Any Info on Vallarta Palace?

[Queenie77]

I think there are several indoor and outdoor options. I do remember something my WC said about any number of guests over 25 (I think,) and you are forced to do a "private reception," rather than the reception in the restaurant. I would love to offer more info, but I am still struggling to get responses from my WC on some very basic questions.

 

I am building our website, which I want to put on our STD cards... but I can't add much about the resort, or even the group-rate booking link, because I have no idea when I'll get the link, or even the group booking contract.

 

Anyone else having Miami office response issues? What is a reasonable amount of time to expect a response? Should I ask for a new WC?

[Andi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Queenie77 I am building our website, which I want to put on our STD cards... but I can't add much about the resort, or even the group-rate booking link, because I have no idea when I'll get the link, or even the group booking contract. Anyone else having Miami office response issues? What is a reasonable amount of time to expect a response? Should I ask for a new WC?

When I initially did our website to put on our STD's the info was really basic on the hotel. I just put info on the resort in there and then said on the site that it is a work in progress and will continue to change as our date gets closer. Are you looking to book your group rate package through the hotel itself? or will you use a travel agent?

unfortunatley I am not much help on the WC response time since we are not having our ceremony there. I have heard though that sometimes it takes a couple of weeks to get a response to one email but that their response time gets quicker as your wedding date nears. not sure if that helps at all or not!

[Queenie77]

Thanks for the scoop. It's hard to plan for a wedding when you have to wait a week to get a response that's necessary to move forward. I am still waiting on written confirmation for our date, which I was told would arrive this week.

 

In order to get the perks (free cocktail receptions, free private receptions, nights free during our stay,) we have to book directly through the resort's group sales department. Booking online through the regular site, booking through another travel site or through a travel agent - the rooms don't count against our group rate quota. So I will need the group rate booking link that only they can provide to give to people who want to go ahead and book their trip.

 

I am reconsidering using Palace Resorts at all. I know many people use them - especially Moon Palace - so I am wondering if I got stuck with a WC who's not very effective. The whole waiting game is really stripping away the excitement and momentum of planning for what should be the most exciting event ever!

[meghanmbm]

I am having my travel agent set up the group contract for my guests. this way they can still go through her. I do know that this is a little complicated for her, but it seems to be moving forward. the only problem i am having is we need to have an exact # of rooms that we want to reserve for our group, they need that prior to setting up the contract, we are getting married 8/8/09, and i have a bunch of verbal yes's, but a lot can happen in a year to make people change their minds. I dont want to end up paying for those extra rooms if people change their minds.

 

As far as the WC, i have not even spoken to mine yet. The miami office told me i would hear from her 60 days prior to the wedding day!!! I am concerned, but i really just want to enjoy this experience and i feel that no matter what happends it will be a beatiful event. I mean how wrong could it go if you have a beautiful beach, the people you love and margaritas?

[mademoisellemichele]

I would love any feedback from brides that have worked with Lorena at Vallarta Palace. Your thoughts??

 

Thank you!

[Queenie77]

Hey there! Just wanted to let you know we are getting married at Vallarta Palace in May, and Lorena has been great! TA Tammy encouraged me to start working with another TA who has a great relationship with Vallarta Palace. The minute TA Teresa got involved, I was assigned a WC from the actual Vallarta Palace Office (Lorena, obviously!) Almost immediately, Lorena sent me an email to introduce herself, and to give me all of her contact info and preliminary paperwork. She then checked in with me several weeks later to ask some basic questions about our plans... but without any pressure. (I am a laid-back person, and to be bombarded with questions or information all the time would be an overload for me - hence the reason for our DW.) Lorena and Teresa have promptly answered any questions I've had. Teresa always on the same day, usually within hours; Lorena anywhere from 1-3 days, which I hear is pretty good response time from resorts in Mexico. So far, Lorena has been very thorough and seems to really have a feel for exactly what it is we want. We get all the same perks you'd get without a TA, even though their site says that the perks don't apply if you use one. Teresa secured us a slightly cheaper rate, and has been able to keep our group organized. At this point, our stay will be free, and we get to have unlimited private receptions because of our number of guests. Lorena just sent me a "congrats" email for that just the other day, along with all of the cocktail party menus and dinner menus to start selecting what we want for our private events. Lorena has already selected the locations that would be best for parties of our size, and so it looks like we'll be near the pool for a cocktail reception, in another outdoor area for a welcome dinner and in the garden for our post-ceremony reception.

 

On another note, I ran into a boutique owner in my hometown who started chit-chatting about where we were having our wedding. Before I could answer in full, she blurted out how she'd stayed at Vallarta Palace while she was in PV, and she and her husband loved it. She said the service was top-notch and the food was really good.

 

Let me know if you have any specific questions I can answer. Feel free to private message me anytime!

[meghanmbm]

I would love to hear where you all are planning to have your receptions. I really want to have it outside, but we are getting married in August at 5pm so I am worried that it will be to hot outside. I cant imagine getting married on the beach then heading into a reception room..?.. What do you all think? I also dont want to pay a fortune on flowers to decorate, we were planning on using the mexican beach as our decor.

[Queenie77]

Lorena booked us for a Welcome Cocktail Reception at the Pool Terrace, the Triton Terrace for a Welcome Dinner, and the Garden for our Reception Dinner. We're getting married in May, so it shouldn't be too hot to be outside. I used this link to get an idea of what to expect weather-wise: Puerto Vallarta Weather and Climate