Jim & Ang - May, 2008

"Denver Duo and the YNOTS"
 
YNOT write a trip report so we will. This was our second trip to Desire Riviera Maya. The YNOTS are a group, but there really isn’t a common thread except for being “good people” and possibly being certifiable crazies.  Formerly the WWW group that evolved into a new group if I recall correctly.  The voices in my head keep arguing whether or not it’s true that we are certifiably crazy. We booked the trip through Denny P. No complaints, we got a good deal, he answers his own phone, others from the Hot Tamales had used him before and rated him ok, and we would use him again. Enough said. The arrival at Cancun went smoother and faster than the first time. We used Loomis as provided by Denny for our transfers. Allow a 45 minute wait going to Desire and on time pickup for the return. Your mileage may vary.

The check in at Desire was fast and we still find the champagne and cold towels a great start. No mention of time shares or anything of that nature but if you use Loomis, be prepared to be hassled for a pitch on their tours. We politely declined and just headed for our room. The room was 1301, a ground floor room closest to the pool. Not bad but as other reports mention, this one didn’t have a shower door or a chest of drawers for the clothes. The reason is that first floor rooms must be easily cleared if a hurricane hits and if you look at the design and appointments within this room, you’ll see how easily it can be recovered after a hurricane. Everything worked fine including the air conditioning and the small fridge was stocked daily. May is the warmest month of the year in Cancun.

As for meals, we never had a bad meal and ate at all the restaurants. Our favorite is still the international restaurant but the buffet is a close second. We found exceptional service at all locations but Paty really stood out as superior. You go girl! We did miss the small bean tostados that were missing at breakfast but all the other choices made up for it. Service was lacking at breakfast. Lunch was very good except the cilantro rice was no longer available. No worries, just ask the chef and he will see that you get what you need, including a bowl of fresh cilantro, right to your table. And the chef that was working the pool grill was excellent, as were Angela and Memo!

No problem getting a beach bed this year. There were more than 40. Do check with the concierge around 7:00 a.m. If you arrive earlier than 7:00, do make sure that what you laid claim to is placed in your name. Our first time we watched the sun come up on a beach bed, we failed to put our name in with the concierge. Another guest kindly reminded us to do so or lose our spot. Just another example of the considerate people you often meet at Desire. The beds are really close together and are only separated by a cloth fabric. Imagine having one naked woman on the beach bed next to you 18 inches away and your wife naked on the other side. Both snoring! So much for the male ego.

The pool area had a change out in chaise lounges that are now padded and many umbrellas were added. In the wind, the pool attendant wanted to take them down. Simple advice is pack two kitchen trash bags and if the wind comes up, fill with beach sand to weight yours down. The resort’s staff won’t help you in this and seems that a few sand bags would be something the resort may want to provide in the future but don’t count on it. The pool was clean and the activities were definitely stepped up over last year. There is a new lady to help involve guests by the name of Diana who goes topless and is cute as can be. Really adds to the Desire atmosphere.

As for the guests, well, there were all types. The first night we arrived, the SDC group was there. SDC is Swingers Dating Club. This group of about 75 couples definitely changes the dynamics and atmosphere of the resort compared to when we were there last year. Seemed to be more unattached males about the property than before. Just our observation. The majority of their group seemed in the 50 year age bracket and most didn’t seem to dress in any clothes other than going to the mall type clothes so the disco seemed lame to start. Speaking of the disco, it sucked! The majority was techno and salsa and the same songs were repeated night after night after night unlike last year when there was a nice variety mixed in. We even burned two cd’s with top dance songs from the 80’s and 90’s and gave them to the dj to keep, along with a fist full of pesos. Result was one song being played one night. If the clientele at Desire were considered, the mix that the dj played didn’t match and a quick observation of the disco at night reinforces that in the fact that most people cleared out before midnight. The temperature in the disco also was unbearably warm. We love to dance and last year, the disco was one of the highlights. Oh, one other thing, on mask and costume night, the picture taking with cameras in the disco was like a lightning storm. What happened to no picture taking??? And don’t count on the resort to enforce the rule because they only staff two bartenders to the disco and they don’t have time to do anything but mix drinks. If we don’t return, it will be because of the disco. The playroom was empty the two times we checked it out with the lights on bright and the videos were not porn. Really different from last year’s experience but that was probably just our luck at the times we checked. We loved to do the costumes and what fun we could extract from the disco was dressing in costumes each night. Be prepared that if you have the best costume, you may not get the prize as large groups tend to cheer loud for their companions. The other group that was at the resort at the end of our stay was the Hot Tamales with about 75 couples too. They seemed more like a fun group in our opinion and their travel agent, Char, started the party off in the Jacuzzi with chocolate syrup body shots. Top that one Denny! For newbies who are not in a group, no worries. Everyone is respectful and no means no.

The YNOTS group was easy to socialize with even though we knew no one from the group. The group was so laid back and friendly, it was easy to join them. We had a chance to share a rental car to Tulum and Xel Ha with a couple from Jersey that were great fun, just wished we could have gotten to know them better. Tulum was very interesting but very little shade. Xel Ha is pricey as they now have only one entrance fee which is an all-inclusive deal unless you want to swim with the dolphins which is additional. The only other off campus trip we made was to see Claudia. Her couples sensual massage is not to be missed. Comparing her to the resorts couples massage is really comparing apples with oranges. But, if you only can do one, we would do Claudia. And if we return, we will book with her again but book early as she only has limited availability. Nothing wrong with the resorts couples sensual massage and if you don’t want to leave Desire, do the couples sensual massage at the resort. Repeat as needed.

The entertainment by the lobby bar was an improvement over last year too. One night was a fashion show that packed the place. Wish that Desire would continue the entertainment till midnight but that hasn’t happened yet. The music in the lobby area that is piped into the speakers is weird and the volume is too loud throughout the day and night. You can’t nap during the afternoon on the hanging beds cuz the music is too loud and you can’t carry on conversations in the evenings with others cuz the music is too loud. Maybe just turning off the music altogether would be most appropriate. Mr. Denver found no bug bites and Mrs. Denver was tasted maybe 5 or 6 times, by the bugs that is. Nothing to be concerned about.

Two other comments. We met a lovely couple from Maryland – B and J – who did buy into the membership deal at Desire and found it a good investment for themselves. So, if you like the resort and plan to spend many vacations there, you may want to look into the program. And last but not least, to the group from Belgium, our kudos to your passion and sexual drive. We found your energy and displays most entertaining!

One other thing for those who are thinking about a trip with the YNOTS or Denny's WWW group next year. We found it easy to be on our own agenda and focus on some intimate dinners, massages, beach time, etc. and no pressure at all to join the group. We use Desire to recharge the batteries on our marriage and discover new intimate nuances about each other. Desire is one place that makes it easy. But if you want to be social and hang with the group, the YNOTS are "good people", non-judgmental, well maybe a little mental, and very sociable so if you go in 2009 with the group, be prepared to have a really good time. If we go back in 2009, we would prefer to go when the YNOTS are there.

We could go on and on but let it be known that if you haven’t been to Desire before, you should go.  Just check with Denny.  If you have and enjoyed your first trip, maybe a second trip is right for you.

Jim & Ang