casa velas boutique or gran velas for honeymoon?

[weddinggirl72]

Thanks Jess! Have you posted your review yet? I cant wait to see it! No rush if you are still working on it.

[Jess]

not yet - i'm going to try to get it up by this weekend! but I have pics on my facebook of Casa Velas on my facebook if you want to see

[Jess]

just a few tidbits in the meantime before I post my review:

 

Food must trys:

Oriental Rice and tempura at the Beach Club

Shrimp Burrito at the normal pool (minus the pickles)

Prawn Bisque at Emiliano's

 

As far as rooms - we upgraded from a Grand Class Suite on our last night to a big penthouse suite with a large private pool. i would not recommend this. I don't know if it was just our room, but it seemed older where the Grand Class Suite was remodeled and new. The bigger suite had stairs to the bedroom and it was more of a pain than anything - glad we only upgraded for one night. I'd stay with the less expensive Grand Class Suite - it was perfect and new.

[weddinggirl72]

Thanks for the tips Jess! Did you get any timeshare pressure while you were there? I'm worried about my guests being bothered by this.

[Andi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jess just a few tidbits in the meantime before I post my review: Food must trys: Oriental Rice and tempura at the Beach Club Shrimp Burrito at the normal pool (minus the pickles) Prawn Bisque at Emiliano's As far as rooms - we upgraded from a Grand Class Suite on our last night to a big penthouse suite with a large private pool. i would not recommend this. I don't know if it was just our room, but it seemed older where the Grand Class Suite was remodeled and new. The bigger suite had stairs to the bedroom and it was more of a pain than anything - glad we only upgraded for one night. I'd stay with the less expensive Grand Class Suite - it was perfect and new.

Jess I saw your pics and they looked great!

bummer though on the upgrade. the suite you upgraded to though was it in the main part of the hotel or was it one of the ones as you drive in? (the ones that look like small little town homes)

Quote:

Originally Posted by weddinggirl72 Thanks for the tips Jess! Did you get any timeshare pressure while you were there? I'm worried about my guests being bothered by this.

We never were pressured with any timeshare things. the concierge though did try to get us to sign up for tours (snorkeling, hiking, etc) we had no interest in that at that point so we just said no thanks. it really wasn't a huge deal though

[Jess]

Andi it wasn't in the main part which I think was the case - our original room was in the main part. Maybe it was a timeshare they put us in?

 

I wouldn't say "pressured" but Stefano, the Casa Dorada travel agency guy who I thought was concierge but actually isn't told us if we went to a presentation we could stay at Casa Velas anytime in the next year for $250 a night for 5 nights (which is an incredible deal but there was no way I was going to a timeshare presentation). I bet if you told the hotel ahead of time, and contacted the concierge and the travel agency who puts themselves in the lobby that you had guests for a wedding and didn't want them to be pressured or talked to about timeshares, they would adhere to that for sure.

[weddinggirl72]

Thats great advice! I will definitely tell them ahead of time to please refrain from bothering my guests. Thats the last thing people want to deal with after traveling all day especially since that place isn't cheap!

[Jess]

yeah for sure it will be awesome though!!

you may want to warn your guests about tipping because i know all AI's don't do what Casa Velas does - but when you order anything you always get a bill with the full amount discounted. It is so you tip. I think that is how they have the service level they do but definitely let people know this because it came come as a surprise if you don't expect it - but drinks, room service, anything come with a bill zero'd out - we just added 15%-20% tip on all of them.

[weddinggirl72]

wow, I didn't even think about that (the tipping!), I just assumed there weren't any bills (except when you check out). Thanks for letting me know...I will probably include that info on the welcome itinerary.

[Andi]

good news for any considering casa velas. It is now the #1 ranked PV hotel on trip advisor!

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