Puerto Vallarta 2017 - Too Expensive For Canadians?

[KitCat]

Hi all!

 

I am a bride from Vancouver, Canada and I am just starting the planning process. My fiance and I originally wanted to do a destination wedding sometime in April or May 2017, for both the cost savings and the chance to get to spend a good amount of time with our guests (many of whom are coming from out of town). We are looking at Puerto Vallarta, but with the Canadian dollar being so low now, we are realizing that the cost might be too high - not just for us, but for our guests who we will expect to pay their own way. Our budget for everything is $12,000 and we don't want our guests to have to spend more than $800 a person. We are expecting anywhere from 20-35 people. 

 

Are any other Canadian brides out there struggling with this decision?? 

 

Any recommendations for a kid-friendly resort in PV that is nice, family-friendly and reasonably priced?

 

Any recommendations for a good travel agent to contact?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

[calgarybride2015]

Welcome and congrats!

 

I have never stayed in PV but I am Canadian (though I've done research on it we've just never ended up booking) I must be honest and say I've never seen an AI package as low as $800 even for the low stars - maybe a last minute sell off but that's risky in your case. Do you want an all inclusive? If yes I think you'd need to up your guests budget quite a bit. Having said that, if you get a group rate and are flexible with your week of travel and resort you may be able to get something between $1200-$1300 a person. But I think it would be safer to budget closer to $1500. This will limit your choices of course and then you also need to ensure its a resort that can fit the vision of your wedding unless you do that off site.

 

That said a $12000 budget seems super reasonable even with resort/flight package included in that budget. You'll find a lot of resorts wedding packages include 10-20 people before you pay overages so you may get lucky there with your guest count.

 

For our Jan 2015 wedding the cheapest quote I got was $1250 for the Grand Palladium in PV.

 

Biggest piece of advice is to get a travel agent asap -- as you mentioned. Even better if they specialize in destination weddings and they can help you narrow down resorts based on your must have lists. And they can usually help you get all the wedding info you need too. I have a lady I used in BC but not from Vancouver. Hopefully a Vancouver bride can pop in to help. The site also has Canadian travel agents you could contact thru here.

 

I am in Calgary so pricing may be different based on that but I feel fairly certain for an all inclusive you won't find $800 even with a better dollar.

 

Good luck.

 

 

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Edited January 20, 2016 by calgarybride2015

[snswedding2016]

Congrats on your engagement @@KitCat! 

 

I couldn't agree with Kim (@calgarybride2015) more! That price is going to be very tricky especially coming from Vancouver, although I haven't been to PV mostly visited the Mayan Riviera side. Agreed - a last minute deal will likely offer you something similar in price but definitely wouldn't be able to hold a group block for your guests. I think $1500 is probably reasonable with the low dollar and time of year, if you're flexible on the resort type. I would avoid May as it is the busiest month for weddings (according to the WCs and my photographers) so the price may jump because of that. I just had my wedding on Jan 9th - we were flying from Toronto and booked just before the dollar really started tanking but we did book at a 5 star resort and were going in relatively high season. We paid $1630 which was a great price, our west coast guests paid around $1800. 

 

Like Kim said finding a good TA is definitely a must! They will help you source out all this pricing and find the best fit for your wedding and your group! Happy planning!

[KitCat]

Thank you for your replies! I guess we need to adjust our expectations regarding the cost for our guests. We had based it off the fact that about 5 years ago we went to a wedding at one of the RIU resorts in Mexico and only paid $1600 (for the two of us) which included flight and all inclusive 5 days stay, and I think the resort was either a four or five star. Mind you the dollar was stronger back then and we probably got lucky with a good deal! 

 

I guess for our guests coming from the East Coast $1500 won't be any worse than flying out here for a wedding considering the cost of a flight from the east coast to Vancouver and then hotels + food here. 

 

If any Vancouver brides have recommendations for a good local travel agent, I would really appreciate it!

[AmandaU]

Hello,

 

 I struggled with the same issue! We are getting married Nov 16, 2016 in Riviera Maya @ NOW Sapphire. 

 

Our guest flying from Prince George, Vancouver, Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Saskatoon and Toronto - Prices are around 1800/per person taxes in (prices across the board for our guest from each airport only varied around 50$).

I spend months and months trying to find somewhere to go budget friendly for our guests....Its SO Hard. So I finally decided I was going to go to where I wanted and so be it.  We thought maybe a small group would be attending as our hotel wedding package only includes 25 people. But are we ever surprised, we have 54 signed up guest who put down deposits!

 

Now where I am worried, is that our dollar is SO low, and the resort packages are all in USD....This is where it will get pricy.

 

So I think you should go where you want, your guests will join if they have the time off & extra money. None of our guests said it was too pricy, I think as long as its under $2000/per person you should be ok.

 

We just attended a wedding in Toronto - with flights, hotel, car rental, food & booze we spent around $3000 for FOUR DAYS - after that I felt ok asking my guests to spend $1800 for a week long all in vacation.

[KitCat]

Thanks @@AmandaU! That is super helpful to know so I won't be wasting my time looking for a budget option that doesn't exist. Honestly it sounds like it will still be cheaper than trying to have a wedding in Vancouver, for everyone involved except our Vancouver guests. 

 

Did you use a travel agent or local wedding planner or just book everything yourself through the resort?

Edited January 21, 2016 by KitCat

[calgarybride2015]

Hello,

 

I struggled with the same issue! We are getting married Nov 16, 2016 in Riviera Maya @ NOW Sapphire.

 

Our guest flying from Prince George, Vancouver, Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Saskatoon and Toronto - Prices are around 1800/per person taxes in (prices across the board for our guest from each airport only varied around 50$).

I spend months and months trying to find somewhere to go budget friendly for our guests....Its SO Hard. So I finally decided I was going to go to where I wanted and so be it. We thought maybe a small group would be attending as our hotel wedding package only includes 25 people. But are we ever surprised, we have 54 signed up guest who put down deposits!

 

Now where I am worried, is that our dollar is SO low, and the resort packages are all in USD....This is where it will get pricy.

 

So I think you should go where you want, your guests will join if they have the time off & extra money. None of our guests said it was too pricy, I think as long as its under $2000/per person you should be ok.

 

We just attended a wedding in Toronto - with flights, hotel, car rental, food & booze we spent around $3000 for FOUR DAYS - after that I felt ok asking my guests to spend $1800 for a week long all in vacation.

Where are you from? I'm from northern BC and have lived in Prince George

You got a great rate!

 

I agree as well. That you'll never make everyone happy. So find something you would be comfortable paying and that's reasonable and you may be surprised

 

We wanted to stick around $1500. Got just under for Toronto and just over for Calgary. We also were surprised and 41 people came

 

We also would have everyone traveling and all that adds up so this seemed like the best decision.

 

It'll all work out.

 

 

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[AmandaU]

@ KitCat  - I have a travel agent. She would suggest some resorts and I would contact them for Wedding Packages, and then decided from there. I have direct contact with the resort on the wedding planning, and my travel agent is booking all the flights, hotels exc for all the guests.  Our agent could be the contact at the resort too, but I just thought it would be easier if I could be asking them all my questions instead of going through my agent then to them.

@CalgaryBride2015  I am from Prince George but now live in Grande Prairie, Alberta.

 

I think we got comparable rates, as I have been snooping around the internet and to book a trip to NOW around the same time are going is anywhere from 1500-1700+taxes.

 

Where did you get Married?

 

41 people! that is wonderful, I am surprised so many people are coming to ours. We still have some friends who are going to book outside our "group" closer to the date.

[calgarybride2015]

@ KitCat - I have a travel agent. She would suggest some resorts and I would contact them for Wedding Packages, and then decided from there. I have direct contact with the resort on the wedding planning, and my travel agent is booking all the flights, hotels exc for all the guests. Our agent could be the contact at the resort too, but I just thought it would be easier if I could be asking them all my questions instead of going through my agent then to them.

 

@CalgaryBride2015 I am from Prince George but now live in Grande Prairie, Alberta.

 

I think we got comparable rates, as I have been snooping around the internet and to book a trip to NOW around the same time are going is anywhere from 1500-1700+taxes.

 

Where did you get Married?

 

41 people! that is wonderful, I am surprised so many people are coming to ours. We still have some friends who are going to book outside our "group" closer to the date.

Awesome. I was born in Terrace but grew up mainly in Fort St John! Now live in Calgary. I was married at the Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya one year ago today

 

 

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[Moments That Matter]

Congrats Kim on your first year anniversary!!! and Congrats to KitCat on your upcoming dw and joining our forum community - welcome!!!

You'll find lots of great info here, for your planning decisions, so well done on a great start already

For some added inspiration, here are a few wedding moments that matter we've captured in our magnificent Mayan Riviera....enjoy!

 

....from our Grand Sirenis Wedding Story Album:

 

 

 

Hope you find the info + answers you're looking for, wishing you happy research, and all the best with your plans - cheers!!! team MTM

Edited January 24, 2016 by Moments That Matter