TA Wendy

Hello, Are any of the brides or guests booking swim out rooms? I actually prefer this room type to an ocean view at this resort! Nothing like being able to step right out into your own little personal finger of the pool!

Hi, and Welcome to the forum! Moon Palace is an awesome choice with something for everyone! Please let us know if you have any questions or we here on the forum and from Wright Travel can be of help to you!

Sara, there is also a thread here on the forum about To Travel Agent or not to Travel Agent... I posted this to that thread:

Great Review, Thank you Tygrrlily! Beach Palace is a great choice and with the Resort Credit program, plus the comp events you as the Bride and Groom can receive with group booking that totals 75 nights... all of your events complimentary.... this group of resorts can be the answer to your search for the perfect wedding resort! As a top producing agency for Palace Resorts properties, Wright Travel can help you through the entire process. Let us know if we can be of help to anyone considering one of the Palace Resorts!

Well Hi Sara, Thank you for asking! As you are finding out, destination weddings are a bit of a niche in the travel industry and it is important to select an agent who knows the process, the area and the resort! I have been one of e top producing agents for Excellence resorts for the past several years, and I know all of their properties and work with them very often. As an agent, working with me is at no charge to you. The group rates I can offer to you will be lower than what the resort would quote you direct, will include transfers from the airport, and if you go with a group contract rate for ten rooms or more can also include group amenities such as comp nights, upgrades and complimentary events for the group. I can also be your go to answer person for all your guests, speaking with them, taking their payments and delivering their documents. I am also there should any problems or issues arise and I work for you rather than the hotel, so am your advocate! I would be very happy to talk with you further and answer your questions and see if it is a fut for you! My direct email is [email protected] Regards, TA Wendy

When working with a TA and a group contract it is very important that you understand the amenities you are being offered, and how they work. With AM Resorts, owners of all the Nows, Dreams, Secrets and Zoetry properties, their group promotion is called the 3G Group promotion. It includes amenities such as: The Sixth Room in your group as complimentary for up to a maximum of 3 complimentary rooms. (These complimentary rooms are calculated based on your total number of rooms booked for each night the group is on site, and are given to you at time of final accounting as a $$ refund back to bride and groom credit card used for initial deposit on the group- you will not know exactly how much you have earned back as a credit until the group is fully booked and paid and then the calculations are done). 1 Complimentary VIP Room upgrade per 10 paid rooms. Complimentary room upgrades are based upon availability and are given to the next room category above the majority of rooms booked in the group. Maximum of 2 upgrades per group. What this means, and what I normally suggest to couples, is that this upgrade included in your group contract is based on availability and not guaranteed... So if there is a room type that you as the bride and groom have your hearts set on, it is really best to have us book it that way right from the start, and then give any upgrades earned to other VIPs of the wedding group.. ie Mom and Dad or MOH or such. Since it is not a guarantee, it is best not to be disappointed yourself if the hotel is full and the upgrade cannot be granted. Otherwise your upgrade is based on the hotel having the available space when you check in.. and this is not always a given! As long as you know what to expect, and are aware of how to book so you get the room category you are wishing for, then no one will be disappointed, and all will have a great experience here! With that said, our brides have been very happy with the rooms, service and amenities they have received at Now Jade.. it is a great choice, very reasonably priced, a convenient location and done in the prettiest jewel tone colors. Wright Travel does a great deal of business with AM Resorts, and our wedding couples are treated very well here! It is a great answer!

They are so different! Moon Palace is so large that it has something for everyone! Great choice of restaurants, lots to do, and a wonderful night club right on site. Azul Sensatori is wonderful for your foodies, because they have the only 5 Diamond restaurant in Mexico, outside of Mexico City.. Le Chique. The food in general at Azul Sensator may be a little more gourmet since they are very organic, grow their own veggies in their on site green houses, and are very creative in their menu prep. Both resorts are doing complimentary events for bride and groom right now. Palace does this always, with a group reaching 75 room nights your events are comped. They are both great choices! I would be glad to discuss or answer questions aboout either for you, or check pricing if you like, just give me a PM yell! TA Wendy

Why Use a Travel Agent? It’s a really good and valid question, and to be honest, sometimes the answer might actually be that you don’t need one! But we’ll come back to that. Most travel agents now prefer the title travel consultant or similar. Why? It has a lot to do with the advantages they offer today. Still, with all the websites, deal finders, mobile travel apps, and online services, a lot of people ask: why use a travel consultant? It’s not hard to do it yourself. It might even be fun! Or, it could turn into a huge disaster. Below are a few points to consider before clicking the BUY button or tapping yourself into a nonrefundable corner. 1. Experience. Think about what you do for a living. For nearly every profession, you can find a website, video, or app that gives potential customers a way to do it themselves. With a little help from the Internet you can fix your car, build cabinets, replace plumbing, write wills, draft contracts, cut hair, make clothes, buy shoes, do accounting, buy stock, cook, bake, and let’s not forget edit videos and touch-up photos. Finding instructions or tools is not the problem. Doing it RIGHT is the issue. If you put the wrong screw in the wall, it’s no big deal. If you put your family in the wrong resort, it’s a much bigger deal. It becomes even bigger if something goes wrong. Most people deal with planning a vacation once or twice a year. Travel consultants deal with it all day, every day and many have been doing it for years. Their livelihood fully depends on using their knowledge and experience to craft a vacation you’ll love so much that you’ll keep coming back for more. Websites and apps with advertising-driven, biased offerings are counting on your own lack of experience to push you to options that will earn them the most profit. Your satisfaction is not part of the display algorithm. 2. Real Deals. Have you ever wondered why some cruises, resorts, or hotels seem to have cheaper deals on some websites? There’s always a reason. Sometimes, it’s a good reason. Sometimes, it’s a very bad reason that you won’t know about until you arrive and it’s too late. There’s always a reason, and a great price is not always a good deal. For example, every hotel has “undesirable” rooms they have trouble filling. Smaller rooms in noisy areas, rooms that haven’t been renovated lately, or those that overlook the dumpsters are always cheaper than nice ones in quiet areas with good views. Websites are perfect for liquidating those rooms at bargain rates. Unfortunately, these so-called deals rarely mention things like smelly carpet or noise. It’s also no coincidence that many require full payment upon booking and are nonrefundable. Even the most beautiful cruise ship has cabins they have trouble selling. The ones directly under the dance floor of the all-night disco, or the ones near the anchor chain that bangs against the side of the ship are just two examples. There are plenty of hard-to-sell cabins that are perfect for online deals. To be fair, sometimes you can get lucky online! Sometimes the deals are real and worth the risk. Sometimes. Travel consultants know the legitimate deals from the come-ons. They’ve been trained to uncover the reason behind the bargain. They understand travel lingo, know what to look for and most importantly: they know what to avoid. 3. Transparency. With websites and apps, you may not know what you’ll actually be paying! Many hotels add nightly “resort fees” of $25 to $50 on top of the discounted rate apps and websites display. Of course, you won’t know about them until you check out. Even rental cars can end up costing double the online rate once extra charges like airport fees, taxes, surcharges and such have been added. Travel consultants know these little details. They make sure you are never unpleasantly surprised. You’ll always know exactly what you’ll be paying and what you’ll get for it. 4. Options. When you buy a cruise or vacation package online, you’ll almost always be required to pay for the entire trip up-front. Did you know that travel consultants offer another option? Usually they can hold the space for you for a small deposit of around $150 to $200. Final payment is not due until between 30 to 60 days prior to departure. In many cases, you can change your plans or cancel entirely prior to final payment! In addition to the payment options, travel consultants can research and suggest alternatives to what you may have requested. While “Resort A” may be wonderful, its website will never tell you that “Resort B” has a nicer beach or better rates, or that that its own casino is closed for loud and dusty renovations. 5. Advice and Connections. Travel consultants offer something you’ll never find online or in an app: professional advice. Online, every resort or cruise is made to look beautiful and appealing. But, it’s no bargain if you end up regretting the trip. The main reason to use a travel consultant is to make sure you never waste a penny on a vacation you won’t truly enjoy. There’s one more thing you’ll only get from a travel consultant: relationships. They have real one-to-one personal relationships with travel suppliers that can fix things should something happen to go wrong. If a travel app messes up your reservations, you’re on your own. But with a travel consultant – you’ll have an advocate on your side with connections. In other words: a human who cares. To the machines, you’re nothing but their data. Also, you might have heard that some travel consultants charge fees for their professional service. Like other skilled advisors, the best often do. But fees don’t mean you’ll always pay more. In fact, they’re likely to save you more than you ever imagined. When You Don’t Need a Travel Consultant It’s true. Sometimes you might not need a travel consultant. If you’re willing to take some risks, and not be concerned if something goes wrong, you might get lucky with the apps and websites. Many people do. Travel consultants just prefer not to gamble.

Those of us who are TAs here on the forum are experts in Destination Weddings and would love to assist you with selecting your perfect resort, answering all of your and your guests questions, arranging everyone's rooms, transfers, air if desired, and distributing travel documents and overseeing the group from start to finish! Please give one of the TAs of Wright Travel Agency a try! TA Wendy

I think that it is worth considering that when your guests arrive at your chosen resort they have that "Wow, this is wonderful!" reaction, not "oh yuck, we are staying here?" reaction... It makes me nervous when a couple I am working with puts price and only price as their deciding issue for chosing a resort. The old adage of You get what you pay for, has some merit.. going with the cheapest just because it is the cheapest, may get you a low cost trip, but is it really what you want the guests to experience and remember about your wedding? The point above about looking a little closer is a good one! Palace Resort may initially seem a little higher, but when each room of guests is receiving $500 to spend in on site credits for a 3 night stay, this can really make the trip more affordable and the guests are going to remember what a wonderful place it was, what a great time they had, how awesome their room was, etc.. which is really the memories you want to build! If I can answer any questions or help anyone to find their perfect resort, just PM me! TA Wendy

I know that this is a possibility at Iberostar Grand Riviera Maya, as they did this from a barge when I was there for the Love Mexico Destination Wedding event. I do not think they are allowed in the Hotel Zone though.. If I can help let me know! TA Wendy

True! ... and it is a beautiful chapel! Moon Palace has so much to offer! Please let me know if I can answer questions for anyone about Moon Palace or Palace resorts in general! TA Wendy

Hi, Just my opinion but glad to share! Iberostar Cancun is a beautiful property, in a great location! It is modern, and lobby, rooms and facilities are all very impressive. They have a great beach, and are close to all the fun of the Hotel Zone. If I have any criticism of Iberostar chain in general is that sometimes their properties feel a little generic.. like when you are inside the resort could be in Mexico or Las Vegas.. they do not have a whole lot of local flavor.. but that said, the use of granite, and crystal and top quality materials is lavish. the food is great, and I think it is a great choice. If I can be of any help to you in getting prices, or general information please just let me know! TA Wendy

Hi New brides, I just wanted to add my voice to the welcomes here. You will find such a supportive community and lots of information here on the forum. If I can be of any help to any new brides looking to discuss resorts in Cancun and Riviera Maya area, this is my specialty, and I would love to offer any assistance. Please feel free to PM me with any of your Travel questions! Best to all, TA Wendy

Joacevedo15, The Gran Porto has areas around and near the pool area that can be used for your reception if you dont wish to use the beach. Also, althought the Gran Porto does not have a chapel on site, if you are wishing to use a Catholic Chapel for your ceremony there is a charming one on 5th Ave nearby... Let me know if I can be of any assistance in booking your group for you or answering any of your questions!

Morgan, The wedding department on site has recently had quite a bit of turn over... however your travel agent should be able to interceed and get a reply. I know that when any of the brides I work with have had problems in getting communication or answers from wedding coordinators I can normally get a very quick reply with one email as they do know me and our agency very well and tend to give our brides very good service. I would advise having your travel agent email for you right away.

Hi, Yes, the bathroom is pretty open! The toilet and shower both do have a frosted glass door, but the rest of the bathroom is open concept. It would be fine for a couple, but if 2 or 3 friends were sharing, or a family with mom and dad and a couple of kids, it might be a privacy issue! Regarding the beach, it is nice, but I agree as you get further south into the Hotel Zone I like it a little better. Hope that helps! If you need a hand in getting group rates for your guest at this or other of the properties just let me know and I would be glad to assist.

Hi All, For any brides considering having their wedding at The Beloved, good for you! This property is an excellent choice.. boutique size and feel, very upscale, beautiful large rooms, awesome food and an amazing beach. I will be on site visiting from this Sunday until Aug 21 if anyone would like me to photograph anything or needs any questions answered. Best wishes! TA Wendy Wright Travel Agency

My pleasure! Please let me know if I can help you with making your group booking for the group.. I would be glad to work with you! TA Wendy

Hi Beach Palace Brides, TA Wendy here.. I wanted to chime in on the day pass note in the previous review. Yes, Palace as well as all other All Inclusive resorts does charge a Day Use pass fee for anyone who is not staying at the resort but wishes to enter to attend any event. Additionally, Palace resorts has a policy for groups called "One Source Group booking" which means that if you have booked as a group with a group contract, and your guests choose to book elsewhere, even if it is staying in the very same hotel, but booked another way, then there WILL be an additional fee for those folks to attend your events, typically in the range of $60-$75 per person per event. Part of the reason for this is to help you as the wedding couple to achieve your group numbers in order to recieve your group amenities, such as complimentary events, and therefore really benefiting all of the guests with the private events you will be doing for the group. If someone books to stay elsewhere, or even books another way at the same resort, then their numbers are not counted into your group, you receive no credit for them, and they do need to pay additional to come in and attend. I always really discourage any guest who asks about the possibility of staying elsewhere and just coming in for the wedding or events... it not only will make them feel a bit like the kid with their nose pressed to the candy shop window.. sort of like an outsider, but it defeats one of the main purposes of attending a destination wedding.. that of having the leisure time together with bride and groom to hang at the pool, or have a drink in the lobby bar, or just relax and enjoy one another's company. Additionally, often by the time someone takes a cab from where they are staying, (cabs are not cheap in Cancun due to a very strong taxi driver union), and they pay a day use fee to enter, they very possibly could have stayed right on site for just about the same amount, and will get much more enjoyment out of it besides! Of course there are some guests that will do thier own thing no matter what, but I normally suggest that couples give direction to their guests who are going to attend, telling them just how to go about booking their stay, and given the instructions, most guests will book into your group as instructed. This is the paragraph I give the couples I work with to share with their guests: In order to provide our guests with the lowest price and best service, we have blocked a group of rooms for you all. We have selected a travel agent who specializes in Destination Weddings who will be coordinating the reservations for everyone. To reserve your room for the wedding please contact our agent, Wendy Hicks of Wright Travel. She can be reached by email at [email protected]. She will be happy to take your deposit and answer any questions about the wedding travel for you. All that said, Beach Palace is a most wonderful choice! Great location, warm and wonderful service, great food, and they have some awesome wedding locations including their sky wedding terrace at the top.. such beautiful views from there! If I can be of assistance to anyone looking to have their wedding at Beach Palace or any of the other Palace resorts, just PM me and I would be glad to help! TA Wendy

Hi Ladies, TA Wendy here... I work very frequently with both Excellence properties and because the wedding coordinators know me I can often get quick response from them if they are being a bt delayed in response. If anyone needs a bit of help or would like some information on blocking your group of rooms, I would be very happy to assist. Excellence Playa Mujeres is a great choice, with large and beautiful rooms, great food, easy to get to location, and wonderful entertainment. If you can budget for it, I especially reccommend bride and groom book into one of the swim out rooms... so wonderful, and even if not all have ocean view, I think the ability to have your little private garden area and step into the pool really makes it well worth it! If I can be of any help to anyone, just PM me! Happy planning! TA Wendy

Hi Ladies, To answer your comment about how to instruct your guests to RSVP, Smileitseb, here is the little paragraph I give to the couples I work with to put on their wedding website or save the date cards: In order to provide our guests with the lowest price and best service, we have blocked a group of rooms for you all. We have selected a travel agent who specializes in Destination Weddings who will be coordinating the reservations for everyone. To reserve your room for the wedding please contact our agent, Wendy Hicks of Wright Travel. She can be reached by email at [email protected] She will be happy to take your deposit and answer any questions about the wedding travel for you. If I can be of any help to anyone, please just PM me or shoot me an email! Cancun/Riviera Maya is my specialty area and area of expertise, and I am happy to answer questions about working with a TA! TA Wendy from here on the forum!

Hi all, Sorry it took a little while to get a response from the management at Sandos Playacar.. but I just heard back with this answer: As for A/C in Sandos Playacar, basically all restaurants are air conditioned except the Festival buffet and Iztapalapa Mediterranean restaurant since they are "open" an all sides. We are aware of our guests comments and are currently doing maintenance on the air condition equipments in all restaurants in order to ensure that they are all running on maximum capacity. So I hope that helps!

Hi, I will send a message to our rep and double check.. we just ate there one night, and we were set up outdoors next to the beach! I ate one breakfast there at the adults only restaurant below the main lobby where they have the buffet, and it WAS air conditioned. I will see what I can find out about the a la carte restaurants and air... back to you shortly!

Hi, Forevertogether, I personally prefer the Central Beach area as it is a little more tucked in near the resort and a little less public. ACW271011, these observations are not true always, but I dont want to mislead you, it is a very popular and trafficked area and beach, and CAN occur. Part of what makes it so popular, its great location, also can make the beach a little crowded and lots of catamarans etc... Personally I think the pluses really do outweigh the minuses, but if a more private beach is on your list of must haves, then this may not be the best property for you. If you still want to be in the area, but just a little further south and not so busy, for the same ball park of $$ you have some of the Playacar resorts, The RIU Palace Riviera Maya, or at an even lower price point is Sandals Playacar, and its beach is actually far enough away from the thick of things that you would not have nearly the traffic.