes, and a great sport. He is the windsailing instructor. Ask him about his world travels.
Silvina – Tall, blonde, sexy and originally from Canada. Need we say more? She did a great job of keeping up to the crazy Canadians, never sure what to expect next from us. Thanks for letting me use your cheeks as a canvass.

These five people work their tails off from dusk till dawn. Never afraid to get involved with the games and making sure the guests got the most of their day.
We miss all of you and plan on keeping in touch until we return to Desire.

The Disco
Love the stripper poles. Glad we brought some current CDs to lend to the DJ. The elevated dance floor was a little small and was dangerous at times when crowded. Nice atmosphere and great themes. The contests at 11pm are a must see AND do! Too bad the contestants miss out on the fun while waiting in the back room.

The Disco Playroom.
Wow.. What an experience. Beyond words to describe it. This place is set up for lifestylers. Very erotic and sexy. Lots of pillows and towels. We experienced no intrusions or interruptions. There were couples on their own as well as small groups partaking in some “fun” If you go to Desire, just peek your head into this room early on when empty just to check it out.

Overall this is a FANTASTIC lifestyle friendly resort which could also be enjoyed by open-minded “regular folks”. From the hanging beds near the lobby bar to the open air beds on the roof top you have the opportunity to be as wild or mild as you want to be. Just go and have fun. We sure did. We are already planning our next trip to Desire.

We made some great new friends and strengthened bonds with the friends we traveled with. Hi to our new US friends, especially the honorary Canadians, S&B. Hello to our Argentine and Columbian friends. Thanks for the great dances.


A vacation to remember, and one to re-live again and again
Ray and Terri
aka ' the cleavers '