mpweddingplan

Also, just so you know....November is NOT their slow season.  Its actually one of their busier seasons.  By November, hurricane season for the Atlantic has passed, and it is much colder in most parts of the US.  Its a peak time for people to travel to Mexico.

Originally Posted by JeanaBeena 

 

Curious how everyone chose to handle the group bookings for their travel. Did you just go through the hotel directly and sign their group contract?

 

I was originally going to do so, but the group rate they gave me is pretty ridiculous. This is what I was given for November 2013 (SLOW season)

 

 

 

All Inclusive		AUG 25/13 - DEC 23/13
Room Type	SGL	DBL	TPL	QUA	5th.	6th.	CHL
Superior Deluxe - Garden View	343	191	178	172			61
Superior Deluxe - Ocean View	365	202	189	183			61

 

According to this, a room with 2 adults would be $382. On expedia, you can get the same room for $350. Also, if you book direct, by the chart above, 4 adults in a room would cost $688 where on Expedia - it's still just $350. Everywhere else charges PER ROOM, not per person.

 

I hate to ask people to pay more money to go thru the hotel directly, but with a planned guest attendance of 100+, I need to make sure I earn the 75 room night benefits, and still allow everyone to get their resort credits, etc.

 

So can I use a travel agent instead and are their rates more in line with Expedia/cheap caribbean? Are you still able to earn the function benefits/upgrades? Has anyone tried asking for a better group rate direct from the hotel?

I'm sorry, but this part in BOLD, especially the last sentence, makes no sense at all.  You have to realize that this is an all inclusive resort.  All the meals and all the drinks (including alcohol) is fully included in the costs of your stay.  Maybe a regular hotel room could charge the same amount for 2 people in a room as they do for 4 people in a room, because all they are offering you is a room.  But in this case, the resort has to supply food and drink for every single person in the room for the course of their stay.  There is NO WAY they would ever charge you the same for 2 people in a room, as they would for 4. 

You do get a slight discount if you put more people in a room, because you are only taking up one of the resorts rooms, and that allows them the ability to book more guests during that same time.  But you of course have to pay for the all-inclusive benefits of all guests that will be staying in that room. You see what I'm saying.  It would make no sense whatsoever to charge the same for 2 people as it would for 4.  Even if they are staying in the same room.

I'm not sure what Expedia has going on, but I assume that their info is wrong, or it is being misinterpreted.  Its not possible for the resort to offer those prices.  I have a feeling something is off with the Expedia information. 

Also, those rates look about right.  I know it may seem expensive, but when you look at all that is being offered and everything you get for that price, its actually a great deal. 

Originally Posted by LindseyColleen 

 

Hello!  I was wondering the same thing.  And along those same lines, does anyone know if they use beer cans or beer bottles?  I am working on having beer koozies made.  Thanks in advance for your help!

 

They use can beer.  But about 99% of the time, you are going to get beer from a tap.  Most bars have only Dos Equis on tap.  Some bars have both Dos Equis and Sol on tap.  And at some of the bars you can get a can of Tecate Light.  But most of the bars are only going to serve beers on tap out of a keg.

Originally Posted by KristieT 

 

To all the PAST Palace Brides-

 

Weird Question- what size glasses do they serve at the private functions for drinks? I want to order some special straws but am unsure if I should order the short cocktail length or tall normal length?

 

Thanks!

-K

This is a tough question.  It really all depends on where your private function is going to be located.   The resort has so many different bars, restaurants and areas to cater an event....and they have numerous types of glassware for each and every bar.  Like most bars, they will most likely make your drink in the glass most appropriate for the drink.  If you are going to order some special straws, I would go with the taller normal length.

Originally Posted by Michelle15 

 

Thank you I will def ask!! Btw ur pictures are beautiful congrats!!

Thank you!  We are seriously thrilled about how the photos came out!

Originally Posted by Michelle15 

 

Hey ladies is Ocean photographer (smile market)the only vendor Moon Palace uses?

There are some other acceptable photographers that Moon Palace will allow, however, you will have to pay a fee to bring them into the resort.  Depending on who you speak with, you will either have to pay for a day pass for the photographer, book them a room for a night, or pay a hefty 'vendor' fee.

We used Del Sol Photography for our wedding at Moon Palace.  Because they have a great working relationship with Moon Palace, they are an 'approved' photographer, so we were only required to pay a day pass to the resort ($91) for both the photographer and the assistant.

The Mexican flags banners and lights draped across the ceiling came from Zuniga. They set up everything for the reception.

I just wanted everyone to know that our professional photos came in from Del Sol Photography this week.  They are amazing and we are so glad we chose them.  I wanted to post the link to the slideshow here, in case anyone wants to check out their work.  Chosing them to do our photos was probably the best decision we made. 

Here is the link:

http://delsolphotography.com/blog/content/galleries/?gal=807

Here is a preview of a couple of our favorites:

How does the resort tax work? Do you pay cash for the tax at time of use for the credits? Or do they add the tax up on your bill at the end of the trip for the total of credit you use?

Originally Posted by shan0487 

 

That is only for people who booked after that date, correct?  I have a sheet from the palace website that anyone that booked before April 2012 will not be charged the tax.  

I do not believe that is correct.  Its a tax imposed by the actual government.  I honestly think the resorts hands are tied on it. 

All of our excursions....including golf, spa and tours, were all subject to the 11% tax. 

We booked back in early 2011, and we paid the 11% tax on everything we used the credits on.....including room upgrades. 

Its possible you may be able to get around paying the 11% tax, I'm honestly not sure, but I would be prepared to pay the tax on any vacation dollars (resort credits) you plan on spending. 

Originally Posted by shan0487 

 

Summer do you have examples for the extra fees in regards to the resort credits?  Just so we know what to be aware of when I tell my guests?  Thanks!!!!

 

Glad you had an amazing time and everything was taken care of once you got there!

Starting in April of 2012, the Mexican Government is forcing the resorts to charge an 11% tax on all 'resort credits' used.  So if you use $100 vacation dollars (resort credits), you will have to pay $11 in taxes on it. 

Originally Posted by Speckles121 

 

Has anyone gotten the pricing for the laundry services that MP offers?? We are going to be there for 11 days total and theres not way I can pack that much clothing

I remember seeing the laundry price list in our closet while we were there....but I completely forgot to take a photo of it for information.  I will say though, that I recall the pricing to be somewhat high for a laundry service. 

I am having my welcome dinner on Friday night on one of the beach front terraces.  I was wondering if I should order the ipod set up to play music during the welcome dinner?  Or do you think that will be too much? 

I have a very similar issue. I have family in Mexico and they think the prices at Moon Palace are insane and they will be staying at cheap Cancun hotels, even though I told hem not to and that I can only have 20% of my guests from outside of the hotel, but they dont care. So now i am afraid of calling Moon Palace and asking because they will know, and if they tell me no, i cant sneak them in lol. If you find anything, let me know. I will try calling tomorrow and see what they say. Ugh. More stress... Also, does anyone have Renee as their coordinator? She has failed to contact me for almost 3 weeks after 3 people have cc'ed her to email me...

Originally Posted by CurlyBride 

 

Thank you, Obviously I urged my guests to stay with us but some really did get much better deals such as families with children that are staying at resorts where children stay and eat free! for example the difference in price for my cousin is a whole $800 if she stays at a nearby Riu property taht is also all inclusive. maybe the pass is 91 and not 80. I should double check that. Im am annoyed that they are not willing to allow the extra 2 in so far. I cannot confirm to those to book their stay elsewhere until i am sure they will be allowed in. and if they wait for me to see if others will book so i can allow more people, a lot of time can pass as well and their own deals can expire. Very frustrating situation that can be resolved if Palace just says ok to 2 more bodies  

Understandable.  Moon Palace was having a kids stay and eat free promotion as well, but it was only for the summer.  I think it expires on August 31.  There were a few couples who took advantage of it for our wedding, but obviously would not be available for your wedding in November

With you only needing 2 extra day passes above your alloted 20%, I find it hard to believe that Moon Palace won't work with you on this.  My advice is to get in touch with someone in the wedding department.  Someone other than your 'wedding planner'.  I would try to call the weddings department and speak to a boss/manager.  The new 'wedding planner' department in Cancun doesn't really seem to have a good knowledge base about what they are doing.  They seem to be a middle man, just there to keep the brides off the backs of the actual on-site coordinators until they are ready to contact them. 

Originally Posted by CurlyBride 

 

Hello ladies,

 

I think we will do a private meet and greet on a terrace, or I may just tell all the guests to meet at the swing bar without an offical event. Thanks for all the help with this!

 

 

I now ran into a new problem with Palace resorts thats really bothering me.

I have about 10 people who will be staying at other resorts in the area but are traveling to mexico to attend my wedding.

The contract states Palace will onyl allow entry to 20% of my guests from the group booking and each that enters must pay $80. So far I have 38 peopel booked, that means about 8 can enter the resort. What am i to do about the 2 more that i need passes for. I emailed my wedding coordinator at the cancnun office (Maria) who checked and said she cant really do anything? but my family needs to know if they should book or not?

Anyone found a loophole with this yet? PLEASE HELP

 

PS. i am pissed because they are limitnig access yet still except payment anyways so why not just let people in and charge them?

 

thanks in advance ladies

All 50 of our guests stayed at Moon Palace.  We did not have any guests stay off the property and did not run into this problem.  I do remember reading that policy, both on the website and on the contract.  I am not sure there is any way around it. 

Were you not aware of this policy?

I set up a group room block at Moon Palace and strongly urged all our guests to book through us.  They would get a better rate, and have a room in the section of the resort with all the other wedding guests.  After doing all the math, there were little to no benefits for guests to book a resort outside of Moon Palace. 

I didn't have to deal with this issue, so I am not exactly sure HOW strict they are with the policy.  The day passes were actually $91 per day for our group.  I had to purchase 2 for the photographers.  I wonder where the $80 day pass charge came from? 

Obviously they are trying to force as many guests to stay at Moon Palace as possible.  Allowing people from other resorts to come use all the Moon Palace amenities for the day for only $80 (or $91) not only costs them money by not getting the full amount per person for a room night, but also sacrifices the service for Moon Palace guests, by having more people from outside resorts coming in to use all the facilities. 

I can completely understand why they limit the amount of guests you can bring in on day passes.  However, I am not sure how strict the policy really is.  I would think that if you are over the limit by only 2 guests...they would be willing to work with you about it.  Or, if some of your guests have not fully booked yet, I think you should urge them to come stay at Moon Palace for the week with the rest of the wedding group, and you should be good with the day passes situation.

Also, if you are bringing in an outside photographer, you may have to purchase day passes for them, and those would count towards your 20% as well.  Just something to consider.

Sorry, typo in my last post. Why can't you edit your own posts?!!!! ....is a result of it ***BEING*** upstairs. (corrected)

Can soemone tell me if there is a fee per person associated with the Grand Terrace or Selva Terrace for a private function? I know there is a $6/$12 fee for the Carribean Terrace but I was not aware of the other terraces mentioned above. I appreciate everyones help with this in advance. Thanks!

Originally Posted by mwells 

 

So I have a questions for past brides or for  anyone who qualifies for unlimited events and room upgrade.....

 

Does anyone know if you get your room upgraded before you arrive or is this one of those things...if we have availability once you arrive? 

 

I can totally see them blowing us off if we have to wait until we arrive to find out if we get one.

I will say this....the resort was completely booked up during the week we were there.  Acutally, it was overbooked.  There was a group of 2900 guests from a Travel Group called "DreamTrips" who checked in on Wednesday.  I know the resort was overbooked, because the one family who came to our wedding, and did NOT book through our Travel Agents group room block, got a call from Moon Palace the week before our wedding, explaining the resort was overbooked, and asking them if they wanted to take thier vacation at one of the other Palace Resorts locations in Cancun (Beach Palace/Cancun Palace).  They explained they were coming to Moon Palace for our wedding, and did not choose to move to the other locations.

Our guests who checked in on Monday and Tuesday, were able to use thier resort credits to upgrade rooms.  Many of them initially booked either Garden View or Ocean View...and upgraded to Concierge Level, and had some of the absolute best rooms on the property.  Everyone who checked in on Wednesday, were told there were no available rooms to upgrade to (as the huge DreamTrips group had checked in on that day as well, and the resort was FULL).

Originally Posted by mwells 

 

Does anyone know the contact for booking excursions with your resort credits?   I want to do a group event but I never heard back from the contact I found, so I'm wondering if it's old.

I would try this contact to book excursions.  I used this contact to book golf.....but it seems to be an excursions desk.

Xochitl Esquivel Solis" <[email protected]>,

Originally Posted by CurlyBride 

 

Hi ladies, what are your plans for rehearsal dinners? meet and greets or farewell ideas?

 

I wanted to do a catamaran cruise as a fairwell but I cant do that until I know I have under 50 guests and people are still booking their trips.

 

Ideas please!

 

TIA

Our wedding was on Friday.  A majority of our guests arrived on Wednesday afternoon.

- on Wednesday, we did a private event guests meet & greet cocktail welcome party on the Caribbean Terrace at 7pm

- on Thursday, we had a rehearsal dinner (for wedding party and immed. family only - 26ppl) at Arrecifies at 6pm

- Friday was wedding

- Saturday - no farewell event...just all met at the pools to hang out

Originally Posted by mwells 

 

So I have a questions for past brides or for  anyone who qualifies for unlimited events and room upgrade.....

 

Does anyone know if you get your room upgraded before you arrive or is this one of those things...if we have availability once you arrive? 

 

I can totally see them blowing us off if we have to wait until we arrive to find out if we get one.

We got our room upgrade confirmed ahead of time by our Travel Agent.  If you are not using a Travel Agent, I think the room upgrade is based on availability upon time of arrival. 

Just a heads up to everyone who is going to be heading to Moon Palace for a wedding in the upcoming months.

Both the Andromeda Disco, and the Restaurant Mo Mo No No Ha Na are both still closed, and are being renovated.  There is quite a bit of construction and renovations going on in the Sunrise Lobby section.  They have recently put up some promotional material as well to explain the changes.  Here are some photos I took:

I have no idea if they have a completion date set, but at this current time, the Andromeda Disco is still closed for construction.  They have a DJ that plays music in the Sunrise Lobby area after 10pm instead of the Disco.

Here are some more random photos of the property:

The No Topless Sign is posted near all pools

This is a VIP section on the beach in the Sunrise Section

One of the many sitting areas that surround the Sunrise Pools

This is the pool near Los Tacos in the Grand Section

Shot of the Tucan Gazebo

Los Tacos pool area

One of the many iguanas hanging out on the property

Good photo of the hammocks on the sunrise section balconies

Rope Swing bar is located in the Sunrise Section pools area

Here are some quick photos of our room for the week.

It was a Presidential Suite in the Moon Grand Section.  There were no ocean views....but a very nice room with a ton of space.