Well here it is, our trip report for June 14-28….The flight, airport and transfer were all uneventful…..5 min at customs, got our green light and we were on our way to Temptations. Check in was fine got our room, 2219 just up the stairs from Paty ‘Os. Unpacked, had a small problem with the safe, but the front desk sent someone up right away…took maybe 25 min and we were settled for our stay. Karen went for towels…ran into Chino’s….he made her grab a couple of drinks and we had those while waiting for the safe….after that we hit the pool and all was fine for the next two weeks. This was our fifth trip to BBG but first after the change to Temptations….rather than a long day by day (not that I could remember every day..…damn purple sh**) I will just hit the highlights and the changes as I see them IMHO. The new lobby configuration was nice…a little more seating for when you have to wait for transfers or for the bus to the club…the décor was nice and like the new store location. Also like the fact that you could buy beer at the store if you wished…although if your like me and despise Corona a few more brands would have been nice…didn’t use the internet or the tour operator in the lobby this trip but they are now located at the end of the hall past the main desk. I will say that the staff at the main desk were great…even just in exchanging money for smaller bills or getting a wake up call…there were two ladies working there (citali???) who I thought were great….I kept trying out my limited Spanish on them and I will say a little effort goes a long way. Checkout was a breeze only extra charge was some laundry we had done (which by the way is a great service…$2 to have a skirt cleaned….strawberry margarita stains were removed….just place it in the bag, leave on the bed for the maid and it is returned the next day)..…the safes are now free of charge (used to be $3 a day). Bellboys and front security were great. The rooms were nice now that they have been changed…still the same hard beds but we like them firm so no problem, lot’s of pillows…the new furniture and TV’s (yeah!! Channel 12) were great….this was the smallest room we have had in 5 trips but the location was just great…could see the ocean…thought it might be noisy with Paty’Os so close but it was fine…we were usually not back into our room until it had closed anyway. Kinda liked the sexy lighting…and our bathroom had a real door. The shower was huge and the rainfall shower heads were nice although I prefer a little more pressure. The best part of the new room changes was the refrigerator…It was really nice to keep cold water and drinks in the room for those fuzzy mornings. Never had a problem with it not being stocked. The maids were great…..every request was taken care of very quickly (more clothes hangers, ashtrays etc) We tipped them 4 bucks a day….always had the towel sculptures…a full fridge…and no complaints. There was also new furniture on the balcony. The pool areas have not changed except for the new pool loungers….be careful….the metal arm rests and frames get verrrrry hot!!! They have added the second row at the sexy pool….had no problems getting chairs…even as late as 10:30 am….they do need to add more umbrellas though…only 5 around the whole pool. They have also added a few tables with the loungers. They have a poolside waiter (Yesidia...excellent service) now so if you wanted you didn’t even have to leave your seat. They also have more loungers at the sports pool…although I liked it better when they had a few tables out there….and the quiet pool…who knows…never been there. The premiere area on the beach did not seem to have much use…only saw one or two people there the whole time…basically it’s a couple of beds and the old tattoo/craft hut….they did have banners across them that said “members only” but I didn’t see many rushing to use them….the area had its own waiter, but now that they had poolside service at the sexy pool I questioned it as a huge perk. The beach did have new sand pumped onto it so it seemed a little bigger especially near the volleyball area. They also have put chairs on the deck surrounding the Chinese restaurant it was great to sit on these after dinner and catch the ocean breeze. There were also a couple of beds on the quiet pool beach. The restaurants were excellent…the new Tex-Mex (the old Nice Shoes) was very good…the Italian was awesome…..the service and the food there was impeccable…the seafood…was good….thought it could be better though…the food was good…but the service and atmosphere is nowhere near that to the Italian. We didn’t make it to the Chinese but heard from others it was fantastic…after hours cheeseburgers and hotdogs were served in the Tex-Mex…made quite a few trips here after a long night out. The main buffet was good…always a good variety…but after two weeks we would have like to see more variation…they had the same food rotation both weeks. You could also get appetizers/finger foods at Paty’Os which were very good. The Tex-Mex is also the lunch restaurant during the day where you could get burgers/pizza/etc…it was always busy and very good. Another new food perk is room service…you could have breakfast items (fruit/coffee/pastry/toast/juice) delivered to your room in the morning…just had to hang a card on your door with your selections/time the night before….unfortunately we did not discover this service until our second week could have saved some foggy mornings!! The pool games were a blast and just as fun as always…won’t go into specifics on the games (should be a surprise for the newbie’s) but they have toned them down a bit from a couple of years ago…also if they do not get enough participation now they just don’t do them….they try something else or nothing at all…I always thought that the entertainment staff should not have to go begging to get people to participate…..if you don’t want to play….head to the quiet pool. They do have a few NEW!! Games and a couple of the old ones have been re-vamped. Anyway won a bunch of T shirts and had a ball….more on that later….. The bars have had major changes (pool bars are the same but the others are all different)….Paty’Os is really nice…all redone….there is a whack of new seating…couches…beds….tables……there are two long seating bars…and the whole thing is done in a modern aluminum….There are waiter for each area…and on certain days there are shows (fashion/lingerie) and a DJ playing. Paty’os was very busy every night…just seemed like the place to gather…have some drinks and talk with new friends. The alternative also has been re-done with new seating and couches…there is a Wii play area and the pool tables…the entertainment staff also did a couple of shows in here instead of in Nice shoes. The bar itself services Nice Shoes as well through a sliding window. This of course brings me to NICE SHOES…..this is completely different from the past. It is located past the alternative bar at the end of the hall. This used to be the old convention area….when open you can also access Nice Shoes through a door in the alternative bar. Nice shoes is more disco-like now with tables/white bar stools, marble seating bars, the raised dance floor. Some of you will recognize the cages in the corners…the only thing that even resembles the old Nice Shoes. The bar is a sliding window that get service from the alternative bar. I think they should have two bartenders working though….Herbert (who is great by the way) was swamped during shows serving both sides. The evening shows at Nice shoes were great….The Quest, lingerie/Casino night, Dance shows, Karaoke were all fun. There were big crowds for most of these shows, but, and here’s my problem, afterward everyone would leave and the place was empty. Most nights after the shows there might be 3-5 couples in there dancing and that was it. I found that the music was way, way to loud. You had to yell just to speak to someone beside you….so everyone just moved over to paty’os or the alternative side. It just wasn’t fun sitting there and not being able to talk to anyone because you had to holler to be heard. I don’t believe it was the type of music…DJ Alex would play anything you asked…but it was so loud my ears were ringing. I’m not a prude and can handle typical bar volumes but the area was just to small for the volume (opinions everyone??) The room itself was really nice….air conditioned, lighting, video screen and all but they need to find a way to keep people there (anyone not going to the clubs) and dancing/talking and having a good time. Nice shoes and Alternative are non-smoking now which I think is good (and I smoke)……Ok I’ll end Part 1 here and continue I with the people we met, the staff, the activities, the cancuncare booze cruise, and the clubs in a later post. PS We do have photos…I’ll put up what’s appropriate a bit later as well
Nice TR, did I understand that they have now added pool side drink service at the sexy pool? If so that is another upgrade since May, and it sounds great!! Thanks for posting
I'll look forward to part 2!! Poolside waiter service sounds great however I really dont need another reason NOT to get off my ass!! LOL :lol: xxxxx
Wade and Karen we sooo did miss you guys this year . We had a blast last year together .Thanx for the TR
Excellent synopsis of what changed. I think you hit it all right on the head all in one post. Like the idea of pool side service. And I agree about Nice Shoes. Maybe you hit the real problem and that is the volume. That loud on the Dance Floor is OK but in the seating area you're right it should be lower. Looking forward to the next part. Jamie
Hey there Wade and Karen, It was so nice to meet you guys, we had fun. We very much agree with you about the new NICE SHOES. There was one night that we were in there and they were playing great music from the past and then they switched over to other music and no one danced and a few people went up to the DJ but the music didn't change so everyone started to leave. There was one night that we were heading in with Jemma & Marcus and John felt the cold breeze when we opened the door to go in and knew immediately that no one was in there. It's too bad because it is a great place. Look forward to hearing Part II and seeing some photos. As for the Restaurants, we agree with you with the Italian Restaurant as we had great company (Hint, Hint you and Karen) with us. John loves that raw Beef... Take Care Donna and John
We had a great time with you guys as well...It was very nice to meet you....hope to see you next trip....raw beef is the way to go...I think we were the only ones who didn't fall ill that week....we'll keep in touch....Wade & Karen PS I think there's a contract out on me...can John help??? LOL
Yes!!! They had Yesidia and another girl taking orders and serving drinks poolside the two weeks we were there...It was great when the bar was crowded or when I just didn't want to move my lazy a**
Did they charge you for the in-room fridge? I know that was a question posed earlier and one couple got charged, the others did not. Great report that will come in handy for our 3rd trip 7/24.
