Any Gran Bahia Principe Runaway Bay Brides out there?

[JayKay]

I had no problem carrying my dress on.  The only part that scared me was having to put my dress through the security scanner as it wripped off a few of the little beads and put a large tear in the garmet bag.  Other then that I had no problem carrying it on to airplane.  I had to put my dress in the overhead bin, and the flight attendant helped with that and immediately closed it so that no one else could put anything on top of it.

Originally Posted by FutureKeese22 

When bringing your dress to the airport did past brides just bring it on the plane and check in with it in the garment bag no problem? I will have my purse and then my dress as my carry on...will that be ok? American Airlines said it has to be able to fit in the carry on measurement guidelines, but I don't want to put my dress in anything...just carry it on and hope to be able to hang it in the captains closet.

[MrsViolo]

We're getting married in Jan 2014. Booked our trip by December 2012. Most people coming booked by March 2013. People that are booking now are having to pay $400 more per person. The price may still go down but our flight is almost sold out so its unlikely. I'm glad we booked early. With Marlin Travel we booked a Transat Package with a price drop gauarentee so even if the price drops we get the lowest price. I'm glad we booked early. People who are just booking now are kicking themselves for not. January is a busy travel time of year however so the deals at that time aren't that great.

Hello! My name's Cassie, and I am new to this website! I am planning to get married at GBP in November of next year.  Was hoping for some helpful tips and rough guest quotes!  I've contacted some travel agents, but all the quotes I have received have been above $1700, which seems crazy since I can find it for $1400 on my own.  I did happen to find one travel agent back in Ontario (I live in British Columbia, Canada) who provided better quotes, and was honest enough to advise me to wait until later this summer to lock in to a quote price. Just wondering how far ahead people have had their guests lock in, and which wedding packages you have gone with? Did you find the resort accommodating to all of your guests, especially children and older adults?  We will likely be having a group of about 50 people. Thanks everybody, I'm excited to be on here finally!  

Don't be so anxious to book. I would definitely wait.  we're in Ontario and in 2011 our quote was $1250 and everyone had to book by July 8th for a November wedding with Air Transat. Our original date was Nov 17th but our plans all fell apart and we went just the two of us and got married in October instead. We used Marlin Travel in Brookfield Place in downtown Toronto. The rates will definitely come down. I wouldn't worry until at least January of next year for a 2014 wedding, even maybe March, then start asking around to different sellers. You're in BC so I guarantee it will be more expensive. My brother lives in Langley and his quote originally to be at our wedding was $1750 per person. We actually offered to bring him to Ontario on our aeroplan points so that he could have the cheaper rate with everyone else. I find everyone is so anxious to get their rate and they book right away but then the fares drop and they're stuck. Some companies if you book really early will allow you one change if the fare drops a lot to let you rebook at the cheaper fare but not all.  Watch the rates this year and see what they are then start telling people it's an approximate price if they need to start saving money ahead of time. If your group is big enough you'll also probably get every 12th or 15th person free and what you could do is spread that money evenly between guests or give the freebie to someone that really can't afford it. or even the bride or groom to save a little money and maybe give yourselves a few little "extras" in Jamaica. Good luck!  I've said it before and I'll say it again. It will all turn out just perfect in the end. After the disaster that we went through putting our wedding together, nobody knows that better than me!!!

[CdnBrideJoanne]

Originally Posted by MrsViolo 

 

We're getting married in Jan 2014. Booked our trip by December 2012. Most people coming booked by March 2013.

 

People that are booking now are having to pay $400 more per person.

 

The price may still go down but our flight is almost sold out so its unlikely.

 

I'm glad we booked early. With Marlin Travel we booked a Transat Package with a price drop gauarentee so even if the price drops we get the lowest price. I'm glad we booked early. People who are just booking now are kicking themselves for not.

 

January is a busy travel time of year however so the deals at that time aren't that great.

 

I booked through Marlin Travel too and I totally regret it.  We get every 12th person free, $1535 for the Royal Golden rooms and we are allowed one price drop.  Currently, you can go on itravel2000 and book for around $1350 for a junior suite.  The horrible part is that the flight times were just released and it is a departure time of 10pm on the Saturday.  So now if people want to hold on to their rooms, they are going to be charged an additional day to hang on to them (waiting for the TA to get back to me on how much this is).  I feel awful making everyone pay the $1535 and now surprise them with another fee.  It just doesn't seem right.

 

Luckily there haven't been many deposits made, other then 6 people without the cancellation insurance.  I'm thinking of paying people back and using that Transat credit towards another vacation next year and switching to another travel agent for the wedding so that we can book with another tour operator with better flight times.

 

Any advice is appreciated.

[MrsViolo]

Yep! Just heard about the crappy flight times too. We think it will only be a huge problem for our guests with kiddoes and our older guests (my FI's grandmother is coming and she's 87). The travel agent emailed the resort to ask about late checkout. Here's the response: "Dear Ms St Croix Receive cordial greetings from Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica. We would like to acknowledge that we have received your e-mail concerning the future stay of our mutual clients in our property. Please kindly note that unfortunately we are unable to confirm late check-out as requested at this time. Late check-out is depending on the availability on the day of their departure. If their room is available to do the late check-out , its at an extra cost of US$ 10 ,per hour. Should in case their room is not available. We do have a hospitality room that is equipped with showers and changing rooms and that is free of cost. Looking forward to hosting them in our property" I'm concerned the rooms won't be available since January is a busy time. If there are rooms available we'll probably cover the cost for a few of our guests to have later checkouts. Everyone else should be fine with the courtesy room. Sucks that we arrive so late but I'm happy to get to stay the entire last day.

[soontobeawalsh]

I was wondering what past Brides did about the ID bracelet that you wear in the resort??  Can we cut it off for the wedding day?  and if so will they give you a new one after??

thanks

[SarahJ]

Soontobewalsh. I cut my bracelet off & then went to reception the following day & they gave me a new one. So there's no problem there.

[MelB2012]

Originally Posted by MrsViolo 

 

Yep! Just heard about the crappy flight times too. We think it will only be a huge problem for our guests with kiddoes and our older guests (my FI's grandmother is coming and she's 87).

 

The travel agent emailed the resort to ask about late checkout. Here's the response:

 

"Dear Ms St Croix

 

Receive cordial greetings from Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica.

 

We would like to acknowledge that we have received your e-mail concerning the future stay of our mutual clients in our property.

Please kindly note that unfortunately we are unable to confirm late check-out as requested at this time. Late check-out is depending on the availability on the day of their departure. If their room is available to do the late check-out , its at an extra cost of US$ 10 ,per hour. Should in case their room is not available. We do have a hospitality room that is equipped with showers and changing rooms and that is free of cost.

 

Looking forward to hosting them in our property"

 

I'm concerned the rooms won't be available since January is a busy time. If there are rooms available we'll probably cover the cost for a few of our guests to have later checkouts. Everyone else should be fine with the courtesy room.

 

Sucks that we arrive so late but I'm happy to get to stay the entire last day.

I'm surprised so many people have has issues with Transat. I booked through Marlin Travel//Transat Holidays and got the Golden option. We reserved over a year in advance, and I haven't seen a price cheaper yet - not direct flight anyway. The times we got aren't fantastic, but they aren't awful. I get married the day before we leave, so the later flight actually works out great. We only get every 21st person free, which kind of sucks, but it's better then a kick in the pants. Is everyone quoting their prices before or after tax? Our price is $1075+Tax.

 

Hopefully the resort isn't too packed in November. less then 6 months to go now. Crazy.

[CdnBrideJoanne]

Originally Posted by MrsViolo 

 

Yep! Just heard about the crappy flight times too. We think it will only be a huge problem for our guests with kiddoes and our older guests (my FI's grandmother is coming and she's 87).

 

The travel agent emailed the resort to ask about late checkout. Here's the response:

 

"Dear Ms St Croix

 

Receive cordial greetings from Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica.

 

We would like to acknowledge that we have received your e-mail concerning the future stay of our mutual clients in our property.

Please kindly note that unfortunately we are unable to confirm late check-out as requested at this time. Late check-out is depending on the availability on the day of their departure. If their room is available to do the late check-out , its at an extra cost of US$ 10 ,per hour. Should in case their room is not available. We do have a hospitality room that is equipped with showers and changing rooms and that is free of cost.

 

Looking forward to hosting them in our property"

 

I'm concerned the rooms won't be available since January is a busy time. If there are rooms available we'll probably cover the cost for a few of our guests to have later checkouts. Everyone else should be fine with the courtesy room.

 

Sucks that we arrive so late but I'm happy to get to stay the entire last day.

 

Thanks for sending me that info.  I still haven't heard back from my TA....  She knows I'm really upset so she's avoiding me now. 

[CdnBrideJoanne]

Originally Posted by MelB2012 

 

I'm surprised so many people have has issues with Transat. I booked through Marlin Travel//Transat Holidays and got the Golden option. We reserved over a year in advance, and I haven't seen a price cheaper yet - not direct flight anyway. The times we got aren't fantastic, but they aren't awful. I get married the day before we leave, so the later flight actually works out great. We only get every 21st person free, which kind of sucks, but it's better then a kick in the pants. Is everyone quoting their prices before or after tax? Our price is $1075+Tax.

 

Hopefully the resort isn't too packed in November. less then 6 months to go now. Crazy.

 

I'm dealing with Marlin Travel in Kitchener and I do NOT recommend it.  I think it's more of a TA problem as she's not very good.  We're paying $1535 including tax for the Royal Golden, every 12th person free.  You end up paying for the free person, it's just buried in your price.

[soontobeawalsh]

Originally Posted by CdnBrideJoanne 

 

 

I'm dealing with Marlin Travel in Kitchener and I do NOT recommend it.  I think it's more of a TA problem as she's not very good.  We're paying $1535 including tax for the Royal Golden, every 12th person free.  You end up paying for the free person, it's just buried in your price.

I am also dealing with Marlin Travel in Kitchener!  I originally started with Flight Center, but that TA was EVEN WORSE if you can believe it!!  We have the same deal as you but we are paying $1607 with tax for the Royal Golden. I looked up the rates and flight times when I heard that the flight times were out and pretty bad, and the price on my travel date is now up to $1900-something with taxes so I am somewhat happy about my rate but I know that I have lots of people who are waiting for a cheaper rate to come out later on and are not going with our group rate...Not sure if I should send out a mass e-mail and let them know that the price is much higher than what we have now, and we still have the option to change it if it drops.