Riu Tropical Bay Palace - 2015

[mariak]

Hi!

 

We have started our wedding planning for summer of 2015. Weirdly there seems to be many reviews of weddings at the Riu Tropical Bay Palace on Trip Advisor but very few *almost no* reviews elsewhere. We are looking for having a simple wedding *if possible* with about 40 guests. Does anyone have experience at this resort that could share some ideas and/or things to be aware of? We have also been looking at the Iberostar Rose Hall or other Riu hotel's in Jamaica because I heard that the Riu Tropical Palace is starting to looked abit dated. Any thoughts on this?

 

Thanks!!!

[stefadile]

Hi there, I've never stayed there, but I have heard its a beautiful hotel, and its on the beach... there is another riu very close to this one... and it looks to be in better condition... the tropical palace looked a bit shabby back in December, it looked like it needed a paint job but I can't speak for the interior.... or the grounds.

[atennille]

Yes it seems as if I am having the exact problem. However I already have this hotel book for my wedding next year, but I want to have a private reception. I have heard/ read different stories of prices, but nothing exact. Really wish I could find more information out. Please help ! I am trying to get my pricing plan together.

[jennifernoel1]

@mariak

I stayed at Iberorstar beaches last year and loved it. I booked the suites for my wedding.

 

Iberorstar is amazing looks good, great customer service, and excellent food. The hotel has alot of activites so you really dont have to leave the hotel if you dont want to

 

Did you eventually pick a place?

[beckys98]

We were between RIU Palace Tropical Bay and Iberostar Rose Hall Suites, and we went with IRHS for our June 2015 wedding for a few reasons. We REALLY, REALLY wanted to be in Negril but the prices for the actual wedding at RIU were much higher than for Iberostar (add ons like open bar, private dinner, etc.). Also, we did not like that there is no on-site nightclub at RIU. There is NO WAY our crew is going to be done dancing at 10:00pm and I don't want to go off-resort when everyone has already been drinking for a good while. I know we'd lose a lot of people. Also, they do up to 4 weddings per day with the last one at 4pm. One poster on here mentioned that since the restaurant that could fit her group size (50) was booked with another wedding, she had to have her reception on the beach and pay for the additional tent rental, chairs, and a bunch of additional extra costs. I was not down with that since I want air conditioning for my reception and I'm trying to keep costs down. Plus 4pm is also too early for the ceremony for me. 

 

Iberostar Rose Hall Suites only does 1 wedding per day, which I liked. I also watched some youtube videos of ceremonies at RPTB and there were A LOT of strangers in bathing suites gawking at the wedding and in the shot. IRHS seems to have more options on the property of where to have the actual ceremony. It is also more centrally located on the island so people can do trips to Negril, Ocho Rios, Dunns River Falls, Martha Brae, etc more easily from Montego Bay. Negril is far from Dunns River Falls. 

 

Still, I did read plenty of positive reviews of RPTB that made me think if we did do it there it would be fine. And everyone's priorities are different! They also offer better incentives for groups - like every 6th passenger free versus every 21st at Iberostar. That would help with the extra wedding costs at RIU. 

 

Hope that helps! Congrats and happy planning!

[mariak]

oh so many choices!!!

 

We are still undecided. We found a great travel agent who is going to walk us through the whole process but there are so many countries and hotels. I really wanted Negril because of the beach but the only choices seem to be the Riu hotels but both seem dated. Our travel agent mentioned Royalton Sands which is a newer hotel in Montego Bay. It seems to have mixed reviews and everyone is shocked with the nickel and dimming but that seems to be the same at every resort.

Recently we started looking more at other countries. We were engaged in St Maarten and wanted to do the wedding there. There are very good flight hotel packages from Canada but the hotel doesn't have wedding packages.You have to organize everything via outside vendors. Just inquiring into basic details about the reception dinner made our heads explode.

So... our search continues..

[becassidy]

I booked my wedding for RPTB in April 2015. I emailed a few wedding coordinators from varoius resorts and Sophia did, and continues to, respond within 24 hours, often almost immediately. She has been more than willing to answer anything and provide pictures, price lists, and has given good suggestions! I found 2 reviews on tripadvisor for weddings specifically and the bride/groom were very good at getting back to my personal message to them, and very helpful. Also, some brides on here have been awesome to talk to! Good Luck!

[Soon2beMrsOP]

I am looking at RPTB, but too saw the videos with people gawking on the beach ... also green plastic chairs for guests.Is there anyone who got married here that can comment about the ceremony on the beach and maybe pics of their wedding.