Rodrigo and Claudia Garcia, winners of our “Dream Wedding Design Contest” with David Tutera, share their honeymoon story.
Bridal Guide: What were your must-haves for selecting a honeymoon destination?
Rigo and Claudia: The only requirement we really had for our vacation was somewhere warm, near the water. We were very open to traveling to a new location and had never been to Playa del Carmen on the Caribbean coast of Mexico. Some of the things that interested us were the Mayan ruins, the excursions and watersports.
BG: Where did you stay?
R&C: We had a Luxury Junior Suite Royal Service Ocean View Room at the Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Perla, a beachfront, adults-only, all-inclusive resort. The room was huge! There was a large, two-person shower with eight to 10 showerheads on three of the walls; a tub that was open to the rest of the room, along with a Jacuzzi on our patio. One of the most striking features was that the headboard of the bed was a fish tank recessed into the wall (room rates start at $335 per person, per night and are all-inclusive; paradisus.com).
BG: How did you like the service?
R&C: The Royal Service room category included a personal butler, which was an asset when it came to making reservations, securing beach/pool spots and navigating around the property. We enjoyed unlimited access to all the amenities of the resort, including the fitness facilities, watersports, spa, seven restaurants, nine bars and 24-hour room service.
BG: Describe a typical day.
R&C: We found ourselves on the beach every morning to watch the sunrise — it never got old. We also became very familiar with the poolside staff. And they brought us mango salad and iced tea for a snack every day. It was a very pleasant routine to fall into.
BG: Did you create any rituals for meals?
R&C: One of our favorite restaurants was La Palapa. We ate there every night and reserved the same table at the far end of the patio with a panoramic view of the Caribbean Sea. Our favorite meals were the grilled salmon and panko-crusted grilled chicken, both with oven-roasted vegetables and Parmesan garlic mashed potatoes. We usually started with a variety of very fresh sushi and ended with fruit-based desserts.
BG: What resort activities did you enjoy?
R&C: We stayed for eight days/seven nights and never felt like we were running out of things to do at the resort — the service was excellent and the overall ambience was perfect for honeymooners. We liked the 11 a.m. daily beach volleyball games — it was a great way to meet and interact with other resort guests. But we definitely enjoyed the watersports the most — especially the Jet Skis. We traversed the entire shoreline and spent many hours in the open ocean. We also loved the snorkeling. We took an excursion to Isla Mujeres, a protected area located a 30-minute ferry ride from the resort. There’s a large natural reef offshore for some of the best snorkeling we have ever seen.
BG: Did you take any other excursions?
R&C: We went shopping in the nearby downtown area, located within walking distance to many of the area hotels. We didn’t plan on purchasing too many souvenirs, but ended up doing so because the deals were so good. We came back with picture frames, T-shirts and loads of decorative knick-knacks. We both speak Spanish and could easily negotiate with vendors. We also quickly learned that visitors who even attempted to speak in Spanish were given a better price.
BG: Did you experience much nightlife?
R&C: At the resort there was literally something for everyone, from live jazz music to a piano bar and New York City-style nightclub. One of the nights, we saw an amazing Michael Jackson tribute show. The music, performances and dance moves were incredible. The best way to describe it would be Vegas meets Mardi Gras.
Photos courtesy of Paradisus Resorts
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