Amy's scouting trip and photos

Hey everyone,

Here is a link to my photos of my trip...I mostly attached pictures of the Mayan because that is where I am going to have my wedding. If you want a descriptions of my photos...do THE SLIDESHOW...IT EXPLAINS THE PICTURES.

Yahoo! Photos - Amy s Scouting Trip

MY REVIEW:

I just went to PV for 3 short days...it was amazing. The first night I

stayed downtown and I almost reconsidered my idea of a PV wedding. I had

never been to PV until then. We stayed by restaurant row and it was fun of

people partying and tons of fun restaurants and shops. The beach was nice

but not what I thought it would be. For me...it wasn't where I invisioned

my wedding.

The next day we went to Dreams...then I knew I made the right decision to

have it in PV. Dreams is a beautiful place for a wedding....very private

AND secluded. We got there early for our appt. with Marilu and they

wouldn't let us in. We took a walk about a block up the street and found a

really cute restaurant to eat breakfast called La Playita Beach restaurant

at Linda Mar hotel. It was good find...it has it's own private rocky

beach...and the manager quoted us $95 pesos pp per hour to have a rehearsal dinner there including drinks. Fun idea if you are going to have your

wedding at Dreams. PROS:private/SECLUDED beach ceremony/reception on the beach CON: you have to pay extra for non-guests..YOU HAVE TO LEAVE AT 11PM...Marilu might work with us though..she said she was going to see if my guests and I could hang out at the bar until 2am

Then we went to Mayan...oh my goodness...this place took my breath way. The pictures on the internet don't do it justice. Marcos, the wedding planner

there is really easy to work with and gets back to you really quickly.

Marilu at Dreams tends to take a while. The Jetty (grass area) is where the

wedding would be...I wasn't sure if I liked the idea...I really wanted to

get married on the beach in the sand. I have reconsidered...the view from

the Jetty is amazing...its like your in the water. PROS: private beach

ceremony/reception perfect for small weddings...WE get to leave at 2am!!!

CONS: I can't think of any.

Lastly we went to the Westin. I think this place is beautiful too but

better for a large wedding. I am only going to have around 40 people so we

would only get 2 or 3 pergulas on the beach.

PROS: beach sand ceremony/reception on beach under pergulas (really

beautiful) CONS: Not as private for a small wedding...better for bigger

weddings.

So I made my decision on the Mayan...I am so excited the place is so trendy

and the Mayan influence makes it a very unique hotel. I like how private it

is for a small wedding...the other two aren't as private for smaller

weddings. I also like the idea that we get to stay until 2am...also there

is a fire pit in the outdoor reception area...I think that will be fun for

the reception.

We have also changed our wedding date from June until February of next year now. The weather there right now is perfect...summers can get really hot there. I am so excited...I'll be getting married in a year now...instand of

year and half now. Goodness I have lots to do.

As for restaurants...we haven't decided on a rehearsal dinner spot yet...to

be honest we didn't eat a lot...we were too busy going to the hotels...we

tended to just get a muffin or drink when needed. We mostly sampled

appetizers and had a drink...so I don't know if I am the best to ask about

how it tastes. I am not a big eater so it was hard for me to eat alot

because we wanted to go to as many places as possible. I will say that all

the appetizers we great at all the places except one place (El Dorado...but

their dinners might be better??) As for beautiful views and great

appetizers Las Palomas...El Palomar..El Felipe...La Playita...my

photographer recommended the El Kliff but we didn't get time to go there. I

wanted to try others but we ran out of time.

I was going to do a full dinner but now I am considering doing appetizers

only...it was so expensive for me at most of those places when you included

drinks into the price...I only wanted to spend between 30-35 pp. I might

just have my rehearsal dinner at the Mayan...Marcos said he could work

something out. Or I might look into Barcelona Tapas...who had their

reception there I wish I would have tried it.

Well...I hope I was some help...you all have helped me so much...all your

comments really helped guide me on my trip to PV. All the hotels there were

amazing...it is really hard to choose one.

One more word of advice...if you take a taxi from the airport...go over the

bridge on the outside of the airport to get a taxi...those are the local

taxi drivers and they won't charge you as much as the airport take drivers.

We only paid 10 pesos from the airport to Old PV downtown....we stayed at

Los Arcos Hotel. Also...if you can bring someone who speaks Spanish it can

help you get better prices and advance. My friend that came with me was

born in Mexico...she was like my planner...I got an excellent price for my

wedding...I know it was all because of her. Everyone told me I wouldn't get

my price without a planner...I stayed within my budget of less than $7000

for everything.

Well thanks again for all your help...if you can think of any questions let

me know.

Amy

Thanks for the great review Amy- I'm sure this will really help PV brides. I'm glad you settled on a place, the Mayan looks like lots of fun. I enjoyed your slideshow- the bar looks awesome! The jetty where the wedding will be is beautiful too...

Great review and I'm sure it will come in handy for all future brides. Now that you have a year to plan, I suggest that you go look for dresses,, and post pictures.. lol (it's not me without asking for more pictures.,,, sorry, lol)

Great review! Thanks for the information...very helpful! We are getting married at Dreams, so I am glad to hear more about it. Does the bar there have music playing or is it just a quite drinking get togther?

Thanks!

Amy, thanks so much for all the info!!! I contacted Marco and he sent me a ton of info and pics of the Mayan! You are soo right, the pics on thier website are nothing like the pics he sent and the ones you posted. I am actually reconsidering Dreams, but I have to see if the Mayan is in our budget. Are you paying a location fee? Is Marco allowing you to bring in an outside photog?

I will post all the info soon on the Mayan thread in the PV forum for anyone interested in this hotel. I love it!!! BUT it is not an AI, uggh or else it would have been soooo perfect!

great post amy!

no, the mayan palace in PV. Mayan Palace

The grand mayan is in Nuevo Vallarta.

By the way, thanks for the email Tammy!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by host are you gals talking about the grand mayan? I am showing $140-170 per night for double occupancy.

Great review Amy!!! I'm sure PV brides will appreciate it!!!

I am glad that you guys that my review was informational...sorry I didn't taste that much food...I am a light eater...I spent too much time talking and taking in the beautiful views.

As for the rehearsal cocktail party at the Mayan Palace...I didn't even notice if it had music...we were there at 11am in the morning so that's why no one was there. The bar is beautiful though...I kinda hope it isn't too packed so we can have the place to ourselves...I am excited because the bar has 2 pool tables...so that will be fun...I love pool.

Let me know if you guys have any other questions. I am in the process of finalizing everything at the Mayan...I am so excited.

amy