Hello fellow BDW forum users. I was just a lurker, but found this website very helpful in the planning process. Thanks to the discourse in this thread and many others, our wedding was a great success. I feel the least I can do is help a few others out. Here is the review I put on Trip Advisor a moment ago. I may post more about the wedding itself in this thread if people are interested. Wilma will take care of you and answer all your questions in due time. Here is the review I put on Trip Advisor a moment ago. “PERFECT Wedding!!†Pending review
I read through alot of Trip Advisor reviews before booking our wedding at Playacar Palace, March 29th, 2012. I have never written a review before, but feel it is my obligation to the Playacar Palace Hotel and their wonderful staff to relay to everyone what an amazing job they did, exceeding our expectations in every way possible.
We have traveled to the Dominican once and Jamaica once before, but had never been to Mexico.
Many of the people on our trip (40 in total) had never been on a hot vacation before, let alone gone to Mexico. I am sure most would tell you it was the time of their life.
I can only echo any and every good comment that precedes mine. Any negative reviews I have read would lead me to infer that these people were miserably unhappy people, who do not enjoy life.
Some of the things that might separate this resort from others are (in no particular order):
-Location is literally 30 second walk to 5th Avenue (Shopping, Restaurants, Night Life), Senor Frogs and Ferry to Cozumel.
-The staff seem to outnumber the guests (in a good way) and are very friendly. Impeccable service!!
It is a smaller hotel (only 208 rooms), so that may lend itself to a more personal experience.
I would give names but literally every staff member was a pleasure to be around.
-No reservations required for a the la carte restaurants, (Asian and Italian, both are phenomenal) and if you are a picky eater, just ask they will make you whatever you want.
Also 24 hour room service.
-Food is amazing, something for everyone, I didn't even get to try many things because there was always so many choices. (I can eat and portion size isn't my strong suit)
My younger brother has 2 young kids (3 & 4) with serious gluten allergies and he was worried about what they would be able to eat, again the hotel staff delivered with flying colors.
-Beach is gorgeous, nice sand, nice water to swim, no need to reserve chairs(seaweed is non-issue).
-Resort Credits, "they are who we thought they were". Amazing value, enough good things could not be said about this program. Thoroughly enjoyed by all of our guests. Especially if you like to golf.
-Spa is very nice; used their sauna, cool rain shower, steam room, cool waterfall, hot tub, foot massage tub combo, had a deep tissue massage and felt much relief after, especially since I have a nagging lower-back (fun times). The spa is attached to the pro shop and is about a 3 minute shuttle from the hotel lobby.
-Golf -
I had a hard time finding good information prior to the trip so I will include all I know here.
I have played many nice courses, including most/all Manitoba has to offer, in the Victoria area Bear Mountain, Olympic View, Highland Pacific, Arbutus Ridge, Northview in Surrey, Chaska in Minnesota, Guavaberry in the Dominican.
We did not make it to the Cancun area to play the 27-hole and 18-hole Jack Nicklaus courses that were also included, but I am sure they are nice as well.
Playacar Golf Course - This course will not leave you disappointed.
The front nine is tougher than the back nine (which includes a number of short par 4's). Every hole has character with lots of bunkers, water hazards, nice greens, doglegs (11 is a double-dog, 560 yard par 5). I played this course 3 times from the whites, but they also had blues and blacks for low handicappers and reds for the ladies. Challenging, but definitely playable for all skill levels.
The first round we played the best shot from our foursome, the second round I played my own ball (shot around 89 after going like 10 over par on the first 4 holes, I'm usually low 80's-ish) and last round was 2 on 2 best ball. We had no problem getting tee-times, and used our resort credits to pay for the rounds.
($200 - regular price, $170 - before 7 a.m. and $130 after 1 p.m.)
Also, all your food and drink is part of the all-inclusive. Just ask and you shall receive.
Our last round on Saturday, we had our own cooler full of ice, as many Sol, Dos Equis and water we could fit in there. Ordering spicy caesars that came closer to the real thing than any bloody mary I have ordered outside of Canada. As well as, ordering cheese burgers and clubhouse sandwiches instead of the turkey,ham or roast beef croissant sandwiches (which are also good) usually found on the cart.
Wedding Coordinator - Wilma
I could not say enough good things about Wilma, that would do justice to the wedding experience she has given us. She is professional, hard working, organized and very friendly.
We did not so much as lift a finger, just pick out a few of the details and watch her and her staff make magic happen. Everything about the wedding was perfect and went off without slightest of concerns (apparently I can't spell my middle name).
We had a large audience watching .... as the beautiful bride walked down to the beach.
In the days to follow, I had so many people, including those I hadn't even met, come up to tell me how much they enjoyed our ceremony.
It was undoubtedly the perfect wedding.
(and I was trying to be short with this...... sorry Work)
This experience has made me ask myself if I should start planning group wedding travel on the side, because the experience I had would be very hard to match.
p.s. I did not notice the construction until my 3rd day or so at the hotel, it was in no way a factor during any of our 40 guests stay in various sections of the hotel.
Alanak, congrats on your wedding! If that is breif, I can't wait to see what your actual review entails. Appreciate reading all you wrote. Sounds like you were able to represent on the partying front. My wife and I were so spent from the days that we didn't last much past midnight/1am most nights. Plus we knew there was many things to do the next day and it wasn't worth being too hungover. And I agree it doesn't seem like you have much time for yourself when only there for one week. Would love to go back and play a tonne of golf and check out the new spa. We didn't even make it to Cancun to play the 45 Jack Nicklaus holes. I can see how the resort credits are not quite as valuable to those who aren't going to golf, but there is still plenty to spend them on. Did you deal with Wilma at all? just curious if she is still there as she was so accomodating. Although I am not sure they advertise this space, I would just like to add that for groups 50 and under La Villa Suite is a perfect size venue. South end of hotel, on the 5th floor with a huge balcony overlooking the ocean. Only downfall is you have to move party at 10-11pm. I thought that was the case with the beach receptions as well, but maybe not? Good Luck