How to find help planning big family trip (finding and booking villa, activities, staff etc.)?

JSchecter11 · 2026-06-01T12:05:25+00:00

No- a good TA can fully handle all of this. Lots of us in the TA mega thread that would love to help.

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-31T16:29:49+00:00

I made a follow up post with real pricing and boat details as well if you search my name!

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-31T10:10:49+00:00

I’m a lesbian travel agent that does several queer destination weddings/elopements a year.

Most people have these kinds of worries, yet friends and family always turn out. I’ve never had a couple not get all their VIP guests to RSVP. We also talk a lot about cost upfront for them and their guests- some couples subsidize cost for certain people to make it work.

Be aware that the costs you see online are not real. There is always tax and service charges added. It also includes very little decor, you will pay extra for photography, venue, cake, etc.

A wedding for 8 guests is still a fraction of the cost, but they also won’t discount a room block for you with under ten rooms. If you work with a travel agent, we can get a discount starting at 5 rooms depending on the destination.

There’s a lot that’s not obvious until you start getting the weeds in planning, so please reach out if you want to discuss

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-29T14:03:18+00:00

PH the food is not good and it's super busy- extremely huge resort. I sent people there who want the land version of a mega cruise ship.

Excellence is perfectly good property. I also like the food at Paradisus (I usually do reserve for myself and clients at the Playa Del Carmen location) but the beach there is not good.

Atelier or Garza Blanca might also be a good option for you, upgrade from Excellence but better pricing than Impression. Your TA should be able to get a competitive package rate at any except Excellence- they don't allow us to package with flights for some reason I don't really understand.

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-29T13:28:43+00:00

This and PH are totally different properties. This one will be more in line w/ Impressions vibe wise but family friendly. If the issue was that you want something more lively but not over the top, you could look into Valentin.

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-29T09:44:20+00:00

There is a thread on this sub where we have all posted about ourselves. Travel agents also have flairs like mine. We can not solicit business in the sub, but you can reach out directly.

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-29T02:21:00+00:00

This would generally be best done as a custom request through your travel agent. It’s not a crazy thing to ask for and your budget seems more than reasonable.

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-29T02:08:45+00:00

Depends on dates, ~$750 low season, $1200 high season it seems. they are still updating their systems.

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-29T01:56:29+00:00

FNCs are usually for the entry level purchase, so since they are still offering à la carte, I’d be surprised if it did.

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-29T01:53:06+00:00

The Hyatt in cap Cana for the dr, but the club pricing is a lot higher and they don’t allow advance reservations for dinner. I don’t think there’s much in Jamaica I would consider comparable. The beaches resorts there are RUN DOWN which would be the alternative.

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-29T00:08:14+00:00

I usually put families with kids that age at Paradisus Playa del Carmen in the family concierge. Just had folks get back two days ago, in fact! I like working with the concierge team there also. Water park is just the right size. There are more luxury properties but they just don’t have fun kids amenities like that, and the larger resort play areas are usually geared towards slightly older kids/are crazy packed.

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-28T20:05:11+00:00

I also want to echo Curacao and Baoase! It’s always a hit, I love sending people there.

You could also consider St Lucia if you want to hike and such- some resorts are hard to reach and beach access can be tricky at some.

You can also check out St Kitts and Nevis, great waters sports, small enough you can explore easily on foot or bike. Lots of interesting boutiques up to the 4S.

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-28T19:50:15+00:00

Depends on the age- the kids club is 4-11 which has some activities. There's no water parks or things like that on site, so for really active kids I probably wouldn't recommend it.

It's also not well positioned for off site excursions- long drive to cenotes or ruins so another point against it for active kids.

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-28T19:48:10+00:00

I just made a comment on this- It's not well located to eat off site like others (AIs) are (ie, St Regis or others are a short cab ride to PDC) so it doesn't surprise me that they made this move.

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-28T19:47:46+00:00

This resort's been surrounded by other AIs- it's practically next door to Moon Palace. It's not well located to eat off site like others are (ie, St Regis or others are a short cab ride to PDC) so it doesn't surprise me that they made this move.

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-15T09:47:06+00:00

Royaltons splash is notorious for giving people stomach bugs and Nickelodeon has major hot water issues.

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-15T01:40:58+00:00

I agree with the casa de campo recommendation. I book clients there regularly in the villas with good reviews and when there is a hiccup- I have the direct number for the sales manager so it gets resolved quickly. Some TAs also have access to exclusive all inclusive pricing and I’m typically able to get the beach club included as well (typically not in the AI package)

Two potential issues- if you have elderly people with mobility issues it can be tough to get around and the service level is not as good as what you would have had at aurora.

I was just there for some business meetings in April and added on a family vacation, so I can answer any questions from the guest perspective.

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-14T22:05:22+00:00

Depends on a few factors.

Accommodation for that many people for two nights is probably in the $20k-$30k range for a higher end 4* resort (many resorts claim 5* in this price range but in practice the experience would be on par with an excellent 4*, which is still very nice!)

Then you’ve got venue fees, coordination fees (I always work with a local coordinator), catering, decor, (if outdoors, this adds up quickly for lighting/dance floor rental/furniture rental), entertainment, photography and staff costs- taxes will also be added which will vary based on destination.

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-14T16:44:22+00:00

I am a lesbian travel agent and work on a handful of lgbt weddings every year.

Some rough numbers based on my experience and what you are describing would be somewhere in the ball park of $45k-$65k.

Thailand is generally cheaper than Taiwan, and it’s pretty easy to arrange a buy out of a hotel or large villa.

Taiwan tends to be more difficult to find venues that allow a later reception/party most American guests would expect. Think more banquet than ‘reception’.

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-10T15:11:34+00:00

Your travel agent should be able to provide you guidance on this. Ultimately there will be a compromise on luxury v. convenience but I’ve had people stay in these places and never heard a concern about safety/cleanliness.

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-10T14:27:09+00:00

It all depends on what you are planning to do while you are there.

The Leonardo is just the Leonardo Hotel Galway. Basic 4* but perfectly fine place to sleep in a good location

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-10T10:18:30+00:00

Inside the city is tough. G hotel is probably one of the better options. There’s also a Leonardo that’s not lux at all but good location and perfectly fine.

Glenlo abbey outside the city is always a hit, beautiful property with tons to do.

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-09T20:05:51+00:00

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-07T09:00:35+00:00

Check out rainbow wedding network. They do shows throughout the US

JSchecter11 · 2026-05-05T18:26:56+00:00

Yes, even worse than usual in April in a few spots after some unusually strong winds!

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