I need your help w/ a Plan B

[Ana]

awww no!! that's terrible! I really really hope that this whole thing blows over ASAP!! i do kind of feel like people are maybe more fearful than they need to be as it is, so hopefully things change. You still have a little bit of time so don't panic yet.

 

Are you able to change your flights etc... to say an AI in the Dominican or even Cuba? Those would be my suggestions, ....OOOOOR maybe you can ask if its possible only to just postpone the travel and wedding to mexico. I mean given the nature of these circumstances maybe everyone involved would be understanding.

[Jacilynda]

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Originally Posted by TA Maureen Do you have travel insurance? In order for a Plan B to work you have to make sure you won't be in penalty with the hotel you have booked and you will have to hold out to make sure the airline continues to waive their change fee penalties. Otherwise you will owe $150.00 per ticket plus any difference in fare to change your ticket. Aside from that, you may like Sunset at the Palms. Sunset at the Palms What hotel is your wedding booked at now?

We definitely are going to wait it out and see what happens. If we end up changing do to military ban or something like that we will just pay the change ticket fee.

I really like the Sunset at the Palms and plan on looking a bit more into it. Thank you sooo much for the suggestion. It may be a little more expensive for us, but thus far is the best suggestion that has come up!

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Originally Posted by Jennifer Davis Check out this place I found on Trip Advisor. It got SPECTACULAR reviews and is a very small resort located in Roatan Hondurus. I emailed the manager, Mel about package prices for all - inclusive and the rates are very reasonable. The place looks really beautiful. Roatan Beach Resort and PADI 5 Star Dive Center

This place is beautiful, thank you for the suggestion! Unfortunately we really need to fly into a large airport because we have a small town airport Seattle and Salt Lake are the closest cities and they are both a 6 hr drive and none of us want to think about having to drive 6hours home after flying back and to fly to Honduras would just be too much for everyone. Thank you though!

Quote:

Originally Posted by estella1007 What about a cruise? That way you can keep it all-inclusive. Or maybe even Florida, like Key West. That way you know for sure that you won't run into any problems.

A cruise is completely out of the question w/ this family! Thanks! This family would kill themselves before getting on a large ship full of tons of people. We backpack and camp through Africa so we really aren't resort or touristy people.

[Jacilynda]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raeka I think it's really smart to have a back up plan just in case. Rather I would hope you wouldn't have to resort to it. Have you thought about staying in the U.S? I live in what I would say is one of the most beautiful places in the world with amazing white sand beaches and deep emerald green water - Destin Florida. They say that it's the home of "Destin-ation Weddings" LOL Cheesy I know but seriously they call it that! I would have never known about this place if I had never moved here - it's actually kinda like a hidden gem. That way you could have your beautiful beach wedding and your FH can wear his military whites(btw is that what they call them?).

We have considered staying in the US just because we know this could be easier. Although we have a house in San Diego and Joe isn't a real fan of Florida. We really want to go away away. We're really big travellers so we want to be away! We thought well maybe we'd just do it at home, but I know I'll end up wishing I had done a DW and then we'd end up having a HUGE wedding!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ana awww no!! that's terrible! I really really hope that this whole thing blows over ASAP!! i do kind of feel like people are maybe more fearful than they need to be as it is, so hopefully things change. You still have a little bit of time so don't panic yet. Are you able to change your flights etc... to say an AI in the Dominican or even Cuba? Those would be my suggestions, ....OOOOOR maybe you can ask if its possible only to just postpone the travel and wedding to mexico. I mean given the nature of these circumstances maybe everyone involved would be understanding.

I'm not panicking yet. I'm just worried i can't convince my family and there are so few of them coming I dont' want to do it w/out them. But i'm up for any idea just as an in case plan. Oh Ana you have no idea how much you've been helping me! i haven't taken the time to thank you, but THANK YOU!!! All of the girls that are there or just left and are fine I have been using to explain to my family. People are starting to come around. Now we just need them to lift the ban on military and i think we are good. Although part of me thinks people are coming around cause we are working on plan B. Hopefully we'll bag plan B and everyone will be in! I have to admit the more I read the swine flu thread the more I freak out... I need to stay away from it!

[tylersgirl]

Jac-I am so sorry and I hope a plan B does not have to be put in place at all. You are such a sweetie and I would hate for that to happen to y'all. I have been to Belize, Dominican, and Honduras and all are gorgeous-Belize is really cool. I know that we were thinking about a resort in Jamaica, but I am not familiar with Jamaica so I don't know of any cool places that aren't too touristy. The only cool place that I would recommend would be San Pedro, Belize. I loved it there. I have been 3 times and it has a cool, laid back vibe to it. Let me know if you need anything. I will be trying to come up with more places. *hugs*

[Jacilynda]

oh i just wrote another post on the swine flu thread to you!!! We love belize and would like to do it there or Jamaica. But we are still planning for Akumal. We've managed to rope in most of our guests. and i'm pretty sure in 3 months it should have blown over and we won't have military bans or anything. I think we really were able to calm our guests by just telling them that we are planning a plan b. We wouldn't share any details w/ them unless we had to use plan b and they seem to be ok!

[MarieSam]

Jac again I HOPE everything will work out for all us brides and our plans will go forward as we initially planned! I haven't had much luck looking for alternatives, I actually realized just how much my family and I have traveled through Mexico because honestly all the places I would recommend and love are...in Mexico, lol.

 

In any case, I got an email of this week's deals from Kayak.com and one of the links they had was for here: Cheap Caribbean | Attractions. Don't know if any of those are places you would consider, but thought I'd send it to you anyways. Some appear to be great deals.

 

But again, keeping my fingers and toes crossed that Plan B will never come to be, because Plan A will ultimately be your reality

[Sapphire723]

What about the Dominican Republic? We stayed at the Sunscape Casa Del Mar (which is now the Dreams La Romana) and it was beautiful.

 

I think one of the biggest concerns is going to an AI that is going to charge you per guest while you're there, because that can add up. I think Dreams allows 20 guests and it's like $60 pp extra over that. Gran Bahia Principe in Akumal allowed you to book all of your guests at an a la carte for no additional cost, so I'm thinking that the GBP in Dominican Republic might be the same. If the La Romana airport is too small for you and your guests, you can always go to Punta Cana instead.

[zorlack76]

I know you wanted a small private type place, but have you considered doing a wedding through Sandals? Based on what I have seen from their website, they have beautiful weddings and they are relatively inexpensive. Their TV commercials seem pretty convincing too. They have several different resorts in St. Lucia, Bahamas, Jamaica, etc. If you want to check it out, here is the website:

 

Caribbean Luxury Vacations at Sandals Resorts

 

Let me know what you think.

[julzcabo]

The U.S. Virgin Islands might be a good idea. You will still get that DW feel and your guests will not require a passport. Flights right now are pretty cheap too.

[DanielleNDerek]

Having a plan B is a great idea. I hope you dont have to use it though. The place Maureen posted was gorgeous.

 

I was going to suggest Punta Cana. I got married in Punta Cana and it was beautiful there. the people were really nice. I think my resort isnt what you are looking for but there are a lot of smaller resorts that might work for you in Punta Cana. I'm not a TA so i dont have any specific info for other resorts. Sorry

 

goodluck. if you have any questions about Punta Cana in general pm me.