15 Top Destination Wedding Resorts of 2018

They say the most difficult part of planning a destination wedding is choosing which resort in which to wed. To help you get started, we've come out with the top 15 Destination Wedding Resorts of 2017.

Sandos Caracol Resort, Cenote Trash-the-Dress

1. Sandos Caracol Resort - This friendly beachfront Mayan Riviera gem is ideal for those on a budget who want a green eco-friendly resort with on-site cenotes (cave watering holes) and ancient Mayan ruins surrounded by acres of jungles teaming with wildlife. Get married on the beach, by a cenote, or in nature.

Coconut Bay Beach Resort, St. Lucia

2. Coconut Bay Beach Resort, St. Lucia - This all-inclusive resort is situated on the beautiful island of St. Lucia and has everything to make destination wedding dreams come true. One side is adult-only and the other side is family friendly so there is something for everyone. St. Lucia is renowned for its romance and this resort is sure to please.

3. Grand Bahia Principle Jamaica Resort - This white palace sits on the North Coast of the island of Jamaica and has a variety of room categories to suit the variety of all wedding guests budgets. It's gorgeous beach is affectionately known by its locals as the best beach on the island.

4. Hard Rock Vallarta - Surround yourself with rock and roll paraphernalia in a fun and lively atmosphere at this beachfront resort near Puerto Vallarta - the heart of Mexican culture and tradition. As a bonus, each room here receives a $1800 resort credit!

Melia Nassau Beach Resort, Bahamas

5. Melia Nassau Beach Resort - This newly renovated chic resort is situated only a short drive from the port city of Nassau, Bahamas with its rich history, happening nightlife and incredible shopping. Watch the cruiseships go by at this quaint and friendly oasis.

6. Dreams Huatulco, Mexico - This all-inclusive luxury-inclusive resort is located in Tangolunda Bay, Huatulco Mexico surrounded by the greenery of rolling hills and deep blue of the Pacific Ocean. It's family-friendly amenities are fun for all.

Sky Wedding at Azul Fives Resort, Mayan Riviera

7. Azul Fives - This modern Mayan Riviera gourmet-inclusive 5-star resort is all about food. It's creative and gourmet dining options are bountiful, pleasing even the most discerning guest. The designer wedding collections are also awe-inspiring.

8. Sandals Barbados - This private adult-only hideaway is ideally situated on the high-end Caribbean island of Barbados and is most suited for those who want the taste of luxury in a modest setting.

9. Majestic Elegance Resort, Punta Cana - This has been a favorite for destination weddings in Punta Cana for years. The resort staff are super friendly and the setting is modern elegant with a gorgeous and expansive beach.

Barceló Grand Faro Los Cabos, San Jose Del Cabo

10. Barcelo Grand Faro Los Cabos - This ultra quaint and friendly 4-star resort is situated in the desert-like setting of Los Cabos, Mexico, within walking distance to the artsy town of San Jose Del Cabo. It's a fan favorite destination with many returning guests year after year.

11. Beach Palace Cancun - There's just something about this place that allows you to simply unwind and enjoy its 5-star quality food, service and amenities in the heart of lively Cancun, Mexico. They also have the most expansive and private rooftop venue for weddings and/or receptions. Each room also receives a $1500 resort credit!

12. Paradisus Varadero - This 5-star eco-resort has been a favorite in Cuba for years and is located in Varadero's ecological reserve. Upgrade to the 'Royal Service' for even more pampering - something every wedding couple deserves.

Barceló Aruba Resort

13. Barcelo Aruba - if you're looking for the whitest sand, look no further than the Dutch island of Aruba. This all-inclusive resort has everything a wedding group is looking for in a Caribbean island paradise setting.

14. Hotel RIU Playa Blanca Panama - If you're looking for a totally unique destination, try Panama! This all-inclusive family-friendly reosrt is located on an expansive beach minutes from the airport and offers free wedding packages.

15.  Sunscapes Splash Jamaica - If you're looking for one of the least expensive options in the Caribbean but don't want to give up on service and amenities, this all-inclusive resort will be sure to please. 

For more information on any of these resorts and how to plan a perfect destination wedding away, please contact the experts at Romantic Planet Vacations at 1-866-247-8123 or weddings@romanticplanet.ca for your free destination wedding quote and consultation.

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.

GREAT CARIBBEAN SPECIALS!

Dominican Republic
Punta Cana

Casa De Campo, AI, EP

4th Night FREE

*Categories: Superior, Luxury

Travel 1-May-07 through 31-Aug-07

Occidental Grand Punta Cana

from $105*(Deluxe)

Book now through 02-Apr-07Travel 01-Sep-07 through 22-Dec-07

Aruba

Amsterdam Manor, EP

5th Night FREE

*Categories: Standard Studio, Superior Studio, 1Bedroom Suite, 2Bedroom Suite

Travel now through 31-Aug-07

Book now through 29-Mar-07

Radisson Aruba, EP

5th Night FREE

*Categories: Standard. Garden View, Partial OceanView

Travel now through 31-Aug-07

Book now through 29-Mar-07

St. Martin

Grand Case, EP

5th Night FREE

*Categories: Gardenview Studio, Oceanfront Studio, Oceanfront 1 Bedroom

Travel 1-Sep-07 through 15-Oct-07

St. Lucia

Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort, EP

5th Night FREE

*Categories: OceanView, 1Bedroom Villa no Pool, 2Bedroom with Pool

Travel: 13-Apr-07 through 24-Apr-07; 26-Apr-07 through 8-May-07; 13 May-07 through 22-May-07; 27-May-07 through 16-Nov-07; 04-Dec-07 through 19-Dec-07

Book now through 29-Mar-07

Nassau

Atlantis, Paradise Island, EP

from $188*(Beach Tower Promo Terrace)

Categories: Beach Tower Promo Terrace; Coral Tower Promo Terrace; Royal Tower Promo Terrace.

Book now through 16-Apr-07Travel 22-Apr-07 through 02-Sep-07

* per person double room, subject to change.

www.romanticplanet.ca

GREAT CARIBBEAN SPECIALS!

Barbados

Turtle Beach, AI

from $260* (Junior Suite Pool/GardenView)

Categories: Junior Suite Pool/GardenView and Junior Suite

Book now through 31-Mar-07 Travel now 31-Oct-07

Nassau

Atlantis, Paradise Island, EP

from $330*(Beach Tower Terrace)

Categories: Beach Tower Promo Terrace, Beach Tower Promo Water, Coral Tower Promo Terrace, Coral Tower Promo Water, Royal Tower Promo Terrace, Royal Tower Promo Harbour, Royal Tower Promo Water

Book now through 08-Mar-07Travel 07-Apr-07 through 14-Apr-07

Riu Paradise Island, AI

from $250* (Superior OceanView)

Categories: Superior OceanView, Deluxe OceanViewBook now through 30-Mar-07

Travel now through 30-Apr-07

The Cove Atlantis

4th Night FREE

Categories: Ocean Suite, Deluxe Ocean Suite

Book now through 14-Mar-07Travel 08-Apr-07 through 27-Jun-07

St. Lucia

The Jalousie Plantation

from $348* (Superior OceanView)

Categories: Villa no plunge pool; Sugar Mill; Villa Mountain View; Villa Ocean View; Villa Suite Mountain View; Villa Suite Ocean View; Mountain Lodge; Ocean Lodge; Piton Suite; & Caribbean Suite

Book now through 31-Mar-07Travel now through 30-Apr-07

Jamaica

Riu Ocho Rios, AI

from $129* (OceanView)

Categories: Ocean View, Ocean Front, Junior Suite Ocean View, Suite Oceanview, & Suite w/ Jacuzzi

Book now through 30-Mar-07

Travel 1-May-07 through 08-Aug-07

Aruba

The Westin Aruba Resort, AI, EP

5th and 7th Night FREE

Categories: Island View, Balcony Overview, Oceanview

Book now through 30-Mar-07

Travel now through 22-Dec-07

Aruba Mariott, EP

5th Night FREE

Categories: Marriott Quality Room, Garden View, Ocean/Island View, Ocean/Pool View, Executive King, & Grand Oceanfront Room

Travel now through 29-Mar-07

* per person double room, in CAD$. Rates are subject to change and based on availability. Please contact us for further details - travel@romanticplanet.ca