Need Help Choosing The Right Resort

[misbosox]

we are hoping to get married June 2015.

 

we already know we are going to have at least 48 guests,  possibly 67 total.

We loved Azul Sensatori or Azul Fives, but looking on-line even with 30% off group rates it seems little high priced for our guests.  I have written karisma multiple times to get room block rates quote for June 2015.  However, they never send me the info.  Instead they send me info on their wedding packages...

 

 

So we then looked into Moon Palace.  It has everything we want.  Great rooms, food, activities and group/wedding incentives. BUT the room quotes they gave us are too high for our guests.

 

We really need a  nice resort that can offer similar to Palace or Azul that accommodates large wedding groups with out hurting our bank accounts or our guests bank accounts.  Does anyone have suggestions:

 

-  would prefer 5 star - 4 star resort

-  need family friendly  (we have two pre-teens and two teenager guests)

-  all-inclusive with great food, drinks, nightlife (bars/dance club) and teen club area

-  wedding packages that include cake/cocktail/ reception for at least 30-40 guests.  (after that we know we will have to pay)

-  great rooms, with great prices.... hoping to get double room below $200/ nt per guest (including transportation)

          If it was $200-300 a night  per room with double occupancy then that would have been great.  But per their request its per person; not per room!  My friends are already giving us a hard time about this since they looked on line and can get the same resort/ same rooms for per room price cheaper.         

 

-  guest incentives  - earn resort credits,  maybe kids free or 1/2 price

-  possible wedding incentives - bride/groom free room, upgrade, possible free event,etc

-  able to give out multiple non-resort day passes to wedding.   (this is big problem right now, Palace only limits to 20% of your guest count.  So if we have 50 guests we can only get 6 day passes for those not booked there ---not good if too many book at another resort)

 

[cocosho]

In order to afford these resorts sometimes you need the bargaining power of a travel agent.  They book on years of volume so that's much more power than one wedding.  They can help you negotiate -  actually they can just negotiate for you so there's no stress.  They will get the answers you may be looking for.

 

I booked my wedding for Azul Sensatori this Thanksgiving Wknd and we used www.destinationweddings.com  our coordinator is Valerie Bennet. She's awesome. You can request her when you fill out the information form on their website.

 

Good Luck!

 

 

[jasstz]

I would agree on a travel agent. I am planning for August 2014 and was sure was not gonna be able to handle all on my own, so we also went for destination weddings.com. We have Karen Vanwesten and are very happy up until now. We were able to get a faster response. Now, we did not get that much of a help on room prices, but we are getting some perks on the wedding itself that are really helping.

 

We had a similar problem, needed family friendly, not too expensive for guests, as must are already paying expensive flight tickets. I just booked Azul Beach for August and we are paying $200 per night per person in double occupancy on a deluxe… Some issue you will have, but is a matter of compromises:

1) The have the 20% max day passes policy too (all Karisma has it apparently)

2) Outside vendor that you have to pay for photographers is ridiculous (they do have some options, i did not like them). $800 per day.  I am actually thinking on paying my photographer a room just to make sure the hotel is not taking my money just like that (it is waived if he/she is a guest for 3 nights, so, like $750 for one person in single), and then i can have him for more than a day.

3) No other outside vendors are allowed, everything through Lomas travel, which is on the very expensive side (so decoration won't be cheap)

 

Hope this helps! 

good luck!

 

[acw271011]

I just have a question. sorry. why isn't anyone using the host of this site? They are Karisma specialists and can help you out with everything!!!! Check out their vendor reviews - Wright Travel. Again, sorry. I just thought it was really strange to be seeing people asking about and looking for a TA and planning help when it's all right here! lol  good luck everyone!

[misbosox]

we actually first went through a travel agent that I did find through this site.  However, the prices the TA quoted us were only $15-20 cheaper than the resort.  plus the TA quotes did not include transfers to-from hotel.  So in the end the hotel directly was a tiny bit cheaper.    Not sure if I should keep shopping around with other travel agencies...

[dreamweddings]

we are hoping to get married June 2015.

 

we already know we are going to have at least 48 guests,  possibly 67 total.

We loved Azul Sensatori or Azul Fives, but looking on-line even with 30% off group rates it seems little high priced for our guests.  I have written karisma multiple times to get room block rates quote for June 2015.  However, they never send me the info.  Instead they send me info on their wedding packages...

 

 

So we then looked into Moon Palace.  It has everything we want.  Great rooms, food, activities and group/wedding incentives. BUT the room quotes they gave us are too high for our guests.

 

We really need a  nice resort that can offer similar to Palace or Azul that accommodates large wedding groups with out hurting our bank accounts or our guests bank accounts.  Does anyone have suggestions:

 

-  would prefer 5 star - 4 star resort

-  need family friendly  (we have two pre-teens and two teenager guests)

-  all-inclusive with great food, drinks, nightlife (bars/dance club) and teen club area

-  wedding packages that include cake/cocktail/ reception for at least 30-40 guests.  (after that we know we will have to pay)

-  great rooms, with great prices.... hoping to get double room below $200/ nt per guest (including transportation)

          If it was $200-300 a night  per room with double occupancy then that would have been great.  But per their request its per person; not per room!  My friends are already giving us a hard time about this since they looked on line and can get the same resort/ same rooms for per room price cheaper.         

 

-  guest incentives  - earn resort credits,  maybe kids free or 1/2 price

-  possible wedding incentives - bride/groom free room, upgrade, possible free event,etc

-  able to give out multiple non-resort day passes to wedding.   (this is big problem right now, Palace only limits to 20% of your guest count.  So if we have 50 guests we can only get 6 day passes for those not booked there ---not good if too many book at another resort)

I would sure use a travel agent, They can sure help you a lot. other resort I could recommend are Riu palace Riviera Maya and Hacienda Tres Rios, I find that they have comparable prices.   

[talicea7812]

@@misbosox

 

I have dealt with travel agents several times when it comes to destination weddings.  Now I don't know if I have good luck with them or what...but they've always saved me lots of money.

 

a couple years ago I found rates cheaper than what the TA was quoting.  I asked why should I book with u when I found it cheaper.  she told me she has the ability to change rezos if special offers become available.  I took a gamble and booked with her... and it really paid off.  a couple weeks later dreams offered the honeymoon suite for the same price as the basic room we had booked.  there weren't pics online but it had to be better than the basic room.  when we got there our suite was beyond amazing! it was 2 stories, 2 balconies, 2 bathrooms, ocean view.  we ended up being the room everyone came to for the party! so worth it.

 

then with our wedding we were originally quoted one price and once we agreed the TA contacted my about a week later that she was able to negotiate the room $500 cheaper!

 

So I always so go with a TA. They have done amazing things for me.  At first I pay a lil more...but they do their jobs and really work for the customer!

[shellsal]

@@misbosox

I am on the same exact boat as you except i'm looking for Labor Day Weekend of 2014! I feel like i am so behind but i just can not make a decision on a resort. I'm trying to decide between  

Paradisus La Esmeralda, which i LOVE but the wedding packages are over priced.

Moon Palace has some great wedding packages but i think the pricing to stay at the resort might be out of budget for my guests. And lastly Dreams Tulum, has ok wedding packages and is pretty budget friendly but i still have not heard back from the WC and i am not totally in love with anything about it. 

[hanaefaith]

Hi brides,

 

I am also having a hard time deciding. I am planning on a wedding March 2015. I am going for site visits this March but still can't figure out which resort I want to go to. I was looking into Barcelo Maya Palace due to high and good reviews about it. Anyone have and thoughts on that resort? Or have recommendations for us?

 

1. Budget friendly for me and my guests

2. Decent prices on packages

[misbosox]

so we picked it and put our deposit today!  We are going with Moon Palace.   we looked back at what we and our friends paid to go to a recent wedding at Azul Beach this past fall.   It was only about $50-150 cheaper per person for Azul....but that was low season!  Our wedding is in June which is second-third from low season...  Plus there is so much more to do at the resort.  So since everyone that went in the fall will be there for ours we figured we will have no issues with that group...Just now have to see how everyone else will book....

 

  Also, ladies defiantly shop around with multiple travel agents.   I found one actually the next town from me... she was able to get same deal as the others and palace + plus for every 10 guests booked we can get an additional $25 back + plus airline credit $500.

hanae,

       Moon's rate are little higher, but its a much larger resort (almost two-four resorts in one) plus it offers larger incentives for group bookings.  Our biggest choice was the amount of guests included in packages, group incentives and things to do at the resort.

 

   The other resort we looked at that had better/cheaper room rates for our guests was NOW resorts.   They may have a wedding package or what you maybe looking for.  

 

 

Other options is to have your wedding very late August - thru - October.  That is low season when rates are cheapest.  It just wouldn't work for us since my daughter was in school and we want her part of it..