I'm assuming the new Patyo's is the are just above the pool on the second floor? That does look like a much better location than the current one. I'll move my vote to 2.75 almost in the middle. Still wondering about price for non members.
LOL ok, you got me there. I was going to say mock-ups or 'pictures' but nothing good came to mind. 3-D pics in the video? @Jon&CJ good eye! I didn't stop to think about the roof. I sure hope they put a heated pool/hot tub/conversation pool somewhere on the property for night time.
I think in one of the brochure pics that Steve shared over on Facebook I saw a reference in regards to "after-hours (or after-dark) pool activities" (or something like that)... Found it - "Fun-filled after hours pool" is listed as one of the resort highlights in the new brochures...so not exactly sure what that means...
At first, I was unhappy because I had planned to visit in December and that wouldn't be possible. Then I was happy because I could still fit in a trip in August (hopefully, still working on it) and the video made the new Temptation look so sleek + upscale. Then I read many of the comments on this board and it became clear that Temptation will probably be out of our price range after the renovations, so I'm unhappy again.
I've voted 'in the middle' because I both love and hate the changes to come in equal measure. I’ll start with the good. I'm happy about the high end upgrades. I mean, who isn’t? Those 50 extra rooms are going to be high spec. Exciting stuff. That gives those who have the money and Desire to do so the option to upgrade. To date, the only shitty ‘upgrade’ options have been Jacuzzi Room, Temptastic Suite (or whatever those rooms facing the beach were called) or Drops of Love – none of which (in my opinion) deserved the price tag attached. This is really upping their game and competition in the luxury end of things. Some people on here are talking as though EVERY room will look like the snazzy pictures they’ve released. I’m guessing these really high spec designs will only apply to rooms in the shiny new tower block. I think existing rooms (5000 and 1000 blocks) will remain largely the same, asides from a new interior to match the redesign. They wouldn’t risk charging ridiculous prices for those rooms as that’ll drive people away. Nobody is taking a standard room for 5* price. Be prepared for extortionate prices for the very best rooms though. I say fair game for those that can pay it. We’ll (fingers crossed) FINALLY get a better club room and somewhere fun to hang out when it rains. I haven’t stepped foot in the conference centre they call Nice Shoes for over four years. Too hot, too smelly, very claustrophobic. I’ve willingly missed every show put on in there for those reasons. I haven’t checked the designs too closely, but I’m guessing there’ll be a new sexy club constructed to match the new rooms. I’m also certain they’ll take this opportunity to add better places to hang out when it rains. Nothing shuts a party down at Paty O quicker than torrential downpours. You get a few brave souls (me included) that embrace the rain, but it’s not pleasant and many give in and retire to bed if it’s raining too much. I’m looking forward to having a place to party in all weather conditions. I’m not worried about the perceived concept change. A leopard never changes its spots. The concept TTR want to happen and what actually happens are two very different things. Look at it now, how it’s marketed itself since the change from Blue Bay. It’s nothing like what they advertise it to be! When I booked my first visit in 2011, it almost didn’t happen. I researched loads of Cancun resorts, and TTR was not on my shortlist. The marketing on their website painted a very different picture to how the resort actually was. Pictures of athletic young couples enjoying drinks alone at Paty O, sensual intimate images marketed to young sensible couples looking for some romantic alone time. Not what I want out of my vacation. I did a complete 180 after finding Cancuncare and seeing it for what it really is, spring break for people old enough to know better. They can portray chic and sexy all they want, even after the redesign, I think what they’ll actually get is what we make of it. Once it reopens, TTR will need the custom of repeaters. Maybe they’ll pick up a few newbies lured in by the promise of chic sexy time, but that doesn’t change the fact that TTR is in the wrong location and the beach is too shitty to attract many of those people. Even after the renovation, chic sexy is already covered by resorts that boast beautiful beaches in beautiful locations. To make it work, I think they’ll need us repeaters back, and the only way we’ll keep coming back is if it retains some of the crazy mayhem we currently enjoy. So that’s the good. BUT... on the other hand My favourite rooms are no more! They're knocking down my beloved Paty O rooms. So convenient for everything and the noise never bothered me. Being that so many people want rooms away from the buzz and noise, I’ve always got the room I’ve wanted. When it opens back up, I’m guessing my room will probably now be arse end of nowhere out in the 5000 block. I fear some of my friends will never come back. I’m confident (unless my financial situation changes drastically) I can absorb any price increase to stay the upgraded TTR. I’ve come a long way from having to scrimp and save every penny to return each year. I doubt I’ll ever have enough spare cash to stump for one of the luxury tower rooms, but I’m confident my budget will stretch to the normal rooms in the 1000 or 5000 block after the renovation. However, I’m not so certain all my buddies who visit same time as me every year will be able to. People travelling as singles already feel the cost, this will most likely price out some of my closest TTR friends. That really sucks. Some of these people are like family to me, and it upsets me that I may never see some of them again. I’m pissed off that I’ve already booked and paid for a trip in November. I’ve already booked my trip, and I now have to faff about getting a refund. I knew it was a risk when I booked, with all the talk of construction. I’m not naïve or stupid – I assessed that risk and deemed it a safe bet that if construction was announced, TTR would still exist in some form. When I booked last month, I accepted the risk I may be vacationing on a building site or there’d be some kind of temporary TTR set up at another location. Never in a million years did I think they’d shut the entire resort down. I assumed they’d do it in phases. I’m just plain angry that they’ve pretty much abandoned us and it’s my own bad luck that I’ve already booked my break. The travel agents I’ve used are not making it easy to sort out and right now I have no clue yet if they’ll honour a full refund or force us to still take the vacation in November but at a vanilla resort. The tower will block the sun. In November, the sun dips behind the current building around about 3pm. Now with a huge tower dominating the skyline, in winter we’ll be lucky to get any sunshine past 2pm. I can live with this (I spend 90% of my time in the shade of the swim up bar anyway) but again, I’ll lose some of my annual TTR friends because they need more sun than this. I get the feeling this will be a deal breaker for some. I suppose asides from the sun being blocked issue, my other complaints won’t last forever. I’ll make new friends, and eventually I won’t feel so mad about them abandoning us for however long it takes for the new TTR to open (agree with lots of comments on here, it’ll definitely go over 10 months). I think the concept will keep largely the same, but with some nice new features like a new club space.
Replying to Dawn's comment below, we totally agree. Stacia & I were talking about how this would play out with friends last night and our four was pretty representative of the results so far, sort of spread out. My bud (Randy) was extremely pleased with the single caveat of making sure that no construction would block the sun from the Sexy Pool; his wife (Kay) was disappointed and more than a little worried that her favorite place in the world is going to "go away," as things like the Sexy Pool's expansion will dilute the crowd to remove the fun party vibe (valid concern IMO), and Stacia is pleased with the thoughts of the upgrades themselves as she just enjoys nice places in which to stay..... And my own slightly-cynical, "Finally the people complaining about how old the resort is can shut the fuck up now. Ha!
Steve seems very positive and that gives me more hope! We have been to way too many beautiful but boring 5* resorts. Our biggest fear is the loss of the vibe and wild, fun folks cause lets face it, everyone here goes to TTR for the people, not the rooms. If you are right Steve all is well, if our worries are right the new theme will not approve of Chino's calling all of us Mother F*ckers to the beach to greet the return of your Boobs Cruise THAT Mr Wright will be a loss to us all!
