"New Resort Opening May 1 2011" NOW LARIMAR ~ PUNTA CANA

[Dominican Ally]

Thanks Mayrose!

 

I actually just talked to a travel agent today, who pointed out that Easter in 2013 is March 31.....so there goes my whole idea of having the wedding the end of March/beginning of April...lol!

I think we may just push it to the next week in April, as pricing may be better.

 

I'm so anxious to pick a resort and book a date, but don't feel comfortable doing that until I can get some pricing from TA's so that I know I'm picking a resort my guests can all afford.

 

 

[ThomasK]

Hello all - groom to be here,

 

First and foremost thank you all for the helpful information on here (from what I've been able to read, there's so much!).

 

Secondly,

 

my FI and I are currently shooting for a late spring/early summer 2013 DW. we have been looking in to several places in Mexico as well as Punta Cana.

 

I was in a wedding (my sister) this past July at the Magestic Elegance in PC and absolutely LOVED all aspects of it. Unfortunately, I don't think it would be "right" for my FI and I to have our wedding at the same exact resort as well as the same time frame so I'm looking for something in PC similar to that resort.

 

 

In all of your experience with destination wedding planning, have you all dealt with travel agents, or just set this all up on your own?

 

 

 

I am currently working with a travel agent, who seems to know what he's doing. I've noticed some of the (now assuming) brides got quotes of around the $110+ pp/day. My TA quoted me this morning at $135 pp/day.

 

 

I just wanted to know if it is better to go through a TA or not?

 

 

Also...if anyone has already had their wedding if they have any photo albums they do not mind sharring and the details of how they went about setting up their actual wedding/reception. Cost also...we gave our TA a set budget for our entire wedding with travle and airfare and he said hes only looking into resorts that would fit our criteria, though I still am hesitant as I've been reading for any resort that there are always "hidden fees" once you arrive to accomodate yourselves and your guest for your wedding day.

 

 

Thanks again for all of the outstanding info!!

[Dominican Ally]

Welcome to the forum - so awesome to see a Groom on here! Good for you - wish my fiance would take some of this reading on...lol

[beantown13]

Hi Vav,

  Anyway you could try to email the attachment of the extras to me? [email protected]  Thank you!!!

[EJM17]

can you email it to me too!? [email protected]

[Alana LM]

So here's what I can add,

 

- I was told to stay far away from Easter weekend as that is THE main holiday in the DR and it'll be a ghost town at whatever hotel you choose. We booked the weekend after Easter 2012

- There are always hidden fees and then fees for the hidden fees, lol.  Our budget nearly doubled!

- We're coming from Toronto (and Vancouver) with Sunwing and paying roughly $1500+ pp for 7 days.  Bad news for us is that we had no clue Sunwing didn't fly from YVR until after some had already booked (so not happy really with our TA); 10 days was nearly as much as 14 and 4 days was nearly as much as 7.

-Like everyone we are having trouble having the WC call back. She told me on the phone the other day they prefer/inists on email only conversations BUT she won't return my emails.  

-That said in one conversation I booked nearly everything I wanted, we just don't know things like what the flowers will look like, etc.

 

HTH

 

Alana

NOW : 04-16-12

[Dominican Ally]

Thanks for the tips! I was surprised by the Easter thing, but I'm going to follow the advice and stay away from it.

Sorry to hear you had issues with the TA - I am really hoping not to, but expecting it. I think we will have 3-4 gateways for our flights as my family is spread out over the country. Yuck!

 

Good to know you got most of your things straightened out and booked - must be a relief!
 

Originally Posted by Alana LM 

So here's what I can add,

 

- I was told to stay far away from Easter weekend as that is THE main holiday in the DR and it'll be a ghost town at whatever hotel you choose. We booked the weekend after Easter 2012

- There are always hidden fees and then fees for the hidden fees, lol.  Our budget nearly doubled!

- We're coming from Toronto (and Vancouver) with Sunwing and paying roughly $1500+ pp for 7 days.  Bad news for us is that we had no clue Sunwing didn't fly from YVR until after some had already booked (so not happy really with our TA); 10 days was nearly as much as 14 and 4 days was nearly as much as 7.

-Like everyone we are having trouble having the WC call back. She told me on the phone the other day they prefer/inists on email only conversations BUT she won't return my emails.  

-That said in one conversation I booked nearly everything I wanted, we just don't know things like what the flowers will look like, etc.

 

HTH

 

Alana

NOW : 04-16-12

 

[Mayrose]

Alana H, I got an email from my WC and the hotel send us pics of the flowers that are available. They also send me prices for extra services. I am new at this forum so I do not know how to post it but if you send me your email I can send you the information they send me.

The same goes for any bride that would like the information.

 

Have a good weekend

[Skygirl]

yes, i heard that easter week gets very empty, they call it holly week... Alana i agree about the whole not getting back to you via email thing. It can be annoying...just hang in there, and from what i heard is that it will be all taken care of closer to the date of the wedding.

To all the brides out there: i know that for the dinner menu option, you can only pick one menu(like if u doing lamb, then everyone has to do lamb, you cant mix 10 of chicken and 15of lamb, unless someone has a food allergy so they can substitute it)but does anyone knows up to what number of ppl you can use as"they have allergy"

 

Originally Posted by Alana LM 

So here's what I can add,

 

- I was told to stay far away from Easter weekend as that is THE main holiday in the DR and it'll be a ghost town at whatever hotel you choose. We booked the weekend after Easter 2012

- There are always hidden fees and then fees for the hidden fees, lol.  Our budget nearly doubled!

- We're coming from Toronto (and Vancouver) with Sunwing and paying roughly $1500+ pp for 7 days.  Bad news for us is that we had no clue Sunwing didn't fly from YVR until after some had already booked (so not happy really with our TA); 10 days was nearly as much as 14 and 4 days was nearly as much as 7.

-Like everyone we are having trouble having the WC call back. She told me on the phone the other day they prefer/inists on email only conversations BUT she won't return my emails.  

-That said in one conversation I booked nearly everything I wanted, we just don't know things like what the flowers will look like, etc.

 

HTH

 

Alana

NOW : 04-16-12

 

[vav11238]

Skygirl, I was thinking the same thing about that. Typically any venue would give guests at least two food options. I'm bummed about the food options. If you want your guests to have a choice then you have to do buffet. And I hate buffets at weddings. Feels too cafeteria to me having to carry your own food.