FAQs

Question

Weather

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What will the weather be like? ... I mean... awesome. It's paradise. The weather will be awesome, unless you prefer a blizzard that freezes your nostrils shut. Then you'll hate it. The average temperatures for Puerto Vallarta in December are a high of 87 degrees and a low of 71 degrees. Pretty gross, right?

Question

TRANSPORTATION IN PUERTO VALLARTA

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How far is the resort from the airport? It's about 30 minutes. Should I rent a car? We advise against renting a car; you'll have the option to add transportation service to/from the resort when you book your room or you may reserve the service later by emailing Kimberly Moreno at personalconcierge3@garzablancapreserve.com. This service has been vetted by the resort and offers car seats as well as larger vehicles. Also, the natives drive like video game characters -- skip the stress!

Question

Outlet Adapter

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Will I need an outlet adapter? Nope! All of your phone chargers and hair styling devices should work just fine.

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Packing and Planning

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What should I bring? Pants and shoes and collared shirts (for men): The resort's restaurants are a bit fancy and they have a dinner dress code that doesn't allow shorts or flip flops for dinner. They also ask men to wear collared shirts for dinner. If you want to protest, you can dine at the pool side restaurant that turns in to an Italian restaurant for dinner. Multiple swimsuits: The resort has 3 infinity pools and a private beach, so you may want more than one suit. Sunscreen: Keep in mind that you may burn more easily in Mexico...even in December. Bug spray: We didn't see any mosquitos while we were there, but there can be sand flies on/near the beach at dawn and dusk that do bite. Some people seem immune to these (John) whereas others are not (Jacqueline). Cortisone: If the sand flies find you tasty, you'll want some Cortisone -- those bites itch!

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Amenities at the Resort

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What's at the resort? The resort and your all-inclusive rate includes 3 full-service restaurants, including an outdoor restaurant by the pool. Indoor restaurants do require pants/dresses, collared shirts, and shoes (not flip flops) for dinner. Food and drinks at the lounge chairs by the pools are also included in your all-inclusive stay, as well as room-service. The resort has kayaks and paddle boards which you can use around the resort, as well as many scheduled activities for the resort guests. There's also a world-class spa, which has the best views on the resort! See the "adults-only" FAQ for more information about the additional sushi restaurant and rooftop bar at the adults-only tower.

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Currency

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What is exchange rate? $1 U.S. dollar = 19.75 Mexican pesos as of May 2018 Do I need cash? While you're not required to tip with the all-inclusive package, the service throughout the resort is phenomenal. We recommend getting some pesos to tip on the resort. You also may want some pesos if you leave the resort. You can also tip with dollars, they'll appreciate it since the dollar goes so much further in Mexico. Where do you exchange dollars for pesos? You can exchange money at your bank before the trip or at the airport. The resort's gift shop will do the exchange for you, or you can find places in town. Be aware that the exchange rate may vary based on where you do the exchange. Can I use credit cards in Puerto Vallarta? Yes, but be sure to check with your bank to be aware of any foreign transaction fees.

Question

Do I call you Jacqueline or Jackie?

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I owe you all an apology -- it's going to be confusing! I grew up as Jackie, and when I was 18 decided that I wanted to be Jacqueline. It seemed too complicated to go back and ask everyone who knew me for the last 18 years to change what they call me... so those folks call me Jackie. Everyone I met after 18 calls me Jacqueline. Still confused? Do what John and his brother Jesse do... make up a nickname with "Jack" in it.

Question

Adults-Only Tower

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What's this "adults-only" business all about? While you're on the Garza Blanca property, you'll notice three towers. The center tower is called "Hotel Mousai", this is the adults-only tower. Inside, you'll find: the spa, a sushi restaurant, and the rooftop bar (the only bar open past 11pm). The Spa: While you don't need to pay extra to enter the spa, you will need to pay for spa treatments. Sushi Restaurant and Rooftop Bar: The food and drinks at the adults-only tower are not included in your all-inclusive room rates, but you can add all-inclusive access (after 7pm) to the adults-only tower for $20/adult per night of your full stay. OR, you can pay per food or drink item that you order when you go to the adults-only tower. The food prices will add up fast, but drinks are $9-15/drink, so if you think you may just want to go to the bar once, paying per drink would be your best option. We will hold the after-party at the rooftop bar on the wedding day and we'd love to see you there.

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Getting around the resort

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How big is the resort? The gated resort is pretty spread out with five buildings on the property. Some of the buildings are close to the beach and there are additional towers which are set back and up the mountain a bit. The entire resort is walkable, and if you're able, we highly encourage it! It's beautiful! The resort was created with a Buddhist influence, so you'll notice a zen vibe and Buddhist statues across the property. There are shuttles and trolleys which can take you from one building to another. After you check-in, the bell service will take your luggage. If your room is in a tower, the bell service will take you on a shuttle to your building and they'll escort you to your room. The trolleys run all day and go to every building on the resort.

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Safety

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Is the resort safe? Absolutely! Garza Blanca is a gated resort that takes entrance very seriously. All excursions and taxis through the resort have been vetted. We recommend booking your transportation service through the resort when you book your stay. It's been vetted and because you pay up front, there's no confusion when you arrive at the resort. How's the food and water at the resort? You should feel comfortable eating and drinking everything at the resort! We recommend drinking from bottled water and using bottled water to brush your teeth. The ice cubes and frozen drinks at the resort restaurants all use filtered water. Is Puerto Vallarta safe? For guests looking to leave the resort, Puerto Vallarta is a tourist destination! You should feel comfortable exploring, going on excursions and eating off the resort. We just recommend that you make sure your water, frozen drinks, and ice cubes come from filtered water sources when you're off the resort.

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Meals

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Do I need dinner reservations? Yes! The indoor restaurants do require dinner reservations which can be made with the resort concierge in person in the resort lobby or by phone from your room. You may also visit the outdoor Italian restaurant by the pool that's closest to the beach, without reservations. Room service will also be included in your all-inclusive stay. What if I have food allergies? We feel you. Not to worry, the resort is amazing with allergies! You'll be asked when you check-in if you have allergies and you'll be asked about your allergies every time you dine. For the wedding reception, we'll have gluten-free and dairy-free food and cake (don't worry, there will be a flour-filled milk-covered cake for everyone else too)! You can let us know when you RSVP if you have any other food allergies.

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Wedding Day Dress Code

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What should I wear for the wedding? The resort has a fancy dress code, but we want you to be comfortable, so we came up with this compromise: For men, we suggest either pants or shorts that are "dressy", linen, or khaki and a collared shirt. For women, we suggest dresses or pants that are "dressy", linen, or khaki. Flip flops are welcome, just note that while the ceremony will be on the sand, the reception will not. You're welcome to bring a second pair of shoes! No jeans, short-shorts, or t-shirts, please.

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Resort Rates

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What if I see a lower rate for the resort? The resort guarantees our wedding rate will always be the best available. If you come across a lower rate for an all-inclusive stay at Garza Blanca for the wedding dates, please send us a screen shot and let us know at johnandjacqgettingmarried@gmail.com. We'll work with the resort to continue to guarantee the lowest rate available to all of our guests.

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Credit Card charges and cancellation policy

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When do I pay for my stay? While we encourage you to book your room early, we want you to be aware of how things work. When you reserve your room, you are charged for one night of your stay -- this is non-refundable. What if I need to cancel my trip? If you cancel before September 8th, you will only be charged for the one night. If you cancel after September 8th, you will be charged for the full stay. If you think there's a chance you may need to cancel, we encourage you to consider purchasing travel insurance (a Google search on "travel insurance" will provide you many options).

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Kids

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Should I bring my kids? We love your kids and your kids will love the resort! We're not even kidding, they have kids activities all-day, every day. Plus, there's an entire ocean to throw rocks into! Need a crib? You can reserve one at no cost. Contact Vanessa at aux3.reservations@taferresorts.com after you've booked your room to reserve a crib.

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Zika

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Should I be worried about Zika? Fake news! Build a wall! Seriously though, while we'd love to say "no, not at all," this is something that we encourage you to research and talk with your doctor about if you're planning a pregnancy before the wedding or within 6 months after the wedding. The CDC currently warns both men and women against traveling to Mexico if you are planning a pregnancy or if the woman is pregnant. While we want each and every one of you there, we'll absolutely understand any decision you make -- due to Zika or any other reason!