Travel tips from the experts
...or just some pieces of advice from us weirdos...
Back in September, we spent 4 days down at the resort to start the wedding planning and gather "intel" for our guests. It was a fact finding mission, strictly business! Okay, maybe not ALL business. We actually had an amazing time. It got us really excited to come back in May and become husband and wife surrounded by our family and friends.
Now, we know all types of travelers joining will be us in Mexico. We have some who are experienced world travelers and others who have never left the country or even been on a plane before! So on this page, we have all of our "travel/Mexico/resort tips". There is also a section at the bottom if you have any tips to contribute or even questions. We want our guests to feel as excited and prepared as possible!
(Now, if you know ANYTHING about us, we are both long winded. Don't mind our attention to detail.)
travel docs
AIRFARE: If you haven't booked your flight yet, we recommend you start searching NOW. You can even set up an auto alert on certain websites that tell you when the prices drop. Flights will start to get more expensive as we get closer.
**TIPS**: If you have a choice, fly direct! Try to arrive at the resort earlier in the day/afternoon if possible. It takes about 1-2 hours to get through customs/retrieve luggage/transport to the resort once in Mexico, and we want you to be able to spend the MAX amount of time at the resort as possible. Also NOTE that when departing Mexico, LOMAS TRAVEL will be picking you up at least 3 hours before your flight. If possible, try to book your flight home later in the day so that you aren't waking up at the crack of dawn and you are able to enjoy SOME of your last day in Mexico.
PASSPORTS: When traveling internationally, everyone needs to have valid passport. It also needs to be valid for at least 6 months AFTER your travel date. If you don't have one, or need to get it renewed, it takes about 6 weeks to obtain one without expediting it. Plan ahead folks! The forms can be filled out by going the US Customs website.
CHILDREN: If your children (under 15 years old) don't have their own passports, make sure you have a copy of their birth certificate. Also, if they are traveling with only 1 parent, there needs to be a letter from the other parent allowing the child to leave the country. Rules have gotten weird lately.
If you have any official questions, try searching on the US Customs website for all the official rules and regulations.
at the airport
PARKING: If you are leaving your car at the airport while you are gone, we recommend parking OFF SITE. Parking fees onsite can be upwards of $30/day depending on your airport. Do a search a couple days before for secure/safe off site parking (read reviews); usually the websites will have coupons too! This will add at least 30 minutes to your travel time, so plan accordingly.
CHECK-IN: "They" say to arrive 2 hours early for an international flight. They board international flights earlier than domestic flights. All of that is up to your travel comfort level and time of day that you are traveling.
ON THE PLANE: You will be given forms on the plane to fill out before you go through customs when you land. We recommend to fill the forms out completely when you are on the plane, rather than waiting until you get off. That way, you can hustle over to customs and get to the front of the line, rather than lingering towards the end because you still have to fill out your form. The line can get long if you're in the back.
CUSTOMS: With your completed forms, make sure your passports are ready to be stamped. There will be a line for "VISITORS", wait in THAT line. Once your passports are stamped, they will tear off a portion of the "customs" form and give it back to you. Keep that with your passport, because you will need it when you depart the country later in the week. Collect your luggage, and head towards the exit. You will be directed towards a final check point. Every person will be asked to push a button in which you will receive a GREEN light for go or RED light for stop. It is random, so don't stress if you get the RED light. All that means is that they will scan you suitcase again, and open it up for a quick search. It is nothing to be nervous about, they do it all right there in the open.
AFTER CUSTOMS: You will exit the terminal, and walk down a long wide hallway to the exit to the outside. We have already set up your transportation FROM the airport to the resort with a company called LOMAS TRAVEL. They will be in TEAL VESTS and WHITE PANTS, and waiting for you. Now once you get through the sliding doors, get your game face on. Because this is a tourist destination, there will be several other transportation and tourist companies vying for you attention and business. Tell them "no thank you" and keep on walking until you find LOMAS TRAVEL. Your name will be on their list.
AT THE RESORT
ON THE WAY: The trip to get to AZUL Sensatori is about a 20 minute car ride when driving direct. We recommend tipping the driving once you arrive, usually $1 or $2 per person/bag. That is up to you though.
ONCE YOU ARRIVE: The entrance is beautiful, so take it all in. The driver and valet will assist in getting your bags out of the van. The valet will hold on to your bags until you get your room, and will bring the bags directly to you room. Go check in, and start having fun! The employees at AZUL Sensatori are so just wonderful, and so accommodating.
EXTRAS FOR OUR GUESTS: With our group reservation, every room has a $250 credit: $100 spa/massage credit, $100 credit to upgrade to fancy wines, and $50 credit toward a candle light dinner on the beach. We are so excited to be able to offer this to everyone. You will receive more information once you arrive about all of this. But let us know if you have any questions or want more details in pricing if you want to plan ahead
MONEY: While pesos are the official currency in Mexico, everyone accepts American dollars. But know they give change in pesos. They also accept all major credit cards, but keep in mind your credit card's foreign transaction fees. In theory, all you really need cash for is TIPS, if you plan to tip, and don't mind using your credit card if you plan to do anything extra. Hotel accommodations, food, drink, and transportation is all included. When we were there, we ran out of cash, and used the ATM machine in the lobby to get more...but that came with $30-$40 ATM fee! We recommend getting your cash out back home; if you have left over, just bring it back home with you.
WATER: Rule of thumb has always been "DON'T DRINK THE WATER IN MEXICO". We still stick with that, but luckily, the entire resort has filtered water, including ice, shower water, and sinks. Don't be scared of the water. They also handout water bottles like candy. We usually stick to the water bottles if given the choice, but don't deny ice or brushing our teeth with sink water.
FOOD: We can't even begin to describe how amazing the food is; try to eat at as many different restaurants as you can. Below is a link to the website with a description each restaurant. Also note the dress codes. They aren't extremely strict about it, but it does help to keep up the gourmet standards of the resort.