Sirenis Cocotal Beach Resort, Punta Cana JUNE SAVINGS!

Air Canada Vacations is pleased to now offer the Sirenis Cocotal Beach Resort Casino & Aquagames in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic!

 

Check out AMAZING all inclusive pricing for June departures from Toronto ..... only $439 per person + taxes (June 5, 6, 12, 13, 19), $868 per person incl. taxes from YUL (Jun 2, 9 & 16).

 

With 4.3 ratings out of 5 on tripadvisor, this fun-packed 4 star property is ideal for families as this offer includes FREE unlimited access to the Waterpark complete with multiple water slides, an on site casino, 10 restaurants & 9 bars AND the 1st child stays, plays and eats for FREE! 

The unique water park covers an area of 12.000 square metres and has the following services and features:

•  Swimming pool in the central area of the park
•  Restaurant area - grill, hamburgers and pizza
•  10 metre high tower with 2 water tubes, 2 open toboggans, kamikaze and free fall twister
•  aquaracer: 4 lane speed slides
•  Themed Caribbean Pirates children’s area for 4-11yr olds with 10 children’s water slides and 4 splash barrels   
•  Children’s area for 4-11 yr olds with water jets and sprinklers
•  Children’s swimming pool for 2-4 yr olds with animal statues and water sprinkler
•  Nursery

What about getting you and your friends and families to go? You just need a minimum of 10 passengers and you qualify for discounted group rates and possible free travel! 

Contact Romantic Planet Vacations for more details at inquiries@romanticplanet.ca or www.romanticplanet.ca

Sunwing Releases New and Exciting Flights from Western Canada

UPDATED! New Routes from Western Canada for Winter 2014/15

We have Grand Bahamas, Punta Cana and Liberia, Costa Rica added! 

For next year's winter season 2014/2015, Sunwing/Signature Vacations has just announced some exciting flight additions to it's family of chartered flights from Western Canada.

Punta Cana will now be offered from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. With the Dominican Republic being a top destination for honeymooners and wedding groups, these new flights are a warm welcome to the industry. All flights depart and return on Mondays, which is perfect for those wedding guests from across Western Canada who want to travel on the same day. These flights start December 22nd, 2014 and end April 6th, 2015.

In Punta Cana there is an abundance of unique product, anchored by the Royalton Punta Cana and Memories Splash, both resorts getting great reviews and feedback, not to mention the Riu properties (including Adults Only) and the very popular Hard Rock Punta Cana Resort.

If you are looking for something more unique for your romantic getaway, we are totally excited to announce that Grand Bahamas Island will now be offered from Calgary starting Saturday November 15th, 2014! Here, the best resort options would be the Grand Lucaya Resort, which is a 4.5 star property offering EP and all-inclusive options. The discounted group rate for the inaugural flight including roundtrip airfare, transfers and 7-nights all-inclusive accommodations is $1748 + $230 tax per person! However, the Memories Grand Bahamas Beach and Casino Resort, also rated 4.5 star, is packaged at a stellar packaged group rate of only $1458 + $230 tax per person! These rates include a Fuel Promotion of $160 discount per person, that is offered by Sunwing/Signature Vacations but expires on April 8th, 2014. 

Grand Lucayan Resort, Grand Bahamas

For those traveling from Edmonton, you will be delighted to hear that you now have the option to travel to Costa Rica! These flights will operate on Sundays and our top favorites here are the RIU Guanacaste Resort and the new RIU Palace Costa Rica Resort. Both are located side by side on the most beautiful stretch of sandy beach. For those who want the newest flight and newest resort possible, why not consider the brand new 5-star Dreams Las Mareas Resort, the newest addition to the Dreams Resorts chain and coming to Costa Rica on November 1st, 2014!

The added value to these Sunwing flights are a welcome glass of free champagne for everyone on-board with a hot meal, leather seating, in-flight first run movies, and complimentary bride/groom upgrade to Elite Plus and access to the Plaza Premium Lounge when 10 passengers are traveling together to name a few.

For more information and to obtain a quote for your honeymoon, destination wedding or romantic getaway, please contact Romantic Planet Vacations at 1-866-247-8123 or inquiries@romanticplanet.ca

Look at the Maldives for the most affordable Over-water Bungalow Travel Option

Romantic Planet Vacations is pleased to present one of the lowest priced ALL-INCLUSIVE over-water bungalow packages from Toronto that is available in the world - the awe-inspiring Maldives!

The Maldives are located Southwest of Sri Lanka and about a 18.5 hour flight from Toronto, with a stopover somewhere in Europe or Dubai, depending on the airline. 

The country is made up of 26 major atolls. A small number of these atolls are inhabited and many are the ideal setting for exclusive island-resorts with over-water bungalows, not often found anywhere else in the world. This tropical oasis of white sandy beaches and swaying palm trees offer perfect shallow lagoons and coral reefs that are most ideal for snorkeling and the resorts themselves have an aura of romance seclusion and privacy, making them a perfect setting for a honeymoon or romantic getaway.

The Maldivians reply on fishing and tourism for their income. The are descended from an ethnic mix of Aryan, Negroid, Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, Portuguese and British cultures. After being under Muslim rule in the 12th century, control passed hands to Portugal then to Britain, and finally gained their independence in 1965. The majority of the people today are Sunni Muslims.  

The French Polynesia and the famous island of Bora Bora in the South Pacific, also offers over-water bungalow style accommodations. Bora Bora is only about a 13 hour flight from Toronto, with a stopover in Los Angeles. With Bora Bora however, the package costs can be considerably higher than the Maldives, reaching upwards of $1600 per night for an over-water bungalow. Although two entirely different cultures and destinations, you still can find a gorgeous tropical paradise at both. 

Aside from the cost, the biggest difference between the contenders of Bora Bora and the Maldives, is that most of the resorts in the Maldives offer an all-inclusive package to include meals and drinks, Bora Bora however, does not.

Romantic Planet Vacations has been specializing in honeymoons, destination weddings and romantic holidays worldwide since 2004. They are offering an introductory honeymoon package for 7-nights all-inclusive with airfare from Toronto at only CAD $3,950 per person. Please contact them at www.romanticplanet.ca or 1-866-247-8123 for more information. 

How to Appease your Destination Wedding Dreams but also your Guests' Budgets

What? You Won't Come to My Destination Wedding Because of the Cost?

The most common concern that we hear from destination wedding brides and grooms is that they want and deserve the beautiful 5-star all-inclusive dream luxury getaway but not often are the guests willing to pay for it. In my nine years experience serving destination wedding groups, my best advice for your options are;

SMALL WEDDING BUT DREAM COME TRUE - You can still have the destination wedding of your dreams at the resort and destination of your dreams, but it may be just be for a smaller group who want to be there and can afford it. The reality is not every person you invite will come to your destination wedding no matter how inexpensive it is so sometimes you just have to go with what's right for you. If you can be okay with this, then you're on your way to having your destination wedding dream come true. 

My recommendations if you decide to take this route, is decide on the dream destination, resort and approximate dates and commit to this. Then, let all of your guests know in advance that the approximate travel package rates for air, airport transfers and accommodations for a week are approximately;

Cuba, Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic (all-inclusive)....... under $2,000

Hawaii, St. Lucia, Antigua, Bahamas, and Barbados (AI or not AI).........under $2,500

Ireland, Scotland, Greece, Italy.........................................................$4,000-$7,000

Fiji, Thailand, Bora Bora...................................................................$5,000-$8,000 

These rates are per person, based on double occupancy. You can do this through Save-the-Dates or even a wedding web-site that provides your guests with enticing photographs and details about the holiday. Both of these tools are provided complimentary by Romantic Planet Vacations, travel specialist in Destination Weddings. For those guests who can make it, that's great news!  But for those who can't, there is no sense of loss on your end and no pressure on their end because you can certainly celebrate with them upon your return.   

In this case, I'd also recommend that you speak to everyone you would like to invite, not just those closest to you. You might be surprised as to actually how many just jump on board once you commit yourselves. Sometimes it just that one or two guests who complain about the costs but are making the most influence on your wedding decisions, but they shouldn't. This is ultimately your wedding, not theirs. With this decision, you will see that your parents, closest family member and friends will support and follow you with whatever destination, date or resort that you pick you, no matter where, when, or how much. They just want to be a part of your special occasion. You'll see. Once you commit, they will follow.

LARGER BUDGET-MINDED WEDDING BUT REQUIRES A CHANGE IN THE CRITERIA - Although most all-inclusive packages are under $2,000, Romantic Planet Vacations has many travel packages that are under $1500 including airfare, transfers and all-inclusive accommodations per person, and in rare cases, some even under $1200 per person. However, these are only possible with limited resort, dates, or destination options. If you would consider traveling in the summer or shoulder seasons like April/May or October/November, you could potentially save $200-$300 per person then traveling in the peak of winter. Also, a mid-week departure may save you and your guests about $50 per person than a weekend departure. Definitely try to avoid holiday travel dates like Christmas and Easter and even long weekends in order to save the most money. And even though you might have your heart set on that 5-star gourmet luxury adult-only all-inclusive resort, you could potentially save this for a second week honeymoon instead and book the wedding resort at a 4-star more affordable property for all. You can even upgrade to that oceanview or oceanfront room category to give you that 5-star feel. By changing only a half or one star in your criteria, you can save about $300-$500 per person. You'd still get the amazing beach, all the food/drinks you can imagine with the all-inclusive feature, great resort facilities with restaurants, bars, pools and more, clean, comfortable rooms and an incredible wedding in the most picturesque setting. 

Romantic Planet Vacations regularly posts many discounted group rates online at http://www.romanticplanet.ca/destinationweddingdeals.html. Here you can compare the rates with different dates, destinations and resorts to try and find the most suitable for your needs and that of your over-all group. 

When booking with a more budget-conscious package and more than a year in advance, the wedding groups statistically tends to be larger so if it is more important to you to have as many people attend, then you will need to be flexible and open your mind to other possible dream options.

SUPPLEMENT THE COSTS OR SHARE THE CREDITS - If however, you don't want to compromise on the resort, date or destinations but want as many people there as possible, there are still options to achieve both. One idea is that you can share your complimentary passenger credit with any or all of your guests. For example, if the package before tax was $1800 and the 11th adult was free, that's another $180 off x 10 adults! The complimentary passenger credit, if applicable, is provided to the bride and groom once everyone in the group reservation has paid in full. This credit and credit amount is always quoted prior to booking so will always have an idea of how much you will be receiving and thus, how much you are willing to share with your guests.

Alternatively, I've seen destination wedding brides and grooms in the past who've wanted the best of both worlds, allocate funds from their wedding budget to help supplement the cost of the trip for their guests. It's also a great idea for those parents who want to financially contribute to your wedding. Sit down and have a talk with them and discuss this option because many times they may want to find a way to contribute but don't really know how. If they, or you, have a contribution budget of $4,500 for example, to be used towards your wedding or trip, that would be another $150 off per person for a group of 30! 

If not for everyone in the group, you also have the option to just apply any supplements or credits of any value to anyone. This works best for those one of two guests who, as we discussed above, have a great influence on your wedding and are on such a tight budget. This can often be seen mostly with those in the wedding party for example. You want your best friend to be there at your side but perhaps she or he is still in school and struggling with the costs. Offering them $500 from your free passenger credits for being in your wedding party may be just the help they needed to make the decision to go. Now everyone can move forward to a great trip!

Of these three options, there's definitely a solution that is the best fit for you and your destination wedding. 

For more information on Romantic Planet Vacations, please visit www.romanticplanet.ca or contact our Certified Expert Destination Wedding Agents at 1-866-247-8123.

Laurie Keith

President

Romantic Planet Vacations

*Certified Destination Wedding Specialist

*Past Destination Wedding Bride

*Served almost 1,000 couples over the past 9 years

Why honeymooning in Bora Bora is the best option for romance

One of the most exotic and romantic destinations in the world still remain as Bora Bora, French Polynesia. It is a mystical and spiritual place where breathtaking mountains jet up from the turquoise waters and private over-water bungalows dot the landscape. It's a destination where your wedding engines can immediately switch from 5th gear to 1st gear as you coast through the slow-pace sights and sounds of of it's laid-back and relaxing island lifestyle. It's no wonder why so many honeymooners choose this unique destination to wash away all of their wedding stresses. 

The French Polynesia is only a 8.5 hours away from Los Angeles and after a couple of movies and dinner, you're already there. 

Not only does the warmth of the tropics welcome you upon arrival, so does the hospitality of the locals. Immediately you're embraced with Polynesian dancers and ukulele-playing singers.  If you pre-book airport transfers, you may be surprised with a fragrant flower lei, before heading off on your journey into paradise.

ISLAND OF TAHITI - This island is the hub of activity, shopping and nightlife and is your first point of embarkation into French Polynesia. It's great to spend a night or two here before traveling onto the outer and more peaceful islands. If you stay right downtown, you can walk to the market and other shopping straight from your hotel. Remember to keep your eyes open for the infamous 'Black Pearls' which can only be found in and around these islands and always makes a perfect post-wedding honeymoon gift. If you'd rather be outside of the hustle and bustle, there are other oasis-like resorts on Tahiti as well where you can even stay in over-water bungalows such as seen at the Intercontinental Tahiti. 

ISLAND OR MOOREA - You can see the greenery and mountainous landscape of Moorea across the azul sea from Tahiti so with your adventurous spirit packed and a bottle of water, it's easy to just jump onto a ferry to get there. As soon as you arrive, you will feel you have just entered a new world. It's a very laid-back island with roosters, chickens and cows roaming free and the vibrant emerald landscapes and colorful huts dotted along the one road that circles the island is breathtaking. Here you can snorkel or dive to your hearts content, and even commemorate your new marriage by getting a traditional tattoo - right here where tattoos where invented thousands of years ago. 

ISLAND OF BORA BORA - To get to Bora Bora you will need to jump onto a propeller plane for a short island hop from Tahiti. Through your tiny oval window you will see the clearest water and most majestic landscape you have ever seen. The plane will land on a private motu, which is like an island but is actually on the rim of a sunk-in old volcano. The rim continues around in a broken circle around the whole island of Bora Bora, where the towns are centrally located. Here, on the motus, are where most of the over-water bunglows are located. From the airport there is no way else to get to your island resort or into town other than by water-taxi or private boat transfers by the hotel, unless of course, you prefer to helicopter.

5-STAR BORA BORA HOTELS - If you are wanting to arrive in style and be spoiled in total 5-star luxury, then the well-appointed Four Seasons Bora Bora or the St. Regis Bora Bora would make for the perfect humble abode.

4-STAR BORA BORA HOTELS - The most popular sellers in Bora Bora would be the Intercontinental Thalasso Resorts and Spa, Intercontinental Le Moana, Le Taha'a, Le Meridien, and Bora Bora Pearl. 

3-STAR PLUS BORA BORA HOTELS - For the most affordable yet beautiful retreats, you may consider Sofitel Marara Bora Bora or Hilton Bora Bora.

ISLAND OF RANGIROA - Although all of French Polynesia is a divers paradise, if you're really wanting to get into it and experience some of the best diving of your life, than a visit to the Island of Rangiroa is a must. A resort stay at the quaint Hotel Kia Oro Resort and Spa acts as the perfect home away from home, while you explore all of what the world under the water has to offer. Here, you have the opportunity to dive with wild dolphins right outside of the reef, eight foot lemon sharks along the reef, and giant manta-rays who gracefully swoop right over your heads right in the lagoon. It's an experience not to be missed.

Remember that summers in the French Polynesia are North America's winter and visa versa, but they tend to average around 30 degrees Celsius year-round. For those who are more concerned about the weather, it is said that September to May is least windy and April to October are the driest months but who are we kidding, every day in Bora Bora is paradise.

Besides of all of the awe and romance to be had, the other advantage of traveling to Bora Bora on your honeymoon is that if you are traveling within six months of your wedding date and can show proof of a copy of your marriage certificate, you will save on average 10-20% off of the typical trip to Bora Bora so let your quoting agent know in advance. 

Prices depend greatly on when you travel, how far in advance you book, how long you go for, what room categories you book in and what islands you choose to visit. The average airfare from Los Angeles will be about $1700 including tax per person. The average over-water bungalow is $1,300 per night but you have the option to spread this out by booking a beachfront bungalow at a lower room rate average of $500 per night, then spending your last nights in an over-water and/or breaking out the trip with some nights in Tahiti and Moorea where the average room night is about $300 or $700 for an over-water bungalow. The flight from Tahiti to Bora Bora is about $500 round-trip. So with all of your airport transfers, a 6-night 3-island package with your last 2 nights in an over-water bungalow will be about $4500 per person with flights from Los Angeles. The best kind of trip however is where you can stay longer and really relax and immerse yourself into the lifestyle experience more of the islands and over-water bungalows. In this case, try to budget around $8-$10,000 per person.  

For most newlyweds, it's been a difficult struggle with all of the plans of the wedding and taking care of all of the guests and now that all of the details are done you're ready for happily wedded bliss, now is the time to relax, enjoy and reconnect. It's what a honeymoon is all about. 

If you, or someone you know, are thinking about planning a honeymoon or romantic getaway to Bora Bora, the best advice is to contact a Certified Honeymoon Specialist and Certified Tahiti Specialist - which are both available at Romantic Planet Vacations in Canada. They have been specializing in honeymoons and destination weddings since 2004 and have visiting the islands of French Polynesia and most hotels. 

For your Bora Bora quote, please fill out the free Honeymoon Quote Form at http://www.romanticplanet.ca/honeymoonquote.html and one of their Specialists will get back to you shortly. 

Laurie Keith
President
Romantic Planet Vacations
www.romanticplanet.ca

Happy St. Patrick's Day Gift When Booking a Trip to Ireland

When you book your trip to Ireland with Romantic Planet Vacations between March 12th and March 23rd, receive a FREE skip the line Guiness Storehouse Tour in Dublin!

Please contact Romantic Planet Vacations for more details.

1-866-247-8123

inquiries@romanticplanet.ca

Serving honeymoons and destination weddings since 2004.

The Bridal Guide Releases Six Wedding Invitation Mistakes to Avoid

http://www.bridalguide.com/blogs/bridal-buzz/wedding-invitation-mistakes

Sunwing/Signature Vacations extends Fuel Promotion

Great news!!!! Sunwing/Signature Vacations extends their FUEL PROMOTION of a $160 savings per person when the bride/groom books their group by March 30th!!! Don't delay and get your Destination Wedding quote today! Inquiries@romanticplanet.ca

Www.romanticplanet.ca

Everything you need to know

These Diagrams Are Everything You Need To Plan Your Wedding http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/these-diagrams-are-everything-you-need-to-plan-your-wedding  via @IAM486

Honeymoon and Destination Wedding News Updates

Palace Resorts unveiled the $22 million refurbishing of the Nizuc section of its Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort in Mexico. The renovations include upgrades to Nizuc's 120 guestrooms, pool, dining venues and bars, and other public areas, plus a new Irish pub, kids club, and mini golf course.

Melia Nassau Beach has taken over the Sheraton on Cable Beach as it's first resort in English-speaking Caribbean at the Baha Mar in the Bahamas. The 694-room property will be executing a renewal plan that will be completed in December 2014. After a series of renovations, the hotel will be rebranded as Melia at Baha Mar.

The Bermuda Department of Tourism named February "Love Month" and unveiled a lineup of free public events and activities for couples (from free entry and tours at the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art on Tuesdays next month to "Love Train" guided tours of the capital of Hamilton).

Karisma Hotels & Resorts released more details about the 144-suite Generations Riviera Maya property debuting in February. The oceanfront property will feature six dining venues, four bars, an Eko Kids Club facility, a Baby Beach Lounge, and other amenities.

AMResorts (Dreams, Secrets, Zoetry, Now, Sunscapes) announced its "Winter GREATaways" promotion, with discounts up to 40 percent and in-resort credit worth up to $400 for qualifying bookings. made by February 25 for travel until end of April 2014.

Outrigger Hotels & Resorts unveiled Valentine's offers:  in Hawaii, a free vow renewal ceremony on Valentine's Day for guests at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach or the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach; and in Fiji, a vow renewal package (from US$1,700 pp dbl when booked by Jan. 31) that will include the ceremony, a dinner for two, and seven nights in a deluxe oceanview room at the Outrigger on the Lagoon - Fiji.

Sandals unveiled a new service called "Soon to Moon" connecting guests with an "engagement concierge" to help them plan marriage proposals (from picnic lunches on a private island to carving "Will You Marry Me?" message on a beach). 

Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort debuted the 500-suite in Mexico. The property has 13 dining venues and lounges, a large spa, and many other guest amenities.

The Grenada Grand Beach Resort became the Radisson Grenada Beach Resort this week. The 20-acre property on Grand Anse Beach has four main dining venues and bars, two outdoor pools, two tennis courts, and other amenities.

  

Sunwing rolled out a new "Viva Dominicana" package for trips booked to Riu Merengue (Puerto Plata) or Grand Paradise Samana that include special activities such as rum tastings, cigar classes, Spanish lessons, fairs, and more (similar to its Viva Cuba program).

Blue Diamond (the resorts division of Sunwing Travel Group) welcomed two new properties in Punta Cana (D.R.):  the 470-room Royalton Punta Cana and the 525-room Memories Splash Punta Cana. The hotels were created when the former Grand Paradise Bavaro was split in two (with a water park added between them).

Transat Holidays and Nolitours now offers weekly departures from Toronto to Los Cabos, Mexico (Feb. 1-April 19).

Karisma Hotels & Resorts announces a "Canadian Beef Culinary Series" for 2014 built around guest chefs from Canada preparing beef dishes with wine pairings at all of their gourmet-inclusive Azul, El Dorado, and Generations Resorts.

Sandals signed a deal with the government in Antigua to convert the Grand Pineapple Beach Resort in Long Bay into Beaches Antigua. There's no definitive word on the timeline involved, but the refurbished property will offer one- to four-bedroom suites with as many as a dozen restaurants, a water park, a movie theater, a BMX bike track, an Xbox Play Lounge, and other family-friendly services. 

The 181-room Outrigger Mauritius Resort & Spa had a "soft opening" on Jan. 15, after the property wraps up an extensive refurbishment. On that date, most guestrooms, the Edgewater restaurant, the Bar Bleu, and other public spaces will be ready (with opening rates from US$202 ppdo for staysJan. 15-Feb. 15). The resort sits on the island's southern tip, about 45 minutes from the airport and the capital of Port Louis, and it's surrounded by a nature reserve. (www.outriggermauritius.com)

The 238-suite Riu Palace Jamaica is now open as an adults-only property with five dining venues, three bars, two pools, a gym, and access to services at the Riu Montego Bay next door.

Melia will take over the Braco Village Hotel & Spa in Jamaica, giving the 226-property a thorough makeover before it debuts next November as the all-inclusive Melia Jamaica.

Six Senses Hotels, Resorts and Spa will add nine new locations in the next few years, including its first Europe property (the Six Senses Mont Blanc in France in 2015) and its first Caribbean hotel (the Six Senses Freedom Bay in St. Lucia in 2016).

Air Canada previewed the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin interiors that will debut next spring. Highlights include lie-flat "executive pods" in international business class and the largest personal entertainment screens (18 inches) offered by any North American carrier in business class.

Contact Romantic Planet Vacations, your honeymoon and destination wedding specialist since 2004.
www.romanticplanet.ca

Honeymoon and Destination Wedding Product Updates

Outrigger unveiled the 181-room Outrigger Mauritius Resort and Spa this week. The five-star beachfront resort is the company's first location in the Indian Ocean region, with two main restaurants, a primary bar, four pools, the Navasana wellness spa, and other unique touches.

Carnival Cruise Lines overhauled its wedding packages with upgraded catering, decor, floral, and photo options - plus, it added Freeport and Grand Turk to its list of wedding destinations.

The Brando Resort, Tahiti is a new luxury eco-resort on the private island of Tetiaroa near Tahiti (once owned by the famed actor Marlon Brando). Arrivals start in July 2014 for this property with 35 one-, two-, and three-bedroom beachfront villas with private plunge pools plus two restaurants, a lounge and beach bar, a pool, and other unique services such as an ecostation for on-site research.

Honeymoon in Africa: new romance-themed adventure trips are now available:  the nine-day "Masai Romance and Sultry Beaches" in Kenya (from $4,251 pp dbl), the eight-day "Grand South Africa" (from $5,260 pp dbl), and the nine-day "Classical India" (from $6,932 pp dbl). Rates are plus airfare.

Air Canada rouge will take over several Caribbean routes previously served by Air Canada itself this summer, including flights from Montreal and Toronto to the Bahamas, Barbados, Cancun, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Tampa.

visit www.romanticplanet.ca for more information or to obtain a custom quote for your upcoming honeymoon or destination wedding. 

Save $160 per person FUEL PROMOTION - Book by 28FEB14

Book your 2014 honeymoon or destination wedding group by February 28th, 2014 at select resorts and save

$160 per person!

Contact a Certified Destination Wedding Specialist today for your custom quote!

You Are Invited! Free Honeymoon and Destination Wedding Expo Feb-Mar 2014

This only happens once a year! Meet travel exhibitors from around the world who have flown in just to provide you with information about their resort, destination and wedding packages. 

Learn invaluable information and tips on how to plan a perfect honeymoon and/or destination wedding with the invaluable presentation following the expo. 

Meet with and even request rates from the certified Honeymoon and Destination Wedding experts at Romantic Planet Vacations while at the show.

Click below to RSVP today. Space is limited!

www.romanticplanet.eventbrite.ca

Honeymoon and Destination Wedding News Update

The 225-room Jewel Paradise Cove Beach Resort & Spa recently opened as the third Jewel property in Jamaica. It's an adults-only all-inclusive resort with a focus on health and fitness activities. New to the property is the oceanfront Radiant Spa with treatments such as an in-ocean, two-therapist massage.

Tourism officials in St. Maarten report that construction is done on a new causeway connecting the island's international airport with the eastern bank of Simpson Bay Lagoon (allowing faster travel between the island's Dutch and French sides). The causeway has a swing bridge that opens to allow boats to pass through.

The MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas introduced new self-serve checkout kiosks in its lobby.

Fairmont plans its first location in Malaysia with the 2017 opening of the 750-room Fairmont Kuala Lumpur. The hotel will boast six restaurants and lounges, a pool, a fitness center, a spa, and other guest services.

  

WestJet rolled out its biggest schedule changes since the carrier began flying in 1996, adding five new routes to its summer plans, increasing frequency on 20 existing routes, and turning five seasonal routes into year-round schedules (see its release for the cities involved).

Air Canada Vacations has added a $35 currency surcharge per person on all new package bookings starting Jan. 27. And, Sunwing is following suit with the same $35 surcharge starting Jan. 30.

Contact Romantic Planet Vacations today for your customized honeymoon and/or destination wedding quote! www.romanticplanet.ca inquiries@romanticplanet.ca 1-866-247-8123

Best Catholic Chapels for Destination Weddings

We understand the dilemma that many Catholic brides and grooms face when deciding to book a destination wedding and just how they can combine both a Catholic ceremony with a destination wedding away from home. Many times we are approached by brides of grooms of the Catholic faith asking us how it all works, is it even possible and if so, what are the best resorts that offer on-site Catholic chapels or churches. Here, we dive into finding the answers.

In eyes of the Catholic Church, a marriage is a blessed Sacrament. With a Catholic wedding ceremony,  you are choosing the forming of a covenant to serve God, your faith, your community, and your new husband or wife. The ritual is to take place in the presence of Jesus Christ and witnessed by the minister of the church, a priest or deacon. 

A Catholic Destination Wedding needs to follow the same rules and protocol as a Catholic wedding at home. These include that you meet with your local priest in advance, that the couple attend a parish-approved pre-marriage counseling program, that the sacred scriptures at the ceremony be read by a Catholic priest (which can be your own priest or one at the destination that your priest has met over the phone), and that the venue location also be parish-approved. Please note that Catholic beach ceremonies are not approved by the Catholic church as it is deemed not sacred. 

Below are considered as the best and most awe-inspiring Catholic Destination Wedding Venues;

Jamaica - 
Jamaica has limited options for an onsite catholic ceremony service but there are many churches located throughout this Caribbean island that many Catholic get married at. The resort's wedding coordinator can assist with booking the church and your group's transportation there and back. However, for more convenience, even though they do not have a Catholic chapel on-site, we understand that Iberostar Rosehall is one of the few that will perform catholic ceremonies right there. The most popular resort in Jamaica for a destination wedding with an on-site Catholic chapel however, is the adult-only Sandals Montego Bay.

 

 Another alternative might be the Jewel Runaway Bay (formerly Breezes) with their open-aired oceanfront chapel.

The Lady of Fatima church tends to be our most popular off-site Catholic wedding venues in Ocho Rios for destination wedding brides and grooms.

Hawaii - 

Moving on to the other side of the planet, we take a look at the tropical oasis of Hawaii. Here, one of the cutest and most picturesque oceanfront chapel's in the world has be found at the Grand Wailea Resort in Maui. Although not an all-inclusive resort, this property boasts 5-star elegance and charm. 

Other alternatives in Hawaii include the Sheraton Keauhou or the Turtle Bay Resort.

One of our personal destination favorites where money-is-no-object and that provides the most unique experience possible, is the "over-water chapel" at the beautiful Intercontinental Bora Bora Thelasso Resort. Here, you can actually see fish swimming underneath the glass-floor as you walk down the isle! In the background is the most picturesque landscape of the rolling mountains on Bora Bora and the turquoise blue ocean. The average cost of a travel package including flights from Los Angeles and a 7 night stay in Bora Bora is around $8,000 per person.

However, if all-inclusive and affordable is what you are looking for, then the Dominican Republic and Mexico are going to be your very best bet. Here, a travel package for you and your weddings guests including flight, airport transfers, 7-nights accommodations and the all-inclusive feature with all meals and drinks, generally is $2,000 and under per person. 

Rooted in Catholic traditions, each of these countries have numerous Catholic destination wedding options to choose from. 

Dominican Republic -

Our personal favorite and top destination wedding resort in Punta Cana for years, is the Barcelo Resorts. This complex is made up of four different resorts and include a golf course, the most expansive beach in the Dominican Republic, a mini-golf course, casino, water park and so much more. Exploring the grounds by golf cart, we stumbled upon one of the most picturesque, tranquil, organic and natural Catholic chapel we've seen. The open-aired structure over-looks a pond setting with flowers and chirping birds and can accommodate larger wedding groups.

Our other top all-inclusive Punta Cana seller for destination wedding groups is the Majestic Colonial and Majestic Elegance Resorts. Although they do not have sharing privileges, they are sister properties situated next door to each other. Their chapel is reserved for Catholic weddings only.

Outside Punta Cana but requires honorable mention and consideration are the Spanish-colonial style chapels at both Cap Cana and Casa Del Campo. When considering the new development at Cap Cana, you can get married at the Catholic Chapel in town but stay at the adult-only Secrets Cap Cana Resort for a luxurious 5-star experience.

The complex of Casa Del Campo is located closer to La Romana and the capital of Santo Domingo. Our favorite 5-star family-friendly resort here is the Dreams La Romana, then bring your friends and family to the historic Catholic Chapel in Casa Del Campo.

And finally we touch on our most popular place for destination weddings - Cancun and the Mayan Riviera in Mexico. Cancun is one of the most connected airports in the world, allowing guests from every corner of the globe to gain easy access to your wedding. The resort options are endless from EP to all-inclusive from 3 star to 5 star luxury. Here are our top choices for all-inclusive resorts that are 4-star or higher and offer Catholic Chapels right on-site;

Cancun -

The Royal Cancun is an adult-only luxury resort and shares their oceanfront "Our Lady of Guadeloupe" chapel with their next door family-friendly sister property - the Gran Caribe. It offers a glass-protected and enclosed area with the most beautiful view of the azul Caribbean Sea behind. 

Recognizing the demand for more Catholic Chapels in Cancun, The JW Marriott and Casa Magna Marriott have built a new chapel to accommodate their Catholic destination wedding guests.

Mayan Riviera -

One of our top-sellers in the Mayan Riviera for destination wedding groups is the beautiful 5-star family-friendly all-inclusive resort of Dreams Tulum. Here, it's color Catholic Chapel is portrayed to be a part of a Mexico pueblo (small town).

We also greatly favor the Barcelo Maya, Beach, Caribe, Tropical and Palace Resort complex and like their property in Punta Cana, they also have an on-site Catholic wedding chapel. At this all-inclusive resort you will find the whitest, softest and most expansive beach in the Mayan Riviera. It's open-aired chapel feels spacious and natural.

The all-inclusive Palladium Resort complex also consists of a Catholic Chapel but is designed as a Spanish colonial-style building - a perfect backdrop for wedding photos.

If you are looking for an oceanfront Catholic chapel in the Mayan Riviera, then The Moon Palace all-inclusive resort is going to be the place. This is the largest resort in the Mayan Riviera offering three different resort sections and so many resort amenities including a wave rider, dolphin enclosure and golf course as well as a large variety of restaurants. Combine this with their designer wedding collections and $1500 per room resort credit (which can be used towards your wedding, upgrade in room, spa treatments, golf, tours and more), it makes it most ideal for destination weddings. 

 

The Grand Sirenis is another top value-package all-inclusive recommended resorts where the price sells itself. The Catholic chapel here overlooks the ocean.

Said to have the only Roman Catholic Chapel in the Mayan Riviera, is the upscale and all-inclusive resort of the Valentin Imperial. It's chapel is more modern and contemporary with marble, white and brown hues.

If you're looking for an upscale adult-only resort that has a picturesque Catholic Chapel, then you can find it at the gourmet-inclusive El Dorado Royale Resort. Just steps from the beach, this Spanish-colonial white-washed chapel is the perfect setting for an intimate Catholic destination wedding ceremony.

 

Although not located at a resort, we had the opportunity to explore the Xcaret Eco Theme Park in the Mayan Riviera and was truly amazed and drawn into the mystical and spiritual place that it is. Created as a colonial town among the jungle, cenote caves and ancient Mayan ruins, it's truly the most ideal setting for anyone who is looking for that feeling of be re-connected to nature, history, God or your own spiritual being on your wedding day. 

Xcaret has two Catholic chapels that are both recognized officially by the Catholic Prelature in the state capital, Chetumal. Although enjoyed throughout the day, one of the very best times to wed at Xcaret is in the evening as the buildings and pillars are lit up in a spiritually lifting way. The wedding team at Xcaret ensures that no detail is left undone.  

St. Francis of Assisi Chapel is perched on top of a hill at the end of a windy cobblestone road. It's open aired venue is very spacious and feels like you can touch the sky.

The Chapel of Guadalupe is located in the center of the "puebla" (town). On the outside it appears to be a Spanish colonial-style building but as you enter the giant wooden doors, you feel like you've entered a magical world not known like any other place on Earth. This chapel has been created out of an old cenote cave and this giant 'tree of life' appears over the alter. It feels organic, natural and very spiritual and will definitely be a stunning venue that you and your wedding guests will never forget.

If considering the Xcaret Eco Park for your wedding, you can stay at the Occidental Grand Xcaret all-inclusive resort because they offer free entrance and river transfer into the park for you and your guests.

Romantic Planet Vacations has been serving destination wedding groups since 2004 and has heaps of first-hand knowledge, expertise and experience of these resorts and more worldwide. They have organized destination wedding trips for wedding ceremonies of all religion-types including Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and more, as well as non-legal, civil, symbolic and now renewals. 

We can be contacted at inquiries@romanticplanet.ca or 1-877-247-8123 for your group's destination wedding quote or if you have any questions about these resorts and more. For more information about other resort or destination options, please visit www.romanticplanet.ca

Sincerely;

Laurie Keith

President

Romantic Planet Vacations

laurie@romanticplanet.ca