Dreams Riviera Cancun Vs Playacar Palace Vs Moon Palace?

[TeamArceo]

Hello Past &Future Brides!!

 

So I am planning for my June 2015 wedding. (I know I have a long way to go but time flies!) I have finally narrowed down my search to 3 resorts and in desperate need in figuring out which resort to choose from. I actually originally choose Paradisus La Esmeralda but it was out of my budget ($2000+/pp). My budget is $1600-$1800 and I am looking for family friendly resorts. I'm currently stuck on deciding between Moon Palace, Playacar Palace and Dreams Riviera Cancun. All 3 have pros and cons that I have accumulated by reading from Trip Advisor and BDW.

 

Moon Palace

Pros: 

- They have plenty amenities which is great for my guests as they will never get bored

-All Palace resorts allows you access to other Palace resorts

-Perks, perks, perks!

 

Cons:

- Beach is unappealing

- Resort is massive  about 2000 rooms! (its good and bad actually, alot of amenities but lots of walking) Meet ups sounds like it might be a challenge.

 

Playacar Palace

Pros:

-Location is great, its right next door to 5th ave

- Access to Moon and Cozumel which you can take the ferry

- Beach is AMAZING from pictures (the WOW factor of this resort)

- Currently #18/196 Playa del Carmen and #41/341 of all of Riviera Maya (it gets a ton of great reviews)

- Perks galore $1500 resort credit. free calls to canada/usa

- Every 11th person is free! Up to 3 including accommodation and airfare!

 

Cons:

- Size - 208 rooms quite small, only 3 restaurants and 1 huge pool

- Nightlife- Is there any? Looks like theirs no nightlife and my guests love to party and so do I

- Decor - ok don't get me wrong but I love the modern look but it just seems a little plain. It's that clean simple modern feel

-Lobby- boring not much of a WOW factor

(My concern is I just don't want my guests to get bored or sick of the food)

 

Dreams Riviera Cancun

Pros:

- This place is very picturesque, looks gorgeous in pictures!

- Reasonable size about 400 rooms, not too small and not too big

- Variety of restaurants and different reception and ceremony locations

- I love the reception location on the pool deck (this is where I fell in love with the resort)

- Location about 25 mins away from the airport and 25 mins away from 5th ave.

- Every 6th room booked is free (but just the room, not including airfare) up to 4 rooms free

 

Cons:

- Mixed Reviews on Trip Advisor, currently #6/23 puerto morales and #104/341 RM

- beach is meh...so-so

- Well I got the package from Dreams and basically everything is a la carte and pricey I might add.

- From reading from reviews it seems like they will nickel and dime you for everything and they don't seem to be very flexible

 

 

My dilemma is Dreams looks beautiful for a wedding and I the size is perfect but it seems it will be pricey. Hey I want my dream wedding but I am not about to pay an arm or a leg for it. But Palace they seem like they have great perks. I'm so confused and would appreciate anyone's feedback, suggestions. I honestly feel like Goldilocks and the 3 Resorts  . So any help is great help! Future thanks to everyone that responds!

 

 

Thanks,

Bev 

[TammyWright]

You might want to try one of the BDW Travel Agents.  They Specialize in Destination weddings.  You can contact them HERE!

 

If you do not know what TA you want to work with, just fill out the form Contact a Destination Wedding Specialist HERE and I will direct you to the best agent that fits your needs.

 

You can read some of our reviews here: Wright Travel Agency ~ Destination Wedding Specialist Reviews HERE

 

We know those resorts really well and just had our agency conference at Moon Palace but also visited Playacar Palace.  We had our conference at Playacar last year and I am a Dreams bride.

[lynie]

TeamArceo

i'm looking at Playacar Palace since the wedding package offers more bang for the buck...30 ppl seating, cake, dinner reservation --which i hope means reception dinner for 30 ppl...

also if you wanted to party..Playa Del Carmen 5th ave is in walking distance and there are plenty of bars/ clubs/ shopping/ eating there :-)

let me know which you ended up choosing...good pros/cons list 

[TeamArceo]

You might want to try one of the BDW Travel Agents.  They Specialize in Destination weddings.  You can contact them HERE!

 

If you do not know what TA you want to work with, just fill out the form Contact a Destination Wedding Specialist HERE and I will direct you to the best agent that fits your needs.

 

You can read some of our reviews here: Wright Travel Agency ~ Destination Wedding Specialist Reviews HERE

 

We know those resorts really well and just had our agency conference at Moon Palace but also visited Playacar Palace.  We had our conference at Playacar last year and I am a Dreams bride.

Thank you for your suggestions! I have narrowed it down to Moon Palace and Playacar Palace. 

TeamArceo

i'm looking at Playacar Palace since the wedding package offers more bang for the buck...30 ppl seating, cake, dinner reservation --which i hope means reception dinner for 30 ppl...

also if you wanted to party..Playa Del Carmen 5th ave is in walking distance and there are plenty of bars/ clubs/ shopping/ eating there :-)

let me know which you ended up choosing...good pros/cons list 

Hey Lynie! Right now I have decided between Moon Palace and Playacar Palace. I just can't pass the opportunity for their awesome perks in which my guest will enjoy. I actually stayed at Cancun Palace but now it is the Hard Rock Cancun and prior to their name change I really appreciated the fact that I could speak with my family even when I was on vacation. So thank you for your suggestion as well. I'll let you know which I end up picking How is your planning going?

[ylan9383]

Hello TeamArceo- I'm also considering Playacar Palace.  I've been hearing that it's quiet at night but it's walking distance to 5th avenue.  BUT, last time we were at a wedding near 5th avenue, although we were super close, who wants to pay extra to drink/party OUTSIDE the resort?  I'm also considering Paradisus but it's also expensive.  Let us know which one you end up choosing!  Good luck~

[tkennerson]

I'm going to Dreams Riviera.  While I adore the place, one thing I will say is that you don't get the perks that would at other resorts.  My party has booked about 40 rooms so far and had we gone with a palace resort I'd probably get more perks (like free private events - which I have to pay for at Dreams).  Unfortunately, my pickiness is costing me   So, no regrets, but I'd caution you.  You will not get as many perks with Dreams ;(

[melanievancol]

If you are looking for a great photographer, I just got married this past November in Playa Del Carmen and we used Christian from Gaia Photo Studio.  He is amazing and very fun to work with.  We  had a wedding of around 30 people so it was important that he was not intrusive.  I don't know how he got some of the shots that he did.  I can send you photos if you would like.    Contact him at christian velazco <christian_velazco@hotmail.com>

[ylan9383]

 

If you are looking for a great photographer, I just got married this past November in Playa Del Carmen and we used Christian from Gaia Photo Studio.  He is amazing and very fun to work with.  We  had a wedding of around 30 people so it was important that he was not intrusive.  I don't know how he got some of the shots that he did.  I can send you photos if you would like.    Contact him at christian velazco <christian_velazco@hotmail.com>

 

Hello~ I just emailed Christian.  If you don't mind, please send me some of the sample pictures he took.  Did PP charge you $800 for the outside vendor? 

 

Thank you!!

[10yrvowrenewal]

Hi Team Arceo I am having same dilemma torn between playacar palace &moon palace. PP is beautiful awesome beach intimate resort from what I read they treat you like family. However the moon palace has lots to offer for everyone since we will be traveling with group of 30+ I want everyone to enjoy. I wish moon had nice beach the decision would be so much easier

[TeamArceo]

We have official choose Dreams Riviera Cancun as of today! I was contemplating back and forth for the longest time and I truly love the design and aesthetic of the resort and just everyone had an amazing time at Dreams. My first choice was Paradisus but it is way over budget and the closest resort to come to that is Dreams. The reason why I choose not to go to Moon Palace is because of the beach. My fiancee and I have been there and the beach is not the best. We were there in 2011 as we stayed an Cancun Palace now known as Hard Rock. I have guests that are coming to an all inclusive for the first time and if I were a guest at my wedding I would like to go to a decent beach. The beach is one of my top priorities.  The Palace resorts is definitely the best bang for your buck! If the perks is something that is really and truly important to you I would suggest to go with Palace. You get to free calls to the US/Canada, $1500 resort credit and so on and so on. But the Palace resorts have now added %17 surcharge on the use of the resort credits since I have been there. I have been quoted for that resort and I don't want my guests to pay that extra $255 on top of their flight and accommodation. That is if they use all of the resort credits. My guests would be paying $2000++, I might as well have booked Paradisus. But the Palaces are still a great choice none the less. I ended up choosing Dreams because of all the great reviews here from the brides and I just really like how the resort looks. Unfortunately we just have to pay more to get our Dream wedding. I wish you the best and please do not hesitate to ask me any questions. Choosing the resort was the hardest part. 

 

Good Luck !!