CHAKLIT

Rentals are cheap...I rent direct at the airport..usually about 250-350/week depending on the time of the yr.

Quote: Originally Posted by jamaica0510 Has anyone been to Treasure Beach in Jamaica? I saw something about it online and was wondering if anyone could tell us how it was? Also has anyone rented a car form Sandals? We are staying at Sandals Negril in May and I would like to know how much it would be to rent a car from the resort to Treasure beach and maybe another place. Rentals are real reasonable...depends on the time of year but I usually spend about 250-350/week for an economy car. I never have gotten a car from a hotel, I always deal direct with the airport.

Quote: Originally Posted by TA Maureen It's a plastic card that you get at check in (one per person) that you turn into the staff member at the towel hut at the beach/pool to receive your towel. So one towel per person at a time (you can trade it in for a fresh one).If you do not turn a card back in at the end of your stay for each of the members of your party you are charged for it (usually around $15.00-$30.00). Thank You!!

Quote: Originally Posted by TA Jennifer colly j- you are getting married at an iberostar- although both are Ai there are significant differences between Iberostar and Sandals. Do not take this as a bashing of Iberostar- it is a great resort- i sell and recommend them quite often but it all depends on what is important to my client . Some differences- Iberostar -you are limited in how many a la carte (sit down being served) vists you can have during your stay-based on number of nights Sandals -unlimited a la carte dinners during stay Iberostar- only premium brands are available in the lobby bar-limited selection Sandals- premium brands available at all bars-very wide range of selection Iberostar- wristbands Sandals-no wristbands Iberostar- must make reservations for the limited a la cartes Sandals Negril - only the japanese show cooking reetaurant require reservations due to the nature of the restaurant Iberostar - towel cards Sandals -no towel cards Iberostar- offers limited watersports as part of all inclusive Sandals -offers a greater variety of watersports plus waterskiing and wake boarding plus daily snorkel trips and diving if you are certified. Forgive me for my ignorance, but what's a towel card??

Quote: Originally Posted by jennaLynn544 I am in desperate need of some advice or direction on this one... we are leaving this Thursday! We opted to drive 5 hours to the nearest *major* airport to fly out for our destination & saved $1,000 so we don't actually fly out to JA until Friday at 6am. This whole time, I have been thinking that we will just grab her car seat from the vehicle to take with us on the plane. Although we didn't purchase a seat for our 18-month-old (FI's decision, I disagreed), we are going to gate-check her car seat & use it if there is a seat available. PLUS, I was thinking we'd need it anyhow for during our airport shuttle that morning and for our airport transfers to and from our resort in JA (we have a 90 min. trip to the resort from the airport & then back again when we leave). FI just said to me tonight "Do you seriously think we need to haul that thing around with us for this trip?"....Um, YES, why would I not want her in a car seat, especially for a 90 minute drive (2 times) and on the airplane?! Car accidents are the #1 leading cause of death for children, so I just don't get how he's managing to make me feel like I'm nuts for thinking we need to bring the car seat with?! I also just don't see how our 18-month-old is going to stay still in someone's lap for 90 minutes..?! She does NOT like to be held or sit on anyone's lap for longer than a few moments. When she is harnessed into a car seat, that's a different story...then, she understands (and also has no other choice) she must sit still & stay put. Someone please tell me you have advice?...have been there before?...or can direct me on what to do, who to speak with/contact, etc.? As if I don't have enough crap to do & worry about, now I have to argue with my FI about our little "car seat dilema". My daughter's been to Jamaica 4 times since she's been born...she's 2 and half now. Each time we travel, I always bring her car seat. I rent a car when I'm there and if we're alone, she definitely needs her seat. Also, the style of driving is different down there and anything can happen -- so I need to ensure her safety. Make sure you get transportation that has seat belts or the latch hooks for the seatbelt of the carrier. I just sling her seat on my back(like a backpack) while in the airport -- it came with a great carrier. Hope this helps!

Quote: Originally Posted by slynn2121 Our budget is really low - so she had a few options, once being Aquasol beach and the other which we decided to go with was The Twisted Kilt- its probably not most peoples ideal place - but this will 2nd weddings for both of us and its a very irish place and im marrying into a very irish family. They have a beach area for weddings and then you rent out one of the balconys for the reception. Not lower than ours! We're trying to have a really nice wedding with a crap load of people...only issue is...we're both really cheap!! lol I've never heard of the Twisted Kilt, but sounds really interesting! Good luck and Happy Planning!

Quote: Originally Posted by slynn2121 Dawn is great and if you tell her you budget and exactly what you are looking for, she is very upfront. We were booked at RIU and had more guests coming than we thought so our free wedding was now 1300 without pics or anything - so I started talking with Dawn she met my budget got me what I wanted and we moved the wedding off resort. Where are you having your wedding, if you dont mind me asking??

I've been seeing alot of great deals for Secrets -- I need to really check them out on my planning visit in a few months.

Quote: Originally Posted by jamaica0510 We are getting married in May 2010 and I am using a wedding planner in Jamaica rather than having it at the resort. Jamaica Wedding Planner, Negril Wedding Planner, Weddings in Jamaica, Destination Weddings, Wedding Planner in Jamaica, Getting married in Jamaica, Wedding in Jamaica I have been talking to Dawn there and she has been great at returning phone calls and emails. What services does she provide for you? I've been quoted based on my estimated guest count of 200 people...no one tells me exactly what they will do for the $1500USD they are asking. Thanks!

I must be cheap....dayum! Maureen's the authority around here!!

I wouldn't care...b/c it's about me and my honey...as long as our parents & our daughter make it..I'm good! So far, no stress...our folks have been great...expecially since we told ppl our date 18 months in advance.

They are too damn greedy! I don't care...jet fuel isn't ridiculous anymore and they are still trying to find ways to collect! Go Southwest...kill 'em with commercials!

That was part of the reason we stayed away from 10-10-10...I orginally wanted that date, but you can't mess with Mother Nature...just stay positive and you'll have a beautiful day!!

Quote: Originally Posted by TA Maureen Published airfare is nonrefundable and non-transferable so once you bought it you own it. No adjustments will be made regardless of where you purchased it (fyi, published airfare differs from the charter flights from Canada and differs from from bulk airfare before anyone corrects me). Booking directly with the resort does not always offer you the option to make adjustments. It depends on their cancellation policy. you need to read the terms carefully. Also note booking directly with a resort outside the US usually means that your credit card will get charged an international fee when you pay, you have no one to argue on your behalf should something go wrong (tour ops sell these resorts all the time sending thousands of customers to each resort each year rather than just a one time group so a TA and/or tour op has both bargaining power and pull to get results), and that if you are booking a resort that does not include complimentary airport transfers you will have to also purchase those seperately. So that means you will be making phone calls to resorts, airlines, and transportation companies and handling your guests travel questions. Something I'm not preparted to do! I was just curious...that's the first I'm hearing of insurance for price changes. I'll send you a PM about riu....thanks!

Quote: Originally Posted by TA Maureen Some tour operators offer low price guarantee insurance at an additional cost when you purchase their cancel for any reason insurance. Depending on the tour op I use and the booking terms (usually has to be individual bookings not group contracts) I can get the price adjusted as long as it is prior to 45 days before the departure date and there is still availability. Booking terms vary greatly between resorts and tour operators so you have to ask your TA what will happen in each instance. Thanks for this info...so booking directly with hotel & airline would not give us this benefit??

Quote: Originally Posted by eec129 Do you have insurance? If the price of our trip goes down, we get that money back! What kind of insurance is that?? Thanks in advance!

Quote: Originally Posted by Pandabride6 I agree. I'm also getting married at Rose Hall and the no day pass thing was huge on my list. We have a number of guests who live on the island so it works for us to have a resort not charge for folks not staying there. I just feel like that's not fair but it's just my two cents. Also, I don't like policies that called for a certain percentage of guests to stay on property, which also wouldn't work for my group. Me and FI looked for a place that was family friendly and fairly close to the airport. Also, the location gave us a number of venues to choose from for the ceremony. Oh yea, I wanted a place that allowed outside vendors. I was NOT planning on using the hotel photographer so make sure to check the resort's policy about this one. O goodness...Rose Hall doesn't have the day pass policy?? I thought most if not all of them do! I'm going to look into that. I was set on the Coyaba garden in Ochi...b/c we were running from that very issue.

Quote: Originally Posted by KJT1985 I don't know, my fiance said the immigration lawyer said he couldn't cross the border after applying for a marriage license but the applying for a green card part makes much more sense to me. Logicaly progression of things would be for us to legally get married here, go there with our marriage license, "renew vows" (honeymoon as far as the US government is concerned), return home and apply for the green card. But I didn't talk to the lawyer so all I know is heresay. And the resort won't let you have a ceremony unless they apply for the license for you (at which time the country files it with the US on your behalf) or you prove you're already married and renew your vows. My fiance suggested we act like we'll go through with the legal part and just not sign the license (he thought it'd be funny to draw a house). But the resort draws all that up for you and they'd already have our ss numbers and birth certificates.... PM me...I know a great non-profit agency in NY who can assist with your questions.

Quote: Originally Posted by Tifany I think that's an odd thing he was told by the immigration lawyer. I think an organized affair with friends and family, despite the location, would make it appear a bona fide ceremony. Also, I think the policy is once you apply for the green card (NOT the marriage license) you are unable to leave the states unless special permission is granted. My fiance isn't from the US, but we have been through this with many of his friends. How will the resort know if it is a legal ceremony or not? Don't they just hand you a certificate there? I swear friends of ours were married in another country and just kept the certificate they were given. It depends...if they file his immigration paperwork prior too the JA ceremony -- he won't be able to travel b/c you can only hold one visa and once you apply for adjustment of status(work visa --> green card) you have no visa to be allowed back in the country. Therefore under only special circumstances that are pre-approved prior to travelling, will he be safe. Our same reason for doing the JP here...adjusting my fiance's visitors visa, then doing our symbolic ceremony next year with fam & friends.

Check on youtube -- I've seen plenty of videos on there Also tripadvisor might have some pics as well.

Quote: Originally Posted by asheeki I might be a bit late but although I am going to a resort I have a local planner thats been fabulous. Let me know if you still need one You're not late! My wedding is 2011! I'd like to know. -CHAKLIT

Quote: Originally Posted by QueenDiva Awww... congratulations Chaklit! Trust me, the sickness will be leaving in 3-4 more weeks and you'll feel alot better. Then, get back to planning! Thanks!! I feel like crap, but we're excited. My first pregnancy was a rough one...morning sickness all the way to 6 months! My matron and maid of honor have been spectacular and very supportive. They're even going to Jamaica in March to finalize venues/vendors -- not sure if I'll be making the trip with them tho. I thank god for having such great friends who are also knowledgeable...I have no freaking clue when it comes to putting weddings together...I just know I love to attend them!

$350 for a cake...I must be really cheap!!

Quote: Originally Posted by QueenDiva Although I'm not getting married until April of 2011, I have completed the following: Picked wedding colors (turquoise, orange, and bronze), found a wedding site (Tensing Pen in Negril), completed the layout for my boarding pass STD's, completed my enclosure letter for the STD's, started my wedding website, contacted the WC at my resort, will be making payment to secure the resort in January 2010, broke down complete costs per person for their entire stay at each of the 2 resorts, contacted an airline regarding options for group rates... whoo! All while working 12 hour days, lol! I guess past skills as an event planner are paying off! Very exciting...I'm getting married April, 2011 as well and barely have my colors finalized! I'm now 10 weeks pregnant and sick alot so I kinda put my wedding plans on the back burner :/

Quote: Originally Posted by Pandabride6 I'm expecting about 60 guests but I think the venue said they've handled weddings for 200. Their website is dayorestaurant.com . Honestly, I realized that resorts know that if you've never really been to Jamaica, then you're willing to shell out whatever to have a great reception but there are lots of sites that offer way more for the same price since the American/Canadian dollar is already strong there. After getting these crazy quotes for the reception at the resort (like $4 for one cocktail beef patty), I knew I needed to look around. To put that in perspective, I can get a dozen cocktail patties for $4 in the states. Thanks, I've added them to my list, although Ochi is our first choice b/c my family is in Kingston and his family is already in St Ann, but for the right price/package we'll make something work!! Thanks again