Free Wedding Package??

[truelove4life]

My FI and I are having a hard time narrowing down our favourite resorts in Cuba. At first we were only considering resorts that have the free wedding package (i.e., Melia resorts) ... to cut down on a bit of the cost. Is the free wedding package all that it is cracked up to be?? We still want extras, such as a beach reception and stuff like that so we realize we will have to pay for that above and beyond the wedding package fee. Should we be limiting ourselves or could we be missing out on some really great resorts as a result?? Such as, for example, the Iberostar Laguna Azul.

 

Any opinions/suggestions are much appreciated.

 

Sincerely,

One very overwhelmed bride-to-be

[staceyg]

My FI and I found it overwhelming too trying to choose a resort! The free wedding package is tempting but we chose to narrow our search based on the overall rating of the resort (A LOT of internet researching!) and total cost per person. We ended up choosing the Iberostar Varadero because it had such great reviews, and it had a reasonable price for ourselves and our guests - plus too we just fell in love with everything about it! If we had of narrowed it down based on the free wedding packages alone, we would have missed out on this resort and some other really great ones we considered. In my opinion - keep the free wedding packages in mind but don't limit your search based on that - there are some really great resorts that may not offer free weddings and the wedding packages can be a very reasonable cost. Once you narrow your list down to maybe top 3 or 4, then check with the resorts on what is included in their wedding packages, what types of extras you would need, etc to see what type of costs you would be looking at and then go from there.

 

Good Luck with your search!!

[staceyg]

My FI and I found it overwhelming too trying to choose a resort! The free wedding package is tempting but we chose to narrow our search based on the overall rating of the resort (A LOT of internet researching!) and total cost per person. We ended up choosing the Iberostar Varadero because it had such great reviews, and it had a reasonable price for ourselves and our guests - plus too we just fell in love with everything about it! If we had of narrowed it down based on the free wedding packages alone, we would have missed out on this resort and some other really great ones we considered. In my opinion - keep the free wedding packages in mind but don't limit your search based on that - there are some really great resorts that may not offer free weddings and the wedding packages can be a very reasonable cost. Once you narrow your list down to maybe top 3 or 4, then check with the resorts on what is included in their wedding packages, what types of extras you would need, etc to see what type of costs you would be looking at and then go from there.

 

Good Luck with your search!!

[truelove4life]

Thanks staceyg!

Your advice was super helpful!! I am going to start looking into other resorts and go from there!!

 

Thanks again!

[Tilly in the Sun]

oh I totally feel for you! For the past few months I have been agonizing over which resort to go with.

 

Originally we had chosen the Melia Varadero (had a date/time booked with the resort WC) but we kept looking at the Iberostar Laguna Azul. There was nothing wrong with the Melia - it is gorgeous, has mostly amazing reviews, they really know how to do weddings and of course it's free with over 22 guests. After hours of research, going back and forth and this forum we switched and went with the IBL. We even took a vote with our guests LOL.

 

We started thinking how nice it would be to stay somewhere new and fancy, and thought our guests would enjoy it as well. The downside is cost, and being that it's new it may not have everything up and running smoothly, but we're just gonna go with the flow and enjoy paradise!

 

The best advice I can give you is to just research as much as you can - read reviews, look at pics and if you're using a TA ask her/him for advice. If you think it would help you could even ask your guests what they think. You can't go wrong with either chain, so wherever you pick will be amazing! Good luck and if you need any advice/help or just feel like you're gonna pull your hair out send me a msg.

[Melidell]

I agree with everyone else. I wound up picking a resort with a free package, but that was just a bonus. I didn't want to limit myself in my search to only resorts that offered that, and I didn't want to be worried about having enough guests to qualify for it either. I found that the wedding packages at some of the resorts aren't that much, to be honest, especially when you look at what you'll be getting compared to what you'd pay in Canada. If you pick somewhere without it, just make sure that you account for it in your budget- you've still got lots of time to save!

[sjmacphe]

I agree with the others - it is just a bonus for us as well, I picked our resort because of our TA's recommendations, reviews and the locations for the wedding. It is really well set up for doing weddings, and I like that - HOWEVER, as far as I have heard you won't be getting a beach reception at our resort (Melia Las dunas or Melia csm) - so that might be something to take into consideration. You could also send an email to the wedding coordinators at the resorts you've been thinking about - that way you can ask specific questions (ie what are the options for the reception locations, wedding costs etc) - just an idea. I think that each resort has pros and cons you just have to decide what type of vibe you want (ie is being close to the city important to you? if so, you prob don't want Melia Las Dunas or Cayo Santa Maria...)

 

Good luck deciding

[itsfinallyhere]

I too was tempted by the "free package" but I found that usually the conditions they appiled were not to my liking. We decided on our resort by going through all of them and rejecting them for what ever reason. Some would not allow children, some did not have all the facilities I wanted, Spa/ salon, kids club. I also want to get in on one where kids stayed free. So it was basically throught the process of elimination that we chose ours. Good Luck, it is one of hte hardest decision. But when you have made it stay secure in your decision, because I think many of have second guessed ourselves, and worried for nothing in the end.

[AlexsBride]

I love this thread! I have been trying to narrow down our resort as well and am not even close to making a decision. We have three kids (Two are his from a previous marriage aged 8 and 4 and then we have our daughter, 18 months) So going somewhere where kids stay free would be awesome. How do those work though? Do you just pay their flight and that's it? Is it that you get a free kids stay with each paying adult? That wont be a problem because we have several adults coming with us. (I dont think it would be a problem at least!)

 

I think I will go to a TA and get some of the books to look through. I just wish you could plan a wedding last minute because man the prices go down so much for last minute trips. I saw some Iberostar Veradero trips in the travel agent window for under 500 plus taxes!

[Melidell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexsBride I love this thread! I have been trying to narrow down our resort as well and am not even close to making a decision. We have three kids (Two are his from a previous marriage aged 8 and 4 and then we have our daughter, 18 months) So going somewhere where kids stay free would be awesome. How do those work though? Do you just pay their flight and that's it? Is it that you get a free kids stay with each paying adult? That wont be a problem because we have several adults coming with us. (I dont think it would be a problem at least!) I think I will go to a TA and get some of the books to look through. I just wish you could plan a wedding last minute because man the prices go down so much for last minute trips. I saw some Iberostar Veradero trips in the travel agent window for under 500 plus taxes!

I know what you mean- it would be awesome to get those last minute prices! It's hard not to look at them and compare, isn't it? Oh well, next time I take a vacation I think I'll just take extra time off and go for a last minute deal.