This was our first trip to Cancun and Temptation but we have been to the Orignal Resorts property in Cabo before. Please be aware that this TR is a bit long but hopefully accurate and useful. We took a Red Eye flight and arrived in Mexico City around 4 am (2 hour time change). We had about a 2.5 hour layover before our connecting flight to Cancun. Please be aware the video screens in Mexico City do not give out a lot of information and is often times vague or inaccurate (ask an airline staff member for gate info about an hour before departure). Our flights were uneventful and the process of getting our luggage and clearing customs in Cancun was a breeze. We had a free one-way transport by booking with an RCI Exchange which was ready and waiting for us and we were on our way to Temptation within 30 minutes of landing. The drive took approximately 30 minutes to get from the airport to the resort. We chose to pay 250 pesos for a cab ride back to the airport instead of paying $39.00 booking with a van transport. As we were checking in as RCI members, we were escorted to a small office outside the main lobby to the right were we were quickly checked in given a welcome drink and a brief invite to the breakfast tour which we declined. We were given red bands (not sure why?) which we chose to put on our ankles which did lead to a few inquiries from security, bartenders, waiters throughout the week on where our all inclusive bracelets were (we find that the bracelets on the wrist tend to cause some chafing and cuts into your partner during intimate moments). Within a few minutes we were brought to our room which had a beautiful balcony view of the sexy pool and the ocean (room 3204). The room has a king size bed, single vanity and a shower big enough for two with a seating bench. There is very little drawer space so much of our clothes were hung or left in our suitcase. Every room is stocked with a few sodas, beers, and a gallon jug of water which does fit in the frige (bottom shelf sideways). Drink lots of water every morning to re-hydrate and prepare your body for the day’s events. As the specific day to day details of our trip will not be of interest to most people, I will focus on tips to enjoying Temptation. The occupancy was around 50% during most of our trip, but it did go up a little during the last few days of our stay. Pools side tips: Saving lounge chairs by the sexy pool was necessary if you wanted a prime spot or umbrella for shade, most chairs were gone by 9am. We would usually find our spot at the pool and then have a quick breakfast and then settle into a day by the pool. A rolled towel on the chairs means they are available and a towel laid out covering means reserved, but I would also place a shirt or other item on the chair so there is no mistake. On the first day, we didn’t go down early to save chairs, but we asked the towel counter guy to bring us two chairs to a beach palapa where there was plenty of shade (a few dollars tip would be appreciated) . I can’t comment about the Quiet Pool or Sports Pool as we did not spend any time there. The best time of the day is late afternoon near the jetted tubs in the pool when the shade is covering them. Here is the time when the drinks kick in and lots of fun conversations take place. Try to pace yourself and not start drinking too heavily in the morning (we had a no shots rule until after lunch). Also try to stick with the same type of liquor if possible, Monday- Tequila drinks, Tuesday – Rum Drinks, Wednesday-Vodka…etc… Note that the swim up bar closes around 5pm and you will need to get out of the water to get your drinks. I noted a sign that the pool closes at 9pm, but it clears out mostly when the bar shuts down. This is not really a pool tip, but beware of the sun...We try to always stay in the shade whenever possible because both my wife and I get dark without even trying to lay out. My wife has never had sunburn after dozens of trips to Mexico but she did get burned this trip. We were very liberal about suncreen and she still got burned. Dont forget the lipbalm with spf, sunburned lips is not a souvenir you want to bring back from Cancun. Reapply early and often... Meeting people = Having Fun Do watch or even better participate in the games poolside by the staff and then introduce yourself to the other participants. Play volleyball, horseshoes, and other games and you will meet lots of people. A tip from Drunk Bob, if you see people waiting for a drink or hanging out at the bar, have the bartender make a round of shots ( Mexican blowjobs, donkey sperms, etc…) and start passing them out… If you see a new couple by themselves, ask them to join you or your group, do this in the Disco (Nice Shoes) and the Paddy O Lounge. Introduce people to the cheeseburgers in the Paddy O and you will make pals for a lifetime. Go on the resort booze cruise on Friday or if you are lucky enough to be there when Steve from CancunCare throws one, you will definitely have a group of folks to hang out with after the all day/night cruise…Make dinner plans with others at least a few times during your stay. Dinner is a great time to really find out compatibility between people. Staff interactions/tipping: Get to know the entertainment staff, they are a lot of fun…Get to know your bartender at the pool and the lounge… Bartenders remember who tips. If the bar is really crowded ( Paddy O at night) order more than one drink at a time…I tipped $4.00 to the housekeeping almost everyday…Usually $5-$10 if eating the nicer restaurants and the service was outstanding. Around $2-$3 at daytime meals…A dollar for most drinks at bars…a few dollars to the towel guy who helps with the lounge chairs… The entire staff was excellent and everyone we met was hardworking and friendly, quick with a smile and a greeting…The resort is in great shape, although not a 4 or 5 star resort, the service and grounds were excellent. Dining Tips Breakfast is only in the El Embarcadero, Most people went for the omelets station, but we preferred the Mexican grill next to it and ordered Tostada and Sopes everyday. They can also make Chorizo and eggs for you with flour tortillas. I recommend ordering your omelets with a few flour tortillas and make your own breakfast burritos (mmm…and don’t forget the salsa and pico de gallo) Lunch is in the Margarita’s Restaurant (becomes Tex-Mex at night). We were happy with pretty much everything we ordered here, BLT was good, pizzas was great, steak burrito was excellent…they also have a little buffet area, good wings and ribs if they haven’t been sitting too long…I did think the meat in the hamburger here tasted a little weird (much better at the Paddy O Lounge Grill). It might be the same meat but it definitely tasted better late night. Hot dogs are made from pork but tasted ok since they were grilled. We found all the specialty restaurants to be very good meals, the staff tries hard to make your dining experience enjoyable. Our favorite restaurant was the Italian ( Il Placere) and the Asian ( Village Wok), We also liked the Tex Mex, but it is an open air restaurant so they only have fans (no AC). We ate at the Caribbean seafood (Bella Vista) one night but found what we ordered not so good (coconut shrimp). Overall, the food quality is comparable to any of the other all-inclusives we have stayed in Mexico including some 4-5 stars ones. Shopping: Don’t bother going to Walmart or Market 28 for souvenir shopping… all the stuff is the same everywhere and who cares if you saved a few bucks on a few t-shirts. Go across the street to the shops to the left of the church and the stuff is just as cheap… Stay poolside and have a drink instead…There’s always the airport for last minute shopping… Cancun Excursions: It is tough to leave Temptation when you have the sexy pool and all you can drink and eat, but there area few reasons that may be worth leaving. Booze Cruise to Isla Mujeres was a blast. We had a great time with Steve’s Booze Cruise and met lots of fun couples that we hung out with throughout the rest of our stay. Xcaret Park was beautiful and interesting, but it’s a very long day (7am-10:30pm). We actually finished the park’s exhbits by 2pm, took a little nap on a beachside hammock and then decided to head back to the resort early. We would have had to wait till 7pm for the evening show so we decided to take a cab back to the resort for 550 pesos. I guess we were having sexy pool withdrawals… Nightlife in Cancun has to be experienced. We went with the staff on Coco Bongo night and had a great time. Don’t expect to dance too much at this club and be ready to squeeze into tiny spaces to watch the amazing show they put on. It’s a very fun atmosphere with confetti cannons and mist from the ceiling shooting off every 5 minutes. For $50 a person, it rivals many Vegas shows for production quality and it is all you can drink too. That’s a great deal! (When getting drinks from your server, have him bring each person more than one drink, they are a bit watered down so you will need to consume more for effect). For those that are not afraid of local cuisine, I recommend trying to eat at one of the local taquerias. We love eating at taco stands or small restaurants where the locals are. A few beers to wash down some El Pastor tacos is always one of the hightlights of our trip wherever we are in Mexico. A final acknowledgment to the friends we met: We had a great time with so many couples: John and Rhonda, Larry and Jodi, Jesse & Pam, Chris and Christie, George & Joann, Drunk Bob, Peter & Mary, Jeramie & Susie and their wild crew, Scott and Annie (Go Sox), and Cliff and Jhenet. There were many others that we shared many good times with and made our first Temptation trip very memorable.
Hmm, the bracelets aren't removable? We've never been to an AI, but I just assumed they were so you don't have to bathe and sleep in them. Thanks!
Anyone else have the phantom bracelet sensation on their risk for a week or so after getting back? Last a little longer than the shakes I usually have when I get back.
Awww! Are they plastic or rubber? (the bracelets, that is) My husband just said "That's what she said". Idiot.
Great TR and tips... especially for newbies aka first timers who are on this board and maybe some many-timers (like us). I didn't know about the shops next to the church... And yes daytime excursions are fun (we've been to Xel-Ha), but there's no place like the sexy pool during the day. We can't wait for our next trip in April 2010... Ken & Joyce
Great report dlee....thanks for taking the time to write it. Sounds like the pool loungers go pretty quick. What about day of arrival when most folks don't get in until mid afternoon.....are there still loungers available, or do most just hang out in the pool.
