Desire Riviera Maya Trip Report - 2020 (Mark & Jackie)
Desire RM July 5 - 10th 2020
My wife and I have been to Desire RM many times over the last 15 years. We stopped going three years ago because we thought the price they were charging was getting to expensive for what they are providing. We were very apprehensive about traveling during the pandemic, not to mention leaving the country at a time like this. That being said we had been cooped up for three months in lockdown and had to get away for the sake of our sanity. We were considering Vegas but when I got an email from Desire the same day offering our favorite class room for almost half price we figured it was mean to be and decided to go. Putting the wheels in motion we emailed DennyP to make our reservations. We have used him in the past and he has always provided us excellent service. He surprised us again by giving us an even further discount on the resort price.
We flew American Airlines from Tulsa-DFW-Cancun. So much for the social distancing on the planes, ours were both full. Yes you do have to wear a mask during the boarding process and the entire time you are in flight. If you did not bring one, they will provide you one. It was hot having a mask on that long but we do what we have to. One person asked what would happen if they refused wearing the mask and the flight attendant told him they would be escorted off the plane and would be barred from flying American Airlines in the future. The process was as usual except they now make you stay seated during the deplaning until your row is next to leave then you can get up and retrieve your luggage and leave the plane. This causes the deplaning process to take two to three times longer.
Both the airports DFW and Cancun were the most deserted we have ever seen for Friday midday travel. They did not check our temperature leaving Tulsa or Dallas. After deplaning in Cancun we were met by the drug sniffing dogs they were sniffing everyone entering customs (this is not Jamaica) after being sniffed we proceeded to immigration which took all of five minutes to get through. Never seen customs so empty, I guess there are a few benefits of the virus.
After passing thru immigration we were guided thru a temperature checking station where people dressed in full hazmat gear took your temp automatically as you walked by. We did not see them pull anyone out of line. There is no longer the stoplight to see if you get searched. We kept track over the years were 11 out of 12 times green lights. Not this time they now search everyone and every bag. If it would have been crowded this would have taken some time but we sailed thru in ten minutes and were outside looking for our ground transportation. The total time from landing to getting in our taxi was 30 minutes which is a record for us.
The Desire check in process has changed a bit. We were met at the lobby front door by the same bellmen we see every time we come to desire. Instead of being taken into the lobby they make you fill out a virus survey before you enter the resort. It asks the basic stuff about your health and where you been. They also take your temp and spray all your bags with some bottle stuff. You are then asked to step on a mat with fluid on it before walking into the resort. If they were busy this would have taken some time but we were the only ones checking in at the time so it only took about 10 minutes to get into the lobby. We declined the sales pitch for premier and were headed to room shortly after.
The resort was only about 1/3 full at the time which meant only 30 or so couples would be there. We did not mind the crowd being small we did not have to compete for a beach bed or chair/bed around the pool they were available any time of the day. The staff was great as usual the service was excellent with so few people there. Desire has some of the best people working for them and it always makes our stay more enjoyable.
The food at Desire has been an ongoing disappointment for us. We have noticed the food choices and quality have steadily gone down over the years. Desire is not cheap and should provide a better selection of food including seafood for the price they charge. We should not have to pay extra for wines and a better selection of menu choices. Desire is suppose to be all inclusive it is not.
The only option for breakfast was the buffet as usual. They no longer let you serve yourself. A server at each station will dish the food for you instead of you getting it. The only option for lunch is the restaurant by the pool. They have enclosed it and provided tables both inside and outside. Once again no buffet you order off a limited menu instead. They only had two restaurants open each night for dinner. Some nights it was the same two instead of a variety. I
understand they were not running at capacity but we should have more choices. If you don't like one type of food you were stuck with the same choice every day.
The beach at Desire is getting worse each time we go. For several trips the seaweed was so bad you could not go in without being covered by it. They have added a float system off the beach that has taken care of the seaweed problem. The water was clear and nice the first two days we were there. On the third day we went down to the beach and the first 10 feet of water off the beach was solid brown. It did not look inviting at all. We asked the beach guy about it and he said it was brackish water but it look like sewage to me. We did not go into the ocean the rest of the trip.
Desire is taking their Premier membership package a little too far. First you are hassled into the tour to get you to buy in. If you do not fall for their great deal on membership you are reminded about it all week by seeing premier members getting the best beach beds, best pool chairs and better food then the rest of us.
They are slowing turning the resort into a two tier resort. We as many others that we have talked to feel Desire is focused too much on getting people to sign up for their premier package. Desire has slowly been alienating their normal customers in favor of their premier customers and will end up hurting them in the long run.
Overall we had a good time and were glad we went. We will go again if they offer deep discounts over their rack rate otherwise we still feel that Desire has priced themselves out of our market.