motherofthegroom

We were there last year at this time (late Sept early Oct) it is a great resort. The rooms are very nice although not the 'suites' they say they are, still they are fairly spacious. They have tubs, toilet & bidet in one room and sink with hairdryer in dressing room, separate from toilet area. Ask for an upstairs room on the ocean side and I think y ou'll have a view of the ocean, if you're downstairs all you see is thick shrub. The hotel is away from the beach (as are most newer Cuban hotels) so it's about a 5 minute walk to the beach. This resort is much smaller than Las Dunas which is next door, yet they are almost attached. They share the same spa, but you will have a complimentary spa tour, which is nice.. no free massage, but you can try the hot baths and the hot tub which is outdoors under a palapa.....it poured rain when we were there, it was like being in heaven! To give you an idea, Sol Melia has 360 rooms: 358 Double Standard, 2 Junior Suite, and Las Dunas had 925 rooms....... so you can see the difference. Neither is small but one is huge compared to the other. The food was fantastic, we tend to avoid the buffet's at these places, but when forcecd to eat there one night, were pleasantly surprised! it was great! huge choice, fresh food etc.. the buffet dining room is enclosed so no problem with mossies. If you want head onto tripadvisor and you can read my review. We even saw a wedding going on at the beach! it was sooooo nice! My son is getting married at Las Dunas in January '10. Best of luck and you'll not be disappointed! btw, I could have given it a 5* which it probably is for Cuba.....it's a great place, very quiet if that's what you're looking for.....read away! Complaints!!!!! ? - Review of Melia Cayo Santa Maria, Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba - TripAdvisor

thanks everyone, my son and I negotiated and as the dil's family didn't want to send out invitations, I have taken the job and am making them and sending to our family and friends. Wow, how weddings can be trying though! it's not always easy!

Quote: Originally Posted by MK1 Has anyone ever used (or thought of using) beer buckets (filled with beer, ice and soft drinks) as their centerpieces? While some people that I've mentioned this to think it's strange not to want flowers/candles/etc. as my centerpiece, I still think it's a fun idea. I can't seem to find any inspirational photos online though. My ideal beer bucket centerpiece is made out of glass/plastic and not the tin/metal cans. Help! Ok so this is just personal, but it's your wedding not a hockey banquet! lol......maybe you can find little beer bottle replicas and poke them onto long swizzle sticks and add a few hockey pucks to hold them in place...... try Ikea they have some great stuff.

Quote: Originally Posted by Susanandmo Welcome to the forum! thanks very much!

Quote: Originally Posted by motherofthegroom Wedding will be at Melia Las Dunas and we're wondering what is the protocol for tipping at the wedding? do we tip everyone? individually? one tip all together that they can split? how much did you tip? read somewhere that someone tipped the musicians really well, but wondering what is 'really well'? don't want to be cheap at all, but the wedding is 'free' as we are 23 ppl at present....anyone remember what they did for tips? thanks! Yikes, now I'm beginning to think this a strange question....no one will answer! I even posted over on the facebook site for mld brides and no one posted there either.......still lots of time so I'll just wait and see

oh yes and things are really looking up, I made it back here first shot! (bookmarked the page heheheh)

Quote: Originally Posted by LIW Unfortunately, site rules require you to have a minimum of 150 posts before you can open links to pictures and templates, etc. Since you only have 13 posts, that most likely why you are having trouble navigating the forum. Just keep posting away, you'll find once you have your minimum number of posts, things get a lot easier. NOwwwww I get it! I was beginning to think there was something wrong with me! seriously .......now I feel better, but have to go and post post post! Thank you so much ! everyone for the great answers!

Wedding will be at Melia Las Dunas and we're wondering what is the protocol for tipping at the wedding? do we tip everyone? individually? one tip all together that they can split? how much did you tip? read somewhere that someone tipped the musicians really well, but wondering what is 'really well'? don't want to be cheap at all, but the wedding is 'free' as we are 23 ppl at present....anyone remember what they did for tips? thanks!

Quote: Originally Posted by Amarillis Best Destination Wedding Forum ~ The Ultimate Destination Wedding Resource here is some info on meals the MLD... try to search the forum for info, there is a lot out there. there is also an MLD group on facebook for brides.. I'm sure they'd welcome a mother of the groom though!!! I cannot get anything other than being directed back to the main page when I hit that link! it's frustrating! I think I need BDW for dummies! usually I'm pretty good with this stuff. I also cannot navigate around this site, it's not so easy I guess. I'd love to do more research but can't when I keep going around in circles, not even sure how I managed to get back here! lol..... bye for now, maybe forever lol

I cannot get anything other than being directed back to the main page when I hit that link! it's frustrating! I think I need BDW for dummies! usually I'm pretty good with this stuff. I also cannot navigate around this site, it's not so easy I guess. I'd love to do more research but can't when I keep going around in circles, not even sure how I managed to get back here! lol..... bye for now, maybe forever lol

Fantastic replies, you must wonder why it's me doing this, well to be honest my future dil and son aren't interested it seems.....sad, so I'm doing the invitations for our side and friends and also trying to gather some information. Not sure if it's laziness or what, but apathy is more like it...I find it strange, but rather than dwell on it, have decided to ask questions.

Ok, these are great questions and answers, poor Ash who had a disaster made of her hair, but oh well, these things happen right? One last question that's bugging us? did you tip the night of the wedding and if so who and roughly how much? before or after etc... tks!!

Quote: Originally Posted by mandimai HI, We are planning a wedding for the Spring of 2010 at Melia Las Dunas, Santa Clara, Cuba, Anyone else have the wedding there and have any suggestions or things to avoid? Mandi Son is getting married there in January ! We're trying to find out what the protocol is for tipping at the wedding? does anyone know? should we tip the wedding planner? musicians? servers? I'm assuming yes, but how much would be appropriate? all information is welcome! Thanks ahead of time...... anyone else going to be there between January 8 or 9 and the 16th?

My future DIL and her mother are using Sear's Travel (Fairview/Montreal) price in January is pretty good for the group rate $1355 pp less for kids and they'll let you do 3 per room. Sear's is all over Canada so shouldn't be a problem. They'll usually price match so search around first. Also good is that we have people coming from different destination and they'll be part of the group rate, so at 21 ppl one goes free or the monetary equivalent is available to the couple to use however they want.

An update to that last post. My son and his fiance have chosen MLD as there destination ! woo hoo. We seem to have lots of people who are going to come on down! it should be a blast. It is a great resort and big so we can all have lots of room to move.