June 08 El Dorado Bride - HELP

Don't be a dictator with the guests. Some will want to come for longer or shorter, so be flexible and leave it up to them. Remember, someone might really want to be there but not able to afford so many days... Someone else may be using this as their only vacation for the year and want to stay a whole week. I was amazed how many of our guests are staying for much longer than I thought they would... This stuff isn't your problem. Find a travel agent, and let them deal with all of the details like price, different airfares from different airports, etc... I have one who has been doing an amazing job for me...

We decided that there will never be another time in our lives to vacation with so many friends and family. We're staying for the full 10 days at the resort. People I know who have been there before have told me that we will be able to easily spend a day away from everyone if we choose to do so. Also, if you plan to stay in the casitas then you will probably be a little separated from your guests. There are tons of excursions to go on and things to do. you can also easily get up to Cancun or into Playa to do the shopping you spoke of. Most people I know end up saying it's not worth leaving the luxury of the resort though... :-)

Our TA also looked into the move between resorts. While it's doable, transportation has to be arranged at an additional cost, and you will surely burn a good portion of a day doing it. Plus you have to pack up and then get settled into a new resort and figure out where everything is. Just typing this makes me glad we're staying in one spot!!!

I let our guest know when we are planning activities so they have an idea of the best nights to stay. But they can plan it however they want. We will be there wed-wed with the wedding on saturday. I'm suggesting they go thur-sun if they want to stay 3 nights. We'll have some optional group things planned for thurs & friday. I just want to give them an idea of what's going on before they book. But they can plan what works for them with the TA.

He is a college baseball coach, so sitting still for too long drives him crazy. He is not a lay on the beach kind of guy. He does it for a few days, but then he starts to go stir-crazy. He likes to go into the towns and go to the markets and shop and just see the culture. We just got back from a trip to Azul Beach Hotel June 20-26 (where he proposed), and his favorite day was the day we went to Playa. We also got to tour El Dorado on this trip, which is when I fell in love with the resort!

My FI & I are the same way. I can spend maybe a day or two just laying on the beach. We prefer going somewhere to hike of be more active. I've only been to cancun, but it looks like there will be a lot of adventuras stuff to do in RM. I'm looking forward to visiting playa. Do you snorkle? I'm very excited to be able to snorkle near the hotel. I think there will be enough to do to keep us really busy.

I don't think I am being a "dictator." We haven't even talked about the trip in detail with any guests other than my parents and the bridesmaids. The reason I mentioned these dates is because I looked at flights and hotel rates and based on what my bridesmaids told me was the absolute most they could spend, this was the amount of nights it ended up being. So I planned the wedding for the Friday, in the middle of the four nights. I am going on the assumption that this is when they would fly-in, based on the flight cost for these dates. My parents and other family I am sure will stay for a week. I am being very flexible and leaving it up to them. I am not telling them when they have to come or leave. That is totally up to them. We are planning this as a vacation for everyone, since they are paying for this, and it will probably be the only vacation next year for most of my friends, with our wedding as an added bonus.

You are right about the vacation with everyone, however, there will never be another time in my life to experience that amazing time between my FH and I that comes in the midst of just being married. So I would like to experience that alone time for a few days, without my parents and grandparents 24/7. Once we get home, the honeymoon is over, as they say, when we get back to work and life and the routines. Going on another trip later, by ourselves, it just wouldn't be the same as that feeling of just being married and having time to indulge in each other in paradise. You never get that back. Family vacations, we have those every year.

We might look into moving to Azul Beach Resort since we enjoyed it so much in June. It was so laid back and hardly anyone around. We also enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. It was great. Very relaxing. So we might move there. Or go to a resort in Cancun. Who knows! I need to book the wedding first!

Morgan,

 

Is your wedding at EDR?

We love to snorkle. We did a snorkle trip while at Azul Beach Resort in June and it was so great! It was an hour snorkle trip, but the guide took us around for two hours! He knew where all the creatures hide! We saw all types of fish, a baby lobster, a huge turtle, I got to hold a baby sting-ray and swim next to a very large one, and we saw all kinds of other creatures! It was fun, and very tiring! We were so tired afterwards. It is a great workout for your thighs! And wear LOTS of sunscreen on your back! So much fun!

No, it's at the Catalonia Riviera Maya. I think they are in the same area. I'll look on the locogringo map. There is a lagoon 2 miles from our hotel that should be great for snorkeling. I can't wait!

opps, I had EDR confused with a different hotel. Check out this map El Dorado Royale resort: photo tour, aerial images

It's so much for for seeing whats around the hotel. I put a link on my website so guest can "look around" the area. It can be a little deceptive. If there is an area of just trees, it's not on the map so places can seem closer than they really are.

Thanks Morgan. How did you get your website started? I want to do that soon. Did you do STD and and are you going to send invitations? Are you having an AHR?