|
WEDDINGS
ON
THE HOUSE
...where
all-inclusive
also means 'I Do'
Wedding
on
the beach at
Breezes Bahamas
(Sand wedding cake not included!)
When
the economy is in
trouble, even lavish wedding plans have to be toned down, but no bride
wants to
forego the glamour on her big day. At several Caribbean all-inclusive
resorts, complimentary weddings are on the menu,
settings are
very romantic, and a wedding coordinator takes care of every detail!
Most
brides-to-be are already
familiar with the luxury-included Sandals Resorts ‘WeddingMoon,’ free
on stays of 6
nights or
longer in Concierge or higher room categories. www.sandals.com
And just as popular is the elaborate complimentary ceremony presented
at
SuperClubs Grand Lido, Breezes and Hedonism properties. www.superclubs.com
Now here are a few different suggestions to
consider. As in most promotional packages, restrictions apply, so be
sure to
check with your travel agent or the resort’s website for a complete
explanation
of the rules. Also determine if any length of residency is required at
the
destination prior to the ceremony.
Say
your vows at a
complimentary
wedding celebration provided by Riu Hotel
Santa Fe in Cabo San
Lucas when at least five rooms
are booked for the party. The usual amenities are
included, plus a reception dinner for the wedding group with cake and
a sparkling
wine toast. Bride and groom also receive a spa discount and surprise
gifts. Officiant’s fee and legal
document
costs are extra. Some restrictions apply. The year-old beachfront hotel
overlooks the famous rock
arch at the tip of Baja Peninsula…a very romantic setting. Other properties
offering free weddings are Riu Palace Macao and Riu Bachata in the
Dominican Republic, Riu Paradise Island in The Bahamas, plus Jamaica's
Riu Palace Tropical Bay and Club Hotel Riu Ocho Rios. www.riu.com
The
free ‘We Do’ wedding
package at Sunset
Jamaica Grande Resort & Spa
and Sunset Beach
Resort & Spa in Jamaica,
include service of a marriage officer,
on-site wedding planner, picturesque wedding area, chilled bottle of
champagne,
single-tiered wedding cake serving 4-6, bouquet and boutonniere,
recorded music, two ‘Just Got Married” t-shirts. Couples must book an
ocean view room category or higher for 7
nights. A per-person supplement applies for groups larger than 4-6
persons. A
non-refundable administration, processing, license and
marriage
certificate fee of $280 is required for wedding reservations.(This package
not available at Sunset at the Palms.( All three properties
offer more elaborate wedding
packages at very affordable rates. www.sunsetresortsjamaica.com
Almond Resorts, a Caribbean
chain of five properties in Barbados and St. Lucia, delivers a ‘Wedding in Paradise’ to couples staying a minimum of 7 nights in
a deluxe or higher room category. Components: wedding coordinator,
clergyman or magistrate
(additional fees may apply), best man and maid of honor if needed,
bridal
bouquet and groom’s boutonniere, a bottle of champagne, wedding cake,
choice of
a decorated wedding site, government fees,
registrar and
ceremony charges, all taxes and gratuities. Optional amenities can be
extended at
extra cost--live island music, celebratory
wedding
dinner for two with personalized menus, massage or salon services,
flower
upgrades and photography. E-mail
weddingdirector@almondresorts.com, or
visit
the website. www.almondresorts.com
Palace Resorts, Mexico. Free weddings are offered at all Palace
hotels, but package contents vary from resort to resort.
Download a schematic of each property's plan from the
website. At Aventura
Spa Palace on the popular
Riviera Maya, the package includes: wedding gazebo, all
document
arrangements, Justice of the Peace, marriage certificate (issued in
Spanish),
white folding chairs, domestic champagne (4 bottles max.), dinner
reservations
for the wedding party at select restaurants on premises, wedding
planner, witnesses if required, late 6:00pm checkout on departure
day
(upon request and subject to availability). Wedding guests staying at a
property other than a Palace Resort are required to purchase a day
pass. This
package must be reserved at least 7 business days prior to arrival at
the
resort. The ‘free’ aspect will not apply to requests made at or after
arrival
on site. A penalty of $300 will be charged on reservations
cancelled
within 45 days of the wedding date. www.palaceresorts.com
ALL
ABOUT WEDDINGS
If you are even
thinking
about tying the knot, Lovetripper
is the search spot for you. This site doesn’t
just stop at hotel and destination reviews. It offers videos, books and
much more. Whether you're keeping the ceremony simple or putting on a
lavish spalsh for your big day, Lovetripper provides a treasure trove
of helpful tips on
all things romantic. Sign up for the newsletter to keep current on the
latest trends. www.lovetripper.com
|
|
FINDING
THOSE BARGAIN RATES
ACROSS
THE U.S.
Where are all those bargain hotel rooms you
hear so much about? Where
can you
find a place to stay in big cities without paying expensive
rates?
ROOMORAMA to the rescue! The recently
launched website supplies affordable alternatives to hotel rates in New York, Boston, Chicago and Toronto...and has
now expanded to Los
Angeles, Miami, San
Francisco, Vancouver
and Washington D.C.
With a few clicks, searchers can find
short-term
rentals via a streamlined secure booking process. Offers range from a
room in a home with
bath down the hall to a private loft apartment.
New York Examples: On South 8th St., a two-room
apartment 5 minutes from SoHo
and Union
Square
at $108 p/night double. Upper East Side (74th St.) Fully
furnished studio
with kitchen for $146 p/night.
Sleeps 4 with sofa bed in living
room. Five-minute walk to Central Park and subway.
In answer to your search
information, a list appears with thumbnail photos, plus a ‘Shoutouts’
column
alerting anyone with accommodations that fit your criteria to make
contact
through the site. An overall map links the numbered accommodations to
locations. When you click on a choice, a more defined map appears as
well.
NOTE: A small
transaction fee is added to the
rate at booking. Some offers require minimum stays; some charge a
clean-up fee
on departure; others boost the rate during holidays. Click on your
choice and
read all the fine print before making reservations.
ROOMORAMA is a boon to
business travelers and especially helpful for tourists. Savings on
hotel
rates can be spent on Broadway shows, shopping at Macy’s and Barney’s,
or
visiting MOMA. The company plans to expand this service across the United States. www.roomorama.com
AROUND
THE WORLD
For global accommodations, from bargain to
grand luxe, SPLENDIA is an on-line hotel reservation system that takes
more than a 'just the facts' approach to servicing your requests. Yet
there are bargains to be had in over 2,000 hand-picked hotels in their
inventory.
Fling into the middle of Miami Beach chic at Townhouse Hotel. Fresh,
fun and fashionable...all for $125 p/room p/night double including
breakfast.
Even Paris is affordable through Splendia. At the Eiffel Seine Hotel,
pay just $146 p/room p/night for breathtaking views of the Seine. The
Eiffel Tower is just a 5 minute walk away, and there is nothing
more spectacular in Paris than the sight of that famous monument
lit up at night, soaring majestically into the sky. www.splendia.com
AGODA is a leading specialist for discount hotel rates in Asia: China,
Thailand, Singapore, India and Australia, to name a few countries
covered. This on-line
company, part of Priceline, represents 8,290 hotels in Asia and almost
50,000 worldwide, from 3-star to 5-star.
A professional staff combines local connections and knowledge to best
serve both business and leisure travelers. Be sure to investigate the
Rewards Program, allowing members to redeem earned points at
hotels around the globe. www.agoda.com
|
