We just returned from our first stay at Desire Pearl.
What was excellent:
Staff - friendly, professional, hardworking, and always on point
Dining - all three restaurants are very good; fresh and tasty offerings
Spa - beautiful, with a variety of services. Couples massages highly recommended!
Pool - the daytime spot to be, either on the party side or the quiet side. Swim-up bar is lovely.
Jacuzzi - the evening/night gathering spot; also has a swim-up bar
Entertainment - daytime activities, nightly themed parties and shows. Playmaker staff does an excellent job running events and getting guests involved
What wasn't great:
A/C - no central air in the common areas, so the club, restaurants, lobby, etc were all uncomfortably hot. We left the evening party/nightclub early every night, though the events were great. It was just too hot. I understand that the temperature is much more tolerable in the high season, but room rates are also more expensive.
Beach - Seaweed currently (as of June 2025) prevents getting into the ocean. You can walk further down the beach, away from the property, to useable beach areas.
A note about the vibe: Most guests are aged 40+ and many are premier members who stay frequently and already know the other regular guests. Everyone is friendly and nice, but there are cliques that can be tough to infiltrate.
I would call this resort laid back compared to others of its kind. Most wild activity takes place between midnight and dawn.