Cancun Vs Riviera Maya Vs Playa Vs Tulum?

[SarahMcM]

Trying to pick a resort and have narrowed it down to a few...but don't know if there is a benefit to being in one city vs another. Thoughts? I have to have a Catholic ceremony so it has to be at one of the properties that has a Catholic Chapel on site.

 

Here is what I have narrowed it down to...

 

-Gran Caribe Real -> I LOVE their chapel, but the hotel seems run down, the rooms ugly and the place seems packed with kids.

-Moon Palace -> like the chapel, seems a bit overpriced but that's the only downside right now

Not in Cancun...

-Grand Palladium (Riviera Maya) - love the historic chapel, but the rooms seem really ugly and dated

-Dreams Tulum - really like this property from the small amount I can find about it but it's pretty far from the Cancun airport - is it worth it?

-Iberostar Paraiso (Playa) - reviews say it is loud and seems packed, rooms are ok

 

Would love any advice!

[jsparrow10]

It depends on what you're looking for. I've stayed at Iberostar Paraiso and we checked out Moon Palace when we were last there for possible wedding location. I can't such much about the noise at Paraiso because our group was probably apart of it! We had a great time there and if you have more of a fun party crowd there's a disco on the property so there's stuff to do at night without going off resort everytime. The only thing we didn't like was the security was really uptight which we knew wold not work out with the group that would be coming to the wedding. Moon Palace is ginormous, there's 3 lobbys and you have to take a shuttle if you want to go to the other ones. There's everything you could think of to do on the resort, dance club, variety in restaurants, game room for kids-like a really sweet one. My FI thought it was really cool. If you're not beach people go for it. The ocean there was not the pretty turquoise but that dark blue and there was a ton of seaweed on the beach. Not alot of people were in the ocean but the pool is huge. Be advised they can have up to 8 weddings a day there as well, for me that fun fact turned me off from there. Iberostars do 1 a day.  As far as rooms go, of course you want them nice but for how much you spent time you spend there (for us sleep, shower, change) it was not a deal breaker. We just watched for the shower being separate because we've stayed at the Riu and the shower didn't have a door which would be awkward for friends rooming together. 

[acw271011]

I think the first thing is to line up a travel agent. With the information they have, they're your best bet to finding what you want, what works with your vision and what will work for your guests.

 

Good luck and happy planning!

[IvanLuckiePhotography]

Trying to pick a resort and have narrowed it down to a few...but don't know if there is a benefit to being in one city vs another. Thoughts? I have to have a Catholic ceremony so it has to be at one of the properties that has a Catholic Chapel on site.

 

Here is what I have narrowed it down to...

 

-Gran Caribe Real -> I LOVE their chapel, but the hotel seems run down, the rooms ugly and the place seems packed with kids.

-Moon Palace -> like the chapel, seems a bit overpriced but that's the only downside right now

Not in Cancun...

-Grand Palladium (Riviera Maya) - love the historic chapel, but the rooms seem really ugly and dated

-Dreams Tulum - really like this property from the small amount I can find about it but it's pretty far from the Cancun airport - is it worth it?

-Iberostar Paraiso (Playa) - reviews say it is loud and seems packed, rooms are ok

 

Would love any advice!

Gran Caribe Real.- is one of the cheapest of your options, food is not the best, rooms are old and is packed on April, May June, July, November and December. but good option for does in a tight budget

 

Moon Palace.- is certainly far but you get ALL you need in the same place, food is one of the best of all resorts I know, beach is ugly and It is huge, for some this is minus  because your guest will stay in different hotels inside and may never found each other to get together before and after wedding

 

Dreams Tulum, acceptable food, acceptable room great beach to swim and look as well as to step on, so fine, like 3-4 restaurants 

 

Iberostar (Paraiso Lindo, del Mar and Grand).- Good Food, Good Room, Packed in busy months, great beach and good sand to step on, huge! but you get ALL inside, It is far from a near city like Playa (25 mins) like 8-9 restaurants plus disco

 

Grand Palladium is like Gran Caribe but huge got ALL inside and It is far from Playa

[SarahMcM]

Thank you all, this is helpful and I will go check out that other thread as well!

[TinkerSofi]

I've heard there's some nice chapels in playa del Carmen. It might be worth checking that route out. Get married offsite and then either have a reception in the hotel or offsite as well. If your reception will be offsite as well your guests can stay where they choose.

 

For us it was important to be close to the city and the nightlife that's why the riviera maya (the corridor) was out right away. We have a lot of young people coming a we want to party! Haha. We started with cancun in mind but ended up booking jn playa. I really don't regret the decision even though we've never been there . We actually considered gran caribe too!

 

 

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[calgarybride2015]

My resort had a chapel. Unsure if Catholic. Resort is by Akumel. It's called the Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya.

 

 

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[IvanLuckiePhotography]

Also!

 

Cancun= Nightlife-soft of more comfort

Tulum= Calm-simple

Playa= half Cancun-half Tulum

[Moments That Matter]

Welcome to our forum community, SarahMcM and congrats on your upcoming Catholic wedding in our incomparable Mayan Riviera (that's what we call our entire area from Cancun to Tulum

 

We captured a really beautiful Catholic wedding in Playa del Carmen which might be a fit with what you're looking for. 

Here's a link to the magical wedding "moments that matter" Linc captured there: The Royal PdC Wedding Album

 

 

Wishing you happy research and all the best with your plans - cheers!!! team MTM

Edited January 26, 2015 by Moments That Matter

[HilaryMWren]

Trying to pick a resort and have narrowed it down to a few...but don't know if there is a benefit to being in one city vs another. Thoughts? I have to have a Catholic ceremony so it has to be at one of the properties that has a Catholic Chapel on site.

 

Here is what I have narrowed it down to...

 

-Gran Caribe Real -> I LOVE their chapel, but the hotel seems run down, the rooms ugly and the place seems packed with kids.

-Moon Palace -> like the chapel, seems a bit overpriced but that's the only downside right now

Not in Cancun...

-Grand Palladium (Riviera Maya) - love the historic chapel, but the rooms seem really ugly and dated

-Dreams Tulum - really like this property from the small amount I can find about it but it's pretty far from the Cancun airport - is it worth it?

-Iberostar Paraiso (Playa) - reviews say it is loud and seems packed, rooms are ok

 

Would love any advice!

Hi

I am in the exact same position. Trying to book a Catholic wedding in Mayan!

 

Gran Caribe - glass chapel seems beautiful. Hard Rock hotel also has a glass chapel.

Moon Palace - agreed seems pricey. We were quoted $1800 from Toronto. Glass chapel beautiful.

Grand Palladium - I am also worried about the large resort but like the chapel.

Dreams - seems very small

Iberostar - no familiar yet

 

Good luck - and keep us posted! We can discuss all the other requirements for a Catholic ceremony too!