What to Bring
The weather is usually very warm and can be quite hot in the summer, so do not bring too many clothes. Winter months can be cooler, especially at night, so a light jacket or cover-up will come in handy. The rainy season runs roughly from mid-May to mid-October, when it can rain a little almost every day (usually in the afternoon during “naptime”). There are umbrellas in each room, as well as at the desk, but you might want to take one just in case. Shorts, T-shirts, skirts, blouses, and some sexy clothes for the evening will do fine. Men will need long pants for the specialty restaurants. Don’t forget the theme nights. They tend to change often, so check before you go. They are usually pretty accurate on their web site.
Just remember to NOT bring too many clothes. Most people wear shorts and T-shirt to breakfast, then are naked (or mostly so) all day and dress for dinner. You really don’t need too many clothes.
It’s a great idea to bring a couple changes of clothes in a carry-on, just in case the airline “misplaces” your checked bags. Also, if you’re coming from a cold weather area, you might want to change into something cooler at the airport.
U.S. currency is accepted in the Cancun/Riviera Maya area. We suggest you bring lots of small bills, ones and fives, and nothing larger than a twenty. They usually cannot make change for larger bills and will give you change in Mexican pesos, at a very poor exchange rate.
Other things that may come in handy:
• Insulated cups for drinks – the bar glasses are tiny and require constant refilling.
• Large trash or zip-top bags – useful to throw your towels, etc. in when it rains.
• Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen – especially for those un-tanned areas.
• Water shoes for going in the ocean
• A hat
• Insect Repellant!!! Something close to 100% DEET works best. Remember…you are in the tropics and there is a lagoon directly behind the hotel.
Cancun Airport
The Cancun airport has been greatly improved in the past few years and is almost continually being upgraded! Make sure you fill out your Immigration/Customs card on the plane. (Take a pen with you!) They change the forms from time to time, but be sure to completely fill it out and sign it wherever it requires. First you will go through Immigration, then to the baggage area to (hopefully) retrieve you bags. Then through Customs, where they will X-ray all incoming luggage. You then press a button and if you get the red light, they will inspect your luggage. If you get the green light, you will usually pass through, but they still have the right to inspect it anyway.
As you exit the customs area, there will be many well-dressed people (some in uniforms) trying to help you with transportation. Most of them are time-share salespeople. Walk past them with a simple “No, thank you”, and walk straight ahead to exit the terminal. As you walk outside, there are many more “real” transfer company employees looking for their clients. If you pre-purchased transfers through Tom’s Trips (always a good idea), look for the sign from Tourex and they will take you to Desire. There is a taxi stand there if you did not arrange transfers through Tom’s Trips.
Check-In at Desire is usually a breeze. If you are with a Tom’s Trips group, your host couple will try to be in the lobby to assist you with check-in. Remember, although we will try to have your room ready when you arrive, the official check-in time is 3:00pm, so we might ask you to have a drink or lunch on us while you wait. Another good reason to have a change of clothes handy in a carry-on!
After check-in, they may ask you to talk to a “welcome representative” who will try to set you up for a timeshare sales pitch. This is completely optional and up to you.
Nudity
Desire Resort is NOT a nudist resort; it is a “clothing-optional resort”. Nudity is not required in any location and the pool, beach area, and roof-top Jacuzzi Lounge are all clothing optional. Some sort of cover-up is required in the rest of the resort, especially the dining and lobby areas.
Public Sex
Public sex is officially against the rules at Desire. Will you see it? Probably. The only “official” areas for sexual activity are the Playroom in the Disco and the guest rooms. The Playroom is open to couples only; no singles allowed.
Swinging
Desire has a unique blend of nudists and swingers, or “open-minded adults”. All nudists are definitely not swingers, but all swingers are not nudists, either. While everyone at Desire is not a swinger, or in “the lifestyle”, there are many of them. Will they bother you? No. Will they ask you if you’d like to participate? Maybe, but remember that THEIR #1 rule is, “No means no.” So, a simple “No, thank you” is all that is needed…unless, of course, your answer is “yes”.
Photography
Photography is not allowed in the clothing-optional areas. If you want photos of the resort, take them early in the morning before the naked bodies show up. Photos of friends around the bar and other areas are OK, but remember to be careful of people in the background.
Electricity
It is 110 volts, same as the U.S. and Canada.
Water
The tap water at Desire is technically safe to drink as they have an on-site purification system, but is heavily chlorinated, so they supply bottled water in the rooms. All ice and water in restaurants/bars is also bottled. Better safe than sorry.
Safes
There is a digital safe in each room – use it! Enough said.
Hair Dryers/Iron/Ironing Board
Are included in each room.
Refrigerator
Included in each room and stocked daily with water, sodas and beer.
What’s Included?
All meals, snacks, drinks and non-motorized water sports.
Restaurants
There are 5 all together. El Arrecife, the main dining room, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. Dinner varies during the week, with Italian, Asian, Mexican and steak nights being highlighted. Sahló is Desire’s upscale restaurant, serving international cuisine in an elegant setting. Suki is an Asian Restaurant, serving sushi, Asian cuisine and has a Teppan grill for you dining pleasure. Tentazione is open at the main pool each day for lunch and snacks, and midnight snacks are served at the Melange Lobby Bar from 11:00pm to 4:00am. Reservations are not required for any of the restaurants. Room service is available 24 hours a day.
Dress code
The main dining room is very casual and theme night attire is welcome there, although no complete nudity. The two specialty restaurants, Il Piacere and Suki, do have a casual-elegant dress code. This means a collared shirt and slacks and shoes for men and something sexy and casually elegant for the ladies. All food-service areas require a cover-up.
Beverages
All alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are included, including wine with dinner. There are premium wines available for an additional charge. If you order wine off a wine list, it will cost extra. The selection of alcohol is good, but not “top shelf”, so if you must have something special, take it with you. Here is an example of what they serve, although it does change from time to time:
Tequila: Tequila El Milagro, Tequila Don Julio Blanco, Tequila Don Julio Reposado, Mezcal, Tequila José Cuervo Tradicional.
Ron: Bacardi Blanco, Appleton Especial, Bacardi Añejo, Bacardi Solera, Ron Coco
Vodka:Vodka Stolichnaya, Wyborowa, Absolut Azul.
Gin: Beefeater, Gin Gordon.
Beers: Draft XX Mexican Lager Beer, Sol Beer, XX Beer.
Whiskey: Johnny Walker Red Label, J & B, Canadian Club, Chivas Regal 12 Years, Ballantine Scotch Whisky.
Bourbon: Jim Beam, Wild Turkey.
White Wine: Calama Chardonnay and Ochagavia Sauvignon Blanc Semillon.
Red wine: Calama Cabernet Sauvignon and Ochagavia Cabernet Sauvignon- Merlot.
Rosé: Zinfandel.
Brandy: Don Pedro, Terry Cent, Fundador.
Liquors: Wassels cream, Kahlua, Anis Chinchon Dulce, Anis Chinchon Seco, Melon liquor, Dubonet, Campari, Curacao Azul, Fernet, Cassis, Martini & Rossi Vermouth.
Beverages: Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Juices.
Room’s mini-bar: Beer XX, Coke, Diet Coke, purified bottled water.
After-Dinner:(Available just in our a la carte restaurants Il Piacere and Suki):
Licor 43.
Limoncello.
Frangelico.
Xtabentun (Mayan Liquor).
Cell Phones
Most U.S. cell phones work in Mexico, but be sure to check with your carrier to make sure foreign service is turned on. Calls are not cheap, but they are cheaper than using your room phone. Important: If you have a phone that also checks for email periodically, turn off that feature or you will get a HUGE surprise with your next bill!
Tipping
Desire is all-inclusive, meaning you are not expected to tip, although it is not disallowed. You will see tipping going on, and if someone goes out of their way for you and you wish to show your appreciation, by all means go ahead.
Airport baggage handlers, shuttle drivers, taxi drivers, tour bus drivers, etc. are not Desire employees and are NOT part of the all-inclusive package, so please remember to tip appropriately.
Shopping
The Tour Desk by the pool can arrange a shopping trip into Cancun or Playa del Carmen for a fee, or you can arrange a taxi at the front desk. If you are going with one of our groups, we usually arrange an escorted group shopping trip into Playa during the week. Again, bring small bills!
Sightseeing
The tour desk offers many tours, including several Mayan Ruins, Xcaret, Xel-Ha, etc. You can also hire a taxi for a private tour. The Front Desk can assist you with that.
