Let's see if anyone has some original ideas here for traveling to TTR/or one of the Desire Resorts... I'll start it with two.... 1) tip the greeter for the transport company at the airport and he/she may skip you to the front of the line. (they are the gate keeper, might even get an upgrade.) 2)get a credit card with only a $500 max, so the room deposit can be put on it, but nothing really else. I wonder if a prepaid visa($401) would work for the deposit?
1. Always ask if any room upgrades are available, but don’t accept their “$ offer”, there is room to haggle since the room is empty. 2. Avoid the “VisitTax” vested people at the airport (though they seem hit or miss) and don’t fall for paying it on line before you get there. 3. Have a paper copy of your boarding pass for immigration. Seams to go better at the automated lines and is quicker with the people lines. 4. If you are checking bags, make sure you have at least the basics in your carry on to last a day in case your bag gets lost. 5. If you are doing excursions, check online against the prices given at the hotel, you can haggle to get the lowest, not just a match. 6. If you make the trip to Isla, go to Soggy Peso but only have one house margarita….then go to The Joint for lunch and live music. Get the coconut shrimp.
Arrive a day early and get an airport hotel. 100$/night… wake up early and get to TTR first thing in the morning. You now get a full day out of your first day and arrive fully rested… also make flying and immigration less stressful as you are not allowed in a rush to get there.
We’ve done this a few times when we arrive in Cancun after 3:00pm. It often takes so long to get through the airport it’s not worth paying the ‘All Inclusive Cost’. We actually stay at the Aloft in the hotel zone. There is a grocery around the corner so we stock up on a few things for the week. Plus we get a bit of fun at the nightclubs.
If you have reservations for She, order room service right when you get in from the pool late that afternoon while getting ready for the evening. For us, She is worth it for the show at least once every trip, you’re just not going to get full from your dinner there. Either that or plan on eating later on at Bash.
Also… don’t bother with the wine pairing at She. We had it included… we enjoy wines, but aren’t snobby about it. The white they served was horrible… my wife looked it up and it’s rated in the bottom 1% of all wines worldwide. It’s a skill in itself to fine a wine that bad.
