Barcelo Maya Palace Brides

[Brenners]

Hi Nixen.  Our guests stayed at the Palace as did we.  However, there are two Palace hotels - Oaxaca and Michochan and while most guests' rooms were in Oaxaca like ours, they were far away from us.  Our WC grouped our guests together on one end of the hotel and us closer to the beach.  We ran into our guests here and there but we could easily escape to anywhere on the resort - even on the Palace end - and not run into our guests if we chose to be alone.  There are so many pools and the beach is so large just at the Palace that you have plenty of space to go wherever you want.
 

Originally Posted by nixen1 

 

Hi Everyone! I am just new to this forum. And in the early stages of planning. Currently my TA is checking on wedding availability at the Barcelo Colonial.  I apoligize in advance if this question has already been asked somewhere in the past 200+ posts/threads.  

 

My TA suggested that what some couples do is stay at the Barcelo Palace and have their guests stay at the Colonial.  That way you still get that feeling of a honeymoon, are able to have alone time, but can still meet up with guests at the other available restaurants, pools etc.  Has anyone done this? Were you guests upset that you were staying at a separate "resort" that they couldn't enter? I am getting some harsh feedback that I am considering staying at the Palace which is private and the guests at the colonial. Am I the only one to think there shouldn't be anything wrong with this? It is my understanding that Colonial guests cannot use the facilities of Palace but Palace guests can use all facilities of Colonial, etc etc.  My TA said that, on the day of the wedding, my guests would get special permission to enter the Palace facilities/ceremony site whatever.  

 

If anyone can give me some feedback, that would be super! 

 

[Avens]

I'm with Brenners. The Palace is big enough, you can definitely still have alone time. 

 

If you say "We're staying at the Palace, there are three options, do what you like" it seems silly that people would make a fuss!

 

Originally Posted by Brenners 

Hi Nixen.  Our guests stayed at the Palace as did we.  However, there are two Palace hotels - Oaxaca and Michochan and while most guests' rooms were in Oaxaca like ours, they were far away from us.  Our WC grouped our guests together on one end of the hotel and us closer to the beach.  We ran into our guests here and there but we could easily escape to anywhere on the resort - even on the Palace end - and not run into our guests if we chose to be alone.  There are so many pools and the beach is so large just at the Palace that you have plenty of space to go wherever you want.
 

 

 

[danandjamie]

We didn't even bother giving anyone the option to stay at a different resort. It was PALACE ONLY. It would be such a pain to have to walk over to the other resorts to see everyone. If you're traveling over to the Colonial everyday, you're missing out on the premium liquors and air conditioned buffets. Not to mention the al a cartes in the Palace.

 

The Palace is plenty big enough to get away from everyone if needed.

[ANGELA2013]

That's a good point, I am not liking the idea of traveling all over the resort to visit people.
 

Originally Posted by danandjamie 

We didn't even bother giving anyone the option to stay at a different resort. It was PALACE ONLY. It would be such a pain to have to walk over to the other resorts to see everyone. If you're traveling over to the Colonial everyday, you're missing out on the premium liquors and air conditioned buffets. Not to mention the al a cartes in the Palace.

 

The Palace is plenty big enough to get away from everyone if needed.

 

[nixen1]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone! Originally we were chose the Colonial due to the fact that it was the right price point for our guest.  And I didn't want to ask the guests to pay the Palace prices as I know that will turn some people off.  That's why I decided to let my guests choose wherever they want to stay, whether its the Colonial or Palace.  But I am wondering are the resorts literally in walking distance of each other? (Any map of the resorts I looked at makes it look like the Colonial is more central and the Palace is off to the side, so I can't right an exact idea of how close they are) Also, is there anyone out there, that has done it this way, did it make things difficult, having your guests get a day pass to get to get into the Palace? 

 

I just want to make the right decision, and I'm finding it really hard to do so.

[Brenners]

It takes about 6-7 minutes or so to walk to the Colonial along the boardwalk at a relatively quick pace.  If anyone has difficulty walking then that would be something to take into consideration.

[Avens]

If you are using a TA - have you gotten your quotes yet?  When I got quotes from our TA, there was only $100 difference between the Tropical/Colonial and the Palace package.

 

They are walking distance, it would probably take you 10-15 minutes (depending on if you're a vacation walker, or a catching the bus walker ) from the Palace Lobby to the tropical lobby. The Oaxaca building is a stones throw from the closest Tropical building.

 

If you pick a central meeting point (I.e. the beach on front of the jaguar statue, we used the Coco Bar, worked great) then everyone can meet up after breakfast.

We really frequented the Lobby Bar, it was perfect, they had snacks and lots of comfy seating and it was great for evenings - to sit in the air conditioning, or out on the balcony on the couches.  You'd have to find a new hang out spot if half your people are at the Tropical.

 

I personally would give the palace as a main choice, then offer the tropical second if you really think people will balk.  I had a serious talk with the people I really wanted to come, and asked them if an extra $100, or $200 would be a deal breaker,  and they assured me it wasn't. A few others who I was worried about also said they didn't mind spending the little extra to have a really nice location. If you think certain people might object, you could always talk to them.  Multiple locations will impact how often you see people, we had a a couple stay at the beach and we only saw them 3 or 4 times all week (one of those being the wedding), we always seemed to miss each other.  Whereas we saw the people at the Palace all the time, we'd meet up at the buffets, then in the halls and make plans.  If you missed them for one meal, you usually found them the second - and if all else failed - go to the lobby bar and someone would walk in.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by nixen1 

Thanks for all the feedback everyone! Originally we were chose the Colonial due to the fact that it was the right price point for our guest.  And I didn't want to ask the guests to pay the Palace prices as I know that will turn some people off.  That's why I decided to let my guests choose wherever they want to stay, whether its the Colonial or Palace.  But I am wondering are the resorts literally in walking distance of each other? (Any map of the resorts I looked at makes it look like the Colonial is more central and the Palace is off to the side, so I can't right an exact idea of how close they are) Also, is there anyone out there, that has done it this way, did it make things difficult, having your guests get a day pass to get to get into the Palace? 

 

I just want to make the right decision, and I'm finding it really hard to do so.

 

[Kristina610]

JoanneIreland-  Thanks for the info.  Originally we were thinking the first week of November but i just found out that a bridesmaid and very close friend is pregnant and she is due the end of October, so travel at that time would be out of the question for her... not sure where to go from here :/

 

Brenners-  How was the weather while you were there?

[MexicoHereICome]

 

Hey Ladies, 

 

   I'm new to this site. My fiance and I have booked our wedding for October 6, 2012. I unfortunately wasn't left with a lot of options to have our reception. We ended up picking the Palace pool area. I was wondering if anyone has any pictures to look at or had seen an reception take place there while they were at the Palace. I'm concerned about the weather seeing that its outside and we will be in rainy season (but that's a risk I just have to take) We REALLY wanted to have our reception in an open aired restaurant but that option wasn't given to us. We have invited 200 people and already have a for sure 50. Does anyone know how many people you need to have attend in order for them to bump you up to the Coral Grill?  Also, I just want to make sure I'm up to speed all that my WC has booked with me is our locations for reception, ceremony, cocktail hour....Just scanning this site I have noticed that some people that are getting married after me are already choosing what type of musician they want to play at their ceremony. Are we behind? I'm not liking what I am hearing about the on site photographers....does anyone have any suggestions for photographers that won't break the bank? Lastly (for now) has anyone used the resort D.J. if not does anyone have any suggestions? Sorry I have so many questions I'm just so anxious to know everything and it takes a little bit of time to hear back from our WC. 

 

Congrats to you all!

 

Jessica

 

I have been having trouble posting (or at least finding where they are actually posting to...forgive me if this is a repeat post)

[FireyNurse]

I am wondering, what is everyone's take on the dancefloor rental, we were planning on using our ipod for music and saving money on the DJ and my FI just realized we would be dancing on the sand and is sorta thinking he wants a dancefloor.

 

Has anyone rented the dancefloor....did you get the regular or light up one? What did you think?

 

Thanks!