Desire Pearl Resort & Spa

The service at Pearl is always amazing and that is what I will be commenting about here. Each and every employee are friendly and helpful. Upon arrival Vicinte and Alexis with his dazzling smile are the first to greet you and quickly get your luggage off board. Then off to check in, a quick and painless process. We check in, drop our bags in our spotless ocean view room, change and hit the pool. Pearl has team of pool/beach concierges. Miguel, Vincent, Horacio, and Antonio are always ready to take you to a poolside “home base” where they set you up with freshly made chairs/beds, towels and shade if desired. Now…here comes the best team of poolside/beach servers ever! Yolanda, Gabby, Serveneo are funny, friendly and quick. We love how they rotate “sides” so you get to see all three of these incredibly hard working people. We ate at all restaurants at one time or another and as expected, the service was wonderful. At Aphrodite Gilbert, Oliver, Ivan, Wilbur and Ceci all deliver excellent service and go above and beyond to make every meal a delight. Upstairs you will find Suki, the Japanese restaurant. Ask for Santiago, he will take excellent care of you. Pearl was friendly and efficient, as always. Finally, the people who make sure everything comes together for an unforgettable experience, the butlers. Hector, Eric, and Carlos are amazing. They seem to be everywhere and nowhere. If there is something you need, these men can make it possible

My wife and I have gone to the old Cancun resort multiple times, but found out this trip that the resort strictly enforces a relationship of being only two people to a room. The rooms are tiny and it isn’t like we can even pretend to put someone on the couch as there isn’t even a couch. I was trying to book my wife and girlfriend into one room with me, but even after speaking with reservations they refuse to let me have a polyamorous vacation.

We’ve been here a few times and the staff are always so kind and courteous that it feels like home when we walk in the door. The staff is always attentive and pay great attention to detail. Victor remembering our favorite area poolside, Yolanda helping to keep our drinks filled, and groundskeeper Javier’s always ready smile added brightness to the rainy weather we had during our stay. Servando and Jairo brought such a fun energy to their food and beverage service. A special part of this trip was Día de Muertos in which each department created altars and shared the meaning of their creations and the culture behind them. In this, as with everything else, everyone went above and beyond the standards you would find at most resorts.

My wife and I visited Desire Riviera Maya Pearl for a long weekend in September, arriving Friday and leaving Monday. We enjoy spontaneous trips, and this time decided on a quick “debauchery” weekend at Pearl. Before going, we found only short comments about certain aspects of the resort, so we wanted to expand on those for anyone else researching. Here’s our take: • The Crowd We often read that Pearl draws an “older crowd.” At 43 and 51, we figured we’d blend in—and we did. That said, we found ourselves on the younger side compared to most guests, which sometimes made us feel less approachable. Still, everyone we did connect with was friendly, engaging, and easy to converse with. • Clothing-Optional Atmosphere This was our first clothing-optional resort, though we’ve been to many swinger clubs, so nudity wasn’t an issue. We assumed most women would go topless and men would wear shorts, but that wasn’t the case. Men of all ages were fully nude around the pool. It wasn’t uncomfortable, just surprising at first. The pool area leaned more toward a relaxed nudist vibe than the “sexy, seductive” energy we expected. • Sexy Vibe & Party Scene Pearl has a very sensual feel with décor that promotes a sexy energy. However, it’s not an all-day, all-night party resort. Days at the pool were calm and conversational, with a little playful fun when the Playmakers got involved. Nights felt similar to what you’d find at a Couples or Secrets resort—dinner, drinks, a show, then most people drifted off. We tried the disco Friday night but found only about a dozen people there after 11 p.m. • The Playroom The playroom is tucked inside the disco. It’s upscale, clean, and inviting, but also tiny. More than three couples would make it feel crowded. We had fun using it alone, but its size and location explain why it doesn’t see much action. • The Staff This part needs no elaboration—everyone’s right: the staff is incredible. From Miguel at the pool and Cob at the lobby bar to the waitstaff, bartenders, and our massage therapists, everyone was attentive, genuine, and hardworking. We tip generously and enjoy connecting with the staff, and those small conversations about their lives made our experience even better. • Sensual Erotic Massage A must-do. Truly the highlight of our weekend. We booked two female therapists, and they were phenomenal—intuitive, skilled, and professional while still creating an unforgettable, erotic experience. The moment we book another Desire trip, this will be the first thing we reserve. • Dinner Stripper Experience We signed up without asking many questions, assuming it would be a fun group activity. Instead, it was just us in the disco, set up romantically for two. Since we’re not particularly romantic, it felt a little over the top. The performers—a male and a female—were amazing at their craft, fit, and professional. Dinner included appetizers, a show, then dessert served off the performers’ bodies. While it was memorable, we felt awkward and pretentious doing it. Glad we tried it once, but not something we’d repeat (though we’d happily see the female performer again elsewhere—she was outstanding). • Hot Tubs at Night We’d heard rumors of wild nighttime hot-tub parties. On Sunday, before departure, we checked it out. The large hot tub was packed, but it felt more social than sexual. Most people were chatting and hanging out, while a few couples got more intimate in nearby cabanas. A good spot to mingle if you’re looking for late-night connections, but not the wild scene some describe. Final Thoughts We’re glad we went—100% worth it for a fun, indulgent weekend. We enjoyed the people we met, the experiences we tried, and the chance to create our own fun. At the end of the day, it’s about who you’re with, and my wife and I always know how to have a good time together. For next time, we’ll likely try Desire Riviera Maya, as several Pearl guests suggested it might suit our style better. Still, huge thanks to the Pearl staff for a memorable weekend—we truly loved it.

Another great trip to our home away from home! Special thanks as always to Candice and the Playmakers: Kia, Largo, Abi, Jessica, Matt, Javi and Shirley. Alexis the bellman is always there to greet when arriving at Pearl. Butlers Irving and Carlos attended to all the details. Special thanks to Butler Hector. Thank you to Victor, Antonio, Miguel and Horacio at the pool - these gentlemen engineer perfect days. Pool waiters Gabi and Monica were always attentive. Yolanda is in her own special category - pool waiter, Aphrodite waiter, coffee barista and more. Luis at the lobby bar always had our drinks before we even could ask. Thanks to bartenders Eddy, Cob and Christian. Hostess Mayrani at Aphrodite is great, along with waiters Oliver, Wilbert, Joshua, Poot and Adrian. Speaking with Ceci and Chef Levi about the fantastic new Mexican menu at Aphrodite was a highlight. Thank you to Taimi in the spa for a relaxing massage. Thank you to groundskeeper Javier for the fresh coconut and conversations. Where is Juanito?! Its been a few years since our last visit. Pearl has newly opened an outside lobby bar and outdoor show area where the Addiction coffee bar and tropical pond used to be. The coffee bar has now moved to the lobby. The new dance and stage / performance area is great with many comfy outdoor chairs. However, the arrangement of the chairs does hinder free flow of guests and easy access to the dance area in front of the stage. The tendency is for guests to park themselves in the chairs and not mingle so much as was formerly the way in the indoor lobby bar. It can be a lot hotter outside than in the lobby so your evening wear may need to be lighter as well. We arrived a few days after Labor Day and stayed a week. We noted that the crowd at this time was generally older and the vibe was more sedentary. However, towards mid-month things began to pick back up to the Pearl we all know. Still a wonderful time!