Resort Selection Criteria

Hi Ladies,

Our TA would like us to make a list of things we think are important in a resort so we can narrow down our selection and then create a form to rate the hotels when we visit them. Here is what I have so far:

1. Outside vendors allowed

   - We want Del Sol as our photographer, that is top priority

2. Beautiful Quite/Kind of Private Ceremony site

   - Don't want uncle bob in his speedo sunbathing while we are saying our vows. Still deciding on using a beach or a more jungle/rain forest like site. Off site is also an option.

3. Evening shows or entertainment.

   - Our crowd is not the drinking and dancing kind.

4. Nice Room with nice views

- Don't want to be looking at the parking the whole time.

Cost

- aiming for 1500-1700 per person all inclusive.

Wow factor

- Would like our guests to feel like they are in a quite paradise

Day time activities

- Would like a healthy mix of water and non-water activities

Sit down restaurants

- Would like to have a sit down dinners at night with a couple choices of locations

Good Service

What am I not thinking about? We have never stayed in a all inclusive... Thanks, Carla

We were looking for an area that you could get a direct flight or short layover from NJ. We also didn't want our guests to have to travel really far from the arrival airport to the resort so we tried to find a resort that wasn't over an hr away from airport. If your looking for a quiet resort you may want an adults only. How about wedding things, do you have any preferences (like prices, location options for ceremony and reception, food choices, etc.)

Oops. Guess I forgot the important stuff there. I updated the list above.

we wanted NOT to be on the beach for the ceremony/reception, mostly because of older guests who would have trouble walking thru sand. also wanted a resort that had some handicapped rooms, for the same reason.

you might want to consider travel time for your guests, not just air but also from the airport to the resort. this is mostly why we ruled out negril & ocho rios jamaica and some areas of riviera maya like tulum.

we chose dreams also because of their "no wristbands" and "no reservations" policies for dining. we thought having to make dinner reservations every day would be a hassle ... however, if you have a large party who enjoy dining together, you may WANT a place that will do reservations.

also definitely find out about buffet vs. a la carte restaurants. at some resorts, the buffet is always included, but you are limited to how many a la carte dinners you can attend per stay.

i forgot, the very first thing we had to do was weed out all the resorts that do not allow children, since we have guests with kids. some adult-only resorts will not even allow kids to enter just for the wedding, so if you were thinking about flowergirls and ringbearers, it's an important consideration. carefully check the age requirements, because some resorts will say "family-friendly" but only allow children OVER 14 years old. on the other hand, if you're all adults and don't want ANY screaming kids around, you should probably go to an adult-only resort like sandals or couples.

Great questions, anymore we should be considering, lol.

-If it is kid friendly or do you want a couples resort?

-Direct flights from where the majority of your guest are coming from

-When the high season or rain season is?

-Actual wedding costs when you get there?

-If guest have other hotel/resort choices in the area that fit their financial needs?

-If you will have to pay extra for anyone to come to the wedding that stay at another resort?

-Is there a extra cost for outside vendors?

-If they have a salon that can do what you need and accommadate if your guest will be getting things done?

-How experienced its the WC is with that resort and the area?

 

There are just so many but think of every little thing and ask do not assume they do what you want and especially do it for a price you are willing to pay