I can't decide on a location!

[kr3611]

Hello,

My fiance and I are anxious to confirm a final location in PV for our wedding and have narrowed it down to three give our budget. I could use some advice and opinions from those of you that are familiar with these resorts in PV:

 

1. Vallarta Palace

2. Dreams

3. Riu Vallarta

 

From the information we have received so far, Vallarta Palace is our first choice, however we are concerned about the cost of the rooms there and know that not everyone in our families will be able to afford to stay there. Same goes for Dreams. Riu Vallarta is less expensive for rooms, however we don't like their wedding packages quite as much and the packages are more expensive.

 

What has anyone else done? Do you go with the resort you love and have to pay for passes of guests that do not stay there or do you go for the place that isn't your favorite but could potentially allow the whole party to stay together?

 

Help!

Kristin

[jthrasher]

Hmmm, good questions. If the packages at the Riu are more expensive, could you use the money you save from booking a less expensive package at your first choice to pay for guest passes for people that might not be able to afford staying there?

 

Or, use the money you would have spent on guest passes towards family members rooms at the more expensive place. That way you're helping them stay at the place you really want.

 

Not sure if that helps any. Just some thoughts. You wouldn't necessarily be saving money this way, but you'd possibly get the best of both worlds.

[Celina]

I am speaking for myself here, but we decided on RIU Vallarta because it was all inclusive. Staying there pays for your dinner - they will reserve a place in one of the restaurants for the reception dinner. We decided to go to the JP here and get married beforehand to save on the cost of the ceremony.

 

It is tough if you have people who aren't staying there because the day pass is $100 and the half day pass is $50.

 

My FI wanted to go to Dreams, and in the end I did a comparison of what each hotel's benifits were and we chose from there.

 

Good luck! I have some of the reception menus from the Dreams resort, and Mayan Palace if you are interested.

 

Thanks,

Celina

[amyh]

Hi Kristin,

 

We are getting married at the Mayan Palace (in the Marina close to Vallarta Palace). Our guests are not required to stay at the hotel. In fact most of our guests are staying next door at Melia, which is an AI. We are staying at Melia before the wedding and will only stay at the Mayan Palace on our wedding night. http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t34 http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t9917

 

Have you tried Playa Fiesta?? Its a small boutique hotel that specializes in DW. You can get the whole place for yourself. It looks like a great place and the prices are not bad.

Welcome to Playa Fiesta

[kr3611]

Thanks so much for the advice. Can you send me any info you have about the Mayan Palace? I just emailed them and I like the fact that not everyone has to stay there.

[starchild]

I'm a little late, but we stayed at Dreams for our wedding. The actual wedding was at Las Caletas so I don't know how Dreams prices are for ceremony and such, but they also do have a fee for guests not staying there.

 

I just wanted to say that it is a gorgeous property, the beach is among the better ones in the area, and it is in a private cove so there isn't a strip of hotels/people along the beach. They also control the vendors since they can't just walk from hotel to hotel like they do on other PV beaches, and the vendors are far less aggressive than I've found at other PV resorts.

 

Happy planning! PV is great all the way around so wherever you go will be wonderful )

[amyh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kr3611 Thanks so much for the advice. Can you send me any info you have about the Mayan Palace? I just emailed them and I like the fact that not everyone has to stay there.

What type of info do you need?? I think I posted all I have on the forum. But I can help if you have any specific questions.

[loeloe92]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kr3611 Hello, My fiance and I are anxious to confirm a final location in PV for our wedding and have narrowed it down to three give our budget. I could use some advice and opinions from those of you that are familiar with these resorts in PV: 1. Vallarta Palace 2. Dreams 3. Riu Vallarta From the information we have received so far, Vallarta Palace is our first choice, however we are concerned about the cost of the rooms there and know that not everyone in our families will be able to afford to stay there. Same goes for Dreams. Riu Vallarta is less expensive for rooms, however we don't like their wedding packages quite as much and the packages are more expensive. What has anyone else done? Do you go with the resort you love and have to pay for passes of guests that do not stay there or do you go for the place that isn't your favorite but could potentially allow the whole party to stay together? Help! Kristin

Well I thought I was decided on dreams, untill I read your post! Now I am totaly confused too! What I liked about Dreams is that you don't need to wear a bracelet, or make reservations for dinner, now that could be a good thing or a bad one. Dreams has some pricey wedding packages. I usually go on tripadvisor.com and read all the review and look at the pics.

[K&Rwedding]

I feel your pain. Let me know what you decide. I am going in May to decide. I need to see everything myself.

 

Good Luck and congrats it will be amazing no matter where it is.