Any Gran Bahia Principe Runaway Bay Brides out there?

[cupcake1382]

I'M BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK I've missed my GBP brides SO MUCH!

 

Ok so I hate to do this but can I just say DITTO to everything Tekeya said, lol? Our weddings were exactly a week a part and everything that she experienced so did I.... so I will keep it short but feel free to ask questions. I am blunt so I don't meant to offend anyone but I too believe in keeping it real. 

 

1. Donnalee is an asshole. She has not one customer service bone in her body. I'm a wedding planner and I would NEVER talk to anyone of my clients the way she THOUGHT I was going to let her talk to me. She decided to continuously tell me they had a wedding at 3 when my time at the gazebo was until 2pm. So kindly after the 3rd time of her telling me (around 1:40) I politely told her to stop telling me as I understood the 1st time she told me and also I have the gazebo until 2pm, so DO NOT start to take down my decorations until 2pm. She left me alone after that. Secondly, she told me it wasn't her responsibility to give me back my decorations- see below:

 

2. Make sure you have someone get your decorations after your reception dinner (if you have some things you want back.) Now, I had pomanders, starfish bowls and 31 battery operated tea lights and I told Chandlyn when I met her that I wanted these items back. All she said was "no problem" (I will get more into that phrase later on!). So on Monday, since they don't work on Sunday's I was told no one knew where my items were and I should have elected someone to get the items after the reception at the Dolce Vita. To make matters worse, since the resort is turning over to off season, the Dolce Vita was closed until the day we left. So Donnalee with her stank attitude continued to remind me it wasn't her problem so I reminded her if she wanted me to pay for the wedding packaged she would find my items. After about 45 minutes of back and forth she called Chandlyn who called the manager of the Dolce Vita and said my stuff was in a storage closet in the restaurant and they would be retrieved on Thursday (our check out day) and be mailed to me. I had Donnalee put this in writing on GBP letterhead. 

 

3. Make sure you go through everything with Chandlyn. EVERYTHING. I told her I didn't want the resort photog there, who actually is the photog who takes pictures of you in the pool all day for purchase. Who elbowed my photog a couple times and was quite rude. So this was person #2 who I politely had words with. I told him to leave and that I told Chandlyn I wouldn't need his services. So he gave me some sad look and said, well you get 10 free pictures so can't I shoot something for you? I said no thanks, I have 2 photogs taking care of everything. Since the pictures are free and you aren't getting paid for any of this, it might be better for you to go back to snapping people at the pool. 

 

4. The resort has a mosquito issue in the rooms. My hubby and I were spraying like crazy in our room, it was gross. Other guests had roaches in their rooms. The Dolce Vita has a serious mosquito problem. At the beginning of the reception my dad actually walked all the way back to his room and go OFF and all 35 of us sprayed it before the reception started. We didn't have any bug issues at the gazebo or near the gazebo where we took pictures on the rocks. 

 

Honestly the resort is very nice, not 5 star, more like 3 star. The food is ok, the place is HUGE, nice people working there. I did find out that the guys at the swim up bars wearing white button downs with bow ties are Trainees and do not get paid at all. So I made sure to tip them well as they were the most polite and always made my drinks perfectly. The Jerk Shack on the back of the hotel (open from 12-3pm) was soooo good, and we ate there after the wedding (we had a big gap, wedding at 1230, dinner at 6) and we ate there for lunch every day. Breakfast in the main buffet was great, dinner at the Japanese was horrible, and we loved the Dolce Vita and Grille dinners. 

 

Make sure you make your dinner reservations when you check in, they fill up fast. We waited and ended up with reservations at 9pm, 2 nights in a row. DON'T splurge on the Golden Club rooms unless you really just want the 30 minutes of internet access and a couple other amenities like a little bottle of rum in your room, and robes/slippers. The rooms are all exactly the same so to pay more money for those few amenities were not worth it to us. 

 

I hate real flowers so I had no flowers whatsoever at the gazebo or reception so I got an extra layer of cake for free instead. So I can't comment on Jans or Tai Flora. I also brought my own photogs. Ok that's all I can think of, lol... If you have any questions feel free to ask anything! Here is the teaser we got from my photog- I'll update with more pics when she updates me!

 

[cupcake1382]

Oh- I forgot to talk about "no problem"

 

I now HATE that phrase. That's all everyone says on the resort and it is really annoying. Every time I went to Donnalee or Chandlyn with an issue that's all they would ever say. Sometimes you have to say no- there is a problem and get to the bottom of it without them brushing you off. If you don't stand up to them they will brush you off, so be stern and request what you were promised. 

[belledame]

cupcake1382, you look amazing! Can't wait to see more pics.....thanks for your review! Two questions, is your bouquet from the resort's package and where did you purchase your brides maid dresses?

[cupcake1382]

Hey Belle-

 

I didn't use any flowers from the resort. Actually, my flowers are silk and I bought them off Etsy. I can pm you the seller if you want.

 

The bridesmaids dresses are Davids's Bridal F13182 in Malibu. 

 

Originally Posted by belledame 

cupcake1382, you look amazing! Can't wait to see more pics.....thanks for your review! Two questions, is your bouquet from the resort's package and where did you purchase your brides maid dresses?

 

[cupcake1382]

And, thank you! I meant to put that in my previous response to you!! 
 

Originally Posted by belledame 

cupcake1382, you look amazing! Can't wait to see more pics.....thanks for your review! Two questions, is your bouquet from the resort's package and where did you purchase your brides maid dresses?

 

[belledame]

Sorry, one more question, may I have the wedding co-ordinator's email address please?

[cupcake1382]

Sure-

 

Chandlyn- Head wedding planner: [email protected]

 

Donnalee- Assistant wedding planner: [email protected]
 

Originally Posted by belledame 

Sorry, one more question, may I have the wedding co-ordinator's email address please?

 

[tamandrob]

Cupcake, Congrats on being a Mrs!!!! Your pictures look amazing and thanks for the great review! I am really glad you ladies are telling it like it is so that future brides know what to expect and how to be prepared! Thanks again!!!

[Tekeya Thompson]

Love your pics hun!!!!  You changed up your hairstyle ;-)

 

Originally Posted by cupcake1382 

I'M BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK I've missed my GBP brides SO MUCH!

 

Ok so I hate to do this but can I just say DITTO to everything Tekeya said, lol? Our weddings were exactly a week a part and everything that she experienced so did I.... so I will keep it short but feel free to ask questions. I am blunt so I don't meant to offend anyone but I too believe in keeping it real. 

 

1. Donnalee is an asshole. She has not one customer service bone in her body. I'm a wedding planner and I would NEVER talk to anyone of my clients the way she THOUGHT I was going to let her talk to me. She decided to continuously tell me they had a wedding at 3 when my time at the gazebo was until 2pm. So kindly after the 3rd time of her telling me (around 1:40) I politely told her to stop telling me as I understood the 1st time she told me and also I have the gazebo until 2pm, so DO NOT start to take down my decorations until 2pm. She left me alone after that. Secondly, she told me it wasn't her responsibility to give me back my decorations- see below:

 

2. Make sure you have someone get your decorations after your reception dinner (if you have some things you want back.) Now, I had pomanders, starfish bowls and 31 battery operated tea lights and I told Chandlyn when I met her that I wanted these items back. All she said was "no problem" (I will get more into that phrase later on!). So on Monday, since they don't work on Sunday's I was told no one knew where my items were and I should have elected someone to get the items after the reception at the Dolce Vita. To make matters worse, since the resort is turning over to off season, the Dolce Vita was closed until the day we left. So Donnalee with her stank attitude continued to remind me it wasn't her problem so I reminded her if she wanted me to pay for the wedding packaged she would find my items. After about 45 minutes of back and forth she called Chandlyn who called the manager of the Dolce Vita and said my stuff was in a storage closet in the restaurant and they would be retrieved on Thursday (our check out day) and be mailed to me. I had Donnalee put this in writing on GBP letterhead. 

 

3. Make sure you go through everything with Chandlyn. EVERYTHING. I told her I didn't want the resort photog there, who actually is the photog who takes pictures of you in the pool all day for purchase. Who elbowed my photog a couple times and was quite rude. So this was person #2 who I politely had words with. I told him to leave and that I told Chandlyn I wouldn't need his services. So he gave me some sad look and said, well you get 10 free pictures so can't I shoot something for you? I said no thanks, I have 2 photogs taking care of everything. Since the pictures are free and you aren't getting paid for any of this, it might be better for you to go back to snapping people at the pool. 

 

4. The resort has a mosquito issue in the rooms. My hubby and I were spraying like crazy in our room, it was gross. Other guests had roaches in their rooms. The Dolce Vita has a serious mosquito problem. At the beginning of the reception my dad actually walked all the way back to his room and go OFF and all 35 of us sprayed it before the reception started. We didn't have any bug issues at the gazebo or near the gazebo where we took pictures on the rocks. 

 

Honestly the resort is very nice, not 5 star, more like 3 star. The food is ok, the place is HUGE, nice people working there. I did find out that the guys at the swim up bars wearing white button downs with bow ties are Trainees and do not get paid at all. So I made sure to tip them well as they were the most polite and always made my drinks perfectly. The Jerk Shack on the back of the hotel (open from 12-3pm) was soooo good, and we ate there after the wedding (we had a big gap, wedding at 1230, dinner at 6) and we ate there for lunch every day. Breakfast in the main buffet was great, dinner at the Japanese was horrible, and we loved the Dolce Vita and Grille dinners. 

 

Make sure you make your dinner reservations when you check in, they fill up fast. We waited and ended up with reservations at 9pm, 2 nights in a row. DON'T splurge on the Golden Club rooms unless you really just want the 30 minutes of internet access and a couple other amenities like a little bottle of rum in your room, and robes/slippers. The rooms are all exactly the same so to pay more money for those few amenities were not worth it to us. 

 

I hate real flowers so I had no flowers whatsoever at the gazebo or reception so I got an extra layer of cake for free instead. So I can't comment on Jans or Tai Flora. I also brought my own photogs. Ok that's all I can think of, lol... If you have any questions feel free to ask anything! Here is the teaser we got from my photog- I'll update with more pics when she updates me!

 

 

[AngelaandTrevor]

Well today the resort manager finally called my travel agent back! Sandra told her of all the problems we are having with the wedding planners! It will be interesting to see what the manager does about them. I will keep you all updated!