2013 Paradisus Palma Real

[Asia Pimentel]

Let's see. I'll be absolutely honest with you... PPR is newer and more modern (it's major advantage). It's a smaller territory so if you don't like walking a lot and like everything to be close then you'll probably prefer PPR. Also it is better situated (beach, mall, high tech disco, more pleasure discovering things around the hotel). PPC is like a huge garden where you can walk a lot and enjoy nature. Rooms: both hotels have The Reserve, this is a Private area , this Reserve Club is a little bit far from the beach, but where you'll have private lobby registration, concierge, restaurants, pools, very special kids area and the best rooms. About the food, PPR is really good,  if at the PPC Reserve you won't have complaints.  About the night life, animation team does pretty good job at both hotels but after the shows at  the theaters  the night life  its not really exciting in any of them.  Right next to PPR, (10 minutes by taxi from PPC) there is the Palma Real Shooping Village , a mall where you can find Restaurants (Hard Rock Café, Tony Roma´s Steakhouse etc...) Shops (Diesel, Hugo Boss, Puma, Armani) Souvenirs Stores, Cinema, and now a new modern disco Jewel's.
If you still can change to Palma do that but if not, I can assure you that Punta Cana is also very good and you will definitely enjoy it a lot at PPC. Now about the whole experience you'll find a lot of people that have been at both hotels and prefer the PPC and others that prefers PPR for different reasons, but you'll trust you instincts, plan your own activities for the whole stay, become a friend with your wedding cordinator, be friendly and be happy and everyone here will make things easier for you, some for tips and some just to help. 
I can give you some contact numbers to make some things easier if you should stay at PPC, like taxis, flowers or favors.  I don´t know just enjoy and see this like an adventure, something to remember, get your guests involved on helping and you'll have less complaints cause they won't be waiting that you organize everything for them, and they will surprise you organizing things for you. The only thing that you need is your man and your beloved ones, people that really love you will make things easier for you no matter what. 
(I´ve seen so stressed and rigid ceremonies on beautifull and bright days, and I've seen others so happy where people get wet under rain on a beach wedding) and about the reviews at trip advisor good and bad reviews about PPR or PPC are not even 0.010% of the guests that are coming to these hotels, yes there are some sh**** hotels in the area but PPC it's not one of them.
Have a great wedding and send me a message to tell me how great was your wedding wherever was.
Happy planing Katie

 

[EVKnowsitall]

Originally Posted by Katie83 

 

Ev- Thank you so much for your advise! I am fretting:(  I think both are probably beautiful for sure however, I wanted a luxurious experience for my guests and also a party environment and was pursuaded to go with PPC when in my gut I felt like I should have went with PPR. 

 

We are schedule now for our wedding at PPC on October 26, 2012 in the Nova Garden with a our reception at the pool side terrace. I think it will be beautiful but then I read a ton of reviews about dirty hotel rooms and terrible food:(   I wanted to check with my TA before booking but my wedding planner had me paranoid that I would lose the date if I didn't act immediately as I wanted to price check the two hotels. 

 

There will be a lot of children attending our wedding as well (my nieces and nephews) and I was told which I am not 100% certain it was the truth, that PPC was a bit more child/ family friendly. 

 

I am calling my travel agent first thing in the morning to see what the price difference is and then will contact my wedding coordinator.  We need to get save the dates out ASAP so i need to settle the date!  I am sad though, because last time I checked there was no Saturdays available at PPR in October. 

 

I really love GABI Beach at PPR but do not want to pay the ridiculous price.  See, I am frantic, I can't even gathat all my thoughts;(

Sorry for rambling.

 

Again thank you for your help!

Katie

 

 

Hey Again Katie- your anxiety sounds similar to mine when I first started this process and all I can say is- it will work out and it gets better! So take a few breaths or have a nice glass of wine haha. 

 

I adore Gabi- but the privatization fee makes it ridiculous. My WC told me it is adjusted based on whatever package you purchase. For example- if you go with Aqua- they knock off $6,000 or so from the privatization fee and instead of $9,500 it is $4,500. I still considered that steep when I am only having 40 guests. Have your photographer take some shots at Gabi and then host the reception elsewhere. I used the money we will save for an AHR in our hometown. 

 

I don't know about the family friendly aspect- although the reserve in PPR has its own family/children pool. We only have 5 kids coming so we didn't look too much into it. 

 

The price difference was not that significant when I had my TA check. It was a difference of maybe $60 for a 3 night stay, $150 for a week stay.

[Suzhen]

Hi girls! I reserved a dj with my romance planner, Bianca, but she didnt mention the dj's name... I keep seeing DJ Mania mentioned... What's the del with him? Did u find him yourself??? I have my planning call in a couple weeks and hopefully still have time to change if he is that amazing. Comments? Suzanne

[EVKnowsitall]

DJ Mannia is an approved vendor for the resort. Whatever prices the resort has- DJ Mannia's are the same. I would email DJ Mannia directly and find out if they are available for your day. I don't know how they are but considering their glowing reviews- we thought they would be the party starters and set the vibe we were looking for. I haven't seen a single negative thing about them. They are also easy to work with once the ball is rolling. You pay 50% deposit for the services. For DJ and MC for 4 hours I think its $990. Our deposit was $495 and the rest is due in cash at the resort before they play your wedding. They also have a lot of add ons and pretty cool services like ocean lighting if your reception is on the beach, projectors and screens, bubble and fog machines, LED dance floors, under table lights etc.

 

The email is info@manniapuntacana.com

 

Hope you are able to book!

[Suzhen]

Thanks so much for all the details on dj mania!!

[angelnjewels]

Hi ladies, Happy new year!!! My fiancé and I have our paradisus love at first site visit next week... I can't wait to see the resort! We have our meeting with the wedding planners and I can't seem to think of anymore questions... We have questions on the linens, centerpieces, menus, reception and ceremony sites, DJ, photographer and drinks... I really don't know if I am forgetting something... Does anyone have any questions that they think I should ask? Also, I am having a hard time because my parents want me to invite people who live in Dr. I know that they can't afford to stay at the resort for 3 nights... I also know that they can attend the wedding but we would have to pay a fee... So far we have over 100 people on our guest list... We do not know how many will be attending but it is stressing me out... I am starting to think that we should elope!!!! Is anyone else having these problems... Take care Angel aka Ana

[Katie83]

Can anyone recommend a good travel agent that they have come in contact with?

 

Did the travel agent deal with flights too??

 

Also does anyone know if children have to be considered in the room fee?

[MissyBee]

I am working with Patty at Wright Travel Agency. She has been great!

 

Here is her contact info if you are interested:

866-208-8681

patty@wrighttravelagency.com

I believe that children under age 2 are free, but children older than 2 are an additional cost.

[EVKnowsitall]

I finally received my invitations! I posted pics in this forum: Post pictures of your Invitations

 

Everything is coming together but our guests and bridal party are causing us a lot of strife. I need a venting forum thread. I wish people weren't so selfish. Everyone is mad at someone or us. My mother in law is upset with us- but mostly me, because her friend didn't get a seat on our group air because my TA could only secure 15 seats and we used them for family and bridal party. So now her friend is saying she doesn't want to come. Then there are my two sisters who knew about my wedding for over a year and encouraged me to have a DW and now are crying poverty because we are 6 months away and now they are deciding to think about costs. One of my bridesmaids dropped because she broke up with the Best man. Last weekend at the Best Man's bday party- he bumped in my MOH and her phone broke and she insisted he pay for it and he told her no, so now she is at war with him. My father who was coming can't get a passport so he probably can't come (we do not have a close relationship, I grew up without him but I did think he would be there for my wedding) Can we say DRAMA? Our friends and family are sucking the joy out of this wedding. Every time I get excited about getting my invites, or booking our AHR, or finally finding bridesmaids dresses, something also goes awry. Oy. I thought DW's were easy...we should have eloped. 

 

All contracts are secured- We are just waiting to have our planning call...

[evbaez]

Hi EvKnowsitall

 

Sorry to hear that you're going through this BUT you have to remember that at the end of the day it's your wedding. This should be a joyous occasion for you and your fiance. Maybe its best that you don't have those people at your wedding. Don't let them kill the joy of planning your wedding and having it where you want it and how you want it.
 

One thing I told my fiance when we started planning our DW was that I refuse to let anyone ruin this once in a life experience. And im sticking to that. So continue with your plans and if certain people can't make because they are crying poverty, they didn't get a plane seat or they aren't getting along with someone in the bridal party SO BE IT. Its there lost.
 

 

Wish you all the best