JenniferSS

Beaches Turks & caicos caribbean Village- just beautiful !

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Welcome back & Congratualations! Didn't you just LOVE Beaches Turks & Caicos! It's my favorite Caribbean family property- just an amazing resort! Quote: Originally Posted by mfry I am back ladies and officially Mrs. Sinnott. Some of my pics are on the post your wedding or engagement photos. Here is one little teaser pic. Michelle

Congrats on the little one! Definately work with a Sandals specialist-someone whose been to the resorts, as each one is so different in terms of atmosphere and amenities! sandals is really great as they provide so much diversity with their properties that they have the perfect resort for whatever you are looking for! As an example- some properties focus more on the beach, others are definately pool oriented. Some properties are very laid back and quiet, others have a a more active vibe! Some are more Caribbean in style, others have a more modern or European flair! The list goes on but I think you'll get what I mean! I have clients that I recommend different properties for as you really do want the one that suits YOU the best! You also want to be sure to get a great room ~ I know most people say your not in the room much but hey.....it will be your weddingmoon after all- you'll be spending some time in there ! I love Sandals as I know they are a fantastic value in the Caribbean- but there are still some rooms that need to be rennovated - you definately do not want to be in one of those. Good luck and feel free to email me if you'd like to retain me to assist! Quote: Originally Posted by dst10spr97 Hello ladies, I originally planned to have a rather large wedding here in Florida near my home, home. But I just found out that we are expected our first baby so we want to do a smaller, more intimate wedding, and also incorporate some vacation/honeymoon time in there before our lives change I don't want the stress anymore of having a big wedding or dealing with the details. And we may not have a chance to go on a vacation for a long while. I'm going through the threads now. But I was wondering for those that are going the Sandals route, particularly Jamaica (although I haven't quite decided on a resort as of yet) what made you choose your resort location? What other options did you choose? I would like my wedding to be videotaped and some nice pictures, thats definitely a must. And maybe a nice dinner afterwards. It might end up being just me and my fiance, but we may have maybe 2 additional people. Not sure yet of that either. But we are moving our wedding date up, so with such short notice who knows who might attend..

I would highly recommend working wiith a TA or you may find that your AI vacation may not be everything that you envison or include exactly what you what you want. Check out my article about AI's here:http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t14194 Keep in mind that the lower the price-generally the lower the options and quality of what is offered!

My sister in law is an RN and begged me about 6 months ago or so to NOT get my 3 daughters vaccinated ( and she is a big proponent of most vaccinations) . She said that the reports coming out in the medical community are scary and she was really suprised at how the news media hasn't picked it up. I too am leary of any new drug or vaccination that is pushed on us- I think that often times we as a society can get a little ahead of ourselves. Cancer is horrible- I've had several family members pass away from it but I'd rather not subject my daughters to a higher risk for nasty side effects when they are wonderfully healthy at this time!

Yes, to book the sunset time slot you MUST pre book the Caribbean Sunset pacakge with the 50% down at time of booking! For the most part Sandals/ Beaches are very willing to work with you on customizing the weddings. Provide as many details as you can- a budget that you'd like to work with and photo's, photo's, photos! When we did the travel agent Sandals Destination Wedding Specialist course the head of Sandals Jamaican Wedding department kept stressing how willing they were to customize whatever a bride needed/wanted. That being said there are a few contractual things that they still have to work within- the PB Sunset package being one of them. Quote: Originally Posted by sherric80 Amanda, Thanks for the information! I was completely under the impression that I had to pre-book everything! And it sounds like there are a lot more options to choose from than what I was given. I am so glad that I could ask you. Now I have some re-thinking to do! We are thinking of doing a DJ for 2 hours. We had hoped to just bring our IPOD or burn a CD and use resort speakers, but Amber in Miami said that they don't have any that we can use on the beach. Do you know anything about this? Keri, Welcome & Congrats! I don't know if this helps you or not, but I was told the exact same thing as you! I am having a sunset wedding & was told that I had to have the PB Sunset collection. I had originally asked to pick my own decor because I wanted different colors & everyone I spoke with at Sandals told me that I could only use the PB collection at sunset. I went ahead with the collection because having it at sunset was more important than the colors. It all worked out though because I found some great bridesmaid dresses that match perfectly! I am finding out that a lot of things can be changed or made to work better for you as Amanda has pointed out to me just with the dinner payment options! Maybe call & tell them exactly what you want & see if they can accomodate.

Yes, you can wait till you get on property however please keep in mind that if you have very specific things in mind, if you wait you may not be able to get them. Specifically -flowers, Preston Bailey packages, locations ( based on whether you wanted a private reception-those that pre book will tend to have certain areas already put aside- note that we can not pre book locations), menus items, colors for bows & decorations ect. I highly encourage the brides who have a vision and certain items that are must haves to pre book! However if you are a go with the flow, rather not plan anything till you get there and are ok with certain aspects of the wedding being a bit different that what you imagine then by all means wait!

The title reminded me of the movie "Monster In Law" !

Be sure to schedule your Dunns river excursion for a day that the cruise ships are not in town- it won't be quite as crowded!!

Call the branch manager and have him/her outline the banks policies for a stolen or lost card with unauthorized charges -in writing. That way you have their protocol and can follow it instead of being jerked around with people who just don't have a clue what they are talking aboutor just don't feel like dealing with it. If that manager is not available then ask to speak with their manager and so on till you get someone, don't take no for an answrer or allow yourself to be placed in voicemail. I had clients that needed to dispute a charge and they were being given the run around in the worst way (over several days-lots of back & forth and still no paerwork filed even though they kept saying they wanted to dispute the charges- it was insane),so I got involved ( they were a sweet young couple trying to go on their honeymoon). At first they tried the same crap with me until I asked for everything, in written, as to exactly how they handle disputes....well then we were able to resolve everything within a matter of an hr as opposed to the 3 days this poor couple kept going back to be told something else! Good luck

WHO | Influenza A(H1N1) - update 25 There are actually more cases of swine flu in the us now than in Mexico- maybe they should still go as it is less likly to get exposure there than staying home now ! That'll blow a whole in their story of why they want to cancel!

This village was the newest until the Italian village came along- it also had to be rennovated after the last hurricane hit the area last year! I loved the quiet and understated elegance of this village! The buildings are set in a U shape around a lagoon sized pool are a( with swim up bar of course!). It used to be the hot spot and very busy- now it's the quietest area and really lovely!The grounds are well manicured here and again the flowers are everywhere! The rooms here are all fairly identical. it's location that makes the difference and I love the fact that Beaches has built these rooms to be able to expand into one, two or 3 bedroom suites suites- -on one side you have a standard room ( very large, huge flat screen television, marble bathroom- seperate vanity and bathroom area)- if you want a suite it can then open into a living area with a couch, loveseat -that opens to a trundle, dining table and if I remember correctly there is a small wet bar area with a sink. Each area is so large that a family can easily have plenty of personal space to spread out in!Also plenty of room to bring in a crib!The suites are only available on the first & third floor. I stayed in a ground floor walkout that had a patio witha small table and two chairs- it was semi secluded as there are gardens all around it.I enjoyed having my coffee there in the morning-great way to wake up! The 2nd & third floor rooms however had a french balconet- that is, the doors opened to a wrought iron railing that was flush against the building but not a balcony. There are plenty of places to eat in this area also- you'll have to try the Cafe de Paris! Mmmmmmm yummy! There were all manners of pastries, crepes and cookies plus they had iced mocha cappacino's ! You will also find Le Petit Chateau here- I heard the food was phenomenal and it is also adult only! This little oasis would be perfect for honeymooners ( and I rarely recoomend a family property to honeymooners but this was so quiet and quaint!

I'll start with the three villages! It's really neat because each section of the resort has a different ambiance and so this property has something to appeal to everyone! The Caribbean Village is the original section of the resort. The buildings are all two stories high which makes it feel more intimate although they are stretched along the property. I loved the subdued blues, yellows, pinks and greens that the buildings were painted, felt very Caribbean but was not overwhelming, plus there is so much mature foliage on the buildings and around them, it felt and looked so tropical! The rooms we saw were in the top categories and let me tell you- they were very modern, clean yet warm and inviting and they were huge! I was really impressed with how large and airy they were. Flat screen televisions, king size beds for the parents, a variety of sleeping options for the kids everything looked great from the furniture to the linens and for all of you bathroom fans they were very nice and modern also! In the Caribbean Village you have everything you need- extremely close to the beach, you also have a great pool with swim up bar and a waterfall feature, restaurants,and bars (including an adult only). You really wouldn't ever need to leave this area if you didn't want to! There are hammocks scattered around the property, lawn chess and lots of nooks and crannies to just get away in. Actively level here is moderate- it's spread out enough so that people do not feel right on top of each other!

Last week I was able to get out to to Beaches T&C for a site visit and I was extremely impressed! I was amazed at everything that the property offered in terms of options, ambiance and the rooms were great that we saw, quite honestly the pictures just don't do it justice- the entire property was stunning!! More than that though I learned so much about the "experience" that families have at Beaches T&C !Walking around the property over the two days that I was there I saw so many family moments that just warmed my heart! A father and 11 or 12 yr old son hanging out together on a hammock watching a volleyball game, both with their heads thrown back laughing, teens walking through the property showing off the French village eateries to their friends saying -"isn't this cool, it's just like Disney!" , watching a Grandmother holding hands with her granddaughter strolling through the property, both pointing out their favorite flowers and then a little guy all of about 3 yrs old, eyes wide and a huge grin when he saw Cookie Monster! It was such fun watching his little arms & legs pumping trying to get to cookie as fast as he could to get a hug! Moments like that you can't get from a brochure or a webinar- I am so glad that I went and was able to see those moments for myself! BTW- I had my yearly classroom training for Sandals & Beaches while I was there and the updates & upgrades at all of the properties are fantastic -Sandals just really keeps raising the bar! I learned alot and the 4 hrs flew by! As I get a chance I'll keep adding to this thread on the different villages at the resort and the amenities, wedding info ect!

A couple of notes to put things in perspective on the additional costs- Try pricing out the same exact items & quality at home and see how quickly it all adds up! Don't forget to add in the items that Sandals / Beaches are including for free, such as your official, location, cake & champagne toast for B&G, taking the time to process the paperwork for you, having a WC both prior & onsite to assist with ideas and booking entertainment vendors, flowers ect-that's almost a full time job running around at home getting all of that done and as the saying goes....time is money! Weddings, unfortunately, can add up rather quickly and are expensive! One thing to keep in mind is that with the photo packages you get the rights to have those reproduced- it may seem pricey on the initial outlay and many that haven't priced out wedding photographers at home & the package inclusions and additional fees tend to get sticker stock! But to get those rights at home usually cost at least a couple of grand on top of the photographers fee for just coming to the wedding! Of course it depends on the area you live in but most photographers will not release those rights- all pictures have to be reproduced by them or again you will pay a hefty fee to secure th erights to your own photos!! I also wanted to address the charges for a private sit down 3 course meal- first off, you aren't required to book it, with 10 rooms you get a free 30 minute champagne & appetizer reception. However if you want it private and more elaborate for you & your guests then Sandals / Beaches (or any other AI resort for that matter ) has to dedicate additional staff for setting up the area, prepping, cooking and cleaning the kitchen area that they used for your specific menu, serving, bar tending and clean up of the dining area. The staff will likely be at work before your wedding even starts and will be at work long after your gone! These individuals are only there for you! If they were to pull staff from other areas it would negativly impact the rest of the guests and if I was on vacation and that happened to me- 25% of the staff were working a wedding- I'd be pretty irate! Anyways I hope that helps to explain the fee a little better for the private reception costs and other add ons- I know it's a big question with new DW brides! Quote: Originally Posted by keriwitak This "CAREFREE" wedding of mine is starting to get expensive! I am also considering a silk bouquet- otherwise I should just sign over my first born child to Sandals. Pictures, hair appointment, bouquet...... When will the additional costs end?....

May 8, 2009 Greetings Jennifer, We would like to begin by thanking you for your ongoing and continued support, as we know it has been quite challenging. There has been an overwhelming amount of negative media coverage reported these past few weeks and we are sad to say that the majority of reporting is considered to be a lot of hype and misinformation. It is very important to understand and focus on the facts under these circumstances and our goal is to help you do just that. The Facts: •According to Mexico’s Health Minister, José Angel Córdova, of the 159 deaths reported during the flu outbreak in the country, only 16 were confirmed to be associated with the swine flu. oOnly 10% of the number originally stated by the media oPopulation of Mexico City: 26.7 million people oRelative percentage of people infected in Mexico City: 5 ten millionths of one percent oThe United States reports 38,000 deaths per year to the regular flu •According to Quintana Roo State Secretary of Tourism, no fatal cases of influenza have been reported in the main tourism destinations: Cancún, Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit and Huatulco •The BBC has reported the influenza is in decline, according to Mexican Health Minister, Jose Cordova. •CNN reports, the health alert drop in Mexico City is a sign that Mexico City is successfully overcoming the influenza and the preventative actions taken are producing positive results, states Mexico City Mayor, Marcelo Ebrad. •The World Health Organization is NOT recommending travel restrictions. Scientific research indicates that restricting travel will be of limited or no benefit in stopping the spread of disease, according to the WHO. •CNN’s travel expert, Peter Greenberg states the H1N1 reporting has been blown out of proportion and has created an unnecessary ‘abundance of fear’. Watch the interview here. Listen to what guests currently in Mexico are saying: •“If you watch the national media, you are misinformed.†YouTube - Testimonial from Cancun •“If you're thinking about coming to Mexico, the rates are down, the airfare is cheap, so get down here before the rest of the country finds out.†YouTube - Testimonial from México Even with the negative reports, Mexico tourism remains active and all restaurants, cafes, libraries, museums, churches and archaeological sites are open. We strive to keep you and your clients completely informed and hope we have done just that. Again, we thank you for your continued support and look forward to working together in promotion of travel to Mexico. Viva Mexico! Sincerely, Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets and Dreams Resorts & Spas I received this today and although I had randomly heard the stats here and there I thought that this may assist some of our brides with their guests whoo may be nervous!

Quote: Originally Posted by itsfinallyhere The idea I have is a nice wooden box maybe engraved. You might be able to pick up a hand made one when you get there. He could use it for jewelry or change. I loves boxes so whenever I am stumped I get a box of some kind. You could have the quote you wanted on the koozies engraved on the box! I gave my husband a silver hip flask engraved with our names & wedding date and it's been 11 yrs and he still takes it out & uses it when he goes snowmobiling or fishing with the guys!

Try Sandals Montego bay- they have a chapel onsite in the gardens!

Sand & Sun Vacations is pleased to let all BDW brides know of two fantastic promos that we were able to negotiate with our suppliers for Sandals resorts! This is great for those who are looking to have a DW this year or if they are looking for an amazing stress free honeymoon! Booking Window: May 6, 2009 – May 23, 2009 Travel Window: June 15, 2009 – December 15, 2009 Resorts: All Sandals Resorts Min Length of Stay:5 nights Offer: $150 Gift Card per booking to Sunglass Hut (3rd room category -most resorts this will be premium rooms and higher) AND $150 Red Lane® Spa credit per suite for Butler Suite category bookings Offer is valid on NEW bookings only. To qualify for the spa credit, bookings must be in a butler suite category. Offer is not combinable with other resort/spa credits. However, it is combinable with other consumer savings promotions. It is also combinable with Sandals Select Points. May not be applicable to group bookings. Shades of Paradise Sandals Resorts and Travel Impressions want to help you get ready for your vacation in paradise with some new shades. Plan your 5-night romantic getaway* to any Luxury Included® Sandals Resort and receive a $150 gift card to Sunglass Hut. Book a Butler Suite and you will also receive a $150 Red Lane® Spa Credit! Choose from among these exotic destinations for the Sandals Resort of your choice: Jamaica, Antigua, St. Lucia and the Bahamas. All Sandals Luxury Included® vacations include: All meals and anytime snacks; unlimited premium drinks, including Beringer® house wines; gourmet dining at up to 11 restaurants per resort; luxurious accommodations in a range of categories; scuba diving and water sports; golf (in Jamaica and St. Lucia); carefree wedding package; airport transfers; tips gratuities, resort taxes and much more. OR Book any Sandals / Beaches resort and receive a $250.00 Spa credit! Booking must be deposited by 5/31/09 for travel by : Sandals 5/1/09-12/26/09 Beaches 05/01/2009- 12/20/2009 Must be in third category room or higher! Offer valid for new bookings made with Sand & Sun Vacations!

It's recommended that you send notorized copies ( and yes, each & every page needs to be notorized/certified)and sent in to Sandals 60 days prior or you'l pay a late fee of $ 150.00. It's recommended that you send them certified mail and have a recieved confirmation. I've never had a problem for my brides but it's not to say it won't happen! For Jamaica that is all you need- for Antigua , St. Lucia, Turks & Caicos and the Bahamas you will need to hand carry the originals with you in addition to sending the paperwork in!

I just got back yesterday from Beaches Turks & Caicos- what an amazing property! It has 3 villages that all offer a different ambiance but provides a vacation for whatever your in the mood for! The French Village was very quiet and set back, the rooms were really large and very nice! I didn't have any complaints about mine at all! The Caribbean village had brighter colors, lots of flowers & foliage,was closest to the beach and the rooms that I saw were great! Not sure about the lower categroy rooms though as we didn't see those. The new Italien village was the busiest area- a bit more high rise than the others but very upscale & elegant! Amazing rooms! You have access to the entire property so the choices are endless! Definately try the Cafe de Paris- great cookies, crepes & chilled mocha cappecinos! There are a ton of restaurants (16) with amazing food and snack shacks throughout the property and the beach is wonderful! I loved that it was all inclusive and offered something for everyone! From the little kids to teenagers to the older couples who went without any kids! I would even recommend this for honeymooners as there are adult only restaurants & hot tub but honestly the kids we saw were so well behaved and busy that it wasn't an issue! The airport- welllll.......definately needs some upgrades and be sure to use the restroom on the plane as there isn't one until after you leave customs and then you have to go outside and walk in at the departure area! Hopefully by the end of next week I'll have my pics & a full report up in the Sandals section!

Hi Britni! The basic wedding ( now called the carefree wedding ) is free regardless of the room category. However you will still be responsible for the island givermental fees. If you stay for 6 nights in a concierge room (Sandals) then Sandals will actually pay those required goverment fees for you! HTH! Quote: Originally Posted by Britni I have been to SRC three years in a row, and just got back a couple weeks ago (and that's where we got engaged!) We just love it there, the staff is wonderful, as is the property and everything else. We are considering getting married there in a small, private ceremony in April. If you have any specific questions about that resort in particular, please feel free to ask. Although I don't know much about the weddings there, I know a good deal about the resort itself from our prior three stays. I will also be continuing to research wedding options there (trying to decide if the free carefree package will work for us, along with some add-ons). Actually, while I am writing this I might as well ask- do you know if you MUST stay in a concierge level room in order to qualify for the free carefree wedding package? I think the website is confusing and unclear on that. They make it sound like you qualify no matter what room you stay in, but you may have to pay the govt/admin fees of $200 (which I totally wouldn't mind, it's just that it is not totally clear to me whether the wedding would actually be free for me because of the level room we will likely stay in). Any insight on that would be great! Britni

Yes, all brides will receive a garmet bag once their wedding details are finished!