Happy 2026 To All Of Our Sexy Readers!
I hope your holiday season was amazing and that you didn’t get stuck sleeping in your childhood bed at your parents’ house like I did. Yep, that was me. It was the best time! Sarcasm aside, it was genuinely great to see our families again.
I wish I could say we just returned from Desire Riviera Maya, but this post is really a trip down memory lane from our June adventure. While my name’s on it, this was truly a team effort between Bruce and me. Going through our notes, photos, and memories felt a bit like a school group project. Like most group projects, it took a little longer to finish than expected. If anything reads a bit wonky, blame Bruce’s revisions 😉 Our writing styles don’t exactly match, but credit where it’s due: he nagged me enough that we finally got this post out into the world, especially with more trips already on the horizon. So buckle up, pour yourself a drink, and enjoy our journey through Desire Riviera Maya.
Introduction
If you have read our multi-part Desire Pearl adventures, you know that was where we took our first real steps into the lifestyle world with eyes wide open. To us, Pearl felt like a soft landing: smaller, more intimate, the kind of place where you could take your time figuring out who you are and what you want.
This trip, though? It was a different story. We traded in Pearl’s laid-back, boutique vibe for Desire Riviera Maya, RM, the bigger, louder, and far more energetic sister resort. Same concept, same open-minded atmosphere, but with a party dialed up to eleven. We went in thinking we knew what to expect… and quickly learned that RM has its own vibe entirely.
Getting There
It’s mid-afternoon, and Bruce and I have been up since the ass crack of dawn. We navigated the always-chaotic Cancun airport and finally found our way to the shuttle stand outside the terminal. Bruce has our confirmation email and printed tickets, so we should be good to go, right?
Wrong. Big wrong.
To help future travelers: if one of the check-in staff looks at a clipboard and says you’re not on the list, insist that they check the company’s online roster for last-minute additions. Even if you made your reservations well in advance like we did. We were told to check with a few different taxi companies in case we somehow got switched companies, which only added to the confusion. Thankfully, a younger rep finally took over from the original guy, checked his phone, and found our names within seconds. He even gave the old-school clipboard guy a playful swat before walking us to the shuttle. They laughed, Bruce tried laughing along, but for me, it was panic-inducing.
After the stress of almost having to pay a different taxi company to get us to the resort, I fell asleep almost immediately once the van got going. According to Bruce, I missed the sight of heavily armed guards posted near the entrance to resort row. I don’t remember seeing that at Pearl which is only a few miles away and I’m not sorry I missed it.
I woke up refreshed moments before the van passed through the resort’s gates. Then, the moment we stepped through those glass doors and into an enormous lobby area — that signature Desire scent hit us: warm, sweet, a little spicy. We smiled. We’d made it. Again.
Check-in was quick and easy. A super-friendly staff member walked us through the basics; restaurants, activities, reminders about consent and Bruce’s favorite, where you can and cannot have sex. We then braced for the hard sell, but it never came. When we stepped outside afterward, we looked at each other and said, “Was that it?” We laughed, shrugged, and made a sprint to the buffet before it closed to prepare for dinner.
First Impressions
We had to wait a bit for our room to be ready, but this time we were smart, we let them keep all our bags except Bruce’s backpack with meds, passports, and swimsuits. We’re learning.
We quickly realized that RM is much larger of a resort than Pearl; it took a few minutes just to reach the other side of the resort where the lunch buffet was. The resort grounds here, like Pearl, were immaculate and beautiful, but on an expanded scale. Lush greenery and tropical flowers were everywhere and palm trees surrounded us.
We reached the main buffet, which is actually two and both are bigger than Pearl’s, which makes sense since RM just has more guests, but wow, the variety of the food. Pearl’s food was great, but this was even better. Food can really make or break a vacation, and this was a fantastic start.
Right outside the buffet was the quiet pool and judging from there being only one or two couples relaxing in the water, the name certainly fit. There was a bar that was accessible either by swim-up or walk-up. We thought it was too quiet for us at the moment and we wanted to see if our room was ready (it wasn’t), so off towards the party pool.
Soon enough, we were changed into our swimsuit bottoms and in the water. This pool might actually be larger than Pearl’s — but like the quiet pool, it was pretty darn quiet that first afternoon, but it was that time of day where most guests are probably back in the rooms having a nap or enjoying a fun activity before getting ready for dinner. We noticed a few small groups of hot younger couples and started to feel a little insecure and isolated. We were still in introvert mode, clinging to each other in the pool like two life rafts.
That changed fast when Bruce started recognizing a few online friends passing by the pool who waved and said their quick hellos. We relaxed in the pool until our room was finally ready, which did take a while. Apparently, maintenance was busy replacing the entire vanity in our room. We couldn’t help but laugh, imagining the previous guests getting a little too inspired and deciding the vanity was the perfect spot for some spontaneous sexy-time fun instead of making it all the way to the bed. Honestly, we couldn’t even blame them.
I had booked us a standard garden-view room and requested the second floor, which shared a large covered balcony with our neighbors, though we never actually saw them the entire trip. The room was surprisingly spacious, bigger than your average hotel, with a massive walk-in shower that we thoroughly enjoyed during our stay. Everything seemed really clean, including the brand-new vanity and mirror, and it was decorated in classic white and black, with plenty of space to unpack. And the bed was comfy, and surrounded by mirrors in all the right places. The room seemed much smaller than our room at Pearl, but we also had a suite last year because of some special they were running, so that’s an unfair comparison.
Bruce brought along a crazy long string of purple fairy lights to hang around the room pulsing and flashing in that fun, “come say hi” kind of way. We figured they’d make it easier to find our room after dark, or maybe even catch someone’s attention during a late-night wander and they would stop by for a drink. Neither happened, of course, but the idea was fun and honestly, the soft flicker of those lights was way sexier than the standard room lights anyway.
The mini-fridge came stocked with water, soft drinks, and beer. We had only two gripes, one was minor and the other was a bit annoying. The minor gripe was the room only had a handheld clothes steamer instead of a regular iron, which definitely tested our “pack light” intentions. There was also one day when we did have issues with getting our room re-stocked with bottled water, which was not a good thing since you are not supposed to drink the tap water and when you are crashing after a long night of drinking, you need all the water.
Saturday — White Night
Since we’d arrived late and already had a big lunch, we decided to have a light dinner at the buffet, which was Mexican-themed. Since we were in… Mexico, the Mexican food should be pretty authentic and tasty, and it was. They had all the traditional Mexican offerings, along with so many selections that were new to us and since it was a buffet, we could try a little of everything.
We were quickly seated and then sprang right back up to hit the buffet. As we ate, the couple next to us struck up a conversation. He was a silver-haired fox; she was absolutely gorgeous. Conversation flowed easily with the basic LS questions: how long have we been in the LS? Was this our first time at RM? And would you like to have sex with my wife? That last question didn’t actually get asked, but there was some hidden language thrown in about how much he wants to watch her have sex with others. At the end of the meal, we said our goodbyes without another thought.
As we walked out of range, Bruce said, “He was totally hitting on you.”
I snorted. “Like hell he was. Did you see his wife? She was beautiful and young and they were recently married and young.”
“No, really. He was.”
I shrugged. “Oh well. Maybe we’ll see them again.”
And we did. Many times and we always made eye contact and smiled. Bruce thought they were on the verge of talking to us again, but it never quite happened.
That night’s theme was White Night. Bruce wore white linen pants, a semi-sheer shirt with thin mesh stripes, and a pair of sparkling new white Adidas. I wore an off-white halter dress that Bruce had altered, fitted perfectly and about six inches shorter than it started. I paired it with four-inch white heels.
Bruce hung back just far enough to ogle and enjoy the view of how my dress barely covered my ass. Naturally, he took a few dozen pictures, some inside, some outside while we waited for the wind to give a few “tasteful” up-skirt moments.
Theme nights are a big part of the RM experience. Each one has its own suggested theme outfits, music vibe, and show. A chance for everyone to dress up sexy, drink up, and mingle. The flow is pretty similar to what we’d seen at Pearl: people start arriving early to grab a drink, show off their outfits, reconnect with friends, and hopefully make some new ones before the main performance starts.
The shows themselves are a mix of singing, dancing, and aerial acrobatics — think suspended silks, hoops, fire, and lots of sexy choreography. Once the entertainment wraps up, the party naturally migrates to the upstairs disco and, later in the night, to the hot tub (because, of course, every good night at RM ends in the hot tub).
That particular night, we walked into the theme night area not quite sure what to expect — but something just clicked. We found our crew, or maybe they found us. Honestly, it was probably Bruce’s mustache doing the work; everywhere we go, it’s like a beacon for friendly people and compliments.
Somehow even with all the people packed together, a couple waved us over and invited us to join their table, and before long, others joined in too. The vibe was instantly welcoming, and we were in great spirits, especially since it was our first night and we’d already met so many amazing people. (Big shout-out to the Dots, the first couple who pulled us in!)
Somewhere during mass introductions and trips to the bar, Bruce met Trina, another member of our group. They hit it off right away. Knowing that Bruce’s voice doesn’t carry well over loud music, she told him to talk directly into her ear, which became their go-to method of communication (and honestly, not a bad way to talk at all).
Speaking of the bar, the bars at RM, like Pearl, offer a mix of well brands and “top-shelf” liquor. If you wanted a specific brand of vodka, you just had to ask. Otherwise, you’d get the bottom-shelf version, which in a mixed drink was perfectly fine with me. Neither Bruce nor I are brand-conscious drinkers, but they had all the usual brands along with a few higher-tier options. If you require a certain premium brand, you can always bring your bottle and let the staff keep it behind the bar with your name on the bottle.
My only issue with the bars at both RM and Pearl is how they handle carbonated drinks like Coke, Sprite, etc. From what I remember, they were using two-liter bottles, and for some reason, maybe the heat, they always seemed a bit flat. I eventually learned to avoid mixed drinks with soda. That said, they did have plenty of mixers in standard cans, so I’m sure you’ll still find something you enjoy..
The party space itself was a covered outdoor area just off the main lobby, complete with a large bar and plenty of tables and chairs. Being summer in Cancun, the combination of a packed crowd, non-breathable costumes, and a covered roof turned the place into a bit of a sauna. Sure, there were ceiling fans, but they either weren’t on so they wouldn’t disturb the pyrotechnics and smoke machines or were moving at the slowest possible speed. It wasn’t uncommon to see people stepping away toward the pool just to cool off. Honestly, we’ve been to local house parties with outdoor A/C units blasting cold air, so I was surprised RM hadn’t invested in something similar or at least upgraded the fans.
To make matters a tiny bit worse, the theme night space sat right next to the party pool, which, I’ll admit, looked way too inviting while I was getting overly hot. I’m surprised I didn’t see anyone jump in. Looking back, why didn’t I just take some of my clothes off? Hindsight is 20/20.
Once the show wrapped, the crowd made its way upstairs to the disco and wow, it was packed. People were actually dancing, laughing, and just radiating sexual energy. The club had a large bar running along one wall, a glowing multi-color circular dance floor straight out of Saturday Night Fever, and a stripper pole tucked in the corner with plenty of seating all around. The whole scene was pure fun. A night and day compared to the disco vibe we’d had at Pearl.
After dancing our asses off, we finally needed some air. We stepped outside and spotted more of our group hanging out in the hot tub. They called us over to get in the water and in true peer-pressure fashion, we joined. I have to admit, being personally called over and invited in felt amazing. It was the perfect end to a sweaty, laughter-filled, and unforgettable first theme night.
Up to that point, I’d told Bruce I was keeping my bottoms on for this trip… but one thing led to another, and off they went into a cubby. I looked up to see his jaw drop. Guess I was all in now.
The hot tub at RM is large, possibly even larger than Pearl’s, but it has two major disadvantages:
- The temperature was way too hot, especially for June… In Mexico. You actually had to get out or stand up to cool off every so often.
- The water level was too low — especially for the guys, hovering just below ball level. Pearl’s hot tub was deep enough that the guys could walk around without fearing they’d poke someone in the eye or hear, “Hey, watch where you point that thing!”
After a few more drinks in the overly hot tub, we called it a night. It took us a few minutes to find our building, but we got faster as the trip went on.
Sunday — Burlesque Theme
Our room turned out to be just about perfect — quiet, cozy, and even though we didn’t splurge on a beachfront, we still scored a partial ocean view. Honestly, that might’ve been a blessing in disguise. The beachfront rooms came with a front-row seat to the sargassum piles slowly baking in the sun. RM didn’t seem to clear it away as often (or at all) as Pearl did, and let’s just say “hot seaweed” isn’t exactly the scent of paradise we were going for.
One of the best features of our room was the café being about five steps from our door, serving amazing coffee, pastries, and smoothies. Every morning, Bruce would wake up early, grab himself some coffee and sit on the patio. This allowed him to chat with others and more importantly, let me sleep and eventually he would bring a cup of coffee back to the room for me. Bliss.
Most mornings, we followed the same routine. Coffee, breakfast at one of the two buffets, and then the pool.
That afternoon, we were chatting with a group over caipirinhas, Brazil’s national drink, we learned. Funny story: we met someone from Brazil who was drinking a Modelo and was very curious about our drink choice. We just told him we saw the Dots drinking them and thought, “That looks good, what’s that?” Boom, hooked.
After chatting with the Mr. and Mrs. Dots, Trina and her husband, Phil, and several other colorful characters, someone blurted out, “Who’s up for the hot tub?” Next thing we knew, we were once again sitting in the rooftop cauldron, I mean tub, watching palm trees sway as the sun melted into the ocean.
Bruce smiled at me; I scooted closer and kissed him. How is this my life?
We stayed until we were once again too hot, then parted ways to get ready for the group meet and greet. It was amazing to see how big our group actually was.
We quickly met Hansel, tall, good-looking, and blessed with a great voice, and his cheerful, talkative wife, Kimmie. She’d actually been hoping to meet us, especially Bruce, after connecting during the pre-trip Zoom calls and group chats. The feeling was mutual; Bruce adored her right away. Bruce may have met his match since Kimmie loved to talk as much as he did, so watching the two of them talk was like seeing old friends pick up right where they left off. We all clicked instantly and made plans to have dinner together the next night.
We ended up at RM’s elegant restaurant, Sahló, for dinner. The food was fantastic, but the looping “erotic” projection videos on the wall were… a choice. After the third loop, I was ready to look anywhere else.
That night’s theme: Burlesque — sequins, corsets, stockings, and confidence.
(Bruce here) Elise looked fucking hot. She wore a rhinestone-covered corset, red and black thigh-highs, black heels, and this dainty little top hat headband. When we walked into the theme night area, I took the long route to the bar just to watch jaws drop. We nailed the theme.
We spent the evening chatting with our new group when a new couple joined in the mix. They were great. He was attractive, she was gorgeous, and we got lost in conversation. Everyone else drifted away, and eventually, they invited us back to their room. Bruce hesitated slightly, so we declined, thinking we’d have another chance. (We didn’t.)
(Bruce here again) I was caught totally off guard. One moment we were with a group and then it was just the four of us. And then the question. Elise was sooo not pleased with my answer, but she went along with my decision. Yeah. I’m an idiot sometimes. Well… a lot of the time.
Monday — Fetish Night
We woke up hungry and somehow ended up at a fancy sit-down breakfast spot that, we later learned, was members-only. Nobody questioned it, so we rolled with it, because… we didn’t know any differently.
Mid-breakfast, I felt the telltale mild stabbing in my brain. Shit. Sure enough, an hour later, the mild stabbing turned into murder stabbing, as in a terrible migraine set in, my personal curse that probably appeared due to the high stress of traveling and the taxi stand nightmare. Still, I wasn’t letting it ruin the trip and thankfully I had strong meds back in our room.
On the walk back to our room, we spotted a few raccoons, a few lizards, and some mystery furry creature, our own mini safari. We were still full from breakfast, so they were all safe. I took my meds and went down for a nap. Thankfully I caught it in time and when I woke up, it only felt like I had a hangover.
We met Hansel and Kimmie for dinner at Suki, Desire’s Asian restaurant. Hansel and Kimmie are newer to the lifestyle like us, they very much “put each other first,” which felt grounding and familiar. We must have spent well over an hour eating and talking, (mainly talking) and I’m very surprised the waitstaff didn’t kick us out to make way for other guests. We parted ways to get ready that evening’s theme night, which was Fetish or BDSM or something similar.
I wore a body-hugging red pleather dress, red fishnets and sky-high baby stripper heels. Bruce wore his black PVC zip-up shirt, black shorts, and chest harness. Sure, it may have been a recycled look from our Pearl trip, but why mess with perfection and costumes aren’t cheap. Most importantly he looked damn sexy in the shiny material that showed off his hot body.
We had another blast that night at the theme party and the hot tub. I’m pretty sure we both kissed Trina before the night was over, my first time kissing another girl. Not to be cliché, but I did like it.
Tuesday — What’s Your Emergency?
The morning started with Speed Dating by the quiet pool (which, fun fact, used to be the party pool) was way more fun than expected, considering we thought about skipping it entirely. Somewhere between intros and laughter, Bruce ended up kissing with the wife we’d turned down on Sunday… maybe twice or more. Definitely not less. It was bordering on making out. This turned out to be an actual fun moment for me too. Our previous trip it seemed like I had received all the attention, but this trip was a bit more balanced. I would have been all over her husband, but I was still nursing my stupid migraine hangover, that was thankfully already retreating, but it took me out of the moment.
(Bruce here) This trip was a real eye-opener for me. Up until now, Elise has always been the one who drew all the attention, which I completely understand. She’s gorgeous, friendly, well-spoken, bashful to the point it’s sexy, and just magnetic to be around. But on this trip, something shifted. There were actually women who seemed interested in me.
At first, I completely denied it. Elise kept pointing it out, insisting that yes, people really were interested in me. The truth is, I don’t always have the highest opinion of myself, especially in a place like Desire, surrounded by so many chiseled, confident, successful men. So when someone compliments me, I tend to assume they’re just being polite or feeling pity.
That’s why kissing Steph at the pool was… honestly, mind-blowing. We were both naked, standing in the sun on the pool deck while people strolled by, and I remember asking if I could kiss her again. Partly for consent, partly to make sure the first kiss wasn’t some kind of fluke. But she leaned in without hesitation.
And that was it. No expectations, no escalation, just a perfectly electric, random moment. Sometimes a sexy little make-out by the pool is exactly what it is: a kiss. Though, true to form, my FOMO brain couldn’t help but wonder what everyone else was up to afterward. Though when I walked, gravity seemed to have been turned down a few clicks. (Sorry Steph, if you were wanting more, my hummingbird brain wasn’t thinking past the immediate moment.)
(Elise again) I guess watching my husband make out with another woman made me hungry so we grabbed some lunch. RM has a small poolside grill that serves the best burgers ever, massive, juicy, and worth every bite. I don’t know why they were so good, but they just were. Bruce thinks they actually seasoned the meat way before they get put on the grill, which does make a difference.
That evening, we met up with Hansel and Kimmie again for dinner, swapping stories and comparing notes from the day’s adventures. Dinner was held in the secondary buffet area — a large, thatched-roof “hut” with soaring ceilings that gave the whole space a fun, open-air vibe. The night’s theme was “International Night,” offering a little taste of a few countries around the world. Think sushi, various sausages, fried chicken, among other items.
There was a pasta bar that was clearly meant to be the star attraction, but it was operating at a glacial pace. Thankfully Bruce asked the guy in front of him how long he’d been waiting, and he just sighed and said, “Forever.” That was enough for us, so we bailed on the pasta line and went straight for the regular buffet instead, which was either pretty good or enhanced by our conversation with Hansel and Kimmie.
After dinner, we split up to get ready for the theme night: “What’s the Emergency?” Guests were encouraged to show up as firefighters, police officers, EMTs. Basically anything that comes with sirens and uniforms. Bruce went as a firefighter, rocking a tight pair of red PVC shorts, bright orange suspenders, and a firefighter’s hat. I went as the fire he was supposed to put out—a flame-print bodysuit with matching cape and fishnets. Let’s just say he was fully prepared to handle any “emergency” that required using his big… hose. And by the end of the night, he definitely had me soaked.
The night kicked off with a surprise treat, the Dots invited us to share a very nice (and very pricey) bottle of tequila they’d bought at one of the duty-free airport stores. One round led to another, and soon we were all on the dance floor along with Hansel and Kimmie, laughing and moving like we’d been friends for years. The energy was effortless. Just pure fun.
At one point, Bruce decided to show off a few of his pole-dancing skills, which had some people impressed. Mrs. Dot, in particular, was his biggest fan. He was adorable, cute, shameless, and very much my perfectly awkward, can’t-make-a-smooth-move goof showing off for the ladies.
This post probably doesn’t do it justice, but we really clicked with the Dots. It was their last night at the resort, and if we’d had just one more evening together, I’m pretty sure it would’ve ended with some mutual fireworks. Would have, could have, should have.
(Bruce here): Let’s be honest… I probably would’ve found a way to self-sabotage the whole thing anyway.
Later that night/actually morning, I was half-asleep when I felt a tap on my shoulder. “What now? Wtf???” I grumbled — until I smelled bacon. Really good bacon too. Bruce had gone out and brought back BLTs and water since our room was out. I told him I’d just take one bite… and then, half the sandwich disappeared. Surprise drunk BLTs are the best.
Wednesday — Neon Night
The resort felt noticeably quieter that day. We said our goodbyes to the Dots and a few others who had drifted off into their own little world. Thankfully, Bruce found a small group from another online group, this one was from a Telegram chat. We spent a relaxing stretch of the afternoon hanging out with them by the pool.
Just as we were recovering from the Dots’ departure, disappointment struck again. The foam party was canceled due to high winds. Booo! We’d missed it last year at Pearl, too, so now we were officially 0 for 2. The wind eventually brought in rain and a sudden drop in temperature, and before long, it actually got chilly. Naturally, that meant one thing: hot tub time.
That’s where we met a fun, easygoing couple who were several years older than us from Cincinnati. They were fun, full of laughter and just interesting to talk to. We also got to witness a few hopeful guys trying (and failing) to flirt with the other wife. Her husband just grinned, clearly amused; he knew they didn’t stand a chance. They weren’t interested in others like that, they were just a couple who loved the sexy, open vibe of Desire and honestly, they fit right in.
Bruce and I had dinner by ourselves at the buffet, the night still turned into one of those spontaneous ones. Let’s just say the hot tub crowd got a fun sexy performance when we made use of one of the daybeds.
Later, we closed down the bar after chatting with a friendly bartender about some of the crazy things he had witnessed over the years, while behind us, in the normal vanilla world, an actual crazy thing was taking place, a naked woman lay across the swim-up bar top as her (probably) husband went down on her. For us this was quite the scene, but for him, it was just another night at Desire.
At 3 a.m., fresh from the hot tub and wrapped in towels, we collapsed on a couch near the main theme night area bar. Bruce once again found his way to this tiny side window serving late-night food and reappeared with another pair of BLTs. I’m sensing another theme here. Mmmm, bacon.
Thursday — Heading Home
Our last morning was slow and sweet. One last buffet breakfast and lunch, one last margarita on a daybed, and then the reluctant sad shuffle back to the lobby for final checkout.
Thankfully our van ride to the airport was uneventful. Flying out of the Cancun airport was another story. Security stopped us twice, though it was Bruce it seems they were after, once for glitter in our carry-on (apparently our burlesque outfits possibly confused the x-ray scanners) and once right before boarding. Security even separated Bruce and me.
(Bruce again) Right when we were about to walk on the jetway two security guards pulled me aside and actually removed my backpack off my back and the duffle bag that I had on my shoulder. It was soo damn odd and a bit scary watching Elise disappear through the jetway tunnel. They then asked some random questions about laptops and tablets, which I didn’t have. They then wrote my passport number on a piece of notebook paper and told me I’m free to go. Weirdest thing ever. I have repeatedly searched online for anyone else with a similar experience, but so far I’m at a loss.
Thankfully, Houston customs was a breeze compared to our experience at Cancun and the crazy long lines at customs last year in Atlanta. We grabbed some better than average airport pizza and then we rewarded ourselves for surviving the trip with chocolate from a kiosk during our short layover and waited for our flight home.
Final Thoughts
Desire Riviera Maya is louder, livelier, and undeniably more energetic than Pearl and that’s exactly its charm. Where Pearl felt like a secluded retreat wrapped in sensual calm, RM pulses with movement and music. It’s a full-on social playground.
Don’t get me wrong, we loved Pearl. It was the perfect first step into the lifestyle resort world: smaller, more intimate, and a little easier to ease into. It gave us the space to figure ourselves out without feeling overwhelmed. RM, on the other hand, feels like Pearl’s confident older sibling. The one who throws the best parties and somehow still makes everyone feel welcome.
More guests means more energy, more chances to connect, and definitely more people putting real effort into the theme nights. Since I’m doing a comparison this needs to be mentioned, when we arrived at Pearl last year, it was the day after a major hurricane that just swept through, which meant a lot of cancellations.
One downside of RM having more guests than Pearl was that loungers were harder to come by. To secure one for the day, one of us would get up early, walk down to the pool, and tip one of the pool guys, who would then set us up with a lounger. There were a few times when we floated between the party pool and the quiet pool, and since we weren’t planning to use a lounger, we just stashed our bag and towels and spent our time in the water.
The food variety alone is a major win for RM, with multiple restaurants, bars, and themed buffets that easily outshine Pearl’s options. We also both believe that the food quality was overall better. But Pearl still holds the edge when it comes to its beach since it was cleaner, quieter, and with the charming town just a short stroll away if you want to sneak out for tacos or shopping.
That said, RM could possibly feel a bit overwhelming if it were your very first experience or if you’re still very new to the LS scene. With a larger guest count, established friend groups naturally form, which can sometimes come across as cliquish, even when there’s no ill intent. If you and your spouse aren’t especially outgoing, it can occasionally feel harder to break in at first. For us, Pearl felt like a softer entry point into the LS, as it was where we took our first steps. It’s also worth noting that Pearl has added new features since our visit last year, so this isn’t a perfect apples-to-apples comparison.
Did we have a better time at RM? It’s hard to measure happiness that way. We had a fantastic experience at both resorts and would gladly return to either. The crowd at any resort shifts from day to day, which makes every trip feel unique. and this time, traveling with a group changed everything. We formed connections faster, met people we might never have crossed paths with otherwise, and felt an immediate sense of belonging.
This trip just felt different. At Pearl, we were still observers, outsiders taking it all in, finding our pace. Discovering if this is something that we were comfortable with. At RM, we became part of the rhythm. Pearl gave us many of our “big firsts,” that we look back on with fondness and smiles, but RM gave us a whole lot of smaller experiences with depth. And the group we were with made some of the minor moments richer, the shared laughter, and the nights where we felt like we were part of something. We left RM feeling like we’d crossed another invisible threshold, still us, still curious, but more at ease in this wild, welcoming, and occasionally sweaty little universe called Desire.
We left with new friends, inside jokes, booze-fueled memories, and that same lingering mix of exhaustion and satisfaction that only comes from a truly great trip. Pearl will always be our first love, but RM showed us how far we’ve come and maybe, how much further we’re ready to go.
Will we return to RM? Absolutely. In fact, we’re already trying to figure out when we can get back sooner than later.
A Swing and a Kiss 
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