Scouting Trip - Ceiba Del Mar, Azul Beach, and Le Reve

[Lisa2011]

Hey Tracy,

 

I hear you have been to Le Reve and Ceiba del Mar. I'm planning a summer wedding for 2011 and was looking at these two hotels. We are planning on having top 50 guests at our wedding. Any insights, recommendations!!!! We are planning to visit the area in August and would like to see a few of the places!

[Ayita]

Hello Lisa,

 

not sure what kind of insights or recommendations you're looking for, but if it can help, I got married at Le Reve and could not have been happier with my choice. You can check out the visit thread (see below in my signature) for tons of pics.

[Lisa2011]

Hey Ayita!

 

Thank you so much!!!! This is really helpful!!! I'm totally in love with Le Reve. I've been looking at their webpage and reading their reviews on tripadvisor. Can't wait to go their in August. I've emailed the wedding coordinator on site and so far she has been really helpful! I'll keep you posted!

[lalanyc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tracy.clements Mexbride- that is really funny! Have a nice life LalaNYC- another question for you. Diana told us that 80% of our guests have to book at the hotel. So curious if you have the same requirement? The prices are a bit high so I am nervous that some friends might have to stay somewhere else. Tweets--You should definitely check out Azul. it is pretty close to Ceiba (5 minute drive or so). Their wedding planner is really sweet and it is a great property. It is family friendly (with a kid pool and even cribs/strollers that they bring to the room). Not sure if that is what you are looking for. But even if you dont expect kids to come to your wedding- the hotel is still really nice. Christa--I totally agree. I talked to a few other Ceiba brides that posted reviews on Trip Advisor and they said the food was great. I am hoping we can do a tasting when we get there (a week before the wedding) and choose the best option. I am not sure this is possible yet--but I think the key is to just choose one of their best dishes (Diana or the WC should be able to steer us in the right direction). I find that simple is always better...

Tracy,

Yes they said we would need 80% of our guests to stay there as well. However, I'm not clear on what the consequences are if we don't meet that threshold. Perhaps you can ask Diana but I think that as long as most of your guests stay at the hotel it'll be okay. It seems they just want to avoid a situation where they cater a wedding for mostly non-guests. Do you expect a lot of friends to stay elsewhere??

As for the food, we had a great dinner tasting and a so-so appetizer tasting. I do think that they make certain dishes exceptionally well and maybe some of their experimental stuff might fall flat. A better test would be to order from their regular menu to understand the chef's style. As compared to all the other tastings we had, Ceiba's dinner tasting was among the best (comparable to a Ritz Carlton trained chef that also prepared a tasting for us). I think our mediocre appetizer tasting was also impacted by the last minute timing and the fact that the restaurant was busy prepping for other events. For good recommendations, ask the staff!

[Ayita]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lalanyc Tracy, Yes they said we would need 80% of our guests to stay there as well. However, I'm not clear on what the consequences are if we don't meet that threshold. Perhaps you can ask Diana but I think that as long as most of your guests stay at the hotel it'll be okay. It seems they just want to avoid a situation where they cater a wedding for mostly non-guests. Do you expect a lot of friends to stay elsewhere??

I don't know for Ceiba, but Azul had told me that basically they would allow me to purchase max 20% of day passes compared to the total number of guests for the ceremony/dinner. Meaning that if you didn't reach 80% some people would have to stay outside !! I did not want to run the risk - which, in my case, is what ultimately decided me for Le Reve versus Azul.

[tracysf]

Hi Lisa! I think you will be happy with both, it just depends on what is important to you. One thing I liked about Ceiba is that it is a bit larger than Le Reve (but we have 100 people or so--so that might not apply to you) also we liked the idea of an all-inclusive so our guests could all stay together and not have to worry about money once they are there. Its actually pretty expensive at all the hotels if you are paying for each drink/meal.

 

On the other hand, Le Reve is really close to PDC which I think is a plus. Also, Arelenis (wedding planner at Le Reve) is AMAZING so that should definitey be a huge factor. I honestly think you will be happy at either though. Le Reve is super chic and modern, while Ceiba is more rustic/natural tropical feel (but very nice/luxury at the same time).

 

Good luck deciding! If you have any specific questions let me know!

 

Lalanyc--thanks for the tips. I am definitely going to ask Diana and see what she recommends for our menu options. I am hoping we can taste a few options when we get down there a week before the wedding.

 

I think most of our guests are staying at the hotel- so far I haven't heard too many complaints about the prices. I just gave everyone the Travel Agent info, so people are starting to book. Very exciting!! I was just worried because right now they have really good prices on the hotels (for this year), and the rates i got thru our TA are actually more expensive. HOwever, they say rates are going up in 2011 so it is better to lock ourselves into rates now (which they say will be cheaper than anything people could book on line for that time). I guess time will tell---

 

Tracy

[mexbride83]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tracy.clements I think most of our guests are staying at the hotel- so far I haven't heard too many complaints about the prices. I just gave everyone the Travel Agent info, so people are starting to book. Very exciting!! I was just worried because right now they have really good prices on the hotels (for this year), and the rates i got thru our TA are actually more expensive. HOwever, they say rates are going up in 2011 so it is better to lock ourselves into rates now (which they say will be cheaper than anything people could book on line for that time). I guess time will tell--- Tracy

Tracy - I'm very concerned about this as well, not because I think my guests won't stay at Ceiba, but because I'm worried that they'll end up booking it online instead of through our room block. We negotiated for awhile, and the prices that they gave us are still higher than the prices were for May of this year online. They say that the prices go up next year, and I hope this is true, because if not, I'm sure our guests won't want to book in our room block when it's cheaper online!

[tracysf]

I feel you! That is my exact concern. However, our deposits are due in November---so our guests will have to make a decisions by then (6 months before our wedding). So if prices end up going down online, my guests are going to be really annoyed with me

 

There is really not much of an incentive for me if they book through the TA or not--- i just want them to get the best price.

[TammyWright]

great site review...we hope to get La Reve on the forum to start participating and helping brides. I think it will be so awesome to have them on here.

[Ayita]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tammy Host great site review...we hope to get La Reve on the forum to start participating and helping brides. I think it will be so awesome to have them on here.

Tammy,

they actually are here, I saw them in the vendors - they joined not so long ago. Here is their thread :

http://bestdestinationwedding.com/fo...planner-56847/