How To Get PADI Certified at Sandals Resorts in the Caribbean

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How To Get PADI Certified at Sandals Resorts in the Caribbean

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October 18th 2023Back to our Sandals Blog > > >
How To Get PADI Certified at Sandals Resorts in the Caribbean

There is an entire world waiting to be discovered beneath the deep, blue sea. Much of what is hidden beneath the ocean remains a mystery, but fortunately, underwater scuba diving explorations have brought some of these mysteries to light. Now it is possible for curious adventurers to swim beneath the waves, and witness marine life firsthand in a beautiful and mostly uninterrupted state.


Expert tip: Combine your Caribbean vacation with your scuba diving certification and stay at one of the 15 award-winning Sandals all-inclusive resorts. Get certified and dive the rest of your stay for free!


All it takes to do this is gaining a PADI certification. This is important in order to learn all the technical aspects of diving, as well as how to do it safely. Once you're certified you'll be able to explore some of the most magical dive sites in the world, including reef explorations in places like Australia, Hawaii, and the Caribbean.


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Courtney Montgomery
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Courtney Montgomery is a highly experienced Sandals Resorts travel guru and lover of global adventures. Specializing in Sandals Resorts vacations. She has extensive experience working with all-inclusive resorts, helping couples create unique and culturally rich wedding celebrations.


In this article on our Sandals Resorts Blog:

Preparing for your PADI certification
Material that's covered by your PADI certification course
How PADI certification courses work at Sandals Resorts

Completing your PADI certification on the resort
Completing your PADI certification with eLearning
The best Sandals resorts for scuba diving
FAQs about PADI certifications at Sandals


scuba diver school of fish


Steps to prepare for your PADI certification at Sandals Resorts:

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1. Choose a resort destination

Sandals and Beaches are the top choices for all-inclusive scuba diving resorts. All resorts are PADI-certified learning and certification centers! With state-of-the-art Newton Dive Boats, a PADI Certified staff, and unparalleled dive locations nearby, Sandals has been voted one of the Top 5 Dive Operations in the Western Hemisphere by PADI.

With seven Sandals destinations to choose from, you're guaranteed to be close to some of the best scuba diving sites in the Caribbean no matter which resort you choose. Plus, all the dive equipment you need and up to two tanks a day is included for PADI-certified divers!

See the latest deals and offers for Sandals Resorts

scuba diving boat


Expert tip: If you're not quite ready to do a full diving certification course, but want to dive on vacation at Sandals, you can take the PADI Discover Scuba Diving course (only $120 USD) and be ready to dive in just a few hours! No prior certification or dive experience is necessary to complete this 3-hour course, and it's valid at the resort for two weeks.


2. Do a fitness check

For your safety, you will be required to fill out a medical form prior to being able to go on any dives. If you have certain medical conditions, you will also be required to get a signed (and possibly notarized) letter from your doctor. This will be checked for authenticity.

3. Register for your desired course and pay the required fees

Many certification centers, such as Sandals, will allow you to expedite your learning by going online and starting your course before you arrive. Even if you do not plan to get the classwork portion of the course out of the way prior to your arrival, it is important to secure your spot early because space on boats is limited. You can book your certification course before you travel at Sandals by calling 1-888-SANDALS or purchasing your vacation extras online.


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Did you know? Sandals and Beaches Resorts cover 224 of the best dive sites in the Caribbean. Before you travel, you can check out the tons of great scuba diving sites that you may see while diving at your resort.


What material is covered during your PADI certification course?

Identifying and using scuba diving equipment

Knowing about the equipment that keeps you safe makes a world of a difference while you're underwater. Make every effort to pay attention during your training course to instructions on how to assemble your gear, and what goes where. Here are some of the basic things you'll need to be familiar with:

- Wet Suit or Dry Suit - Typically made of neoprene rubber, you'll find most divers wearing short or long versions of these, depending on where they're diving.

- Regulator - Serves as a converter of high-pressure air into ambient pressure, which makes it possible to breathe the air from your tank.

- Purge Valve - Facilitates the clearing of masks and regulators without having to remove either.

- Scuba Tank / Cylinder - Made out of steel or aluminum, this holds all the air you'll need for the trek and is connected to the regulator.

couple with scuba diving equipment

- Full or Half Foot Fins - Their primary purpose is to help you control your movement underwater. Fins help you navigate more quickly underwater.

- Diving Mask - A diving mask protects your eyes from the salt water, and helps you to see everything clearly. An ill-fitting mask can really put a damper on your experience, not to mention make it harder to keep water out.

- Scuba Gloves - Not everyone wears these, but they can help keep your hands warm and protected, depending on the extent of your dive.

- Weight Belts & Pockets - These more or less help counteract or balance off the buoyancy of diving equipment, like tanks and other equipment.

- Defogger - You can invest in a defogger solution to prevent your mask from fogging up while underwater, or you can just use baby shampoo, which in most cases, works just as well.

Using the Buddy System terminology

BWRAF ('Begin with Review and Friend'), or:

- B - Buoyancy - The Buoyancy Control Device (BCD) is a jacket worn over the wetsuit. It is a vital part of diving wear, as it is connected to your tank and all the associated equipment. During the buoyancy check, make sure that you and your partner check the inflator button, and deflate valves.

- W - Weight - Weights are important while scuba diving and help you to maintain the correct depth. As part of the BWRAF buddy check, you'll want to ensure that both your and your scuba buddy's weights are secured, and locked into place. E.g. weight belts, and weight pockets.

couple scuba diving

- R - Releases - Learn how to open/close the various releases on your and your buddy's wet suit. Check tank straps, shoulder and chest straps, etc.

- A - Air - Check regulators, cylinder value (to ensure it's open), air monitoring device, and even taste of air at this point. Check alternative air sources, and be sure you and your buddy know where to locate yours, and theirs.

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- F - Final Check - This is where you cross your T's, and dot your I's. Check all gear, including mask, snorkel, fins, dive light, etc.), and be sure to secure loose hoses and other objects.


Performing fin pivots / neutral buoyancy exercises

You'll lay face down on the bottom, keeping your legs as straight as you can. Take deep, paced breaths, and then add little bursts of air into your BCD - this helps to develop neutral buoyancy. As you continue the exercise, you will gradually increase your buoyancy.

Filling inflatable tubes / signaling devices

The inflatable tube is usually located in the VC pocket or attached to another part of your equipment. You'll get familiar with this beforehand. To inflate it, you'll first need to unroll and flatten the air tube on the water's surface. You can use your air source to inflate the tube. To do this, you'll hold the open end of the tube beneath the surface and insert your mouthpiece into the opening. Press and hold down the purge button until the tube is fully inflated, and stands upright. Keep holding the open end under the water to prevent the air from getting out.

Performing a tired diver tow

It's rare that you'll have to do this, but handy in the case of an emergency where you're required to help someone make their way back to the boat. Learning how to do this is normally a part of your practice pool or open-water dive.

There are various types of tired diver tow methods, including the tank valve tow, do-si-do tow, and push tow. The tank dive tow as the name suggests requires that you pull your dive buddy's tank valve while swimming on your side or back. Intertwine your arms into your diving partners as you swim on your side for the do-si-do tow, while the push tow requires that you put your partner's fins on your shoulders, and navigate the waters by swimming on your stomach.

Using a depth chart

You will also learn how to use a depth chart, which more or less lets you calculate how long you can safely stay underwater on a dive at specific depths.



How does a PADI certification course work at Sandals Resorts?

The timeframe and exact makeup of your PADI certification course at Sandals depends on a number of factors including your time of arrival, the type of certification being pursued, individual capability, and whether or not you did any of the coursework beforehand by enrolling in the PADI eLearning program. It's possible to complete a PADI certification in as little as 48 hours, but you should always proceed at a pace that's comfortable for you.


Expert tip: The first thing you'll want to do when you arrive at Sandals for your scuba diving vacation is to check in at the Dive Shop!


Completing your entire PADI certification on the resort

1. Watch the training video (Day 1)

Starting from about 9 am, your training session will begin, likely with a training video. You can expect to receive all your course material on that day, so you can follow along and do study prep. If you are part of a group, you will collectively watch the training video, which is about 20 minutes long.

scuba diving instructor

2. Do the practical training (Day 1)

Ideally, you'll have two opportunities for practice while in the water before your big dive. One of these will happen in the pool, and the other in the ocean. The pool dive session spans for around three hours, and will happen before the ocean dive, which usually happens the next day. You can expect a range of pool floor exercises.

The main purpose of the pool training is to get you comfortable in the water, and with your equipment. You will undergo confined water skills training, which includes learning key skills like alternating between your snorkel and regulator on the surface and clearing your regulator.

padi certification training pool

As part of your training you will learn how to rid your mask of water underwater, something that may sound impossible, but is actually one of those things that definitely comes in handy, and is easy to do. You'll also learn underwater signals, and undertake air depletion exercises, both of which help you to feel in control and prepared for anything while underwater.

Part of the training is learning how to assemble your equipment, equipping/un-equipping your weight belt underwater, inflating/deflating your BCD, and learning how to breathe using a free-flowing regulator in the event that you encounter issues with your regulator while diving.

Skills like relieving pesky underwater leg cramps will also be in focus, as this is one of the things that can negatively affect your diving experience. To do this you can use a stretching technique where you hold the end of your fin, bring it in towards you, and straighten your leg.

scuba diving in pool padi certification

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3. Read through the theory (Day 1)

Getting through approximately 5 chapters (about 70 pages) as part of the theory component of your certification process is mandatory and will help you complete the review quiz at the end of the course. Depending on how fast you can read (and how well you're able to retain information), you may well be able to complete this in one day. It helps to get it out of the way as early as possible, in preparation for the actual exam the next day.


Sandals Royal Bahamian on Cable beach

Picture: Sandals Royal Bahamian, one of the best Sandals resorts for scuba diving! The resort is located right on Cable Beach in Nassau, Bahamas, not a bad place to read through your theory.


Expert tip: You'll find chapter reviews at the end of each chapter, and various practice quizzes that you can review with your instructor.


4. Complete the exam! (Day 2)

This is where your studying will pay off; you'll be required to complete 3 sections of about 10 questions each as part of your exam. In order to be granted scuba certification, you'll need to make a passing grade. Be sure to pass the exam before, or after your practice dives to gain certification!

5. Go out for your first real dive (Day 2)

Making it to this step means that you've successfully acquired your scuba certification. Congratulations! You're now just about set to head out on your first real dive. Hopefully, you've already planned this out with your tour operator or resort. If you haven't, now is a good time to do so.

scuba diving couple on boat

Quite a number of resorts have only one dive boat, so try to schedule your dive upfront. Be on time and ready when the day comes.

In most cases, your first dive will be a two-tank trip, which means that you will go out on the boat and embark on two separate dives, likely with a break in between. Most trips leave early, from about 8:30 - 9 am. Depending on whether you're on a private tour, or with a group, you can expect to return between 12 pm and 1 pm.

6. Enjoy day 3 & beyond

You can rest easy for the duration of your stay, or go dive some more.

We're pretty sure you're going to take full advantage of your new certified diver status, and who can blame you, especially considering dives are absolutely free for guests of Sandals Resorts once you're certified.


Good to know: It is not advisable that you go diving on the day that you're leaving the island as you may be at risk of Decompression Sickness (DCS). Most experts recommend that you take your last dive a minimum of 18-24 hours before flying.


Completing your PADI certification through eLearning and on-resort practicals

Many people choose to get PADI certified while on vacation, but the certification process can be time-consuming. Getting started with your PADI certification before your vacation will allow you to spend less time learning and more time enjoying your stay. Online learning is optional as all components of the certification can be completed at the resort, but it can still be worthwhile if you want to dive as soon as possible.

1. Sign up for the PADI e-learning certification

Getting your scuba training on the fast track by starting the course prior to your arrival is very possible with Sandals. This means you get more time to relax, enjoy your vacation, and explore as many scuba sites as you desire. To take the fast-tracked route, you'll simply need to sign up for the PADI e-learning certification.

2. Undergo the practical training on arrival

Once you've signed up, you can get ready for the written exam by watching the videos and doing the required reading. You can also do additional reading to get you ready for the practical training that you will still need to undergo once you arrive at your destination.

After you've completed your pool and open-water dive, you're free to explore life beneath the waves!

Video created by ScubaNation. @scubanationtv



Taking the big plunge

For scuba newbies, the decision to dive can be both exciting and scary. It helps to have knowledgeable guides and to know what to expect before you dive.

As far as scuba diving goes, guides will usually give you a heads-up about what sights you may witness on your dive. For example, at Fish Reef in the Bahamas (Exumas), you're likely to come face to face with white grunts, yellowtail snappers, blue parrotfish, and squirrel fish during a scuba exploration. While at Gallery Reef in Jamaica (Negril), you're likely to see large crabs, turtles, sea horses, moray eels, sting rays, and nurse sharks.

scuba dive from boat

Dive guides can tell you with some degree of certainty what you can expect to see by taking into account tradition, patterns, and climate. The experiences of other recreational and professional divers in specific areas also come into play here - if sightings of sea turtles have been reported in a particular area by every other diver who goes scuba diving there, it is likely that you will witness these too.

Predictions like these make it easier to choose where you'd like to dive, once you're PADI certified, based on what you hope to experience. It must be said though, that even with the most solid predictions, there are the odd days when you may see what you expected. This is one of the reasons people get hooked on scuba - because it is always full of surprises!


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Video created by ScubaNation. @scubanationtv

Good to know: At the end of each amazing dive, you and your group will do a "controlled safety stop" This happens at about 15 feet below the water's surface. It spans for about three minutes and is important in order to allow any built-up nitrogen within your body to be released.

couple at scuba diving resort


Congratulations ... you're a PADI-certified diver. What's next?

There are various levels of PADI certification, from PADI Scuba Diver or Junior PADI Scuba Diver to Teacher of Teachers: Course Director.

For your vacation, however, just getting to the first PADI certified level should suffice. For the more ambitious, you can opt to get certified as an Open Water Diver (OWD) or Advanced Open Water Diver (AOWD), both still on the recreational levels. Having these certifications opens additional possibilities for dive sites, but it is highly recommended that people seeking advanced levels of certification factor that in while planning the duration of their trip.

There are also specialty levels like Rescue Diver, and Dive Master Certifications that expand your diving horizons even further!



The best Sandals resorts for scuba diving

dive boat scuba diving

Scuba diving can be costly, but guests of Sandals don't have to think too much about this as scuba diving is part of the all-inclusive vacation package. Once you've attained your PADI certification, the rest of your dives are free. This is good news especially, for repeat visitors who wish to travel to a wide range of properties to have new experiences with scuba diving all around the Caribbean. Once you're certified, you won't need any additional training to dive at any of the Sandals properties.

The best Sandals resorts for scuba diving include Sandals Royal Bahamian in Nassau, which is a great place to spot sharks. Sandals Grenada has an abundance of shipwrecks off the coast, as do the **Sandals resorts in Barbados** and the resort in Curacao. Also consider Saint Lucia, which has some amazing coral reefs. Other great scuba diving locations include the Sandals resorts in Exuma, Jamaica and Antigua.

You can't go wrong with Sandals when looking for a great place to scuba dive in the Caribbean!

tugboat dive site negril jamaica

Picture: Dive site in Negril, Jamaica (sunken tugboat).



Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about PADI certifications at Sandals

Who can get PADI certified?

Scuba certification starts with the Junior PADI Scuba Diver certification, which is open to children as young as 10 years old. As long as you're healthy, fit, and/or have the 'okay' from your doctor, you're free to start your PADI certification process.

How many people have been certified at Sandals/Beaches resorts?

Over 100,000 guests have been certified at Sandals/ Beaches resorts over the years. The training courses at all Sandals and Beaches branded properties are taught by PADI certified professionals, so you can be sure that you're receiving the best instructor training available.

How much does it cost to get PADI certified at Sandals?

Sandals guests can get PADI certified for about $450 USD per person and dive for the rest of their stay for free! The following is included:

- Materials

- Equipment

- Lessons

- Practise dives

- Boat rides



How old do you have to be to get certified?

Anyone from 10 years of age can get scuba certified. Younger scuba divers will need to acquire a Junior PADI Scuba Diver certification. All Sandals resorts are adults-only resorts and therefore don't accommodate children. Couples with kids can scuba dive at one of the family-friendly Beaches resorts (includes a scuba diving program for kids!).

What can you do with a PADI Open Water certification?

The main difference between certified Scuba Divers and Open Water Divers (OWD) is the maximum depth they can dive. OWDs can embark on dives with a certified partner or another professional diver to a maximum depth of 18 meters/60 feet, while certified Scuba Divers can only dive under the direct supervision of a PADI professional to a max. depth of 12 meters /40 feet.

Why would someone want to get Open Water certified?

People who get Open Water certified do it for the flexibility that the upgrade of certification affords when compared to a regular recreational scuba diver, who must dive only under the supervision of a PADI professional. Getting Open Water certified broadens the scope of diving locations available to you.

Can I scuba dive with my medical condition?

Some health conditions may require further clearance from your doctor before going scuba diving. These include asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. Being able to dive with any of these conditions depends on whether the condition is chronic, being managed by medication, and whether you have your doctor's approval.

couple on scuba diving boat

Overall, safety is a priority when scuba diving and all precautions should be taken to avoid mishaps or compromising your health. In most cases, when signing up for scuba diving excursions, you will be required to sign a disclaimer/medical waiver. Some companies verify that the facts you've provided are correct before proceeding with the dive depending on your answers. This is done for your own safety.



Explore the wonders of the ocean's depths at Sandals

So there you have it, all of the steps you need to get PADI certified at Sandals Resorts. With some determination and enthusiasm, you too can explore the ocean as a certified diver.

Take note that once you have your Open Water Diver certification, a whole list of more advanced certification opportunities arises, each with its own exciting experiences and new things to learn! Be sure to dive with Sandals on your next vacation, and you will see why so many guests have chosen us as the dive center that they keep coming back to, for the best scuba diving experiences in the Caribbean!


Video created by ScubaNation. @scubanationtv





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• Three-tiered white fondant wedding cake with rose topper
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• Honeymoon dinner with sparkling wine in resort specialty restaurant
• Honeymoon package
- Chilled sparkling wine and sweet treat
- Romantic turn-down service on wedding night
- Breakfast in bed any morning of choice
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• White or magenta dendrobium orchid bouquet
• White or magenta dendrobium orchid boutonniere
• White-cushioned Chiavari chairs
• ReTie the Knot commemorative certificate
At Your Wedding Reception
• Private one-hour cocktail reception
- Passed hors d' oeuvres
- Sparkling wine toast, signature cocktail, and non-alcoholic beverages
• Single-tiered white fondant cake with dendrobium topper
• Reception table with white linen & white-cushioned Chiavari chairs
On Your Honeymoon
• Honeymoon dinner with sparkling wine at a resort specialty restaurant
• Honeymoon Package
- Chilled sparkling wine and sweet treat
- Romantic turn-down service on wedding night
- Breakfast in bed any morning of choice
For Your Anniversary
• One free anniversary night on a future stay with 7 paid nights in a Club or Butler category


Some of our destination weddings

Kate and Curtis - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
Sandals Grande, St. Lucia, Large Group, Destination Wedding

I wanted to share (with permission) these gorgeous pictures from a destination wedding 2 weekends ago we had the privilege of being a part of and booked by Lia. She chose this over the water wedding chapel in St. Lucia with friends and family there to help celebrate. I love her flower crown and her dress and how happy she is. Picture perfect. Congratulations Kate and Curtis! We are so happy for you!

Michael and Shawana Rowles - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
Beaches Resort, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Destination Wedding

Lia was very helpful for us in planning our destination wedding to Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We had gone through a few other travel planners first who didn't seem nearly as interested in our needs. We really appreciated the way Lia helped us navigate through some of the complexities, including the local laws of Jamaica and the planning with the resort itself. Even once we got to the resort and ran into a few snags, Lia was able to quickly get those resolved very quickly. We would highly recommend her for anyone planning a destination wedding or any other vacation. Thanks, Lia, for making our destination wedding the most special day of our lives.

Julie and Chieu Vu - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
Playa Del Carmen, Large Group, Destination Wedding

Wedding planning can be stressful and overwhelming, but if you're planning on having a destination wedding, especially with a large group, I would highly recommend using All Inclusive Weddings!

From beginning to end, they help with every step; i.e., finding the venue, creating a custom wedding website, and booking all your guests. Their office manager, Linze, was very responsive, helpful, and so sweet! Everything turned out smoothly and we couldn't be happier!

destination wedding travel agent Cancun
Alison & Alex K. - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa, Destination Wedding

Stephanie was our incredible travel agent for our destination wedding! She helped with every aspect, quick communication and AMAZING coordination with over 50 different people over 8 states. Stephanie from the beginning, gave options and talked through so many questions I had. I could not have asked for a better right hand woman! 10 out of 10 for Steph, we could not appreciate & trust her more!

Incredible Agent For Our Destination Wedding! 10 Out Of 10 For Steph!

Such an amazing week of memories,laughter & love! Thankful for our people and truly blessed beyond words ♥️♥️

wedding travel agent cancun
cancun wedding travel agent
Leah and Kell Flynn - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
Royalton Blue Waters, Montego Bay, Jamaica, Destination Wedding

My husband and I worked with the company's owner, Lia Vincent, and office manager, Linze.

Lia & Linze were both very warm and friendly, and from day one, we could tell cared about us as a couple and our destination wedding success, rather than just seeing us as more clients. I get stressed out easily, so planning my own wedding alone was overwhelming, even though my wedding was 10 months out. I ended up working with Linze, and we pushed up the wedding date with a little less than three months to prepare. I was initially nervous about using a travel agent / wedding planner, but it turned out to be a huge blessing, because it took away a lot of the stress and worry I was experiencing. A bride has so many things to worry about, so having someone else bear the brunt of the work and worry about the nitty-gritty details was a HUGE relief for me.

Why spend hours analyzing vendors and reading reviews, when you can have a pro do it? If you want an intimate wedding, if you want to elope, or if you want a huge all-out, go-into-debt-for-years wedding, and if you're in the market for a wedding travel agent, Lia and Linze should be at the top of your list!

The day of the wedding, everything was so beautiful, and so much better than I could have done on my own. Lia's company finds the best local vendors, so you know you'll get great value in your package, and what's nice is her company offers different packages for different budgets. We worked with and met AMAZING vendors! The reception was so elegant that as soon as I entered the reception, I felt amazement, joy, and relief because being the worrywart and control freak that I sometimes can be, it was hard for me to trust someone to somehow make everything perfect. Lia was able to give us the dream wedding we couldn't have done ourselves. Our family and friends were also amazed, and repeatedly told us how great the wedding, reception, and food were at the resort.

Puerto Vallarta wedding travel agent
Darby Brown - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Destination Wedding

I used Stephanie Tindall to help me choose the perfect resort in PV Mexico for where my guests would stay for my destination wedding. She went round and round with me helping me find the perfect location. It had to be nice, trendy, not to outrageously expensive and within a certain mile radius of a marina where my guests needed to go for the wedding. She helped everyone get booked and when things became a little hectic as tracking sometimes can get. She took care of the details. One of my guests had passport issues and she helped talk them through what to do. It was such a relief to have a point of contact for travel related issues so I didn't have to be stressed about it. She did this all with a patient, positive? upbeat and kind attitude through the entire process. I highly recommend her.
Thank you again, Darby Brown

Juliet D. - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
UNICO, Riviera Maya, Mexico Destination Wedding

Unico was wonderful and the perfect place for our wedding! It was quiet and the ceremony was better than expected. We had it on the gazebo and it was away from everything, which was great. The photography was beyond our expectations. We have not received our video yet, but assume it will be just as great. I also used the in house vendor for make up and hair, and was not disappointed. The wedding coordinator, Nazareth, was so sweet and on point. We used the local host quite a bit with WhatsApp, which was quite convenient. Food and drinks were amazing. We were disappointed that 2087 restaurant was down for half of our stay for repairs. We ate at Mi Carisa on our wedding night, which was the perfect choice. Service was also best there. We scheduled 2 tours through the hotel, a sunset cruise and Chichen Itza express. The boat tour was nice. Chichen itza tour was too fast and ok. We really appreciate your recommendations and help booking our wedding and stay. It was wonderful! Thank you again, Juliet and Jason

Jodie Yu - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
Hard Rock Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Destination Wedding

We just got back from an AMAZING wedding weekend yesterday. I can't begin to thank you enough for your help and support during the entire process. Everyone had a great time. It truly was one of the best days of my life and I can't believe how stress-free it was once I got there. Thank you Thank you!

SECRETS PLAYA MUJERES destination wedding review
Vivian and James Chevrier - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
Secrets Playa Mujeres, Mexico, Destination Wedding

I have never used a travel agent before Lia. I have always been the "I can do everything cheaper by myself on the internet" type person; most of the time, it works great. When my husband and I decided to have a destination wedding, we were not sure about anything - number of guests, length of stay, etc; we also have very demanding jobs, requiring constant travels up until the week before our wedding. So we thought that a travel agent may be a lifesaver; as it turned out, she was. Lia was endorsed as an expert in destination weddings on the American Express Travel website. Although she lived over a 1,000 miles away, I felt comfortable.

As I am not a "girly" person, wedding planning was not my thing; however, party planning and event coordination are. Lia and I treated this "event" like a business and I loved that about her; I needed someone to be truthful and provide honest advice. As it is with my job, I like corresponding via emails because I can have all the information on hand and in writing at all time; Lia always accommodated that, and always very promptly. I'm not talking about several emails over a few months; I'm talking about over the course of over a year. Lia was there to provide support when I had a hard time reach the wedding coordinator; she was there when I freaked out at the resort regarding my brother's return transportation (as it turned out, my brother spoke with the wrong transportation company); she was organized to be able to provide me with spreadsheet of all guest arrival information; she always submitted my requests to Classic Vacation and the resort promptly. James and I cannot thank Lia enough to make everything go smoothly for the biggest event of our lives. All 48 of us had such a great time that we absolutely see another group vacation in the future.

Mark & Casey Shelley - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
UNICO 2087, Riviera Maya, Mexico, Destination Wedding

Read the full details about this destination wedding in our blog post, Mark and Casey Simpsen's Destination Wedding at UNICO 2087. This couple was also featured in the UNICO 2087 Resort blog post, UNICO Destination Wedding, Casey Shelley & Mark Simpsen

UNICO 2087 Destination Wedding
UNICO 2087 Destination Wedding
Jenni Johnson - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
Beach Palace Cancun, Mexico, Destination Wedding

Lia being referred to me saved me so much wedding planning mental anguish! I had tried with a few other travel agents before I had two different people give me Lia's name, and with each of the previous TAs they had to look into things and call me back (I'm still waiting for those calls). Getting in touch with Lia was a whole new experience, she answered all my initial questions in that first phone call, had so many recommendations, and it was obvious she knew exactly what she was doing. By the time we hung up the first phone call, I had decided on a destination and venue (per Lia's suggestion). She was a God send! A year later, we are still having people talk about what a great trip it was and people are always amazed by what a great turn out we had. We ended up with about 60 people, all booking through Lia and everyone had a flawless experience. One even asked for her name when planning her destination wedding a few months later and was just as pleased! Lia told me a lot through the planning process that I was such a laid-back bride, but it really was because she left me nothing to worry about. She answered any question I had, was always quick to respond to calls and emails, and helped me plan the most perfect wedding ever. I wish I could re-live it all again!!

Sara Thompson - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
Cozumel Palace, Mexico, Destination Wedding

My husband Cameron and I got married at the Cozumel Palace in June of 2014 and could not have been more happy with our experience. A destination wedding was definitely the way to go for us and Lia was a great asset in our planning.

Throughout the process we felt completely at ease as she handled some of the most important details of planning for this special time. From her first recommendations of resorts and destinations to her help arranging travel for our closest family and friends we always felt grateful having Lia on our side. We highly recommend Lia Vincent and Palace Resorts for your destination wedding!

Bridgette Cariker - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
Le Blanc Spa Resort, Destination Wedding

I am truly so grateful for you and all of your help! Le Blanc was amazing! NOTHING could have been better, except maybe the weather, but the staff, food, and service were above and beyond! We will definitely go back there!! Love, Love, Love you for all of your help - Can NOT thank you enough!!

Saundra Ogden - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
Beach Palace, Cancun, Mexico, Destination Wedding

Our Dream Wedding!

Lia was a phenomenal help from the beginning. She was referred to me by a friend, and I was incredibly thankful that we used her. When we started planning, we became overwhelmed with all of the information that is available.

We met with her for about 45 minutes one afternoon, took her pictures of spaces we had seen online and liked, and gave her a list of our "must-haves", a list of things that would be nice but didn't matter too much, and a list of things we absolutely did NOT want. She kind of thought about things for a minute, and then listed 3 resorts that fit every single one of our needs. She then ran sample pricing from EVERY location our guests would be traveling from so we could figure out what best fit our and our guests' travel budgets. After about a million more questions from me, we finally settled on her initial recommendation, the Beach Palace in Cancun. As we went through the process, any time I had a question, problem, or was just worried about something not being right, she was my go-to person. I'm not kidding, she would answer me in like, less than an hour 99% of the time. She even took my file home one weekend to give me more time to figure something out before she ran credit cards and got it booked. She was a Godsend!

Casey Morris - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
Riu Palace, Riviera Maya, Mexico, Destination Wedding

My husband Cameron and I got married at the Cozumel Palace in June of 2014 and could not have been more happy with our experience. A destination wedding was definitely the way to go for us and Lia was a great asset in our planning.

Lia with Lia helped us plan our destination wedding in Riviera Maya, Mexico. We had a total of 11 people and she helped each of them set up their arrangements. From the beginning she was so helpful and always quick to respond. She made the entire process a breeze. She communicated with the wedding coordinator at the Riu Palace and made sure everything was just like we wanted. We did not have any issues at all, thanks to Lia and all of her thorough planning. Each of our guests bragged on her and said how easy it was to work with her. I would recommend Lia for all of your planning needs whether it be just a short vacation or a destination wedding. She knows what she is doing and will make sure all of your questions are answered and that you have the best vacation.

Mindy Huffman - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Destination Wedding

My husband and I got married in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico right off the beach. It was pure bliss, and everything I could have ever dreamed of! I may be biased, but destination weddings are certainly the way to go and thanks to our wonderful Travel Agent Lia Vincent at Vincent Vacations, we were able to find the perfect place! I had the opportunity to be able to edit the straight out of camera photos from my wedding! Here is a glimpse of our wedding day in paradise!

Justin and Mariama Jordan - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
Iberostar, Grand Punta Cana, Destination Wedding

We had the most amazing time at our wedding. Our guests are still talking about what an amazing trip it was! Thank you for your help with organizing this unforgettable time for us, we cannot wait to put our pictures in our new frame!

Kylee & David - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
Dreams, Puerto Aventuras Resort, Destination Wedding

Lia, thank you very much for all of your help with our PERFECT wedding vacation!

Chelsey Groh - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
Excellence, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Destination Wedding

"It was beautiful! Everybody had a fantastic time!"

The staff was wonderful, the rooms were gorgeous, and the food was AMAZING! Our wedding could not have been more perfect and if you have any brides that want a beautiful wedding on a budget, The Excellence Punta Cana would be my number one recommendation. Emy and Livia were fantastic and everything was just PERFECT! Chris couldn't even believe how wonderful it was.

Thank you again for all of your help!!!

Amy Taylor - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
Dreams, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Destination Wedding

Our Dream Wedding!

As soon as Jimmy asked me to marry him, I knew we would want a destination wedding. We love to travel, and we love the beach, so there was no more perfect place to start our lives together than a beach in Mexico!

I am not the wedding planning type, and I knew that with a destination wedding, we could get someone else to plan the details for us. Luckily for me, my friend Lia at Vincent Vacations specializes in Destination Weddings. Lia had taken care of trips for us in the past, and I knew she was the perfect person to help me plan this trip. I was right! She helped me look through destinations, and we found the perfect spot: Dreams in Puerto Vallarta! The package came with a wedding planner, who took care of the details for me. 21 of our friends and family came with us, and everyone loved the resort. Our party ranged in age from 7 to 82, and everyone agreed it was an amazing trip. There were activities for the kids, and plenty of excursions for everyone to choose from. The staff was wonderful, and pampered us from the time we arrived. One of my bridesmaids had a broken foot and was on crutches, and was in a wheelchair some. The hotel staff assisted her anytime she needed it, including carrying her and her wheelchair up and down large flights of stairs. They were amazing! All the rooms are ocean front, with beautiful views. Jimmy and I stayed in the "Preferred" tower, and our room came with a great balcony with a hot tub! Most of our guests stayed in the other tower, but the resort is small enough, this was not a problem at all. They all loved their rooms as well. The wedding planner met with me in advance to work out the last minute details and timing. When our wedding day came, everything went perfectly. We got married on the beach right in front of the ocean. We had a sound system and a dj who played all the songs that we picked out in advance. My Dad is a minister, and he performed the service for us. We had 21 in our wedding party, but it felt like a much bigger wedding because lots of people watched the wedding. You could see people everywhere on their balconies watching, which made us feel like rock stars. We had a Mexican band that played a few songs after the wedding. The wedding came with a photographer and videographer who did amazing job! We took pictures right after the wedding, then we had dinner which also came with the wedding. We had steak and chicken which tasted great. Of course, I also asked them for chips and guacamole. (I love the guacamole in Mexico.) They were happy to oblige. They provided the wedding cake after which was amazing. After the wedding, my husband and I stayed for another 4 days, and it was paradise. I could not have asked for a more beautiful place to get married, or a less stressful way to do it. Thanks Lia and Vincent Vacations for making our special day an amazingly unforgettable experience!

John and Jane - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
Jamaica, Destination Wedding

Love the pictures one of our brides just shared from her elopement in Jamaica! Thank you for sharing with us! Did you know we book Destination weddings of all sizes? If it's just the 2 of you or a group of 250, give us a call!

Marty Hill - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
Grand Fiesta Americana, Los Cabos, Mexico, Destination Wedding

This was the best and easiest decision we made about our entire wedding! Lia at All Inclusive Weddings is the absolute best, extremely intelligent, hard working, and so caring. She truly makes you feel like you are her only client throughout the entire process. We had about 120 people coming to our Cabo wedding and even had to switch resorts, visitors coming from all different states and even Europe. She was calm, and kept the bride and groom calm! Every detail was taken care of and it was made to be the most perfect wedding!

Tiffany Phillips - All Inclusive Beach Wedding
Finest, Playa Mujeres, Mexico, Destination Wedding

I just wanted to thank you for all your hard work to arrange the hotel and transfers for Ashley and Robbie's wedding. It was perfect and everything that she had ever dreamed of! The resort was amazing! We had great food at all the restaurants. The staff went over the top to accommodate any needs that you could have had! Everyone felt safe and the beaches are beautiful. Since it's more private you don't get the crazy vendors walking the beach trying to sell you stuff. Our family loved it so much and we defiantly will be planning another vacation. You will be the first I call if we need help to organize something! Thank you again for everything

And lots more!
We have been in business since 2013, and booking destination weddings since 2002!

Contact us today to learn more about All Inclusive Weddings!

how can we help you?

Your love story is unique and special, and we understand your vacation should be, too!

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We are a travel agency specializing in destination weddings, romance travel & experiences.

Dallas Office: 1341 W Mockingbird Ln., Suite 600W, Dallas, TX 75247
OKC Office: 9300 N. May Ave., Suite #400, OKC, OK 73120
destination wedding agent contact
1 (888) 976-0061