Gran Bahia Principe Jamaica

[acw271011]

lmarie - we actually got our first quote yesterday. there is one deal on right now at $1352, with $200 off for the bride & groom and everyone else in the group, minimum of 10, gets another $50 off their price. and you have to book by Mar 31. my FI said it's still too high though so we're waiting to see on Transat and Nolitours. we've travelled with them before and they're always cheaper than everyone else. the tough part is we always travel last minute so we get ridiculous rates that you wouldn't normally get. our thing is we're older and have kids that don't live at home anymore, but want to be in Jamaica so our biggest worry is making it affordable for them because we definitely can't afford to pay for them!! we also have friends from the US trying to get there and also possibly from England and Scotland. we're doing November so that is low season and supposed to be really cheap. I'm anxious to get people booked but we may also hold out a bit for a better price if we can get one.

[toesinsand30]

Hi StephAli, Some of the brides to  be are wondering about what type of documents you need inorder to get married in Jamaica, some have heard that you need Notarized copies etc ? since you were married there do you know if we need notorized copies or not ? any details would be greatly appreciated thanks

[toesinsand30]

hey acw, we confirmed our prices back in september for our october 2011 wedding we are quoted $1350 until april 30 then after that its a free for all.  the bride and groom get their flights for free and an extra flight if you have over 33 book by april 30 (we have 35 yippie), we booked through flight centre, sunquest is the tourguide and we fly with west jet (meaning more leg room, better seats and tv on each seat)

[StephAli]

Yes, that is the lobby terrace. Its really nice atmosphere! I think that you might be able to have your first dance in the disco. I was looking at pictures on the photographers website that has been recommended to ppl (http://www.jamaicanphotography.com) and one set of her pix (the bridal party is in an orangey colour) it looks like their first dance and the groom is doing the garter thing...its definitely in the disco... another option would be to bring an IPOD with the docking station and play your song on that and do your dance on the terrace! Some of my friends brought their ipods, and tho I found them annoying as they were constantly playing them and loudly, we were definitely able to have it going all the time and were never told to shut it off (unfortuantley!!)  Really I dont mind music, but I dont need it constant and so loud! But thats another story!!  I actually think that might be a really pretty idea....b/c then your outside and the lighting isnt bright on the terrace at night...under the stars....kinda romantic! 

 

 

No to the notarized copies. I emailed Beverly to tell her that I didnt have the long form birth certificate and ask if she actually needed it or if I could just send her our fathers names... she was fine with me just scanning in our "normal" birth certs and emailing them to her. And then I just brought down the originals of my birth cert and and of course had my passport...I know she took them and made photocopies, but she didnt ask for proof of your fathers names....I wouldnt worry if you cant get this notarized!

[toesinsand30]

Thanks StephAli, thats great to know.  I wonder if the new coordinator is going to honor that as well or if she will be strick when it comes to notarized copies, I think its just an unneeded added expense and hassel of having to go to the lawyers etc.

 

 

[FleetMac bride]

an you tell me where you got that quote for 1352 does that include the tax and everyone is getting 200 off that 1352 because I have been looking up prices since august of 2009 and that's not a bad price right now I wish I could wait till the summer it's so much cheaper booking then.
 

Originally Posted by acw271011 

lmarie - we actually got our first quote yesterday. there is one deal on right now at $1352, with $200 off for the bride & groom and everyone else in the group, minimum of 10, gets another $50 off their price. and you have to book by Mar 31. my FI said it's still too high though so we're waiting to see on Transat and Nolitours. we've travelled with them before and they're always cheaper than everyone else. the tough part is we always travel last minute so we get ridiculous rates that you wouldn't normally get. our thing is we're older and have kids that don't live at home anymore, but want to be in Jamaica so our biggest worry is making it affordable for them because we definitely can't afford to pay for them!! we also have friends from the US trying to get there and also possibly from England and Scotland. we're doing November so that is low season and supposed to be really cheap. I'm anxious to get people booked but we may also hold out a bit for a better price if we can get one.

 

[acw271011]

Hi. I attended a wedding show in Toronto at the end of January and I was given a sheet from Sunquest with a deal on it. I've been talking to Weddings By Oceans here in Toronto. They do nothing but destination weddings. Check out their website - www.weddingsbyoceans.com  they have a blog they run too, and they also review different resorts all over - St Lucia, Mexico, Jamaica right now, Aruba  Most of what they recommend is pretty pricey - definitely out of our price range. We picked Gran Bahia ourselves. But the 1352 is what they gave me.  Now I've said that. They actually called me 2 days later with a different quote of 1462 which totally pissed me off. My FI's first question was who else are we paying?  I called Transat and Nolitours directly and they both told me they don't deal with the public themselves anymore. you have to go through a travel agent but I've generally found with all of our travels over the years that they are 2 of the cheapest. itravel2000 also does group travel and so does sell off vacations. I think the trick is just to keep at it. I doubt we'll be booking just yet. I know if we wait a bit we can get better prices. our thing is if we aren't willing to spend the amount of money being asked to travel why would we ask everyone else, and we have kids that are paying for their own so we have to get the cost down.

 

hope that helps somebody.

[StephAli]

I used Oceans and WAS NOT happy with them. At the time they gave me the best price, but honestly overall I was completely upset with them and had many guest phone and complain to me and to them directly. There were so many various issues I cannot begin to explain. They were all minor, but they all just added up.....if you can get out of using them I would....

[acw271011]

I'm totally with that Steph. I'm finished with them. I asked for a quote on Jan 28th and they just got back to me last week. That's just for starters. Then to call me 2 days after giving me a quote and giving me a different one, I was NOT impressed. And I definitely do not find there is anything good about the prices they're getting. They aren't any better than anyone else. I got the whole story about if we don't do a group booking we may not get on the same flight, blah blah. We've done enough travelling and have family in the airline business that we're going to either do our own, or wait until June. Keeping costs down is too important for us if we want our children at our wedding, which obviously we do. We've booked several trips through itravel2000 and really like them, and 1 trip through sell off vacations and did just fine. You aren't going to tell me that if we find a good price, get everyone to call the same day in May or June for November that we won't get on the same flight if we're going to the same resort. Either that or I'll deal with someone else. Belair travel maybe or Sell Off. Weddings are big business and everyone wants you to part with your money.

 

On a happier note, we did some browsing shopping yesterday and think we have our colours, my dress, maid of honour dress, flower girl dress and the guys Tommy Bahama shirts!!  Woohoo! Try ons are scheduled for Mar 19th. Guava, watermelon, and fuschia pink. De colours of de island mon!!!

[FleetMac bride]

Thanks for the information acw271011. I finally spoke to Chandlyn this week-end and I set my wedding date for nov 25th-2011 at 4:00 pm. i did not have to pay the 25% yet and I have no rooms booked there yet either. So i am going to wait a bit too maybe april may when they should drop. Right now tith March break it's still considered high season even though I'm booking for november. i am just really happy I could set my date as my TA was saying i couldn't unless i was booked there she was full of crap. I think it's better sometimes to do it your self.

 

 

 

Originally Posted by acw271011 

Hi. I attended a wedding show in Toronto at the end of January and I was given a sheet from Sunquest with a deal on it. I've been talking to Weddings By Oceans here in Toronto. They do nothing but destination weddings. Check out their website - www.weddingsbyoceans.com  they have a blog they run too, and they also review different resorts all over - St Lucia, Mexico, Jamaica right now, Aruba  Most of what they recommend is pretty pricey - definitely out of our price range. We picked Gran Bahia ourselves. But the 1352 is what they gave me.  Now I've said that. They actually called me 2 days later with a different quote of 1462 which totally pissed me off. My FI's first question was who else are we paying?  I called Transat and Nolitours directly and they both told me they don't deal with the public themselves anymore. you have to go through a travel agent but I've generally found with all of our travels over the years that they are 2 of the cheapest. itravel2000 also does group travel and so does sell off vacations. I think the trick is just to keep at it. I doubt we'll be booking just yet. I know if we wait a bit we can get better prices. our thing is if we aren't willing to spend the amount of money being asked to travel why would we ask everyone else, and we have kids that are paying for their own so we have to get the cost down.

 

hope that helps somebody.