Calgarybride2015's Planning Thread 15/1/21 Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya

[veryvalentine]

I love the thank you cards.  I love that you included a group picture with the card.  Such a great idea.  

Bora Bora sounds like heaven. Whatever you decide will be amazing.   

[TinkerSofi]

haha that can work very well. Shawn loves to travel so it has to be more a joint effort. When we did our first trip together (where he proposed) he had never been to an AI and it was a very hard sell. So we spent a lot of time off the resort so he felt he got his sort of trip! Unfortunately all his ideas for trips need A LOT of time spent away - he traveled Asia for 7 weeks in 2013 so this is his idea of getting away lol

 

 

OHHHHHH those sound awesome. Can't wait to hear what you two chose. Truth be told our honeymoon is nothing major! Shawn has never been to Vegas and I knew my dad was going to help pay, so we thought it was a good fit as packages (air/hotel) can be very reasonable! (and I did want to get married in Vegas!!) We are kind of killing two birds with one stone -- we found out that our close friends, who attended our Mexican wedding, are doing a vow renewal in August in Vegas so we decided to combine the two. We will probably ultimately chose their hotel and flight package as they did for ours but I know whatever we chose they won't care! They chose a hotel that wouldn't be my first choice for a honeymoon but I'm pretty laid back, we can go for a fancy dinner or something. Right now I can't find packages thru West Jet for their hotel so who knows what will happen when we book in a few weeks!

Yeah he likes to travel, but he prefers to hand the planning off to me haha. He uses the excuse that I'm good at it

 

 

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[TaraMarie33]

Hi there! I have seen your review and your thread comments about the Grand Sirenis. 

 

I have just gotten a GREAT quote from my travel agent ($1730pp from Toronto CAD).. way cheaper than anything else with the dollar being so low. 

 

Did you have any concerns about Grand Sirenis? Would you have changed anything after the fact? We are probably going to get the Presidential Package... but only because we love the idea of the Palapas. You went with the free package, right? How was the food and how much was the Palapas upgrade from the free package? 

 

I am hoping the TA can get us all in the same sort of area - which block rooms would you recommend? Hopefully something near the pool area. Did you two upgrade your room? Or just in the same block as your guests? 

 

Last question - they haven't sent me the "extras" price list - do you still have it? Could you please send me a copy.. Did you seem to remember how much the videographer was? 

 

Sorry for all the questons - this was not one of my original resorts, so I don't have much information for the Grand Sirenis. Thank you so much! 

[calgarybride2015]

 

Hi there! I have seen your review and your thread comments about the Grand Sirenis. 

 

I have just gotten a GREAT quote from my travel agent ($1730pp from Toronto CAD).. way cheaper than anything else with the dollar being so low. 

 

Did you have any concerns about Grand Sirenis? Would you have changed anything after the fact? We are probably going to get the Presidential Package... but only because we love the idea of the Palapas. You went with the free package, right? How was the food and how much was the Palapas upgrade from the free package? 

 

I am hoping the TA can get us all in the same sort of area - which block rooms would you recommend? Hopefully something near the pool area. Did you two upgrade your room? Or just in the same block as your guests? 

 

Last question - they haven't sent me the "extras" price list - do you still have it? Could you please send me a copy.. Did you seem to remember how much the videographer was? 

 

Sorry for all the questons - this was not one of my original resorts, so I don't have much information for the Grand Sirenis. Thank you so much! 

 

Hi Tara!

 

Thanks for the questions

 

My trip was perfect.  I won't lie and I will tell you that my dad got hurt.  He tripped on an uneven stone on the walk way, when he fell be broke a rib and a finger.  Yes it sucked! but that said, that can happen anywhere.  I just warn of some of the uneven stone and marble is also slippery when wet!  I personally wouldn't hesitate to go back to the resort.  Other than my dad and a negative nelly friend EVERYONE loved their week and we still talk about it daily!

 

I would say it's a very strong 4.5* but since the wifi and in room safes aren't free, I can't give it a 5*.  Service was top notch though and worth the 5* rating. 

 

I would not have changed one thing - I LOVED everything about our trip and our wedding day was more than I could have ever dreamed of.  These people know weddings and they don't price gouge to give you that dream day.

 

The only reason we didn't do the presidential package was because there was A LOT of extras we didn't need and it only includes 10 people - so we still had 35 more people to pay for.  That just put it way to far outside of our budget.

We did take the free package (10 double rooms booked for 7 nights - otherwise it was the silver package) and we upgraded to the palapa.  The upgrade is approx. $980 (based on exchange - and this was also 2014 pricing). When you upgraded your location though you pay for everyone - you don't get the 10 free.

 

Food is the same no matter if you upgraded to the palapa or get it as a part of the presidential package. We chose the BBQ menu buffet solely based on cost and we got A LOT of compliments on it. I don't regret not paying more for the surf and turf plated meals. The buffet also allowed people as much food as they wanted.

 

Also using the free package and upgrading allowed us to just upgrade with what we wanted.  We did a lot of extras - mariachi, cocktail hour, 3 extra hours of reception, etc. 

 

I have no problem giving you a detailed list of what we had at our wedding and what we paid for it.  We sat around $5500 - $6000. 

 

I think your TA can TRY To get you into the same area but at the end of the day I think most resorts just fit you where there is room. We went when the resort was sold out, so moving people around was annoying and complicated but worked out in the end.  We were on the Riviera Maya side and if you want close to the pool for that side, I suggest room blocks 11-14ish.  We had guests between 11-17.     I was in 12 and LOVED the location.  Not far from anything, I may have been disappointed if we were 14-18.    I can't speak for the Mayan Beach side as we only had guests on that side who upgraded to have ocean view rooms.  We didn't upgrade because I wanted to be close to our guests.

 

I have the extras price list for 2014 that I can send you for an idea, but I wouldn't know for certain (but would assume) that the prices would have increased for 2015.   I was married in 2015 but since I booked in 2014 I got those prices.

 

PM me your email address

I wouldn't have imagined marrying at the GS without the palapa, I highly recommend this location.

 

Good luck

Edited February 22, 2015 by calgarybride2015

[meganstobo2004]

We leave next Saturday!!!! Jut a quick question about tipping the WC...how much did you tip if you dont mind me asking? I have no idea!!!!

 

 

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[calgarybride2015]

We leave next Saturday!!!! Jut a quick question about tipping the WC...how much did you tip if you dont mind me asking? I have no idea!!!!

 

 

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I tipped $700 peso. I had no idea either.

 

 

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[meganstobo2004]

Thank you!

 

 

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[calgarybride2015]

Thank you!

 

 

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Have fun!!! Can't wait to hear all about it. Who is your WC?

 

 

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[meganstobo2004]

Her name is Lilian. I haven't heard her name on these boards but she seems super nice so I am excited about meeting her!!

 

 

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[calgarybride2015]

Her name is Lilian. I haven't heard her name on these boards but she seems super nice so I am excited about meeting her!!

 

 

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Saskbride had her. I met her and she is fabulous. They all are. You are in good hands.

 

 

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