Site visits

[Mamzaleg]

Hi! I am getting ready to go down to Riveria Maya to check out a couple resorts before making my venue decision. I have a couple questions I was hoping you guys could help me with! 1. Did you rent a car or use taxis to get from hotel to hotel? 2. Did you stay at one place or hop around each night? 3. What are the main questions I should be asking during these visits? Any other helpful advice would be very much appreciated!!! Thank you!

[AllieH]

Hi there! so exciting that you get to do site visits. I highly recommend either renting a car or having a driver to go between the resorts for the day or days you are there. While it's super easy to get a tax/shuttle from the airport, the taxis aren't allowed to "hang out" at the resorts - especially if you are visiting down in Riviera Maya vs. the Cancun Hotel district (Cancun has plenty of taxis!). 

 

I would choose 1 place to stay as your base, and go visit from there - it's way easier than packing up and changing hotels every night. You also have to consider that check out is generally 11am, and check in 3pm - so you've got a good 4 hours without a room each day. 

 

Questions to ask for a wedding: 

1. wedding group perks - what size group/room block is needed for additional events (cocktails, group reception/dinner), etc? what resort/stay packages are available to the bride & groom based on the group size (your TA should also be able to help with these questions).

2. ceremony locations - which are most popular, and why? which ones are the best for each group size (it's probably good to have a decent idea of how many guests you'll have prior to your site visit)

3. cocktail and/or reception locations - same questions. plus - how late can music be played? do they allow fireworks (cold fireworks, sparklers, and/or sky lanterns, if these are part of your vision for your celebration)

4. a la carte restaurants - how many are on-site, what is the additional charge, how large of a group can be seated together, are reservations required? 

5. alternate venues - what if it rains? what are the alternate solutions if the whether happens to be less-than-ideal? 

6. spa - hair/make up - if you'll need these services, what can they do? if you have a bridal party, can you all get services together, or will you be split up in the salon? can they do this in your room? 

7. costs of food/drink packages for private events (cocktail/reception), and sampling!! 

8. cake - how much, and sample! 

9. dress service - can they steam/press your dress prior to your wedding? (and groom's attire, if needed)

10. flowers, decorations - anything else you desire for the wedding of your dreams. who are the vendors, what flowers are available at the time you are planning, etc. 

11. outside vendors - this seems to be the biggest "gotcha" for so many resorts. what's the outside vendor fee, are they allowed, does it include just 1 person, or is the fee per vendor (e.g. DJ & assistant = 1 fee)

12. partner vendors - flowers, decorations, DJ, live music, etc. - who do they use?

13. how soon do you need to reserve everything to ensure you get your choices of vendors & locations? 

 

whew!! if I think of more, I'll pop back here. good luck!! 

 

Originally Posted by Mamzaleg 

Hi!

I am getting ready to go down to Riveria Maya to check out a couple resorts before making my venue decision. I have a couple questions I was hoping you guys could help me with!
1. Did you rent a car or use taxis to get from hotel to hotel?
2. Did you stay at one place or hop around each night?
3. What are the main questions I should be asking during these visits?

Any other helpful advice would be very much appreciated!!!

Thank you!

 

 

[Yazmin De La Mora]

Originally Posted by Mamzaleg 

 

Hi!

 

I am getting ready to go down to Riveria Maya to check out a couple resorts before making my venue decision. I have a couple questions I was hoping you guys could help me with!

1. Did you rent a car or use taxis to get from hotel to hotel?

2. Did you stay at one place or hop around each night?

3. What are the main questions I should be asking during these visits?

 

Any other helpful advice would be very much appreciated!!!

 

Thank you!

Hello Manzaleg,

 

Here is the link from the wedding tips in this forum where you will find the below info and a video.

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/a/site-inspections-step-by-step

 

We have been living in the area for more than 13 years already and 7 years working for different hotels as a Groups  & Conventions Manager or as a Weddings Sales Manager.

 

There are some Professional Wedding Planners in the area that offer the site inspections service.

 

Since they live and know all the possible Hotels, Beach Clubs, Villas and Private Locations to hold a wedding in the area, they will help you to find the right location for you, depending on your taste, style, budget, month of the wedding and number of guests attending.

 

A planned site inspection made from a Professional will save you time, money, stress and car issues than if you do it by yourself.

 

We can assure than in a most of cases and based on your needs, in one single day, in no more than 6 hours we can find the ideal location for your wedding.

 

Based on our experience, here are our suggestions before doing a Site Inspections in Mexico:

 

1.     Before visiting Mexico, do your time line.  Prepare, plan and schedule all the Hotels or Locations you are interested to see.  If you hire a Professional Wedding Planner, they will do it for you.

2.     Define the locations you are interested to visit,  If they are Private Locations, Hotels, Beach Clubs or all of them.

3.     Do a reservation.

For most of Hotels you need to do a reservation.

For most of Beach clubs is not necessary to do a reservation For all Private Locations you need to do a reservation.

 

Why?

If you do a reservation you can get a proper service from them and they have the time to be with you at least two hours and will have to answer all of your questions., offering you all the complete information such availability, room rates for the month you are requesting and the specific locations that are good enough for your wedding party, based on the number of people attending.  

 

If you do not do a reservation, you have a risk of not being able to visit the resort or to do a site inspection with a bell boy or someone that is not in the wedding business, so you will not get the proper answers and once you get back home it might take several days or even weeks to get that info.

 

4. Rent a car.

Our suggestion will be to rent a car at the airport,

 

5.     Get the right Map

Visiting Hotels is always more easy to find since most of them are along the main highway and private locations are often in neighborhoods that are more difficult to find.

 

The car rental company will offer a map.  Make sure that you get the right map, there are 2 maps one for Cancun and another for the Mayan Riviera.

 

Hotels

 

a.    Request in each different hotel, with the reserrvations or wedding department a special room rate for a site inspection, and a late check out.  

b.    By staying at their hotelyou will get all their attentions, possible up grades, site inspection and possible menu tasting.

 

Beach Clubs

 

a. With a reservation you can even arrange to have a menu tasting.

 

Villas or Private Locations.

 

a.    Print the map from the location and ask the property for specific directions,

b.    Plan your timeline and schedules with enough time in case you get lost, have car issuess, so you can get on time in each location.

 

Note:

Do not forget to wear comfortable clothes, shoes and a cap, bring enough water, snacks, sun block, bug repellant and your camera!

 

 

Happy planning!

[nattiegams325]

This is great info!!! Thanks ladies