Now Larimar - 2015

[DR2015]

Here is my review from our September 2013 site visit if any one is interested.... I will have an actual wedding review upon return from our May 1 wedding!!!

 

Sep 12, 2013

"Wedding site inspection/ vacation"

VERY LONG REVIEW!! I would love to give 5 stars but I feel every business should be allotted room for improvements. Lets me say this tip, tip, tip, wisely but tip!! $1 will get your service $5 will get personlized and efficient service. Arrival at Punta Cana international was okay for a rainy day (hurricane season), it's a small airport however the process went very fast!! Walk-in, pay $10pp tourist card fee (if your not resident), get passport stamped, proceed to baggage claim (good luck with finding which belt your bags are going to be on), grab bags go thru baggage scan (i would call it security but it lacked the secure feeling) and find transportation attendants. Now I will say this, if you have not booked your transfers to and from the resort I strongly recommended that you use Prieto Tours, and if you have already booked your transfers well good luck! Our transfer attendant (didn't catch his name, he moved entirely too quickly) met us at the gate asked us if we were using Prieto Tours, we answered yes and he said follow me. From there he grabbed our bags and zzzoooommmeedd us through the airport and straight to the front of the baggage scan line and out to the bus in less than 5 minutes. We checked the taxi rates from the airport and at minimum your looking at $30 one way. The 20 minute ride to the airport was uumm let's use "scenic", lots of trees land and more trees o yes I did spot an IKEA and a few rental car places however not too sure on how you would go about that process. We were the first stop on our transfer, we did pass Melia Caribe, Paradisus Palma Real, Dreams, and of course Secrets is next door. Okay so arrival! The gate is hand opened by a security guard who ensures that people coming in are supposed to be on the grounds. 6 speed bumps later we were at the front door and greeted by 3 gentlemen who grabbed our luggage off the bus and escorted us to the front desk where we were greeted by Juan, who welcomed us home and offered us champagne. Smooth check-in process lasting about 7 minutes. Juan of course offered us the preferred upgrade in which we declined being that we knew majority of our guest for the wedding will not be upgrading so we want to give them reviews based on "a regular stay". We booked a tropical view and were upgraded to the pool view due to the promotion they were running at the time. We were then escorted to the "VIP" table where we were given vouchers to use on the resort which totaled $200 listen carefully and read what you sign. The vouchers are the equivalent of no sales tax (18%). So it's a "savings" but not as much as you may think. From the VIP table Our bellboy escorted us to our room pointing out where everything was on the way. I don't really know how you can call a room on ground level a "view" of any thing but the room and grounds were impeccable so I digress. Our room was in the Punta Cana building and our room was directly in front of the fountains. I believe I have seen in previous reviews something about "the other building" being really far, those buildings are the Garden View Rooms and are VERY far from everything else on the resort. (Unconfirmed) All the rooms are the same size except of course if you were to upgrade to a suite. All rooms come with a stocked mini fridge (the soda is not American, and check all of your water bottles to ensure the seal is not broken), safe, walk in shower, jetted bath tub, and room service. The pictures on the website are exactly how the room looks (if you are like me, my biggest fear is arriving some where that looks nothing like the pictures). The beds are FIRM. Housekeeping staff is definitely on their own time, first night 4:30, second day 11:30 and 7:30, third day who knows!! -Carnival Restaurant: Carnival is a casual come as you are buffet (no bathing suits). -Scores Sports bar: had a PS3 Xbox WII pool tables 4 flat screens, projector for the games, bar, and 5 lane bowling alley ($10/5ppl +$2/pp for shoes). -Moments: is very nice lounge/bar area but also very dark (dim lighting/candles). -Tamarando: Mexican food with made to order Margaritas (surprisingly I'm still waiting on mine) attire business casual -Castaway is for preferred guest only -Beachside Grille (grilled food) is a come as you are (bathing suits allowed) -Spice: Asian (closed for renovations during our visit) business casual -Blue water grill: american steakhouse business casual -Mercure: french cuisine says formal however we seen business casual walking in -Explorers club: looked really nice from the outside with an okay size secured play ground -Room service: quick and hot the first night the second night we waited for 1 1/2 hours -Unlimited Vacation: is a timeshare if your not interested in time shares just say no up front they will try to convince you that it's not a time share and they are commission based so they will do ANYTHING for a sale. Beware they do discriminate one of the gentleman clearly said to me we try not to waste time with students because of money, jobless, and those who don't look interested. Interestingly enough my fiancée and I were interested in purchasing right up until that statement was made. I looked at my fiancée who gave me "that look" I quickly told a little white lied that we don't have any credit cards to purchase. The gentleman ripped our papers up and rudely said ok maybe next time and quickly moved on. We could have been major investors, however his statement causes him to loose a sale.. -The guys on the beach WILL (if you go out to the beach before 8-8:30) approach you about buying souvenirs. Security as well as the police do a really good job at keeping them off the NOW/Secrets portion of the beach. I will say my fiancée and I walked 20 minutes back to NOW from the Jellyfish Restaurant and NOW was the cleanest (yes there is sea grass but the staff do a good job with clearing it up every so often) beach and the only one with security guards. -I'm not sure if this is a negative or positive however I'll throw it out there just as a heads up. My fiancée is half Bermudian, and I'm assuming could pass for Dominican due to the constant Dominicans speaking to him in Spanish and telling him he looks Dominican. One last night we walked the beach around 7:20 (looking for the Redskins game on the big screen that we never found) and were approached by a security guard. The guard asked my fiancée if he spoke Spanish and of course his repose no. So the guard says to me is he with you (lightbulb I'm holding this man hands walking on the beach... Nope I don't know him at all) I reply yes he goes where are you staying and then proceeds to ask to see the key to confirm. Part of me wants to say "ok great the security presence is visible and they are actually securing the premises" the other side of me is thinking "in the event the my fiancée went down to the beach to look for the "big screen" by himself which was his initial plan what the hell would have happened". -staff who were of great assistance Osvaldo Victor Miguel Juanito Wilki Mercy (entire wedding dept) Would definitely go back in a heart beat!!

[Jolisa2015]

Hey Ladies!

 

I am actually leaving this Sunday for my wedding on April 23rd! I had a few questions for the ladies that have gone recently!. Is there free Wifi at the resort? I keep reading different reviews some say yes only in preferred club section and some say you have to pay,

 

Also at the salon, did anyone get their make-up done?.. Do you know if they have fake eyelashes there or should I bring my own??

 

It's coming so fast! Hope everything fits in the luggage! lol 

[MrandMrsBonitto2016]

@@Jolisa2015 The Wi-Fi isn't free for all only the preferred guests. And I would bring my own lashes just in case:) Have an awesome wedding. I hope it's everything you dreamed of!!

[Cwright]

Hey guys!

 

Any experiences about carrying your dress on the plane?  I am getting nervous about this!

[Nikkishipe]

Hi ladies. We are having our wedding July 3, 2015. I've tried searching all the posts but couldn't find an answer so here goes....are alcoholic beverages included in package price (divine/platinum) during the reception? I know that a cocktail hour is included but wasn't sure about the reception.

 

Thank you in advance!

[sjw015]

Alcohol is included during the reception, not sure if a bar area is actually set up or you just order drinks at the table though.  Has anyone recently had a reception on the beach at Now?  Also, has anyone set up beforehand to do a group excursion?   

[YearKerr09]

Great site. Getting Tons of info.

[rmg428]

Great site. Getting Tons of info.

Looks like we are getting married the same day.  What are your locations for your ceremony and reception?

[YearKerr09]

Looks like we are getting married the same day.  What are your locations for your ceremony and reception?

Yes I see that. Our ceremony is at the fountain and the reception is in the ballroom. What about you? Who is your WC? How do you grade the communication back and forth so far?

[rmg428]

Yes I see that. Our ceremony is at the fountain and the reception is in the ballroom. What about you? Who is your WC? How do you grade the communication back and forth so far?

I'm at the fountain and the quiet pool. What time is your ceremony?

I haven't had many issues with communication. I've been working wirh my WC since July of last year. Is there anything I can help answer? I feel like I could work there with everything I've learned the past year :-)