Any Grand Palladium brides?

[ChristinaP]

Too funny!

I can definitely relate to the "bum sagging in to the back of the legs."

[Sarah_K]

Quote:

Originally Posted by demetriosbride We are surprised at our # of guests...not just because we thought it would be a smaller group...but for us having to pay for the private reception...it is frightful when you add up the ceremony & reception price...ekkk! You would really think that because you have such a large number of people & are bringing so many guests (great tippers too) to the resort that there would be a deal or break in the price! The day only happening once & still cheaper than doing it in Canada (low budget one too) is re-assurance that it's just money & it will be worth every penny! (dollar/thou..lol)

I am in the same boat about the expensive private reception for big groups! We have almost 40 guests booked not, and the wedding is 7 months away! I have a very hard time paying that much when everyone there has access to a free meal in one of the restaurants. We are helping pay for a good portion of our guests…so we are already shelling out quite a bit of $$!

Right now we are trying to figure out if we can swing a private cocktail party after dinner as our reception. We will have the wedding, then the champagne. Then we will have a little break so we can do pictures. We will reserve a portion of one of the restaurants for dinner, and then all migrate to a private cocktail. We might hire a DJ…or maybe just use an iPod. I have no idea how/if this will work…and I have had no luck getting a hold of Rocio! I’m just throwing ideas out.

February is coming quickly! Good luck with the final planning!!!

[ChristinaP]

I hear you all on the costs. We have 36 ppl. now for dinner at our private reception, and it is not cheap. It is pretty tough to rationalize spending all that money on a dinner on an AI resort!

Sarah- your idea sounds like a creative way to save on some costs! One thing that might cause you a problem is the meal for dinner. I know they will do a reservation for you (not private) in one of the a-la-cartes, but if it is that many people, you would still have a set menu.

Also, from what I understand, the only areas they have that you could do dancing etc. in that is private would be the private reception rooms La Laguna and Gran Azul.

Maybe at that time of year it wouldn't be an issue for you to use one of the rooms for some cocktails and dancing though. End of June should not be too crazy.

I'm rambling now, but I hope it helps

[meg444]

Hello Ladies,

 

Just received a quote from 'Flight Centre'

Just wondering how these prices look to you guys? We are getting quotes from a few other travel companies as well, in hopes of getting a lower price for our guests.

 

Vancouver to Cancun, November 25 - Dec 2

 

Grand Palladium Colonial, standard room

Adults - $1440 + $264 tax per person

 

Grand Palladium Kantenah, standard room

Adults - $1440 + $264 tax per person

 

Grand Palladium Whitesands, Imperial Club junior suite

Adults - $1487 + $264 tax per person

 

 

Calgary to Cancun, November 25 -Dec 2

 

Grand Palladium Colonial, standard room

Adults - $1440 + $270 tax per person

 

Grand Palladium Kantenah, standard room

Adults - $1440 + $270 tax per person

 

Grand Palladium Whitesands, Imperial Club junior suite

Adults - $1630 + $270 tax per person

 

Thanks!

[ChristinaP]

Hey Megs,

 

Prices look pretty good to me. Ours from Calgary from May 15-22 were $1550 + tax in the Colonial section.

The only thing I would check is which tour operators they are quoting from, as they offer different deals and group incentives. The Colonial and Kantenah are the same, just mirror images of eachother, but the White Sands section is newer, and the rates look for you, as was for us, a better deal as they are slightly more but for a better room. White Sands entry level room is a Junior Suite.

 

The only reason we did end up going Colonial in spite of the better rooms for about the same price is that signature (who is the operator on the white sands section) wanted deposits from all guests really quick, and full payments due within a few weeks. Didn't even get us time to get info out to guests. We were given 90 days for deposits (holding with only our $200 deposit). Also, signature offered every 26th adult free, where we are getting every 16th free with Transat vacations on the Colonial section. Also, they are upgrading our plane seats. So, now we have 30 adults booked, and we have $3100 towards our trip (two weeks, standard room). Although we would have liked the newer resort section, the tour operator would not compete with the group incentives we had.

 

Hope that wasn't too confusing! PM me if you wanted more info., as it will be pretty much the same thing for us both being in western Canada.

I would just make sure and check to see what the different operators are offering you. Our travel agent went back a couple of times to get them competing a bit too.

Anyways, another loooong post. Sorry!

[tammikins]

Hi Meg,

I have to say, the prices that we paid were lower. Initially we paid about 2100 total inc taxes to go out of Vancouver from Dec 18-25. Then the prices dropped a lot, so we got our packages for just under 1600 total. Keep in mind that since we're technically there over christmas it is considered peak season.

 

The best thing that happened with costs was I kept checking the transat site for lower rates even after we paid our deposit. As soon as I saw a price lower than the one we paid I called my TA and she negotiated the lower rate for us with transat. As far as I understand, a lot of travel agents don't do this after you pair your deposit, so in some ways it pays to shop for a good travel agent

 

yay less than 2 weeks until I'm there!!!!!

[ChristinaP]

Oh yeah, that's right too!

We also get new lower prices if they come up. I checked two weeks ago, and they are

more than our price still. That is in our contract.

 

Tammikins, that is an awesone price! Good for you. You must be so excited to get there too! Lots to do still?

[tammikins]

lol yes and no. it feels like there is so much to do simply because i feel like nothing is planned - flowers, sand ceremony stuff etc. i know its stuff that i really dont need to worry about but still. There's a few little things left like making the programs for the wedding day. Also, since we're there over christmas i need to get my christmas shopping done before i go and get stuff for the in-laws that are going to be in mexico with us. oh, and i still have final exams - but who cares, I'm getting married!!! and when am i going to need to know Business Ethics anyways? lol. yes, totally excited now. Oh ya, and there is the legal wedding coming up on friday so i suppose i should get the marriage license and buy travel insurance. Man, I gotta get off BDW and do things.

[meg444]

Thanks for the feedback guys, so helpful, You guys are great!

 

Sounds like I should give Transat a call!

 

So I am just emailing the travel companies directly for quotes. Is it a better idea to meet with a travel agent, and then get them to gather quotes and negotiate rates?

Maybe I am doing too much work here! haha

 

I really hope I can get an under $1600 package for my guests like you got Tammi, that's awesome! Only a couple weeks left till you leave, you must be super excited! Can't wait to hear about your wedding and your stay at GP!!!

 

Question...Do they arrange for all of your guests to be in the same section of the resort?

[ChristinaP]

Tammikins...you are way too funny. I am sure you can bullshit your way through business ethics anyways!

 

Meg- Yes, in my opinion, you are doing too much work. A TA should do all of that for you. A good TA will get quotes from several tour operators for the same resort. And also yes to your question about being in the same section of the resort. Tour operators do one part of the resort. For example, Transat does the Colonial sections and Signature does the Riviera section of the resort. Air Canada vacations doesn't do any sections. Mind you, I noticed that Tammikins is White Sands section, and with Transat...

 

I thought someone was doing that for you already! Find yourself a good TA and sit back and let them come to you!