The new Dreams Tulum thread! (Post all DT Qs&As here)

Hi Vanessa. Welcome to the forum. My wedding was originally planned for 9/26/10 at dreams riviera cancun. We were fortunate to get a great rate on hotel and flight and visited DRC in December. I am so glad that we did, because the resort (while beautiful) is soooo small. The wedding areas are right on top of the other guests. On our third day I saw an afternoon wedding take place on the beach and right behind the wedding guests was a older very tan guy in a mankini sunbathing with one leg haning off his chair while talking on his phone...then, as if on que, four 50-something women in bikini's and cowboy hats walked passed and started woo hoo-ing. <----- and that pretty much did it for me. I turned on my phone, called up Aurora at dreams tulum and scheduled a site tour for the next morning.

Dreams Tulum is so much more spread out and offers you a bit more privacy and options for where you can have your wedding/reception.

Dreams Riviera Cancun was a great resort, but just not for my wedding. The staff was amazing and we had a nice time. Note...the wedding gazebo is right above the beach bar and kids playground area.

Taranyc: Thanks for your input. The reason you stated echoes all that have been written regarding Dreams RC - that's why we can't decide anymore. The ride to Dreams Tulum may be a little long for some of our elderly guests especially after a long flight. (Is it really 2 hours ride from CUN airport?)

Really a bummer that Dreams RC didn't consider the privacy factor when they designed the resort. I really liked the contemporary, clean look of the resort. We need a kid-friendly resort so DRC was at the top of our list.

Now we're not sure anymore, it seems like we are back to square one ...

Ok so I decided agianst a dj and I bought the Ikick 500 but I don't think you can hook it with a microphone so I am scared that we can't do annocements.

DT is about 90 minutes from the airport - which you're right, was a little much for my grandmother (there's not much to look at, etc.)... but overall I think it was fine. Everyone on our van just stopped for beer/snacks before we got started and the time flew by! We had all the transportation set up through our TA.

DT is also SUPER kid-friendly, so you shouldn't worry about that. We were there over Thanksgiving so there were a lot of families/kids. I have heard nothing but good things about the Explorer's Club.

To speak to DT's ambience - I will say it does not have the "sleek modern" look that some of these other chain resorts have... it is way more authentic and detailed than those (although still immaculate in terms of cleanliness). Our photogs loved the fact that it had all these great details and wasn't streamlined like other resorts they had been to in Cancun.

jmb0902 - thanks for the input. I actually thought that Dreams Tulum was more like 2hrs away. I do like the fact that Dreams Tulum is more spread out - enough space if we want some alone time. Did you do a site visit prior to deciding on this location? And if so, did Dreams provide a discount?

Also love your TTD teaser photos - they are amazing!

Hi Vanessa...one of the best things about DRC is how close to the airport it is. I agree with jmb, the distance isn't really that bad. Playa is under constant construction and makes this the longest part of the drive. One thing I would make sure of is that all of your guests set themselves up for transportation ahead of time (a trip in a taxi from the airport without a reservation can cost $100--150 usd one way). If you're negoitating with the hotel directly on room costs, make sure they include ground transport...or just have them add it on when reserving flight and room online. The vans are air conditioned and drivers are really nice...i think your older guests will be comfortable.

The rooms at DRC were really nice...I liked the whole ocatgon shape, modern feel...seriously, the resort was really pretty...but honestly kinda boring. We made our own fun, but no one was out past 10p (a little strange). One of the things I don't like about DTulum is how much older the rooms look online, but the resort is so nice...and how much time do you spend in your room when you're in paradise!? You should check out the other bride's photos...there are so many places to take pics and the colors are so saturated.

I'm getting nervous butterflies in my stomach, not because of the man I'm going to marry, but because I am watching all of the dollars bills float out of my bank account and go to towards this wedding. Which I guess is to be expected, it is a wedding. Sorry... just getting nervous and had to write this.

 

I wrote Aurora again, with some other questions- I'll post what she says.

xo

Thanks!! We didn't do a site visit - so I can't help you out there. I would definitely go through a TA, the costs were much lower and it was so much easier to keep track of everyone and making sure they got transport.

I am feeling that way too......hang in there.

It'll work out - tons of brides here write really positive reviews about how everything turned out, so I don't think everyone's getting screwed over money-wise, or someone would have mentioned it, right?

I also feel that way Amy! I think it's also that there are so many little things that I didn't consider, and once you start thinking about all the little details and items, things start to add up. But yes, it is a wedding, and just think how wonderful it will be! Plus you are probably saving money by doing a DW anyways! I know I am! A basic wedding here is anywhere between 10-20 grand, not including a honeymoon. A photography package alone costs more than what my DW is going to cost, plus you get a honeymoon out of it! and you get to get married in one of the most beautiful places on earth!

Everytime I start to get stressed, I try to stop, breath, and imagine myself on the beach in my wedding dress and I get so pumped, nothing else matters at that point! Get pumped girl!!!