Honest Newbie Temptation Report March 2013

Just got back from our Temptation Cancun Vacation. Let me say overall it was a good time, not great. My husband and I probably will not return at least not in March. Just being honest. Here is our report:

Airport arrival: we had awesome service from the recommended shuttle service thru the airport. Sure it was a little more money than cheaper options but the driver greeted us and took us straight to the hotel. Also told us exactly how he would arrive to pick us up. We did not have to do a thing!

Hotel first impression: Wow, 80's time warp!! But clean....and staff very friendly! We were forced to stay in a room by Paddy o's. the staff pleaded we try it for one night. Apparently they tell everyone this and we did as asked. Got up promptly the next morning and moved to the 1000 block.

Rooms: both rooms were clean but clearly needing a make over. The lighting is horrible for trying to put on make up. There is no light above the bathroom sink. There is a light in the shower but none at the mirror. The air conditioning in the first room worked great but once we got moved to the quiet room, the air conditioning was bad. It was barely cool the entire time. The quiet room we had also had strange noises like metal banging the wall. It was a light sound but annoying when you tried to go to sleep and heard the clanging which we found to be the curtain rod pull hitting the wall from air blowing. The bed was firm. Forgot to mention, our first room at Paddy O's, holy crap the music is sooooo loud into the room. I can't believe anyone can stand the noise. Also was surprised at the all access porn channels. Not complaining, I like porn.

Food: we are definitely not picky. I like McDonalds and bob Evans, when we do get a night out, we might go to a chain restaurant or even a 5 star place. But sometimes the food was just terrible at the resort, most of the time it was just average. The buffet, terrible. Looked overdried out or covered in unrecognizable sauce. Homemade omelette's for breakfast was the only way to go. Great fresh fruit too. Bacon was fried beyond recognition, French toast hard crusty edge and cold. Stick with the egg station and you'll be fine.
Lunch, we tried Tex Mex. a huge let down. I had chicken Alfredo that was not good. Had ham and some other meat in it. Just bad. My husband had a pizza and it looked worse than the kind the kids get from school. Tried hamburgers and fries and it was ok. The seafood, Italian and Asian places were good but just not great. Just felt the meals could have been better. Side note, I am a dessert eater and the choices for me were bad. Nothing chocolate the entire time. No cookies either! There was jello, sugar pie, coconut pie, flan, cheesecake?? Ice cream station, Nothing that really interested me...

Entertainment: totally fun. Awesome high value. Can't say enough about the staff getting the crowd involved. There were tons of things to do at all times of the day. Music was a little sad at times. Every morning until about 10:30 am it was pure elevator music with some Mexican female trying to sing popular songs of Billy Jean by Michael Jackson, Rhianna and some others. Later it was more upbeat with mixes of 80's popular tunes and some Mexican high beat tunes. Amy who is one of the main cast members was really awesome and friendly! A small hint: do not reserve a chair along the side where the entrance to the buffet is. The DJ sometimes sets up outside right behind those chairs!!

Drinks: they had some name brand liquor if you asked for it. Most of the time you were served bottom shelf ( unless you specify). I did ask for Malibu and they served me a Mexican version. I didn't really care too much. The drinks were made fine, not too weak. I would see patrons ask for more alcohol and they always did as asked. Side note: we always tipped but we did not notice a difference in the service either way.

Atmosphere: everyone was extremely friendly. We just got back so apparently this is spring break for a lot of folks. There were lots of groups of guys while we were there. I felt uncomfortable and did not go too crazy in outfits, nor did I go topless. There were lots of guy couples too. Not sure if they were gay but you would see them hanging out at the pool or eating dinner together. Overall, maybe 40% couples and the rest guys. I had a group of 3 hanging around me for a couple days before my husband got pissed off and we had a mini fight over it. It was just strange. I'm a great volleyball player and would meet lots of guys playing beach volleyball. My husband would play too but for some reason they would single me out and talk to me as if my husband wasn't even there. My husband and i would just walk away together and ignore them but it was annoying. Overall, it just felt like a lot of guys trying to get a sneak peak at women's boobies. Talked to some regulars who were also shocked by the number of guys at the resort. These regulars felt it must have been spring break fever and it has never been like that before. So I guess we should try again but not in March!!

Service: the staff works so hard! They are constantly cleaning, getting things for you, making drinks or food, trying to entertain you. Exactly how I would expect a great vacation to have! We tipped them at every opportunity.

Few mentionables: I was worried about body types. Believe me, you see every type. Nothing to make you feel bad about or worried. Nobody really cares! There is every age type and it was actually pretty cool to see older generations flaunting their stuff. I am more of a watcher so I did not go topless but I never felt pressured at all. We went to lingerie night too and didn't feel uncomfortable at all. I had bustierre with matching panties and I felt comfortable. Some were more daring and there were also lots of baby doll style outfits. So you can do what you want. The restaurants were all dressed up attire but I did see guys in shorts and Tshirts , which in my opinion was a let down but staff probably didn't want to make a big deal out of it. Lastly, I just want to say the tile around the pool is very slippery. I saw several people fall and cut up their legs and arms, I'm sure the drinking didn't help. Make sure to wear sandals when walking to get drinks or going to the bathroom. Oh, the pool chair situation was pretty easy to conquer. The first day we got up at 6:30 am and got 2 chairs. They were all gone by about 7:30 am. The next night a few regulars told us to just go reserve chairs after we are done partying for the night. So at about 2:30 am( we set the alarm) my husband would go and find us chairs. Worked great. This may seem crazy but about 60% of the chairs were usually gone at even this time!! The best way to reserve a chair is to take an old Tshirts and tie chairs together or put it on the back of the chair. No one ever touched our stuff or moved it. The hotel was 90% filled when we were there.

So there is our report. A fun place to try but just lacking something to make us go back. If we do try again, it will not be during spring break!

 

Good ''March " review . Try April or May next year

 

What a great, detailed report. Thank you for the time to write!

I think the timing of the trip was probably a big deal...Spring Break is going to be horny dude central in Cancun. That can really affect your mood for the rest of the trip. As spring break winds down, the hotel returns to a better balance of couples. At the least, the single guys who do come tend to be more respectful.

The food...yeah. I've been to a half-dozen all-inclusive resorts in the Cancun area...food will never be a selling point of them unless you're paying $250+ per person, per day. In general, Americans don't seem to like Mexican meat-- domestic mexican cattle and chickens are a different breeds than what us Yanks are used to, and you often have to order steak undercooked if you want it to come out right. If you like fish, stick to that as much as possible, the results tend to be better. Same with domestic specialties...Mexico has yummy native cuisine and it's almost universally better than trying to eat their version of American food.

In other words, don't really disagree with anything you said, just some perspective on managing expectations. If you want the more exclusive, higher end, couples only sexy vacation...well...that's why Desire and Desire Pearl exist.

 

There has been other reports from regulars about the bad buffet food recently.

 

Thanks for the honest Trip Report -

The resort is always about 20% singles but you definitely hit the Spring Break week that everyone so dreads.

We thought Margaritas for lunch was the worst food we had - and pasta, ugh! Always overcooked and mushy. Stick to the fish, shrimp & steak.

 

Not only try a different time of year, come to the forums make some friends have some people to party with and let your hair down. Having a large group of friends their with us definitely helps us have more fun. I know the guys and girls in the group keep an eye out for me or my wife and will step up when needed.

I know Temptations isn't for everyone, but honestly you could us and some of the friends we met at a Best Western with a pool in the middle of the desert and we would have a blast!

 

Sure, but it's a buffet, right?

 

Now if you only joined this site before heading down you would of known about the March Break sausagefest and would of more than likely booked just about any other month. I don't see a Boobs Cruise report so something tells me you missed the best part of your vacation.

Next time you head down, you can't miss it, several threads on here to get yourself educated before heading back down, yes the food has gone down a bit, but the service and prices we can all agree you can't find a better party once you know everyone going the same time as you.

 

Lots of young guys during spring break? Kind of like being surprised that there are lots of people in the mall at Christmas time.

Not much you can do about it I suppose.

 

We went the first week of March & didn't find the Spring Break single males to be a problem except for about an hour one day. Mostly once they got the staring out of the way, they were quite lovely to be around.

Perhaps if you go back in March, early in the month would be a little better?