Help me! Site Visit Top 3 ideas?!?!

Hi lovely ladies!! I am a Noobie trying to plan out my site visit, and I need help desperately! I want to narrow it down to my top 3, but I can't seem to do so. I leave for Cancun in 3 weeks and I'll only be there for a few days so I am really starting to stress out!

As of right now I am debating on the following:

Fiesta Americana Condesa

Hilton Cancun Golf & Spa Resort

Westin (I haven't heard much at all on this property!)

Moon Palace (is this even close to Cancun? If not I will need to rule it out)

Dreams (Has anyone wed on the beach there? The gazebo is beautiful but I really want a beach wedding, yet I haven't seen any pics of one)

JW Marriott/Casa Magna Marriott (which is better?!)

Paradisus RM Cancun

Can anyone help me? The wedding will be small, with about 30 guests. I must must must have a ceremony on the beach (so its important to me that the beach is nice), and am pretty open about the reception location as long as it has nice views of the sea and a dance floor. I have younger siblings so it must be 'teen'/child friendly. I want a nice place that is unique, where my guests will enjoy their 'mini-vacation'. Are there any of these I should cross off my list, or any that I should definitely keep for my Top 3?

I'M SO CONFUSED!!

They are all really nice.

Try to narrow it down a bit:

You have both AIs and non-AIs on your list. Are your guests going to be big drinkers? If so, the AIs will be a better choice for them, so you could scrap the Marriotts and the Westin.

Do you want people on the Cancun hotel strip, or will they enjoy the more secluded feel of the RM? If Cancun you can rule of Moon Palace (it is near Cancun) and the Paradisus. If you want RM, then you're down to two choices.

Hope that helps a little bit.

Jessica-

So we are in pretty much the same boat as you We are going to Cancun on April 19th to do site visits to the following locations:

Le Meridien

Dreams

JW Marriott/CasaMagna

Hilton

Fiesta Americana

We are having around 50 people, and also need a kid-friendly location. Haven't decided if we want an AI or non-AI. We are not planning to have our ceremony on the beach though. My top places as of now (I'm sure it'll change tomorrow!) are Dreams, JW Marriott/Casamagna, and Le Meridien.

Will you have time to look at more than just 3? We looked into the Westin and found it was lovely, but significantly more expensive than the other locations. We also decided against Moon Palace, because what we could tell, you eat dinner in one of their restaurants. We were hoping to have an outdoor area for dinner. Not sure what you were looking for though

I know how you feel, I was driving myself crazy trying to look at ALL the resorts! There are just too many!

Good luck to you. We have done some research on the places I listed above, so if you have any questions, let me know. Hopefully I'll be able to answer them!

Sherry

That is awesome! Looks like we are looking for similar dates as well. We will definitely have to compare and contrast our plans!

I noticed you took Hyatt off from your original list...any reason? I ask because I was kinda considering their Caribe resort as well, but then that makes my list even bigger so thats not good. Soo many choices! And in response to some of the other posters...

I'm honestly not even sure if I want an AI or non-AI! Half my guests will be my age and will wanna drink considerably, and the rest are family and that won't be too big of a deal for them. And I really don't have too much of a preference about whether we are in the middle of the hotel zone or more near RM...ahhhh I am soo indecisive! Does anyone know how far Moon Palace is from the hotel zone? And if they can do receptions meals outside of the restaurant?

Quote:

Originally Posted by srbina Jessica- So we are in pretty much the same boat as you We are going to Cancun on April 19th to do site visits to the following locations:   Le Meridien Dreams JW Marriott/CasaMagna Hilton Fiesta Americana   We are having around 50 people, and also need a kid-friendly location. Haven't decided if we want an AI or non-AI. We are not planning to have our ceremony on the beach though. My top places as of now (I'm sure it'll change tomorrow!) are Dreams, JW Marriott/Casamagna, and Le Meridien. Will you have time to look at more than just 3? We looked into the Westin and found it was lovely, but significantly more expensive than the other locations. We also decided against Moon Palace, because what we could tell, you eat dinner in one of their restaurants. We were hoping to have an outdoor area for dinner. Not sure what you were looking for though I know how you feel, I was driving myself crazy trying to look at ALL the resorts! There are just too many! Good luck to you. We have done some research on the places I listed above, so if you have any questions, let me know. Hopefully I'll be able to answer them! Sherry

Moon Palace is one of the few that DOES do beach ceremonies! It is about 5 miles from the airport. Also, they offer free wedding packages just for staying there, which is great if you are on a budget. Good luck!

I can offer you info on Le Meridien & CasaMagna. Casa was my first choice..I did the whole site visit but bc they didn't have my date available, I went with Le Meridien (which I'm totally happy happy happy with).

I think everyones given you some great things to think about.

What I can tell you about dreams is that, Yes, you can have your wedding on the beach, but I think most of us fell in love with the gazebo and thats why we didn't.

The explorers club at dreams is fantastic for the kids, if you have small children coming I would definetly suggest finding a resort with some type of kids club, our daughter wanted to spend the whole week there! I was very nervous leaving her there, but they keep it very secure, adults aren't allowed in the kids area (except the ppl that work in there) they give you a pager so they can reach you if they need to and they make you sign your children in & out.

Let's see, what else, dreams is right in the middle of everything, but you really wouldn't know it. My little brother loved being so close to all of the clubs, but most of us just hung out at the resort, so it was nice to have the option. Moon palace is further away from everything.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

You can have a private reception at the moon palace. I belive you can do it on the terrace or in the ballroom (I think there might be a beach option too, but not sure). I am also pretty sure that you can get married on the beach there.

The dinner you saw is included, but if you want, you can add on a cocktail reception or a dinner reception or both (for an added cost). Actually, based on the number or rooms your party books, you might actually get the coctail reception free. I know a lot of people use the free dinner as a welcome dinner if they are also doing a reception.

The Moon Palce can be a little expensive for guests (our guests are looking at paying about $1213 each for 4 nights - not including airfair...but this is in January, high season...we are going to visit in Sept and 4 nights AND airfair is $1017 each). But that does include ALL food, drinks, liquor, entertainment, taxes and tips....and if you stay 3 or more nights, they include some excurisions (you can go to the ruins for no out of pocket cost).

There are also two sides of teh resort. The Sunrise side which is a little more rowdy and has teh "disco" and stuff and the Nitzuc side, which is where most of the wedding stuff takes place and is quite a bit more mellow (so I've heard).

Hope that helps