aventura spa palace

[jszy10]

J-Me -- my husband, my mother-in-law and myself all did the dolphin swim and we loved it!!  Transportation isn't included, but it is literally a 3-4 min. cab ride away, so maybe $5?  They put you into a group of 8 or so and each group gets their own dolphin.  You get to learn a lot about them, touch them, kiss them, high five them, belly ride, etc. and a few of the dolphins show you some tricks.  The main thing I would say is DON'T let anyone pay full price for pictures.  We did end up with pictures, mainly because my mother-in-law and I really wanted them, but 'waited it out' and ended up paying the lowest price for the highest package there -- all of our pictures on a disc, dvd of our swim and a picture frame.  I think it might have been $90, which is rediculous still, but the highest package is listed at like $250 or something outrageous. 

 

My husband and I also went to Xcaret on our honeymoon and had a good time!!  That is part of the same company as Xel-Ha.

 

If you'd like, I can open up that photo album on my facebook as well -- the dolphin swim, Xcaret and snorkeling from the resort.  I actually don't think I made that one public?

[chase414]

I found some info on-line about how much of your resort dollars can be used towards the tours and other items.  i.e. you can't use all of your resort dollars towards the dolphin swim.  Hope this helps.  Also, it tells you the cost for each of the tours.

 

TOURS
You can use up to all of your vacation dollars on any of these select tours/activities:

• Chichen Itza ($120 per adult, $67 per child)
• Wet 'n Wild ($59 per adult, $53 per child)
• Isla Mujeres ($75 per adult, $40 per child)
• Coba ($80 per adult, $42 per child)
• Tulum/Aventura Cove Palace ($100 per adult, $67 per child)
• Ultimate Dolphin Swim (at Wet 'n Wild. Transportation for this activity is not included. $129 per person)

All participants in the Dolphin Swim Program must be at least 8 years old and no less than 48 inches tall. Ultimate Dolphin Swim maximum credit of $200 from 12/19/2011 - 01/02/2012; 03/30/12 - 04/08/12; 06/15/12 - 08/15/12. Tours and activities are provided by the Palace Vacation Planners.
GOLF
All vacation dollars can be used towards green fees and shared golf carts at the following courses: Moon Spa & Golf Club, Riviera Cancun Golf & Resorts, and Playacar Spa & Golf Club. Vacation dollars are applicable for golf rounds at regular price. Golf rounds include early fee, green fee, twilight fee, and junior fee and exclude all other fees. Transportation to the golf courses is included.
ROOM UPGRADE
All vacation dollars can be used towards a room upgrade available upon arrival. The cost of room upgrades will be based on the resort's rack rates. Please note you cannot use resort credits to upgrade to a Family Deluxe suite or Presidential Suite.
SPA/BEAUTY SALON SERVICES
Use up to the following vacation dollars on spa and/or beauty salon services:

• 3 night stay: 100 vacation dollars
• 4 night stay: 150 vacation dollars
• 5-8 night stay: 300 vacation dollars
• 9-11 night stay: 400 vacation dollars
• 12+ night stay: 500 vacation dollars

Services are subject to availability.
ROMANTIC DINNER
All vacation dollars are available for use towards a Romantic Lobster Dinner, which includes Moet & Chandon champagne, and surf & turf with lobster and high quality US Beef meat. Adults only ($175 per person).
UPGRADED WINE LIST
All vacation dollars are available for use towards selected award winning wines.

 

Originally Posted by J-me 

Former brides - did any of you do the dolphin swim (Dolphinaris?) using your resort credits?

 

I've done Xel Ha on a previous visit and loved it but many of my guests are wanting to stick to tours they can use credits towards (understandably) so thinking of doing the Dolphinaris on one of our days if it's worth it??

 

[AlmostMrsMcD]

Does anyone have pictures or any ideas of what you all are doing for centerpieces?  I'm trying to get my act together (finally!!!) and figure out what exactly I want to do.  I've seen some posts here and there about vases and paper flowers (I envy you for doing this BTW!!!! Wish I had the time!!!)  But there are soooo many posts and I'm still a newbie around here so can anyone give me a quick recap of some great ideas? 

I just bought the gummy flips flops online because I just loved that idea!  Also OOT Bags!  What are you all including?  For my bridesmaids I really stocked up on Cyber Monday and got great deals on Monogrammed Lands End Canvas bags, Flip Flops, and Vera Bradley towels for each of them.  This is just about the only thing I feel as though I have done right so far!  But for guest OOT bags I'm at a loss!  We already bought the water bottle wrappers and I guess I'll stop at walmart once we get down there and buy water for the bags.  My fiance was so impressed at my new found knowledge of this whole thing!  I bragged all night about how much I learned from you guys!  He was shocked there was a Walmart in the area. 

Really appreciate any feedback or ideas you guys could throw my way.

Oh and Do I even have to mention I'm a bride on a budget? A minimal budget at that!

[breeburns]

For the tours there was also a zip lining excursion called extreme kingdom zip line for 80$ a person, I sent an email asking about that so if I heard anything I'll let you know. I will be so disappointed because I know a lot of our guests including us really wanted to go. Also here is the tour info i got from a contact at the resort (Ana Karen Cruz) that I got told when the excursions are available: Excursion with Resort Credits: Tulum Express - Tue/Thur/Sat *$100 PP - Tour visit guide - Stop for Shopping -Pick up 9:05, Return 1:30 PM Chichen Itza - Mon/Wed/Fri     *$120 PP - Lunch- Tour visit guide  -Pick up 8:40 AM, Return 7:00 PM Isla Mujeres - Mon/Wed/Fri      *$75 PP - Shopping tour around the Island, Lunch Buffet included- Tequila Party at the Return to Marina Chac Chi- -Pick up 8:40, Return 6:30 PM Dolphin Premium Swim  - Everyday* $129 PP - 30 Minutes Swimming with Dolphins- Does not included transportation Golf Rounds Cost $200 and only at Moon Golf Course cost $240 Transportation included if the reservation is made  24 hrs in advance. Pick Up according with the arrangement for the Tee Time Only 4 persons per Tee* I noticed coba, zip lining and wet and wild were not on there so I emailed her back yesterday night but haven't heard back yet, I'll keep you posted!

[breeburns]

AlmostMrsMcD - there is a link where girls have posted their centerpieces check it out: http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/9012/post-your-centerpieces-here If it doesn't work click on the forums tab at the top, select BDW general and the click on wedding flowers decoration cake etc and it's halfway down the page and says post your centerpieces here. There are tons of ideas! I'm bringing gel beads (they are tiny and dry in a packet but grow to the size of a marble almost) with a submersible LED light at the bottom with a silk orchid or a real white rose in a cylindrical vase. I'm going to buy the vases in Mexico because I'm not going to have room in my luggage! Keep it simple is the easiest way to go! SxcT's centerpieces were my inspiration! Check out her planning link it's one of my favorites!

[sxcT]

Aww thanks girl!! 

 

Originally Posted by breeburns 

AlmostMrsMcD - there is a link where girls have posted their centerpieces check it out:
http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/9012/post-your-centerpieces-here
If it doesn't work click on the forums tab at the top, select BDW general and the click on wedding flowers decoration cake etc and it's halfway down the page and says post your centerpieces here. There are tons of ideas!
I'm bringing gel beads (they are tiny and dry in a packet but grow to the size of a marble almost) with a submersible LED light at the bottom with a silk orchid or a real white rose in a cylindrical vase. I'm going to buy the vases in Mexico because I'm not going to have room in my luggage! Keep it simple is the easiest way to go!
SxcT's centerpieces were my inspiration! Check out her planning link it's one of my favorites!

 

My centerpieces were cheap and I was able to bring it all with me.
 

Here you go AlmostMrsMcD

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/77015/sxcts-planning-thread-for-aventura-palace-resort-on-11-18-11

 

[J-me]

Thank you! I actually have all of the info on the credits (but I'm glad you posted it - others will DEFINITELY find it useful!) We have 1500 credits and plan to use it towards golf, spa, and a few wedding ceremony extras (violinist). But we'll be putting some of it towards the dolphin swim I think too!

 

Just wasn't sure if anyone had been and what their experience was (aka if it's worth it!) Thanks again

 

Originally Posted by chase414 

I found some info on-line about how much of your resort dollars can be used towards the tours and other items.  i.e. you can't use all of your resort dollars towards the dolphin swim.  Hope this helps.  Also, it tells you the cost for each of the tours.

 

TOURS
You can use up to all of your vacation dollars on any of these select tours/activities:

• Chichen Itza ($120 per adult, $67 per child)
• Wet 'n Wild ($59 per adult, $53 per child)
• Isla Mujeres ($75 per adult, $40 per child)
• Coba ($80 per adult, $42 per child)
• Tulum/Aventura Cove Palace ($100 per adult, $67 per child)
• Ultimate Dolphin Swim (at Wet 'n Wild. Transportation for this activity is not included. $129 per person)

All participants in the Dolphin Swim Program must be at least 8 years old and no less than 48 inches tall. Ultimate Dolphin Swim maximum credit of $200 from 12/19/2011 - 01/02/2012; 03/30/12 - 04/08/12; 06/15/12 - 08/15/12. Tours and activities are provided by the Palace Vacation Planners.
GOLF
All vacation dollars can be used towards green fees and shared golf carts at the following courses: Moon Spa & Golf Club, Riviera Cancun Golf & Resorts, and Playacar Spa & Golf Club. Vacation dollars are applicable for golf rounds at regular price. Golf rounds include early fee, green fee, twilight fee, and junior fee and exclude all other fees. Transportation to the golf courses is included.
ROOM UPGRADE
All vacation dollars can be used towards a room upgrade available upon arrival. The cost of room upgrades will be based on the resort's rack rates. Please note you cannot use resort credits to upgrade to a Family Deluxe suite or Presidential Suite.
SPA/BEAUTY SALON SERVICES
Use up to the following vacation dollars on spa and/or beauty salon services:

• 3 night stay: 100 vacation dollars
• 4 night stay: 150 vacation dollars
• 5-8 night stay: 300 vacation dollars
• 9-11 night stay: 400 vacation dollars
• 12+ night stay: 500 vacation dollars

Services are subject to availability.
ROMANTIC DINNER
All vacation dollars are available for use towards a Romantic Lobster Dinner, which includes Moet & Chandon champagne, and surf & turf with lobster and high quality US Beef meat. Adults only ($175 per person).
UPGRADED WINE LIST
All vacation dollars are available for use towards selected award winning wines.

 

 

 

[J-me]

Thank you! Yeah, I read on TripAdvisor to definitely barter w/them bc the picture packages are apparently outlandishly priced & they don't let you take your own pics!!

 

I'll take a look at your Facebook album! Hope you're starting to pack for your anniversary trip

 

Originally Posted by jszy10 

J-Me -- my husband, my mother-in-law and myself all did the dolphin swim and we loved it!!  Transportation isn't included, but it is literally a 3-4 min. cab ride away, so maybe $5?  They put you into a group of 8 or so and each group gets their own dolphin.  You get to learn a lot about them, touch them, kiss them, high five them, belly ride, etc. and a few of the dolphins show you some tricks.  The main thing I would say is DON'T let anyone pay full price for pictures.  We did end up with pictures, mainly because my mother-in-law and I really wanted them, but 'waited it out' and ended up paying the lowest price for the highest package there -- all of our pictures on a disc, dvd of our swim and a picture frame.  I think it might have been $90, which is rediculous still, but the highest package is listed at like $250 or something outrageous. 

 

My husband and I also went to Xcaret on our honeymoon and had a good time!!  That is part of the same company as Xel-Ha.

 

If you'd like, I can open up that photo album on my facebook as well -- the dolphin swim, Xcaret and snorkeling from the resort.  I actually don't think I made that one public?

 

[J-me]

I got fabric from my BM dresses to have made into runners (found a local cheap place to do it) and we are bringing most of our centerpiece pieces down w/us (real touch calla lilies & crystal rocks half off at Hobby Lobby, ordered submergible LED lights online) and just renting hurricane vases from the resort (didn't want to pack - bulky and breakable! You could also do Walmart for these) but here is the look we're going for:

 

 

Do a search for centerpieces and/or OOT bags and hopefully you'll get plenty of ideas from other threads as well!

 

Originally Posted by AlmostMrsMcD 

Does anyone have pictures or any ideas of what you all are doing for centerpieces?  I'm trying to get my act together (finally!!!) and figure out what exactly I want to do.  I've seen some posts here and there about vases and paper flowers (I envy you for doing this BTW!!!! Wish I had the time!!!)  But there are soooo many posts and I'm still a newbie around here so can anyone give me a quick recap of some great ideas? 

I just bought the gummy flips flops online because I just loved that idea!  Also OOT Bags!  What are you all including?  For my bridesmaids I really stocked up on Cyber Monday and got great deals on Monogrammed Lands End Canvas bags, Flip Flops, and Vera Bradley towels for each of them.  This is just about the only thing I feel as though I have done right so far!  But for guest OOT bags I'm at a loss!  We already bought the water bottle wrappers and I guess I'll stop at walmart once we get down there and buy water for the bags.  My fiance was so impressed at my new found knowledge of this whole thing!  I bragged all night about how much I learned from you guys!  He was shocked there was a Walmart in the area. 

Really appreciate any feedback or ideas you guys could throw my way.

Oh and Do I even have to mention I'm a bride on a budget? A minimal budget at that!

 

[breeburns]

J-me, are we allowed to use the credit towards extras for the ceremony? I'm thinking horsedrawn carriage maybe fireworks or harpist? What about for like cocktail hour? If this is possible I'm so excited!