HELP! Grand Palladium Kantenah/Gran Bahia Principe/Ocean Turquesa?

Hello Brides,

 

My fiance and I are planning to get married in Riviera Maya in February 2011. We have narrowed it down to Grand Palladium Kantenah, Gran Bahia Principe Akumal, and Ocean Turquesa. Do any of you know any reasons why we should or shouldn't go to a specific one? We need all the details; staff, service, beaches, rooms, wedding locations, reception locations, kid-friendly, accomodates larger parties (we're thinking between 30 and 60 ppl).

 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

 

Thanks,

Christine

Wow, thanks! That definately helps with our decision. Especially since we have scratched the idea of Ocean Turquesa (we found out that they are owned by a timeshare company and they hassle you to purchase a timeshare). Thanks again for all the info, greatly appreciated

Can't go wrong with Grand Palladium either. We took our family there a couple years ago. Excellent service, foods, grounds, water (sandy beach for swimming & also a good snorkel area). Also, it is close to Tulum, Akumal, etc. Very kid friendly ... and beautiful wedding venues!

I am partial to the Bahia since I was married there on February 25th at the Akumal Beach Hammock location. My wedding coordinator Karla was excellent and went above and beyond to make our day special. We love the Bahia and our wedding there was our 7th visit in under 5 years. If you have any questions, please let me know. I will be happy to help. This forum is a wonderful tool to get you on your way planning your destination wedding.

 

All the best,

Sunnyee

I think it is going to be a tough decision. Check out the thread.....Any Grand Palladium Brides. Grand palladium also hasa website called Palladium Addicts with tons of reviews etc. I am getting married at Grand Palladium in April and I have not heard a bad review yet nor have I had any issues so far. I think either will be a good choice. THere should be a thread on Gran Bahia...I'm not sure the name but just search it on the site and you should find tons of info that should help you make a decision. Good luck. Let me know if you have any questions.

Dunno a lot about the Grand Palladium. I went to the GBP in Sept 2009, nice resorts, ok food, rocky beach (with sand bags and protected reefs).
PROS:
- kids friendly ( I saw a lot of fat kids, binging and having a blast)
- Ok food (a lot of choices, and I didn't have to starve myself because I am a picky eater)
- a lot of resto to choose from, so u won't eat the same stuffs over and over
- Close to Tulum, awesome Tulum beach and amazing Akumal beach
- Friendly staffs, I saw them carry drunken guests every night, make sure that they are fine.
CONS:
- Very far from the airport, 2-2.5H from the Cancun airport
- VERY HUGE resort complexe, every night I saw lost people...trying to find their room. Make sure ur guests stay within the same area, from GBP Coba to GBP Tulum, u have to take 2-3 shuttle trains.
- NO AC in some resto.
- Sometimes, they host wedding reception next to the pool, so...be aware if ur room is next to the pool
- VERY FAR from Playa Del Carmen and everything!
OCEAN TURQUESA
I am also looking at this resort too.
PROS:
- Ana, the WC, is the most responsive WC in the whole region, u won't have to wait months before u get a reply from her.
- Good price range for their wedding packages, room price, and very nice menu.
- Nice venues, amazing Terraces
- Modern decor, and amazing beach (right in front of a protected reef too, so a lot of fish/turtle/other sea creatures)
- Close to Puerto Morelos, a quiet little town, like PDC 10-15 yrs ago.
- Close to the airport and Playa Del Carmen
- Kids friendly
CONS:
- According to Tripadvisor, there are bed bugs in building 6, so avoid building 6!
- there are dual social class in this resort, if u want to have diet coke, premium liquor, and a decent steak + Lobster tail...u need to be in the upper class.
- need to pay $3 to play watersport ($3 is to protect the reef)
- No night life...so u have to goto PDC
- No beach reception from May-Nov, because of turtle season (no applicable in your case)

I am also wondering if any brides who have been married at either Grand Palladium Kentaneh or Gran Bahia Principe in Riveria Maya have come back with non-legal wedding documents? I have heard that this can happen and you have to pay when you get home to get your marriage legalized. My fiance suggests that we just go to city hall before we go down, but I think that kind of defeats the purpose of going in the first place.

Not sure about Alberta. In Quebec, I think we need the legal document from Mexico with their legal seal + translation + notory in order to make it legal. Therefore, it will be cheaper, simpler and easier to sign the legal paper in Montreal's City Hall or Court before/after the trip.