Gran Porto Real vs. The Royal

My fiance and I are planning a wedding in Mexico and wanted some input on these two resorts.

 

How much nicer is the Royal compared to the Gran Porto Real? We've decided to pay for the wedding and our parents' trips ourselves so we don't want to spend a ton more if the Real is a nice resort in its own right.

 

We like to option of having a higher class resort for guests who want that and a more inexpensive option for others.

 

Thanks.

Kate

Hi Kate,

I totally know what you mean about not wanting to spend more. I myself have not seen both yet but we are going in two weeks and we will be visiting both.

We chose to have our wedding at the royal but we do have guests staying next door at the gran. We are also hosting our welcome cocktail party at the gran.

We also have 5 kids attending so we needed a place for the kids but at the same time we wanted an adults only place. This was the perfect solution for us.

Good luck with your choice and I will post a review when I get back on 11/16

I can't wait to see your review!

Hi Kate,
I stayed at the Royal for a wedding last year and had a great experience. I do not know anything about the Gran Porto so I cannot give too many details. What I loved about the Royal was the fact it was adults only and the location. I know we were able to use some of the restaurants at the Gran, but I'm not sure if it works the other way around. The rooms at the Royal are beautiful, all with double jacuzzi tubs and hammocks on the patios. I am pretty sure we will be getting married there next year, but it is great to have a lower cost option for you guests that is right next door!

Hi Kate. I am planning on having our wedding at Gran/Royal. I like the idea of guests having the choice. I was thinking originally of my FI and I staying at the Royal and having the wedding there, and I know guests stay at Gran can come to the Royal without buying a day pass just for the wedding, and Royal guests can go to Gran without a day pass. My thing is that I want my bridesmaids, mother and future MIL to be able to be with me getting ready- and don't want them to purchase a day pass just to be with me in my room for the day. As of now I'm thinking of staying at Gran for the couple of nights prior to the wedding, having the wedding there, then wedding night and 3 nights following, my FI and I to tranfer to Royal.

 

That way we can be with everyone the day of the wedding, and still enjoy the luxurious rooms at Royal.

 

Not sure if thats something you have looked at but it sounds as of you can upgrade to Royal even once you get there and change your mind so that's a plus!! And I'm glad someone has been contiplating this Gran/Royal thing like I have for the past month! LOL

 

Happy planning!!

NPlante,

 

I'm pretty sure that is what we're going to do. Not only will staying at the Gran Porto for the first few days ensure that everyone can be around as we're getting ready the day of, but the saving in cost should allow us to stay an extra day or two at the Royal for the honeymoon portion.

Yea thats what I figure we'll stay at Gran for the first couple of days prior to the wedding too.

 

Plus our parents are paying our hotel/air fare fees, so I won't feel as bad about them paying if we only do 2 or 3 nights at the Royal. I planned on telling the guests the last 2 or 3 days we are keeping to ourselves as the "Honeymoon Time"

 

So thats my plan as of now, I haven't sent the deposit yet for the wedding date, I just want to be 100% on my decision! So I'm pricing all the packages now to decide which is the best for us...

Just sent in my wedding deposit yesterday, the day is officially May 28, 2011 at the Gran Porto. We're staying the first two nights at the Gran and the final five nights at the Royal.

I've been looking at both these locations. Both look very nice in the pics. I think I'm going with the Gran versus Royal because I will be traveling with my two kids.

Oh really Kate? I was contiplating sending my deposit, maybe I should get on that since our wedding is a year away!! I just get scared to lock in lol! Now you said the first 2 nights you are staying at Gran. That's my plan. Although, I thought you had to be there atleast 3 nights before getting married, maybe I'm wrong I got to look that up. Who did you send the deposit too? Carole? Did you have to specify that you will be moving to the Royal and all?

 

I'm very interested in how you did it because I'm sending mine in the next couple of days here...you mail it to her?