So we just returned to Riviera Maya on a "fact finding trip" to check out the new Eden expansion. Overall analysis "An improvement."

Rooms: We went mostly to have a look at the new rooms. We stayed in a pool view swim up suite. First of all the room was nice and large with a nice level of finish. They somehow, once again, failed to correct the biggest single issue (according to my partner and every woman I have ever heard comment on the rooms at RM) which is to say there is not enough counter space for makeup, jewelry, sex toy charging, etc. The good news: there is plenty of space to add dressers, including an entire corner occupied by some bizarre showpiece furniture thingy (imagine a giant bicycle tire rim attached to the floor and ceiling with pipes. We fondly nicknamed it "Da fuck?" and used it as a luggage rack). Our pool view room was too loud during the afternoon for my girlfriend (though not me) to nap in. The one time we were there during the lobby show (at 10:00 at night due to a migrane headache - so not a normal occupancy time) the noise was unbearable. The "garden view" side should have no problem with noise. Once the landscaping grows in these will probably be our choice. Right now you're looking at the neighbor's block wall. The ocean front rooms, considering the price (laughable) are underwhelming. Bizarrely, unlike the pool view/garden view rooms and the older "Villas", the swim up pool is open to everyone. "Bizarrely" given the price and the fact that I would only consider one to host a sex party. Bottom line: Generally nice rooms and should be great with some furnishing tweaks.

New Pool: The new party pool is substantially larger than the old one, which is all good. There is also a shallow "beach" area on one end which is a bit too large IMO, but seemed popular. The layout is nice and it's alongside the ocean. Generally a nice improvement. There are two main issues. First and foremost, according to a pool guy we have known a long time, there are not enough cabanas or even lounge chairs for all the guests. This is really going to suck (even more than usual) for non-members. The other issue is that the quiet pool unlike at Pearl where it is adjacent, is now the old pool, which, being at the extreme other end of the resort, is quite a hoof. The upside here is that the quiet pool is VERY quiet, and it is also very easy to get a beach cabana there, or along the beach, with absolutely no difficulty. Bottom line: Nice upgrade but needs work on a functional space basis.

New Hot Tub: This one is all good. The new tub is 2-1/2 to 3 times larger than the old one but still laid out in a reasonably socially friendly pattern. Sort of a long hourglass with bench seating around the perimiter. Unlike the old bench seats, they got the back rest angle right this time. Once again it is on the second floor, but now there is an elevator! The view is, if anything, even better with a horizon pool sort of effect from inside he tub, a walkway on the water side, and glass panel railing. Beautiful design. The pool beds are at one end. Some are more voyeur/exhibitionist friendly and a back row is a bit more secluded. Bottom line: Terrific upgrade!

New Lobby bar: All the benefits of the outdoor show space as before, minus the "open to rainfall" aspects. Similarly to the Pearl layout , much more intimate for the shows than the old lobby bar, but unlike Pearl, the shows are open to the sea breezes. Bottom line: Really nice upgrade.

New Restaurants: There are two. Eros (Mediterranean) and Kahlo (Mexican). Both are multi-course fine dining like Sahlo. Each presently only open part week. We loved Eros but were very disappointed in Kahlo (we heard the same from many others). I was really looking forward to it as I love the Mexican food at Desire, so this was disappointing. Eros is also open for Lunch and Breakfast (some days). Most days, Tentacion is also open for breakfast. Having nice bright spaces for breakfast is a huge improvement IMO (the breakfast at Pearl was always nicer that way). Bottom line: An improvement but Kahlo needs a re-boot.

Playroom: Forehead slap. The pluses - a generally nice if unimaginative space with beds along two walls which also has an adjoining shower - are masively outweighed in my opinion by the fact that they, yet again, and for the third time in a row, put the sole access right through the motherfucking disco! I cannot fucking believe they did this AGAIN! My initial impression was "Damn this looks impractical" was confirmed on our last night when we were invited to an impromptu orgy around midnight (i.e. at prime disco time). It was every bit as fun as I expected to walk through the dance floor full of people in sexy club wear while wrapped in a hot tub towel. And even more fun when I went through a second time to fetch the lube and sex toy bag. Bottom line: Utter completely unneccesary, cosmic scale design fail -yet again. What a fuckup.

Overall Impression: A nice upgrade/Improvement but they now need to revamp the older part and find a way to integrate the two from a traffic flow/energy flow standpoint. They also obviously need to add another access to the playroom. Easily feasible if the will were there which, sadly, I doubt