The Destination Wedding Planning Process #Infographic

New and Noteworthy in the world of #Destinationwedding and #Honeymoons

Sugar Bay Resort & Spa, St. Thomas

AMResorts will take over the 294-room Sugar Bay Resort & Spa in St. Thomas next Tuesday, rebranding it as the Dreams Sugar Bay St. Thomas Resort & Spa in November after several months of renovations that will include guestroom upgrades.


Riu Hotels & Resorts unveiled new menu options at its themed restaurants at the Riu Palace locations in Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, the Riviera Maya, and the Riviera Nayarit. The changes include almost 100 new dishes, giving guests six main course choices (up from four).

The One&Only Hayman Island private island resort in Australia's Great Barrier Reef region will open after a huge makeover, including a redesigned "pool wing" that's now all suite.

Air Canada Vacations will roll out new nonstop flights on January 1st, 2015 between Montreal and Curacao, with introductory package prices on the route when you book by July 31, 2014.

The Jewel Runaway Bay Beach & Golf Resort in Jamaica will add a beachfront water park in December with water slides, raft rides, a "lazy river," a dining plaza with a bar, and other amenities.

The 1,600-room SLS Las Vegas Hotel & Casino will open ahead of schedule (Aug 23) rather than Labor Day). It will be the first brand-new Strip resort to open in almost five years.

The 124-room Capella Marigot Bay Resort and Marina in St. Lucia will re-open officially on August 15th, (after a "soft opening" next month) with new suites, restaurants, health and wellness facilities, a cigar bar, and a "rum cave." (It's the former Discovery at Marigot Bay property.)

Investors announced plans to resurrect the Moulin Rouge Casino and Resort in Las Vegas on a 15-acre site in the city's downtown district. The former Moulin Rouge property was known for being one of America's first racially integrated casinos.

Azul Fives Resort, Mayan Riviera

Transat Holidays rolled out a groups promotion at the Azul Fives Hotels in Mexico's Riviera Maya region, with $300 discounts per couple and lower minimum deposits ($100, not $250), plus agent benefits, when you book by June 30th for travel Nov 1 - April 30, 2015. (Starting Nov 1st, Azul Fives will only be bookable in Canada through Transat Holidays.)

Air Transat began its new Prague packages this week, with Tuesday flights from both Montreal and Toronto set to run through Oct 7th.

For more information and to request your free Destination Wedding or Honeymoon Quote, please contact the experts at Romantic Planet Vacations www.romanticplanet.ca 1-866-247-8123 or inquiries@romanticplanet.ca

Moon Palace to open in Jamaica

Palace Resorts acquires Sunset Jamaica Grande

By Gay Nagle Myers, Travel Weekly

Palace Resorts will assume ownership of the 730-room Sunset Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, on July 7, and will close it on Sept. 1 for renovations.

The resort will reopen as the Moon Palace Jamaica Grande in early 2015.

"When we designed our strategic five-year growth plan, we listed several destinations as priorities, and Jamaica was at the top of that list," said Gibran Chapur, executive vice president for Palace Resorts.

"We believe Jamaica is the most important tourism destination in the Caribbean, and we found the Sunset Jamaica Grande to be the perfect opportunity for us to enter this market."

Palace Resorts currently owns and operates seven properties in Mexico, including the Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort, Cancun.

Sunset Resorts has three other properties in Jamaica: two in Montego Bay and one in Negril.

Forever Starts in Barbados: How to score free travel and a wedding for bride-to-be

Canadian brides fly, stay and wed for free in Barbados!

In the competitive market of destination weddings, the Barbados Tourism Authority has just come up with the cleverest promotion to bring more brides to Barbados - by offering them free trips!

Photo provided by The Barbados Tourism Authority

For the first fifty brides from Canada who book and register their group to Barbados with Romantic Planet Vacations from now until May next year for travel Sept 1, 2014 to December 15, 2015, they will receive complimentary airfare (valued up to CAD$1000), complimentary accommodations at select hotels in Barbados, and a complimentary wedding package. Now that's a bargain!

Flights are available with Air Canada or Westjet to Barbados from most cities across Canada with a connection in Toronto. Most people buy a full travel package to include accommodations, airport transfers and airfare, all of which can be arranged with group travel and destination wedding specialists, Romantic Planet Vacations. 

Romantic Planet Vacations has been serving destination wedding brides and grooms and their wedding groups since 2004 and will be celebrating their tenth anniversary this November. All of their agents are certified Honeymoon and Destination Wedding Specialists and all have been trained in the Barbado's Tourism Authority's 'Barbados Elite Club' making them exclusive leaders in travel experiences to Barbados.

As long as the wedding group books a minimum of ten rooms for four nights, the bride qualifies for all of the benefits. The participating hotels are;

Photo provided by the Barbados Tourism Authority

1.    Sugar Cane Club
2.    The Crane Residential Resort
3.    Turtle Beach Resort
4.    Crystal Cove
5.    Tamarind
6.    Colony Club
7.    The House
8.    Bougainvillea Beach Resort
9.    Island Inn
10.  Mango Bay
11.  Accra Beach Hotel & Spa
12.  Ocean Two Resort and Residences
13.  Sea Breeze
14.  South Gap
15.  Little Arches

And if that's not enough, the participating hotels are throwing in a free wedding! This includes;

o Officiant’s Fees/ Minister’s Fees
o Transport to Registry Office to obtain marriage license
o Bottle of Sparkling Wine for Ceremony
o Wedding Cake
o Decorated wedding area/arch
o Bridal bouquet
o Groom boutonniere
o Recorded Music

To obtain your free discounted group quote today to Barbados, please contact the specialists at Romantic Planet Vacations at 1-866-247-8123 or inquiries@romanticplanet.ca and they'll be happy to get you on your way. All you need is the groom! 

For more information, please visit;
http://www.romanticplanet.ca/BarbadosForever.html 

Honeymoon like Kim Kardashian and Kayne West

So you may not have the same honeymoon budget as Kim Kardashian and Kayne West do but it doesn't mean you can't still travel like them.

After exchanging their vows in an over-the-top ceremony at Florence's 16th-century Forte di Belvedere, Italy on Saturday, May 24, the newlywed couple Kim Kardashian and Kayne West, headed off to Castlemartyr Resort in the Cork woodlands of Ireland to enjoy their five-day honeymoon.

The 103 bedrooms and suites at The Castlemartyr 5-star Resort boasts lavish views of ornate gardens, parklands and lakes. The property has a 10-room treatment spa, a fitness studio, a Ron Kirby designed golf course, four restaurants, and 800-year-old castle ruins. The 18th century classic manor was originally built by the Knights Templar under Richard Earl De Clare, also known as Strongbow. 

Even though the famous Kardashian and West couple may have forked out upwards of US$67,000 a night to stay in the luxurious Presidential Suite, you can still have the same experience at the same resort a fraction of the price. Romantic Planet Vacations, specialists in destination weddings and honeymoons, is offering the standard double deluxe room for 4 nights from only around US$900 in total. Or upgrade from there and live like a lord and lady of the manor in one of the four exclusive suit residences located in the heart of the manor from only around US$2500 for 4 nights in the Grand Suite category. 

The resort is nestled in 220 acres of parklands and nature with an abundance of wildlife and gardens. You can take a walk with "Earl" and "Countess", Irish Setter dogs and residents of Castlemartyr Resort. You can also hire a car and drive through the nearny city of Cork and the countryside to visit the many ancient and historic sites that Ireland has to offer. Perhaps you want to impress your new wife or husband with your archery and laser clay pigeon shooting skills or go for a bike ride, horseback ride or carriage ride throughout the grounds. In evening, hang out at the Knight Bar, the center of activity at the resort. 

Regardless of what you do or don't do at Castlemartyr Resort, Romantic Planet Vacations has made it easy to honeymoon like the Kardashians......in style.

For more information on this or other unique and romantic honeymoon options to Ireland and Europe, please contact Romantic Planet Vacations at 1-866-247-8124 or inquiries@romanticplanet.ca

By: Laurie Keith
Romantic Planet Vacations
www.romanticplanet.ca

@KimKardashian @kanyewest @TourismIreland @romanticplanet @CastlemartyrRes #kimye #kimyewedding #kimyehoneymoon

News from Mayan Riviera and Cancun

The 144-suite Generations Riviera Maya held its official grand opening this past Monday in Mexico. The resort (sitting near El Dorado Casitas Royale) offers four dining venues, two bars, a kids club, and other guest services.

The Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya held its official grand opening a day earlier in Mexico. The 1,264-room resort boasts nine restaurants, eight bars and lounges, kids and teen clubs, a Rock Spa facility, and other amenities.

AMResorts will rebrand the existing Grand Oasis Viva resort in Mexico as the 441-room Dreams Sands Cancun Resort & Spa in September. The property will offer eight restaurants, six bars, a kids club, two pools, a Dreams Spa, and other amenities.

On Nov. 8, Cirque du Soleil will open a new year-round show in the 600-seat Vidanta Theater in Mexico's Riviera Maya region (near the Grand Mayan resort). The 70-minute show will run eight times each week.

Excellence Group Luxury Hotels & Resorts (which operates the Excellent and Beloved Hotels brands) announced a new brand called Finest Resorts. The first property will be the 450-suite Finest Playa Mujeres opening next April near Cancun. The Finest brand will be an all-inclusive mix between the adults-only Excellence and the spa-focused Beloved - open to all ages but with 20 percent of the suites reserved for couples.

Contact www.romanticplanet.ca for your expert travel advice on your upcoming honeymoon or destination wedding.

Self-Guided Europe River Cruise Experience Perfect for Young (or young at heart) Travelers

So here's the scoop. You love the idea of cruising and bus tours but cringe at the thought of being stuck aboard a ship or bus full of blue hairs and fighting over bingo dabbers. You want to explore Europe but let's face it, you don't have the time, nor desire, to backpack it. You want the best of both worlds - an organized trip where you won't miss out on any of the great wonders, but you also want the freedom to anchor for a few more days at a place you love.

Like Lewis and Clark, Alexander Mackenzie, and Jacques Cartier, we know that some of the best routes to explore worldwide are by river, hence the massive and growing popularity of river cruising now in Europe. This is certainly a viable option for you, except, their big river cruise-lines have a strict itinerary to adhere to. What do you think Cartier would have done if his ship was set to go North, instead of West to discover the St. Lawrence River. On your big ship river cruise, there will be no stopping at Marmande, a little village in France 

for the Wine and Cheese Festival. Nope, you can't stop at that little cafe overlooking the square to watch the sunset because the ship is leaving at 5:00 PM and no way can they navigate narrow channels to get you to that hidden medieval castle. Oh, and heaven for bid if you want to stay up past 10:00 PM to enjoy some music and look at the stars on top deck while the other cruising patrons are already fast asleep.

So what is the young explorer in you to do? The answer, gather up your friends or family and rent your own river boat! 

The newest, and most exciting travel product now available to Canadians is hiring a little barge, yacht, house-boat, fishing boat - whatever you name it, and be your own captain, your own Alexander Mackenzie! Included in the hire, you will receive hands-on instructions to how to run the equipment, maps and suggested itineraries so you can go and explore the rivers and canals of France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Ireland, and/or Poland entirely on your own. There are even circuits that are recommended for nature, gastronomy, swimming, heritage and cultural/urban. Fishing from your boat is no problem for those fishing enthusiasts, or for those who want to catch and cook their own dinner. Another great feature is that you can also rent bikes for the duration of your stay and store them on-board. Then when you port, you can further explore the country-side, town or city. It's like bringing your own home with you wherever you go!

Destination Wedding Planner, Laurie Keith, of Romantic Planet Vacations, had her wedding in Mexico last year and hasn't yet planned her own honeymoon. For a well-traveled couple who's been-there-done-that, renting their own river boat in Europe this summer is now their top choice.

The cost of renting your very own river boat depends greatly on the size of the boat itself, where, and the duration of stay but most are less expensive than European hotel stays and definitely less than the large river cruise-lines. A small river boat for two people for 7 days from Burgundy to Loire for example, is only about CAD$600 per person in September!

Please contact Romantic Planet Vacations at inquiries@romanticplanet.ca or 1-866-247-8123 www.romanticplanet.ca for more information.

The Haven: Norwegian Freestyle Cruising Like You've Never Cruised Before

If you thought that cruiselines have already outdone themselves, you haven't seen anything yet. Introducing The Haven, by Norwegian Cruiselines. 

Hidden away at the top of the ship is an exclusive enclave with our most luxurious, well-appointed and spacious accommodations. Not only will you have access to all the ship has to offer, you’ll enjoy the personal service of a 24-hour butler and concierge throughout your entire stay. On top of that, complete privacy and tranquility are just steps away on a private sundeck reserved exclusively for guests of The Haven. It’s like having your own ship within a ship, all of which makes for a vacation you’ll never forget. 


Available exclusively on Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Escape (coming in 2015).

The average cost of The Haven luxurious cabin is about $1000 per night.

Contact Romantic Planet Vacations, your travel specialists in romantic luxurious escapes at 1-866-247-8123, inquiries@romanticplanet.ca or visit their Luxury Travel Collection web-site at http://www.romanticplanet.ca/luxurytravel/ for more details.  

The Pros and Cons of a No-kid Destination Wedding

As with any parent, we should know that you cannot stand in between them and their children, unless you want a raging mamma-bear attack you. So why do brides try?

As destination wedding specialists, Romantic Planet Vacations gets approached by about five to ten destination weddings brides and grooms a year who want to put the ban on having kids attend their destination weddings, which means, if you want to bring your kids, you're simply not invited.

There is certainly an appeal of having your destination wedding at a luxurious adult-only 5-star resort on the tropical beaches of paradise, minus the screams and cries of little minions running around. These resort properties, such as El Dorado Resorts, Secrets Resorts, Excellence Resorts, Couples Resorts and Sandals Resorts cater to such a market. The restaurants have mature and gourmet menus and no high-chairs, the pools are peaceful and calm with no prospects of unexpected pool splashes in your margarita, and the beaches are relaxing and clean from the clutter of little beach toys. The rooms are romantic, emphasizing king-sized beds, open shower plans, and unobstructed view balconies. There are no kids clubs and no kids pools. Everything is for the enjoyment of adults....only. 

But what do you do if you have one wedding guest who has a child and must bring them? Do you change your destination wedding plans just for that one person or surely the resort will make an exception so to get your big destination wedding group business. Or will they?

There was a situation recently that the bride and groom were getting married a second time around. It was going to be a small wedding and they preferred to get married at a Sandals adult-only resort in St. Lucia. In this particular case, the bride had a 17 year old daughter and the rest of the ten passengers were adults. The team at Romantic Planet Vacations contacted the General Manager at the Sandals property, the sales rep for Sandals, their boss and their boss's boss, and all said there was NO exception on their adult-only rule. The group ended up having to book at a 4 star family-friendly resort in St. Lucia instead and although the wedding was incredible, the bride returned feeling a little unfulfilled. And this is the case with most, if not all, adult-only resorts. If they make one exception, they have to make more and then they will lose the whole concept of the adult-only theme in the first place, so in most cases, they do not, even if it means turning away a whole wedding group. 

What about the option of having those guests with kids stay off-property at another resort? In this case, the adults can come to your resort for the wedding itself, at approximately US$100 per person day-pass rate, but the children must stay away. Knowing today's moms, they don't like the idea of leaving their children alone, even at a supervised kids club, let alone in a foreign country at a foreign resort while their celebrating elsewhere. In most cases, it just doesn't happen. 

However, when you work with a destination wedding travel specialist like Romantic Planet Vacations, they take great pride in being able to utilize their expertise, knowledge, training and experience from over the last nine years of serving destination weddings, to find the right solution to meet your needs and that of your wedding guests. 

Take the case of Natasha and Will, married in Jamaica in February 2013. The bride had been dreaming of an adult-only resort for their destination wedding years before even getting engaged. Under all circumstances, it absolutely had to be a luxury adult only resort for their destination wedding. It was their first and only wedding so it was going to be done right. All plans were in place, engagement ring on the finger, and all guests onboard and excited. Then, her only brother had a child. Although thrilled to have a brand new nephew, she was in turmoil on what to do with her wedding plans as her brother's presence was a must. As a solution, Romantic Planet Vacations found the perfect resort to cater to their needs. The Iberostar Rosehall complex, near Montego Bay, consists of a 5-star adult-only section (The Grand), a 4.5

star family friendly section (The Suites) and a 4 star budget-conscious family-friendly section (The Beach). Although the family-friendly section guests could not enter the adult-only section, the guests from the adult-only section could visit the family-friendly sections, and hence, could also enjoy their vacation with her brother, wife and new nephew. Natasha's brother and wife got to attend the wedding in the adult-only section with the day-pass, while leaving their infant with the resort's babysitter for a couple of hours. The resort even provided them a beeper for that peace of mind and they were literally a 5 minute walk from their child. The bride got her wish of the dream wedding and stay at an adult-only property. Her brother attended the wedding. They visited with their family and friends throughout the resort complex and had a great time. Tragedy was averted.

But what if you want zero, none, zilch, no kids, at all, anywhere near your wedding or resort? What if you want adult fun with your friends and family without having them run off to spend time with their kids? You can certainly find a diplomatic way of advising "adults only" on your wedding invitation, but know that you do risk that these parent-guests will not attend at all. Without getting upset that they can't go, the best advice is to just walk around the bear and her cubs, to avoid an all-out fight. Let the parent-guests know that you do love their cute little cubs but this is your dream from when you were a child and emphasize that you understand fully if they can't make it. 

If you do have parent-guests that are able to make the trip as they have awesome babysitter grandparents at home, but they can't attend for the whole week, there is certainly the option to travel for a shorter duration. Your travel destination wedding specialists can find the airline and package that will cater to this need. At least in this case, they get a break too.

If you need a solution for the best resort to cater to your destination wedding needs, with or without kids, please feel free to contact Romantic Planet Vacations, specialists in destination weddings since 2004. They can be contacted at inquiries@romanticplanet.ca or www.romanticplanet.ca. They offer destination wedding packages to worldwide locales but cater to the all-inclusive places of Mexico, Jamaica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, St. Lucia, Bahamas, Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Costa Rica, and Panama.

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