Newbie - Trying To Pick A Resort In Riviera Maya! Help?!

[Jessim9]

Hello!!

 

I've been reading these boards for a while now and finally decided to post as I've been trying to pick a resort/place for the past 7 months...and pushing back the wedding dates over and over because we cant decide! We were originally looking at PV or Cabo (where we got engaged!) but a TA recently convinced us we want the clear blue waters of Riviera Maya/Cancun instead. 

 

I've looked at sooo many resorts and there always seems to be something wrong whenever we find one we like. We aren't having a ton of people come, likely 10-20, and want to do the wedding in April or May 2016. We are looking for a bigger AI resort, one with multiple pools and restaurants, a nice beach, good entertainment/disco. We want to do a beach wedding. I am vegetarian and we have guests coming who cannot have gluten...some TA's we have talked to have said it shouldn't be an issue..but...I'm not convinced. Also, we were really wanting to find somewhere for around $1500 or less...and havent been able to find anything. Most places start closer to $2000 it seems..well at least in April/May. Anyone know of any good resorts that are a bit cheaper??

 

The resorts we are looking at now are:

 

-Grand Sunset Princess

-Barcelo Maya Beach/Palace

-Sandos Caracol Eco Resort (but a TA said that people have complained about birds pooing on them at this resort...and my FI isnt a big fan)

 

Anyone know of any awesome travel agents in Victoria, BC?? I cant seem to find any! 

 

(And any other resorts or places you'd suggest? We are pretty open to anything)

 

Thanks! 

 

[calgarybride2015]

Welcome and congrats.

 

Picking the resort is definitely a hard choice and as you have probably read on here, one most brides have struggled with.

 

I actually stayed at the Sandos Caracol in 2013 and have a friend who got married there in 2014.  I never had a bird poop on me and truth be told, that can happen anywhere the birds don't just poop at Sandos hehehe.   At our wedding resort in Mexico one of our friends brought a plate of fries to the beach and the birds who swooped in on her were outrageous. 

 

All of your three choices would be a great pick though.

We got married at the Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya. We LOVED it.   Back in January 2015 we paid around $1565 from Calgary.   

 

Prices have definitely went up due to yearly inflation, but also the poor dollar I am sure is playing a role. 

I am sure you will be able to find a decent resort between $1500-$1700 but you may have to be flexible on your dates. Also remember, if you have enough people you can get a group rate which will bring down your price from ones you are seeing on Expedia, etc.   Also remember in April/May you may hit Spring Break or other holidays that can drive up the cost a little.

 

I used a TA in BC. We did everything thru the phone and email.  She wasn't a DW expert but has booked numerous DW and we thought she did a fantastic job. If you want her info I can email it to you.   We do have some Vancouver brides though and I am sure they will jump in with whoever they used.

[snswedding2016]

@@Jessim9 Congrats on your engagement! Just like @@calgarybride2015 mentioned this is one of the hardest parts about planning and one thing that many of us have struggled with.

 

I stayed at the Barcelo Maya Colonial 2 years ago and really loved it. My fiancé and I almost got married there because we had already been and loved it. Unfortunately their packages didn't work for our budget but they do really nice weddings. You get access to a huge stretch of beach with so many Barcelo resorts side by side. We got a quote last Nov for Jan 2016 at the Barcelo and it was $1850 from Calgary and $1630 from Toronto. 

 

I hear the Grand Sunset Princess is nice. @@veryvalentine got married there last June, she may be able to give some more tips on the resort. 

 

Happy planning!

[Moments That Matter]

Welcome to our forum community Jessim9, and Congrats on your upcoming dw!!!

 

Yes! our incomparable Mayan Riviera is unsurpassed in beauty and popularity for wedding couples choosing the venue that fits their Wedding Day Celebrations the Best!!!

 

To show you what we're talking about, and how the venues you're considering would look for your wedding image backdrops, here are some examples......taken from:

 

Grand Sunset Princess Wedding Album:

 

 

 

Barcelo Maya Palace Wedding Album:

 

 

 

Sandos Cancun Wedding Album:

 

 

 

Wishing you happy research, and that you enjoy your wonderful journey ahead - cheers!!! team MTM

Edited November 22, 2015 by Moments That Matter

[vancouverpetunia]

@@Jessim9 I'm from Vancouver and getting married April 2016 at Now Sapphire. We found prices to be around $2000 for most of the resorts we looked at. I recall Ocean Coral & Turquesa being one of the cheaper ones - maybe around $1700? I have a local TA - PM me if you want more info. 

 

I've stayed at both Grand Sunset Princess and Barcelo. I've also stayed at Blue Bay Esmerelda & Dreams Tulum. GSP is actually our favourite of the 4. Maybe it's just because it was our first trip as a couple - I don't know. But we loved the "lazy river" which ran around the property (it doesn't have any current, but it gives you so many different options as to where to hang out for the day, when combined with the pools). It's got a wide sandy beach, which is close to restaurants & pools, but feels secluded as it's separated from them by a mangrove swamp (looks nicer than it sounds LOL). Barcelo was nice as well, but we didn't like it as much for some reason. Both are really big resorts - really spread out & lots of walking. It didn't bother us, but if you have anyone coming with mobility issues, it would be something to consider. I don't remember if they had a shuttle or anything to help move people around. If you end up at GSP and can afford it, I would recommend the walk-out pool suites. We didn't stay in one, but they looked awesome. Walk out onto a patio and into the lazy river pool. Love it!

 

I think most brides will agree that picking the resort is one of the toughest parts of planning a DW. It took me forever, but once we finally chose our resort, everything else has been way easier. Good luck!

[calgarybride2015]

@@Jessim9 I'm from Vancouver and getting married April 2016 at Now Sapphire. We found prices to be around $2000 for most of the resorts we looked at. I recall Ocean Coral & Turquesa being one of the cheaper ones - maybe around $1700? I have a local TA - PM me if you want more info.

 

I've stayed at both Grand Sunset Princess and Barcelo. I've also stayed at Blue Bay Esmerelda & Dreams Tulum. GSP is actually our favourite of the 4. Maybe it's just because it was our first trip as a couple - I don't know. But we loved the "lazy river" which ran around the property (it doesn't have any current, but it gives you so many different options as to where to hang out for the day, when combined with the pools). It's got a wide sandy beach, which is close to restaurants & pools, but feels secluded as it's separated from them by a mangrove swamp (looks nicer than it sounds LOL). Barcelo was nice as well, but we didn't like it as much for some reason. Both are really big resorts - really spread out & lots of walking. It didn't bother us, but if you have anyone coming with mobility issues, it would be something to consider. I don't remember if they had a shuttle or anything to help move people around. If you end up at GSP and can afford it, I would recommend the walk-out pool suites. We didn't stay in one, but they looked awesome. Walk out onto a patio and into the lazy river pool. Love it!

 

I think most brides will agree that picking the resort is one of the toughest parts of planning a DW. It took me forever, but once we finally chose our resort, everything else has been way easier. Good luck!

I thought I had you on Facebook but maybe don't. What did you think of Blue Bay. We almost chose it from my first ever AI trip.

 

 

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[snswedding2016]

@@vancouverpetunia I would love to know what you thought about Blue Bay as well. We have two guests staying there for our wedding but I have no info on the place and this will be their first time as well. 

[dreamweddings]

 

Hello!!

 

I've been reading these boards for a while now and finally decided to post as I've been trying to pick a resort/place for the past 7 months...and pushing back the wedding dates over and over because we cant decide! We were originally looking at PV or Cabo (where we got engaged!) but a TA recently convinced us we want the clear blue waters of Riviera Maya/Cancun instead. 

 

I've looked at sooo many resorts and there always seems to be something wrong whenever we find one we like. We aren't having a ton of people come, likely 10-20, and want to do the wedding in April or May 2016. We are looking for a bigger AI resort, one with multiple pools and restaurants, a nice beach, good entertainment/disco. We want to do a beach wedding. I am vegetarian and we have guests coming who cannot have gluten...some TA's we have talked to have said it shouldn't be an issue..but...I'm not convinced. Also, we were really wanting to find somewhere for around $1500 or less...and havent been able to find anything. Most places start closer to $2000 it seems..well at least in April/May. Anyone know of any good resorts that are a bit cheaper??

 

The resorts we are looking at now are:

 

-Grand Sunset Princess

-Barcelo Maya Beach/Palace

-Sandos Caracol Eco Resort (but a TA said that people have complained about birds pooing on them at this resort...and my FI isnt a big fan)

 

Anyone know of any awesome travel agents in Victoria, BC?? I cant seem to find any! 

 

(And any other resorts or places you'd suggest? We are pretty open to anything)

 

Thanks! 

 

@@Jessim9 the Barcelo resort has some packages that could work for your number of guests.  totally check it out and they have some beautiful beach.  I have a wedding there next year.  

 

Happy Planning!

[vancouverpetunia]

@@snswedding2016

@@calgarybride2015

We did a last minute deal to Blue Bay for cheap. Given what we paid, I was happy with it. But it's probably the least favourite of the resorts we've been to. Giant caveat: I developed bronchitis while we were there and I was very sick, so that may have tainted my opinion. Overall, it was fine. Nothing really to complain about but nothing to write home about either. The beach was terrible - but that may have been the seaweed issue as it was earlier this year.

 

 

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[calgarybride2015]

@@vancouverpetunia Did that resort happen to be in Mayan Riviera? When I was a TA I used to warn anyone going to that area as MR seems to be situated in a cove and I find a lot of resorts in that area have a large seaweed issue.

We stayed at Moon Palace and our biggest complaint was the beach. We are huge beach people and we were not able to swim in the water because it was pure seaweed the entire time and so much so that the water was brown.

It is. It's on the airport side of Playa.

I didn't find sandos bad. It had a nice long beach and at the time no seaweed. Can't speak for this year though, that was 2013. My wedding resort was in a cove forsure but it offered snorkeling like noones business. So depends what you like. I prefer the Cuba beaches hehe

 

 

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