Sorry, not a complete review....it’s more of an update of random thoughts that we had after returning. So if you are new and looking for full details, read some of the other reports because they are much more inclusive and complete. Last trip was preCovid in July 2019 so this will mostly be a comparison to that. We reserved the Bash tower room in January for a May trip, booked directly through the TTR website. We upgraded our room two weeks later on the TOWER25 promotion. Paid the one night deposit and received a confirmation for the nine night stay.......fast forward to two weeks before departure day and we received an email requesting payment for the balance of the trip. However, the email was not at the rate we had agreed nor for the room type we agreed and had a confirmation for. I called the hotel and low and behold, they screwed up. She spent two days trying to make something work but there are only so many room types of what we had upgraded to and ultimately the only option came down to booking the first five nights in one room type in the next four in another (the one we wanted and have a confirmation for), this meant we had to move mid trip. Ugh. No vacation in over a year so we said what the hell, let’s not let it get us down, she did a decent discount for the entire stay but still not worth not getting what we wanted and having to move mid trip. Arrived around 1pm. Airport customs was quick. Pick up was great at the airport as usual. A bit more crowded as they had made some changes to the outside courtyard so it is a lot narrower now. I think? Got to TTR about 2pm. Check in went pretty smooth but I wanted to make sure that the screw up on rooms was recognized and they were aware of the mid trip change. Not sure they were but we sorted it all out. First thing we did notice that was different was the lobby had a lot more activity (they had dancers set up most days, they had a lobby bar once in a while, they had a pastry cart in the middle), I don’t recall any of this previously but it did seem more lively and welcoming. Next thing we noticed that was different was that there were a number of people walking around constantly asking you if you want a massage or spa treatment. We must’ve been asked over a dozen times maybe two-three dozen times over the 10 days. Not really annoying, just different. Went to Sky Bar to eat because, of course, the room wasn’t ready. Food is still great up there and playmakers we’re making the rounds up there....don’t recall that previously? Got to the room and unpacked for the first time. Made it down to the sexy pool for the late afternoon activities. Definitely noticed all the daybeds in the prime spots on both sides of the sexy pool. Also noticed the hookahs at most of the day beds that were occupied. They definitely change the dynamic of the pool whether occupied or not. We arrived on Friday so the party was in full swing. Made it back to the room, to change for dinner and went to Sea Flirt. Service was excellent food was very good. Then we made it out to Bash for Burning Man. This is a new theme and we weren’t sure what to expect. First thing we noticed was that there was decent participation....Pretty much anything goes and it worked, more to follow on “participation” as the week progressed. We met some great people, a few of which we actually hung out with for the next few days till they left. Saturday was a pool day and we did notice that the foam party did go a lot longer than previous trips and they used a lot more foam. The demographics of the people started to change over the weekend. I would say a younger crowd and the more diverse crowd started coming in Saturday/Sunday. This was also supposed to be “singles mingle” week, or the start of it as well. It seemed like a well organized group and it one point they were the majority of the people in the pool?? They did have a group BBQ on the beach one night (I think but we obviously did not go). Had only good interactions with everyone from that group (no bad apples that we found) and made some new friends. Did not see a huge presence on CCC, I know there was a thread but seemed like a lot more than in here. Overall the party atmosphere was still strong. Glow party was the night theme and down at the pool but not in the pool. Different, not better. Have a separate response on that night and on the Party Crawl if you are interested? Glow Pool Party?? Sunday we went out on a yacht with all new friends we met on here or day of. The weather was not optimal as it was very windy and relatively rough but the crew did a great job and the day was still a really good time. Between meeting great people and seeing the sights, it was a good break from the pool for a day. Next couple days were a blur, great people in the pool. Good dinners and service at Romanza and Sutra and long nights at a Bash. A bit slow at Romanza and they got appetizers and soups wrong but it’s still vacation and food was good. First major issue: WAY TOO MANY CAMERAS!! Both at the pool and at Bash...more at Bash though. Security really was not doing anything about it (even when pointed out). Major issue for us when the table next to us is literally filming nonstop at Bash. We ultimately moved after two requests to Security that went unresolved. Take this for what it is, an OBSERVATION only, but there is a specific demographic that has phones out non stop and does not participate in any of the themes. This creates a divide and, IMHO, a big problem. Almost to the point where we no longer want to get freaky with our outfits or even participate. TTR will need to sort this out or will lose a big part of what makes it special versus 100 other places (with better beaches, better liquor and better food at better prices)! Participation for the end of the week was way less on themes. Fri/Sat nights the tables around the dance floor were packed with people not participating and just watching (unfortunately also taking videos and pictures) of the guests on the dance floor. Was really a buzz kill! Second Major Issue: Alcohol quality. I cannot be absolutely certain (99.5%) but we drink enough Patron and Don Julio in real life to know and there were multiple times when I watched them pour from one of those bottles and it was not what it should have been. This happened only at the Lobby Bar and up at Sky during the Party crawl (so bad that I went back down to our room and dumped what they poured and used our own Don Julio that we brought). We had Red Bands so we get top shelf and we did watch them pour out of the right bottles....interested if anyone else with a preferred taste palette experienced similar? If so this is a deal breaker for us and the reason we no longer go to DR. Final Major Issue: way too much skunk weed being smoked in the Hookahs. The smell is at the pool, at Bash and anywhere there is a Hookah. Sorry not our thing and not what we want to smell at 3 am when we get back to the room. Overall a great trip because of who we met and hung out with and because if the employees and their commitment. Hung out with old friends and met a lot of new ones but we did find ourselves being less “social” as the trip went on??? Could be just us, could be burnout or could be the vibe, will have to think about that? Really miss not having the Canadians and the Brits there as the party was not the same. The hotel was “full” for Mem Day weekend, but the people that replaced the Canadians and the Brits had their own agendas, which is their choice/prerogative as it is their vacation, but it was enough to change the dynamic overall. Not bad or good, just different. Maybe different enough that we become more selective on dates, not sure yet? JJ was on vacation until mid trip and was his usual great self around the pool and up at Sky. All new Playmakers who were all great but they are working/worked way too hard so I expect a lot of turnover to come. Sky bar was doing a mid day raffle on Wed or Thurs (can’t remember) with some cool prizes and special drinks/appetizers. Wasn’t well advertised, we just happened to be up there for lunch. The massage tent on the beach is now to the right, just off the property. Something about rent where she used to be so she moved? Housekeeping was top notch and there were a lot of Covid mitigation extras. Covid test was simple, short wait and results back in 10 minutes. Did not hear about anyone failing. Airport was smooth (as smooth as it could be). See other thread on visitor tax. Tourism Tax And The Website To Pay. Anybody Have News On This ? Checkout was smooth. No weird billing issues. TTR is using more tech (iPads) so things seemed easier.
Thanks for the trip report. We've seen those hookahs on previous trips. What are they, and what is in them? It's nothing I have ever been around. What room categories were you in, and did you feel the upgrade was worth it? Pros and cons to the two different rooms?
Hookahs (my definition) are fancy Indian (the Country)/Middle Eastern Water bongs. They normally use special or flavored tobacco but can also be loaded with MJ or Hash or even opium (at least in Afghanistan). We upgraded from a Master to the PH. Always worth it but we did get a third floor master first few nights which has our favorite balcony so would have been fine without moving. We have upgraded on site from Bash to Lush and Bash to Master or PH previously. This was the first time we upgraded before the trip, direct via email and phone with TTR.....and it failed.
Welcome to the "If it's not on Insta it doesn't count" demographic. What a vapid existence that must be.
Very interesting report...our sincere thanks for taking the time to be so detailed and we're glad to hear you miss us Brits...oh and the Canadians !. Sad to hear the camera issue is still being ignored and surprisingly no mention of the music !!!
We just got back home today and agree with all your points. We thought the same thing about the lack luster participation for bash. I hope it was just the timing of our trip.
Music is still way too loud (to have any kind of conversation) but they did mix in some 80’s for a couple sets each night so we did get out on the dance floor. Overall the music was the same as previous trips so no mention. Noticeably different in the pool and elsewhere without you guys.... and the Canadians though! As for timing, we were told they were full from Wed-Sun so it was more the people than the timing in our opinion. We were there the Friday before Mem Day weekend and it was way better, but most of those people left by Tuesday.
