How Much Are Your Guests Paying?

[kmk2016]

I've been watching pricing on tripcentral on the resorts for this May/June (just to give me a rough idea) and have eliminated properties based star rating and on the approximate pricing there (the ones that go well above my guests budget and are lower than 4*), then I went through and eliminated a bunch more based on tripadvisor, reviews and pictures. I

 

The problem we are facing is some places are telling us that it's too early for a quote lol, when I got in touch with the tripcentral wedding planners they said to contact them again in April/May... so maybe I'm being to hasty in looking right now (For May 2016... but flexible)

A good travel agent will be able to get you a quote from the tour operators well before they are released. (I had my quote in hand and bookings started in June 2014 for my Feb 2016 wedding) your strategy is an excellent one- also look here once you have narrowed it down to your top 3 or so, and see how the wedding planning has been for past brides at your selected resorts. What hidden costs, frustrations or bonuses might sway your final decision!

 

Sounds like you are doing a great job at finding your perfect resort!!

[jlc3]

I LOVED Cuba, have you been before?

Sorry, super delayed reaction to your question. Haha. I have not. Which is sort of nuts I guess, but I have family members that go almost every year and I really trust my TA so I am hoping it will be everything I dream of, lol. I've been to other all inclusives in the Dominican so I know sort of what to expect, I think. 

 

We searched for a good few months and I drove myself crazy trying to figure out pricing and best resorts. I spoke to a couple TA's before finding a good one that my fiance and I vibed well with.

 

Our main priorities were budget friendly, decent/or free basic wedding packages, and a place where we could get legally married without doing blood tests or anything too nuts. 

 

We started looking early and were SUPER flexible with months/dates. We were originally thinking Nov 2014 but we creeped closer to that date and found that prices in Jan/Feb and May were comparable for the resorts we looked at. 

 

Our TA let us know that Mexico and Cuba are the most cost effective generally from Toronto. There's always exceptions to this rule of course. We ended up with a 4.5* in Cuba for $973 double and $1133 single taxes in. 

 

YES, I'd love to know where your resort is too

 

It's the Memories Flamenco Beach Resort in Cayo Coco. It's ranked #2 (only outta 11 though) on Trip Advisor for the area so I feel like it should be pretty dang good. I'll report further on how things turned out once we return!! 

[JenniferH114]

Our guests are all flying nonstop from Chicago to Cancun. Our wedding is at the Excellence Riviera Cancun in Riviera Maya/Puerto Morelos on May 16, 2015. The resort is adults only, so that does increase the cost. For two adults in a standard suite for three nights, nonstop airfare and airport transfers in Mexico, the price was about $2300 - $2500 total. We have some guests staying for six nights and their package was about $3200 for two people in a standard suite.

[AyeWatSoon]

We're flying in from FL so the prices are low compared to what I've been reading. Guests are paying between $800-$1000 for three nights including airfare. As a "thank you" we are paying for group airport transfers since most will be on the same flight.

[natalia555]

Hi I am also planning now and have gotten quotes anywhere from $1600 - $2200 depending on departure dates. We are going from Edmonton.

 

Our 'best value' quote that we found so far has been Dec 3 - 10  approx.$1660 / person based on double occupancy to Gran Bahia Principe Coba in Riviera Maya.

We don't want to spend more than $1800/pp and would like direct flights only. We are also going to have a small group maybe max 30'ish. 

 

Quotes we got were cheapest in December (which was surprising for me anyway), approx $200 more in Nov, $400 more in Feb, and about 100-200 more in March/April. 

[IslandDreaming]

Hey everyone!

 

I'm in desperate need of help! I've been trying to plan my destination wedding on my own (asking for group quotes from westjet vacations, sunwing vacations, and a travel agent friend) for our Mayan Riviera, Mexico wedding. We're planning for February 14-21, 2016 and aimed for a budget around $1500 per person (we recognize this is high season and because our guests will be coming from Vancouver, Calgary and toronto that prices will vary) but the quotes we have been receiving are outrageously high ($3500+ per person). Who did you book with? Where did you find the best deals?

[calgarybride2015]

Hey everyone!

 

I'm in desperate need of help! I've been trying to plan my destination wedding on my own (asking for group quotes from westjet vacations, sunwing vacations, and a travel agent friend) for our Mayan Riviera, Mexico wedding. We're planning for February 14-21, 2016 and aimed for a budget around $1500 per person (we recognize this is high season and because our guests will be coming from Vancouver, Calgary and toronto that prices will vary) but the quotes we have been receiving are outrageously high ($3500+ per person). Who did you book with? Where did you find the best deals?

Wow that seams pricey. What types of resorts are you choosing? Is that a group price?

We just got married this past Wednesday. Ours was classified as a 5* in the Mayan and Calgary paid $1565 and Toronto $1465. We got some other outrageous ones too for resorts normally in a decent price range.

 

We went with Air Canada Vacations - never once could you find our package cheaper, we got every 17th person free (minus taxes) and a free upgrade to first class. Could also be because you are more than a year out. But I would see if you can find a good travel agent who does destination weddings.

 

 

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[IslandDreaming]

Wow that seams pricey. What types of resorts are you choosing? Is that a group price?

We just got married this past Wednesday. Ours was classified as a 5* in the Mayan and Calgary paid $1565 and Toronto $1465. We got some other outrageous ones too for resorts normally in a decent price range.

We went with Air Canada Vacations - never once could you find our package cheaper, we got every 17th person free (minus taxes) and a free upgrade to first class. Could also be because you are more than a year out. But I would see if you can find a good travel agent who does destination weddings.

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It was a group quote for 22 people, for the Grand Riviera Princess and Ocean Maya Royale. We recognized going into planning a destination wedding, around $1500 per person during high season, wouldnt get us the top of the line accommodations. But we're astonished at the blatant rip off prices

Edited January 25, 2015 by IslandDreaming

[calgarybride2015]

It was a group quote for 22 people, for the Grand Riviera Princess and Ocean Maya Royale. We recognized going into planning a destination wedding, around $1500 per person during high season, wouldnt get us the top of the line accommodations. But we're astonished at the blatant rip off prices

Sounds like a beautiful resort but that is still a rip off I agree. Maybe see what a travel agent suggests you do? Ie wait until February when you are only a year out? Change month? Etc. there are some other brides on here with platinum/diamond star rated resorts for way way less than that.

 

 

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[HilaryMWren]

It was a group quote for 22 people, for the Grand Riviera Princess and Ocean Maya Royale. We recognized going into planning a destination wedding, around $1500 per person during high season, wouldnt get us the top of the line accommodations. But we're astonished at the blatant rip off prices

 

I am also trying to plan a wedding during peak season (January or February 2016) for less than $1500 from Toronto. Originally, I thought $1200 but I soon learned that everything is expensive. So far, I have had the best luck with Air Canada vacations. TBD.