12 replies to this topic

[angelajackson]

Have just returned from a 2 week vacation with El Dorado Resorts and Generations Mayan Riviera where I was pleasantly surprised with a marriage proposal from my love, Lanny.

 

We have decided on a destination wedding for April 2015 and anxious to start planning. I am struggling to choose between Dominican Republic and Mexico. I loved the amazing guest service, gourment inclusive, and attention to detail with Karisma in Mexico, however I was not happy with the beach.  I love the beaches in Dominican Republic but wasn't a fan of the mediocre food, aggressive beach vendors, and not feeling safe to leave resort without escort. I am hoping my experience in Puerto Plata was due to the Resort I stayed at as I have heard of many wonderful experiences from friends vacationing in Punta Cana.

 

I want our wedding to be affordable for our guests but not to compromise premium food, guest service, and for the beach to be a "wow" ! Combined we have 4 children with two being under 18 so our love for Adults Only Resorts will not be an option, unless it is a sister property next door where some of our adult guests could choose to book. Thus far, I have considered NOW, Dreams, Hard Rock, and Karisma Resorts but open to input from anyone who has been over the top amazed at their WC and Resort.

 

Please help... I need to secure a venue, or a Country! haha

 

Thanking you in advance....

 

Kind Regards,

 

Angela Jackson

[rvalenka]

Congratulations and welcome to the forum!!
You will fin a wealth of information and opinions on here. Choosing a resort is a very difficult choice but I'm sure you will find the perfect location. Head on over to the resort reviews and check them out! When I was first looking I spent the whole day looking at the reviews!!
Good Luck!


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[angelajackson]

_{Thanks ever so much @rvalenka!}

 

_{I notice you are going to Secrets Maroma! Is there a sister hotel next door to it that allows children?}

 

_{I am currently considering Genrations / El Dorado Maroma, but I absolutley love the Secrets Brand. And yes... Resort Reviews are abundant, but also creating more indecisiveness for me! lol... It is overwhelming. No time like now to defeat that overwhelming feeling as I am sure to face it several more times this next year!}

 

_{Good Luck to you on your wedding!}

[AllieH]

Hi Angela and welcome to BDW!!

 

I agree about the beaches at EDR/GRM - that's really the biggest downside to choosing them. Of course the beaches at EDM/GM are MUCH nicer, but they are also a much smaller resort. That's the main trade off - nice beaches, smaller resort, or not-so-nice beaches and a larger resort with more things to do (restaurant choices, etc).

 

We're going back for our 3rd stay next month. We considered other resorts (and islands), including EDM, but ultimately decided that the service & choices at EDR were worth the less-than-perfect beaches.

 

There's no perfect location - everything will have some sort of trade off. You just have to prioritize what's most important to you and your FI (and yoru guests). Make a list of the things that are most important to you for choosing your wedding resort. Include "must haves" and "nice to haves" and "must avoids". Then rank the resorts/islands you are considering in each category. That may help your choices rise to the top of the list.

 

Good luck and happy planning!!

[kcole123]

HI,

You can also check the Melia Caribe Tropical in DR. I have my wedding booked there on April 17th, 2015. They have an adults only section there as well called the Level. That's an option too if you wanted to check out that resort. I have never been there myself but I just chose it based on the fact there is an adult only section there and it's a big resort so our guests would have more to do if they wanted. Read the reviews and check it out as an option.

[girlinthecity97]

@angelajackson - CONGRATS & I echo everyone else!  I too was torn between DR and Riviera Maya but chose Riviera Maya for the reasons you noted about your experience from DR (minus the food - I stayed at Paradisus Palma Real and it was delicious).  I also chose Riviera Maya because it would be the cheapest/most convenient for everyone to get to.

 

I have a 10 year old niece to factor in so we had to find a family friendly resort and decided on Generations Riviera Maya after touring it and El Dorado Royale.  We felt the food was good for an all-inclusive and thought it would be the perfect balance for our guests who want to relax without being around kids and those who don't mind kids.

 

While the beach was a bit of a concern, I had the same sentiments as @AllieH - the choices, services and beauty of these resorts outweighs the beach for me. 

[rvalenka]

Unfortunately they do not have any sister locations close by  

I believe when I was researching places that the Hard Rock has an adults only section within the family friendly resort. 

I'm not much help for you on this one! We were specifically looking for adults only haha 

You'll find the perfect place for you though. It's out there!!

_{Thanks ever so much @rvalenka!}

 

_{I notice you are going to Secrets Maroma! Is there a sister hotel next door to it that allows children?}

 

_{I am currently considering Genrations / El Dorado Maroma, but I absolutley love the Secrets Brand. And yes... Resort Reviews are abundant, but also creating more indecisiveness for me! lol... It is overwhelming. No time like now to defeat that overwhelming feeling as I am sure to face it several more times this next year!}

 

_{Good Luck to you on your wedding!}

[Moments That Matter]

Congrats on your engagement and upcoming dw, Angela!!! being based in Playa del Carmen, we're partial to our incomparable Mayan Riviera Hope you find all the answers you're looking for in the vast resources of these boards, and all the best!

 

here's one of the magical wedding "moments that matter" captured on the gorgeous sand at the RUI Palace Playacar....enjoy

 

All the best with your plans - cheers! team MTM

[seka21]

Congrats on your engagement!! I went to DR and wasn't really wowed by anything! Maybe we were in a bad spot

[KathyandEthan]

i found flights were cheaper for Maya Riviera when i was looking so that was my deciding point. I'm sure they are both great though!