Azul Fives By Karisma Brides 2016

[ashhtayy]

I am going to put this post in both the 2015 and 2016 forum to try and get the most feedback possible.

 

Right now we have 10 in our group that are booked for 4-nights land only, the rest are 7-night land and flight. We've had other people come forward requesting land only rates and two months later, no rates have been received. Our travel agent says that is because Karisma has seen a surge of Americans booking the land only rates in CAD $ therefore the rate on their site is super high to deter this from happening. Apparently they are being very strict on the number of land only rooms that are being allocated to CDN tour operators.

 

Has anyone else ran into this? Seems crazy to me that a resort would rather no business at all over a 4-night stay.

 

Obviously this is a huge deterrent for our guests. 1. Who would want to wait over 2 months for rates? 2. The price our agent sent from the site is astronomical (double actually).

[KBrown]

I am from Ottawa getting married in April 2016. Getting married on the Sky deck. Has anyone been planning all their wedding details with an assigned Karisma Wedding Consultant? How are you finding the planning? Im using the Wedding builder website but I find if I have a question  and email my wedding planner it takes two weeks or more to get an answer. 

How is everyone elses planning going???

[ashhtayy]

@@KBrown Who is your wedding planner? At first mine took no time to reply...now it takes ages and after a week or two I send a follow up email and she answers half of the questions. Ask her for a planning call if you have a lot of questions. She will spend at least an hour on the phone with you - super helpful!

 

Also, are you using an Ottawa based TA? If so, may I ask who?

 

Oh and you can use the chat for some questions. Like when I wanted the dimensions of the cake I went to the online chat and she was able to get me the answer within minutes. There are some things they can't answer and they will tell you to contact your WD but for basic things like cake dimensions and "can I have confetti on the sky deck?" they're helpful!

Edited January 29, 2016 by ashhtayy

[KBrown]

Hi, I am using a local photographer Jasmin and Matt Photography. They are from Canada but live in playa del carmen. Their work is amazing although the resort charges a 800$ vendor fee.  I found the photographer options they gave you were not very good. 

Hello brides!!

I'm so happy this forum was created as I booked for October 2016! I will be having my ceremony at the beach front, cocktails at the sky terrace and then the reception at the sky deck!!

I'm very excited!! But I am stressing out over photography/videography so if any of you have anyone you recommend please let me know!

@ashtayy- Thanks for the quick reply!! My weding planner is Jennifer Flores. Takes forever all the time. Kind of frustrating.  Really good to know I will have to call and see if I can get some answers. 

I am working with Trip Central.. The travel agent that im working with is actually accreddited by Karisma hotels ( i think because he has worked with them for so long and booked so many trips ) His name is Jean Arseneau. He has been so amazing. You can get his info at tripcental.ca. He is at the St laurent Mall location. 

 

@@KBrown Who is your wedding planner? At first mine took no time to reply...now it takes ages and after a week or two I send a follow up email and she answers half of the questions. Ask her for a planning call if you have a lot of questions. She will spend at least an hour on the phone with you - super helpful!

 

Also, are you using an Ottawa based TA? If so, may I ask who?

 

Oh and you can use the chat for some questions. Like when I wanted the dimensions of the cake I went to the online chat and she was able to get me the answer within minutes. There are some things they can't answer and they will tell you to contact your WD but for basic things like cake dimensions and "can I have confetti on the sky deck?" they're helpful!

 

@@KBrown Who is your wedding planner? At first mine took no time to reply...now it takes ages and after a week or two I send a follow up email and she answers half of the questions. Ask her for a planning call if you have a lot of questions. She will spend at least an hour on the phone with you - super helpful!

 

Also, are you using an Ottawa based TA? If so, may I ask who?

 

Oh and you can use the chat for some questions. Like when I wanted the dimensions of the cake I went to the online chat and she was able to get me the answer within minutes. There are some things they can't answer and they will tell you to contact your WD but for basic things like cake dimensions and "can I have confetti on the sky deck?" they're helpful!

@ashtayy Also if you book with transat holidays its great because Karimsa is now exclusive to Transat. So that means you get much more room options etc. Like if you go on Azul fives website, there are a ton of room options that say "will no longer be offered in 2016" but if you go with transat these options are avaliable. 

@@KBrown Who is your wedding planner? At first mine took no time to reply...now it takes ages and after a week or two I send a follow up email and she answers half of the questions. Ask her for a planning call if you have a lot of questions. She will spend at least an hour on the phone with you - super helpful!

 

Also, are you using an Ottawa based TA? If so, may I ask who?

 

Oh and you can use the chat for some questions. Like when I wanted the dimensions of the cake I went to the online chat and she was able to get me the answer within minutes. There are some things they can't answer and they will tell you to contact your WD but for basic things like cake dimensions and "can I have confetti on the sky deck?" they're helpful!

@ashhtayy- Thanks for the quick reply!! My weding planner is Jennifer Flores. Takes forever all the time. Kind of frustrating.  Really good to know I will have to call and see if I can get some answers. 

I am working with Trip Central.. The travel agent that im working with is actually accreddited by Karisma hotels ( i think because he has worked with them for so long and booked so many trips ) His name is Jean Arseneau. He has been so amazing. You can get his info at tripcental.ca. He is at the St laurent Mall location. 

 

Also if you book with transat holidays its great because Karimsa is now exclusive to Transat. So that means you get much more room options etc. Like if you go on Azul fives website, there are a ton of room options that say "will no longer be offered in 2016" but if you go with transat these options are avaliable. 

[ashhtayy]

@KBrown 

 

Miami WD - Mine is Maribel and it sounds like she is very similar to Jennifer. They take awhile but I do know they are taking care of a zillion weddings at once. Tell Jennifer you want a call, don't want for your scheduled ones! I have sent so many questions that on two occasions Maribel has said, whoa, lots of questions - when can I call you? I then relax on the emails and stock pile all my questions until I can speak with her on the phone. Although I get frustrated with the delays in her replies it is a breath of fresh air speaking with her because she is wonderful over the phone.

 

TA - I am working with an Ottawa based GI certified TA as well but I live in the Toronto area. She is with Centre Holidays and I have been less than impressed...most days. She has gotten better this week though so fingers crossed this continues. I asked who yours was so I could see if we shared similar struggles. Has your TA offered you one of their GI perks? Spa credit, photo credit or cocktail hour credit? We were initially going to use the cocktail hour credit but have since switched to the spa credit.

 

I'm glad you've joined this site! After Steph and Sofi's weddings went by I was beginning to think I was the only AF bride around!

[KBrown]

@KBrown 

 

Miami WD - Mine is Maribel and it sounds like she is very similar to Jennifer. They take awhile but I do know they are taking care of a zillion weddings at once. Tell Jennifer you want a call, don't want for your scheduled ones! I have sent so many questions that on two occasions Maribel has said, whoa, lots of questions - when can I call you? I then relax on the emails and stock pile all my questions until I can speak with her on the phone. Although I get frustrated with the delays in her replies it is a breath of fresh air speaking with her because she is wonderful over the phone.

 

TA - I am working with an Ottawa based GI certified TA as well but I live in the Toronto area. She is with Centre Holidays and I have been less than impressed...most days. She has gotten better this week though so fingers crossed this continues. I asked who yours was so I could see if we shared similar struggles. Has your TA offered you one of their GI perks? Spa credit, photo credit or cocktail hour credit? We were initially going to use the cocktail hour credit but have since switched to the spa credit.

 

I'm glad you've joined this site! After Steph and Sofi's weddings went by I was beginning to think I was the only AF bride around!

@@ashhtayy

 

That is kind of annoying that she would say " woah that's a lot of questions" of course you will have a lot of questions, you are planning a wedding. Good thing she was at least helpful during your phone chat!

 

As for my TA, he is not GI certified. I think I confused that. He was granted some kind of award from Karisma. I thought that is what he was at the beginning but when asked about those perks I found out he was not. He has been nothing but amazing.

 

I have never even heard of that travel place you mentioned. Centre holidays. I'm sorry it's been frustrating.....

 

Do you go with a memorable moments package? Are u on the sky deck?

 

I'm so glad I found this forum! It's been super helpful.

 

I'd really like to know their abilities in hair and makeup because I may do my own. I am a hairstylist but I'd love to not have to worry about it and sit back and relax. I also have seen disasters for hair at resorts before. Lol

[ashhtayy]

@@KBrown No, we are not going with one of the memorable moments packages. Are you? Way too expensive for us because we are sitting around 60 guests right now. Keep in mind you can do a la carte there too!

 

We are on the sky deck for both ceremony and reception. We've decided to bring a lot of our decor with us to save some money. Right now the only thing I am/may rent from Lomas is a chandelier, beaded back drop, white sheets (all this for the gazebo), sound system, maybe a cake and maybe (big maybe) a few florals. I already spent a fortune on silk florals that I will be bringing with us as so not sure if we need more. Possibly lighting too. My WC says we won't need more but I've heard otherwise.

 

The ladies on here have been really happy with their hair and makeup. It would nice for you to get pampered on your day but I can imagine that because you are a hair stylist it might be hard to be completely satisfied with someone else's work. All reviews I've read say they're great so of its in the budget, I'd say go for it!

[KBrown]

@@KBrown No, we are not going with one of the memorable moments packages. Are you? Way too expensive for us because we are sitting around 60 guests right now. Keep in mind you can do a la carte there too!

We are on the sky deck for both ceremony and reception. We've decided to bring a lot of our decor with us to save some money. Right now the only thing I am/may rent from Lomas is a chandelier, beaded back drop, white sheets (all this for the gazebo), sound system, maybe a cake and maybe (big maybe) a few florals. I already spent a fortune on silk florals that I will be bringing with us as so not sure if we need more. Possibly lighting too. My WC says we won't need more but I've heard otherwise.

The ladies on here have been really happy with their hair and makeup. It would nice for you to get pampered on your day but I can imagine that because you are a hair stylist it might be hard to be completely satisfied with someone else's work. All reviews I've read say they're great so of its in the budget, I'd say go for it!

@@ashhtayy

We did go with a memorable moments package. I wanted to bring some of my own decorations as well and i alsp bought some silk florals but my WC said there would be a set up fee but she couldn't tell me how much because it depended what I brought and I pay it once I'm there on site. So I'm worried to bring a lot and it be super expensive.

 

What is the a la carte? Is that on the wedding builder?

[ashhtayy]

@@KBrown looks like set up fee is about $3-$7pp and they do decide once you get there and they see what you have. For me it still made the most economical sense.

 

You can pick components of the memorable moments packages and just add what you want. Everything they offer can be rented for a cost (most time an enormous cost). I know one bride paid for their table settings (linens, Chargers, napkins) but brought he own centrepieces. Anything is possible there you just have to ask!

[KBrown]

 

 

@@KBrown looks like set up fee is about $3-$7pp and they do decide once you get there and they see what you have. For me it still made the most economical sense.

 

You can pick components of the memorable moments packages and just add what you want. Everything they offer can be rented for a cost (most time an enormous cost). I know one bride paid for their table settings (linens, Chargers, napkins) but brought he own centrepieces. Anything is possible there you just have to ask!

 

@@ashhtayy

Ohh perfect! Good to know!! Im getting soooo excited.