Desire Riviera Maya Resort

Amoore Johansson

We had an amazing time at Desire! The resort was beautiful, and the rooms were spacious, clean, and very comfortable. One of the highlights of our stay was our butler, LeFranc. He went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed and made our vacation truly special with his outstanding service. The atmosphere at the resort was welcoming and relaxed, making it easy to meet other couples and make new friends. Everyone was respectful and friendly, which really added to the experience. If you’re looking for a fun, upscale getaway with excellent service, beautiful accommodations, and a great social atmosphere, Desire is a fantastic choice. We can’t wait to come back

natalie shutt

We recently stayed at Desire Riviera Maya and had a very enjoyable overall experience. The location is beautiful, the atmosphere is relaxing, and the staff work incredibly hard to make guests feel welcome. The butler team was outstanding and always attentive to our needs. The general staff throughout the resort were friendly, professional, and consistently provided excellent service. Whether at the pool, restaurants, or throughout the property, the employees were one of the highlights of our stay. Unfortunately, the dining experience was disappointing at times. Restaurant availability was very limited, making it difficult to get reservations when we wanted to eat. Eros seemed to be closed for dinner throughout much of our stay, and Suki was also closed on multiple occasions. In addition, many of the buffet specialty offerings were not particularly appealing. The grill by the pool was also closed several days during the week, further limiting dining options. It appeared that the resort was operating with minimal staffing and reduced services. While the employees worked extremely hard and did their best to accommodate guests, it sometimes felt as though management was more focused on controlling costs than providing the level of service and amenities expected at a resort of this caliber. The most frustrating part is that the staff are doing everything they can to provide an exceptional experience, but they are being limited by decisions that reduce services and dining options. I would love to give this resort 5 stars because of the amazing employees, beautiful location, and unique atmosphere. However, until services return to the level they once were and all restaurants and amenities are consistently available, I can only give it 2 stars. Despite these concerns, the staff’s dedication, professionalism, and positive attitude made our vacation memorable. We sincerely appreciate their hard work and hope management invests more in its employees and restores the full guest experience that made this resort so special in the past.

Jesse Kautz

Everything at the resort was amazing from Checking in/out , the food was excellent with plenty of options as well as the day and nighttime shows and entertainment. We saw staff and Playmakers we had met at other Resorts who would come over immediately and say hi when they saw us. All the Staff made sure we had the best service/experience on our vacation. There are a few staff members that made our trip especially memorable, our Butler’s Abel, YiYi and G who constantly made sure we had the best experience from room service in the morning and our in room hot tub filled at night while we were out. Restaurant staff Sebastian at the Ero’s restaurant by the pool handled my wife’s food allergies without issue and even taught us a bit of Spanish. Axel, the bartender always made sure you had a drink and always would saw hi as he saw us passing through the resort. Alex from the VIP services was always willing to help and make sure we got to where we needed to be or answer any questions we had even though we were not part of the VIP package. Finally the PLAYMAKERS!!!! Bambam, Mauricio, Chiara, Antonella, Bella, Pina , sorry for the spelling or any Playmakers that I missed. The Playmakers kept the party going from the pool day into the amazing evening shows as well as the live music by the pool and acrobatic show in the middle of the pool. We had 2 other couples who met us at the resort, it was all of our first time here and not one person had a complaint, that says a lot about the Resort and all the amazing hardworking staff. We will be back! J

Jenny Warner

We recently stayed at the resort and wanted to share an honest review of our experience. First, the positives: the resort itself is absolutely beautiful, and many of the staff members truly made our trip special. The playmakers — Bella, Antonella, Pina, Mauricio, and BamBam — brought great energy and made every day fun. We also want to recognize Teresa and Luis in the spa for incredible massages, Edgar the barista for always starting our mornings off right, Yussif for excellent service, Julio at the Flirty Burger Bar for consistently great food, and our butler Ericka, who went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of. These individuals are the reason we were still able to have an amazing time. Unfortunately, our experience with the membership presentation was very disappointing. We were scheduled for a membership tour very early in our stay, and the interaction did not meet expectations. When we asked about the benefits of becoming members — especially after hearing from several premier members about the advantages — we were not given much information or value. Instead, we felt dismissed and as though we were not worth the effort. Our honest feedback is that if the goal is to encourage guests to invest in a membership, the approach should be much more welcoming, informative, and respectful. The way we were treated during this process did not reflect the level of service we experienced elsewhere at the resort. Additionally, when we asked to speak with management about our concerns, we were told multiple times that no one was available, which was frustrating and disappointing. Based on the reviews we read prior to visiting, we had very high expectations and were genuinely excited to experience the resort. It’s unfortunate that this part of our stay did not align with those expectations. To be completely honest, if it weren’t for the incredible staff members mentioned above, we’re not sure we would consider returning. We hope this feedback is taken seriously, as the resort has so much potential to deliver a consistently outstanding experience from start to finish.

Katrina Rothwell-Horner

As a longtime DRM member, I was so excited to return in June 2026 to celebrate our anniversary. We have been coming back year after year because of the incredible staff, the PlayMakers, and the amazing people we have met along the way. Unfortunately, this trip was very different in some ways. First, I want to recognize the STAFF because they deserve so much credit. All of the PlayMakers and Chocolate did an outstanding job, especially with the new twists in the shows. The people we met were AMAZING, and as always, the staff worked incredibly hard to make the guests feel welcome and entertained. We had a few issues with our butler service. We have had Jorge for years, and he has always been extremely detailed and attentive. Since we were staying for seven nights, we had another butler filling in for part of our stay, and we noticed a difference in the level of service. One of our biggest frustrations was being told that dinner reservations were made, only to arrive and find out that we weren’t on the list. On another occasion, the restaurant was closed because of the low number of guests, but we were never informed. We ended up having to figure out dinner on our own and walk around trying to find somewhere with available seating. It’s not the end of the world, but when you’re paying for a membership and are told your reservations are taken care of, you expect better communication. The occupancy was also incredibly low during most of our stay. One day, it was around 75%, but for the next six days, it dropped anywhere from approximately 45% to literally 30%. One morning, my husband and I were soaking in the pool by ourselves at 11:30 a.m. The PlayMakers were trying SO hard to get the guests involved in volleyball and other activities, but so many people kept saying no that they eventually had to walk away. It was honestly sad to watch because the PlayMakers were doing everything they could. One of the highlights of our trip was seeing one of my favorite bartenders EVER. Several years ago, he made me a special drink that I’ve been wanting to have again for the past two years. He hadn’t been there on our last few trips, and nobody else seemed to know how to make it. When he saw my husband and me walking around the pool, I spotted him and went right up to the bar. He immediately remembered the drink he had made for me years ago. THAT is what makes these resorts special. The staff remembers their guests. They care. They work hard. The servers and employees are constantly moving, smiling, and showing genuine passion for their jobs. We spoke with several employees who shared that the layoffs and changes happening within the company have personally affected them. Yet they continue to stay because they genuinely love the guests and want to help create great memories. The staff and PlayMakers make this resort—not management. Now, management needs to start listening to the guests, especially the members who have invested their money and loyalty into this brand. WE NEED CHANGE. If things continue in this direction, I worry that the resorts will continue to see lower occupancy, and eventually, that could put the future of the properties at risk. One of my biggest concerns is the cost of being a member. We are constantly told about our membership benefits, discounted rates, free nights, and other perks. However, when I compare the prices available to members versus what I can find through travel websites, there are times when it is actually cheaper to book as a non-member. We are supposed to receive a 30% discount plus additional discounts and benefits as members. So why are there situations where it is cheaper to book elsewhere than through our own membership? We have been loyal because we LOVE the staff. We return every year because of the memories, the people, and the amazing employees who work so hard to make our vacations special. But loyalty has limits. Management, please listen to your members. Please listen to your guests. Please listen to your employees.