Azul Fives Brides 2015

[ashhtayy]

@@racht33 I'm so sorry that happened to you. I guess you are in the US? Us Canadians don't get the basic wedding package for free; that is why I am assuming you're from the States.

 

I've emailed my TA to ask her. As I write this she replied that she hadn't heard this but would check with her rep. I'll post when I hear back.

[TinkerSofi]

@@TinkerSofi I actually just began to look at that resort is The Grand Sunset Princess where you're getting married @@veryvalentine the same at the Grand Riviera Princess? .

 

IJust having mixed feelings but i was so emotionally invest.. i already saw our wedding there on the sky deck. Now its like nothing compares ughh! I would believe you having the contract with them prior to the changes you will be ok. I would just make sure to get EVERYTHING in writing to go back and forth with what is stated on your contract. and with all its new updates they will have to live up to the standards. Im hoping my TA can  really work some magic because even the thought of starting this all over again is making me want to pull my hair out. Looking for a resort to fit all our needs for the wedding and all the needs for our guest seemed impossible . AHHH

it's the same chain but the Grand Riviera Princess is literally next door to AF. I think Grand Sunset Princess is a bit further down or up the Mayan corridor. 

 

Hopefully your TA can work some magic. When did these changes come into effect? I know someone posted on the facebook group that they had raised her sky deck fee to $1800 but she fought for it and got it back to $1700. I'm guessing it has to do with this. Mine thankfully is still ok, but I'll keep checking . 

[veryvalentine]

Hi @@racht33

 

yes, I'm getting married at the Princess!    when is your wedding?

 

So the Grand Sunset Princess and the Grand Riviera Princess are essentially mirrors of each other.  They each have their own lobby to check into and have restaurants on both grounds but you essentially have access to the same pool, amenities, each has their own buffet but you can go to either one.

 

The Princess also just opened their new Adults only hotel right beside these two complexes.  It's called the Platinum Yucatan Princess Adults Only hotel.  As of September 1st, 2014 the Princess opened up their adults only hotel, allowing guests of the adults only to cross over to the GSP or GRP.  Guests of the GSP & GRP cannot cross over to the Adults only though.  The GSP and GRP now specialize as a family hotel and have focused more of their branding towards catering to children and families. 

 

I have heard nothing but great things about the  new hotel.  I think that the Princess hotels have an amazing price point and are a bit of a hidden gem.  We have stayed at the Grand Riviera Princess twice and loved it.  The Grand Riviera had the Adults only platinum block of rooms prior to sepof 2014, where as at the time the Grand Sunset Princess didn't, so I think one was trying to cater to adults and the sunset more to families.    It's a little confusing but essentially they are all connected...except the new adults only which is next door and is only accessible if you are staying there.

 

Our guests are staying at the ADults only with the exception of two families that are bring their kids.  They are staying at the Sunset.  Our ceremony takes place at the Grand Riviera and the reception at the GRand sunset chill out...it sounds spread out but it's all together.   

 

I would suggest you fight for the perks before you give up on Azul Fives.  Stand your ground and tell them that the bottom line is that you either get what you were promised or you are taking ALL YOUR  guests with you to the hotel next door.  Don't back down. 

 

The princess hotel is in between the Grand Velas hotel and the Azul Fives.  Azul Fives is just south of the Princess.

[racht33]

@@TinkerSofi my TA said they told him changes happened 2 weeks ago. AHHH why didnt i sign 2 weeks agoooooooooooo!!!!

@veryvalentine planning my wedding for Aug. 20th next year. In a way im relieved this is all happening wayyyyyy in advance, so i still have enough time to hunt. the resort looks beautiful! Esp the showers in the king suites!! Amazing!! and i like how you explained how its all separated but still together. !  But i wont give up on Azul Fives until my Ta tells me theirs nothing we can do. I mean how could they want to lose so many guest and so much money being brought in. Time will tell i suppose.

 

@ashhtayy  I am from the states. And Im not sure if its just something they are starting to state to people now who are trying to sign contracts for the coming year.Please let me know what your TA says. My TA has worked with karisma for many years and has done so many weddings with them. he stated to me he always been aware that Azul fives has been separated from the general other karisma resorts but this is beyond. Not to even offer the perks. If i had to deal with the 975 wedding cost fine and then just pick a different location. But to remove everything... its mainly one of the reasons we picked it. The offers from what you get.

 

My TA is speaking to me about Now Jade ( ive actually liked this place but it seems very cookie cutter) hes spoken to me about Marina El Cid ( ehhhh ) Ill just have to see what happens within the next couple days

[ashhtayy]

it's the same chain but the Grand Riviera Princess is literally next door to AF. I think Grand Sunset Princess is a bit further down or up the Mayan corridor. 

 

Hopefully your TA can work some magic. When did these changes come into effect? I know someone posted on the facebook group that they had raised her sky deck fee to $1800 but she fought for it and got it back to $1700. I'm guessing it has to do with this. Mine thankfully is still ok, but I'll keep checking . 

 

The website they give us to keep track of everything is SO confusing. It lists my massive grand total (in US ewww becaase of the exchange rate - not because of US lol) and then only provides a breakdown. It doesnt say what I am paying for hte always and forever package or the sky deck but when i do the math it = $1700 + $950

 

Scratch that - if you click on printer friendly it will give you a detailed view.

@@TinkerSofi my TA said they told him changes happened 2 weeks ago. AHHH why didnt i sign 2 weeks agoooooooooooo!!!!

@veryvalentine planning my wedding for Aug. 20th next year. In a way im relieved this is all happening wayyyyyy in advance, so i still have enough time to hunt. the resort looks beautiful! Esp the showers in the king suites!! Amazing!! and i like how you explained how its all separated but still together. !  But i wont give up on Azul Fives until my Ta tells me theirs nothing we can do. I mean how could they want to lose so many guest and so much money being brought in. Time will tell i suppose.

 

@ashhtayy  I am from the states. And Im not sure if its just something they are starting to state to people now who are trying to sign contracts for the coming year.Please let me know what your TA says. My TA has worked with karisma for many years and has done so many weddings with them. he stated to me he always been aware that Azul fives has been separated from the general other karisma resorts but this is beyond. Not to even offer the perks. If i had to deal with the 975 wedding cost fine and then just pick a different location. But to remove everything... its mainly one of the reasons we picked it. The offers from what you get.

 

My TA is speaking to me about Now Jade ( ive actually liked this place but it seems very cookie cutter) hes spoken to me about Marina El Cid ( ehhhh ) Ill just have to see what happens within the next couple days

 

@@racht33 My TA just called after talking to the Canadian Karisma Rep. She says that something just doesn't sound right with what you are being told because her Karisma rep said that nothing has changed and that no seperation has taken place. My TA also confirmed that, in our situation, we 100% get our GI perks (because she is an active GI TA).

 

I really hope this ends up working out for you. I can't imagine after all the research, etc having to go back to square one. The GREAT thing is you found this forum and worst case scenerio if AF doesnt work out, you'll have tons of brides to turn to get information on other equally awesome resorts.

Edited May 7, 2015 by ashhtayy

[Smellsey]

@@racht33 your ta doesn't have the contract with Karisma so they cannot book it? Hmm... Weird. to be honest I am not getting one single perk and I am still choosing the resort.  I am assuming that you are in the US though so it would be more expensive for you with the package and everything.

 

@@ashhtayy I don't think it is crazy at all to ask guests to book a year in advance. I did - actually like a year and 2 months. it gives them time to save up and book the holidays/get babysitters etc.

[ashhtayy]

@@racht33 your ta doesn't have the contract with Karisma so they cannot book it? Hmm... Weird. to be honest I am not getting one single perk and I am still choosing the resort.  I am assuming that you are in the US though so it would be more expensive for you with the package and everything.

 

@@ashhtayy I don't think it is crazy at all to ask guests to book a year in advance. I did - actually like a year and 2 months. it gives them time to save up and book the holidays/get babysitters etc.

 

I should clarify - I don't think it is crazy for us brides to do, it is what we have to do - but trying to explain that to 75 people, half of which think you can "wait and find a last minute deal" gets crazy...and starts to drive ME crazy

 

Is your guest list all finalized or do you have people still booking?

[TinkerSofi]

yeah our deadline for deposits was exactly a year out. Then people know that this is coming up and can save up or can pay in instalments . Even then, we still had people who couldn't come because they already had other weddings, local weddings btw, so I don't think a year is too long, especially for  a DW.

 

@@ashhtayy I was wondering the same yesterday until I hit printer friendly version. Does your sky deck show up as $0? I should do the math but I'm pretty sure we're still paying for it, it might not be under sky deck necessarily. If they missed it I'm certainly not going to mention it hahah. 

[ashhtayy]

yeah our deadline for deposits was exactly a year out. Then people know that this is coming up and can save up or can pay in instalments . Even then, we still had people who couldn't come because they already had other weddings, local weddings btw, so I don't think a year is too long, especially for  a DW.

 

@@ashhtayy I was wondering the same yesterday until I hit printer friendly version. Does your sky deck show up as $0? I should do the math but I'm pretty sure we're still paying for it, it might not be under sky deck necessarily. If they missed it I'm certainly not going to mention it hahah. 

 

under cocktail hour and reception it shows up as $0 but under ceremony it shows as $1700. wouldn't that be nice if they "forgot it!"

 

i can't remember - are you paying to extend your time on the sky deck?...$15/pp/hour (not including kiddies)

[TinkerSofi]

under cocktail hour and reception it shows up as $0 but under ceremony it shows as $1700. wouldn't that be nice if they "forgot it!"

 

i can't remember - are you paying to extend your time on the sky deck?...$15/pp/hour (not including kiddies)

no i'm not. I thought about it but then I wondered if it's really worth it. I guess I haven't decided yet. I know Juan will tell me no. Maybe I can ask for part of it as my birthday present! haha he can't get around that one