Destinationweddings.com Planners

[cdc150]

I have been working with DW.com for 5 months and I have had an okay experience.  My TA guided me to Mexico or Punta Cana for the price range we wanted our guests to pay.  I was pretty sold on PPC after looking at pictures and she was very supportive of it.  Of course it was in the "Circle of Love" package they have so we get added incentives the more rooms we book.  So far we have 26 rooms booked and we just sent invitations out 2 weeks ago.  I have heard from some of my guests who have called her it has taken a couple days to respond. 

 

Today I called the manager with some problems I am having with receiving a new WC and did mention some of our guests have been having some trouble getting a response right away.   My travel agent called me and emailed me a few hours later to rectify this issue and was super apologetic.  She promised to get everything taken care of my Friday (my wedding is still 6 months away) and I feel a lot more comfortable. 

 

I did have to put out a lot of money up front.  We put a hold on 35 rooms, we are only obligated for 25 of them which are already booked, but was told our money would be credited to our room once everyone is paid.  I was surprised by this as we needed a large block and $200 deposit per room wasn't unreasonable if we could get it credited back to our trip. 

 

I guess it depends on who you get assigned to.  I haven't had a great experience but I wouldn't say I'm ready to throw in the towel either.  Plus we have a lot of people booked and a few people complaining isn't unexpected. 

[Praye]

OMG, i'm going to be throw in the towel.  I sent them screenshot of a package from orbitz I found on saturday to pricematch, 2minutes of finding the package, even call my TA and she said ok she'll send in an invoice, my deposit was charged on my card that day and then today, they said that their vendor Travel Impressions, was informed by orbtiz that that package was loaded in error and therefore they cannot match it. they said expect your reservations to be at an increased price.

WTF??????   

[memckinnon]

We are currently using a BDW Travel Agent. Her name is Patty Jordan. She specializes in dominican republic DW. She has been FANTASTIC. Very quick to reply and always very thorough. Easy to talk to and very friendly. HIGHLY RECOMMEND HER

[deesanders33]

I will tell you now, I had a TERRIBLE TA before Christine Kennedy. Christine has been amazing and very quick to respond to any emails my guests send her. I def had the same problem with my first lady and I called Amber several times and told her my deal and told her who I wanted. She had to make sure it was ok with Christine first but it all worked out and I am EXTREMELY happy with her!! I really hope things get better for you. 

 

Originally Posted by Praye 

I wish I have found this forum before I picked DW.com!  It started out great, the TA was very helpful but then guests were telling me that she wouldn't get back to them. I told them that be patient, maybe she was caught up in something... I would tell her this and then they would all get an email from her and then a few weeks later, same thing again!  No one hears back from her and then I would have to contact her and then the cycle repeats itself.  So then finally we started to get rates in since it was getting closer to a year away from our wedding and I found great rates for my future brother in law and she was not helpful at all. Told him that TI pricing was 11000 bucks and that in order to pricematch that $ 5500 package price( for a family of four) we found on orbitz, he had to put down a deposit of 66XX bucks and they will see if the vendor will match, if they do, he will get refunded the difference, if they don't , he can cancel and will lose 400 bucks (airline insurance).  Does that make sense??? then when i questioned why the deposit is so high, she then said that she booked business class and maybe thats why the package deal is high and then later on when i questioned it again to see if she corrected the mistake, she told me it wasnt a mistake that the business class seat were showing to be cheaper than coach class seats.  Does that make sense???  we lost the great deal while going back and forth and waiting for her reply which she asked us to give her a few hours and it wasnt til 8hours later when she got back to us. Her excuse was she had a prior commitment and had to run out for the evening... wtf? 

then I email the manager, Amber, asking for a new TA and she called me and gave me hell for it.  States that my problem wouldn't be solve by getting a new TA and that it was basically my guests fault for not coming up and depositing the 66XXbucks.  They couldn't do anything about the amount required for a deposit for TI and that she did everything right. Then proceeded to say she understand that my guests have limited in funds and questioned how is he going to book it on orbitz, if he couldn't fork out 66XX bucks. I'm like given a choice of booking between 5500 OR 66XX, and not sure if TI will match the price,  i'll take my chance of maxing out the credit card and paying the 5500.  I told her I NEED a new person who will get back to guests in a timely matter and is better at communicating as to what's happening on their end.  Told her to stop attacking me and smooth the situation out by giving me someone else.  She did but told me warn me that it doesn't solve all my problems and that all the TAs are dealing with brides of the hurricanes.   I can't imagine what these brides are going through but writing a quick email or sending a simple invoice for pricematching shouldn't be too much to ask for!

 

i'm so frustrated! 

 

[Praye]

They won't assign me a new TA cause they are still figuring out my reservations which they stated that the orbitz rates was error when i found it at a good deal. They send me a quote that is not even confirmed if they can get it for a value more than what i'm finding on orbitz right now so I asked for a refund and i'm going to find someone new.  I just hope i don't have any problems trying to get a refund.    i wished this didn't happen at a time when I found the greatest deal and now has lost out on saving 380 bucks per person.

 

[Praye]

oops i meant they gave me an unconfirmed package deal that is more than the deal i'm finding on orbitz currently. 
 

Originally Posted by Praye 

They won't assign me a new TA cause they are still figuring out my reservations which they stated that the orbitz rates was error when i found it at a good deal. They send me a quote that is not even confirmed if they can get it for a value more than what i'm finding on orbitz right now so I asked for a refund and i'm going to find someone new.  I just hope i don't have any problems trying to get a refund.    i wished this didn't happen at a time when I found the greatest deal and now has lost out on saving 380 bucks per person.

 

 

[Praye]

Oh and because they have made a stressful situation on my futher brother in law, who was hoping to be able to put a couple thousand deposit down and pay for the rest til the wedding, he has written us an email apologizing that his family may not be there because of cost so now i've lost a groomsmen and two flower girls. And my fiance is sad. Hes been there for both of his brothers wedding and now they may not be there for him.    I'm pissed at destinationweddings.com!

[DRPrincesa]

I have not heard any good reviews about DW.com.  Sorry for you ladies getting the run around, this should be the last of your worries when you have hired someone to take care of travel arrangements.

[samsbride]

I agree. I just started working with Patty as well. We've only had one convo and she is wonderful. So glad to see that other people think so too!

[Hyu1128]

DW is the worst!  i would not wish them on anyone and warn anyone from using them.  get out while you can!