all right hello
and welcome back to destination wedding planning
made easy uh
we are on episode three and this week
we are going to be talking about excursions
and just
kind of everything that's involved with excursions
ways to add them on to your group
ways to enjoy your time while in destination
ways to see more authentic experiences
within the countries that you're visiting
um you are joined today
by the team at Destination Weddings Expert
we've got Nikki Sanders Prissi Powell and Jodi Comm
ladies thank you so much for joining us
hi
hello alright
let's kick it off
I think excursions are one of the more fun things
that we get to do that just get to be like
a nice little add on for the groups
a nice little something for
you know to experience while you're overseas
um so let's talk first of all
about kind of reasons we use vendors for excursions
obviously you know
you can go on Google any excursion experience
find some random that's you know
gonna take you or even worse
go down to the beach
and find someone that's gonna take you on an excursion
but there are reasons that we don't do that um
and we don't offer that you know as
or encourage people to do that through us
um first of all
it's with any excursions that we do
we like to set up with vendors that we know
vendors that we know are gonna kind of keep you safe
vendors
that are gonna make sure that you have a good time
on your excursion
what I always like to talk about with our couples
when we're in our consultation is
we don't want your guests going down to the beach
finding some random taking them four Wheeling
and we don't know where they're going
we don't know when they're gonna get back
we don't know you know
what the experience is like
uh and I speak of this from personal experience
so uh
I went to one of our couples weddings in Costa Rica
it was an amazing time we had so much fun um
but while we were there
we did the thing that I tell everyone not to do
we found a random on the beach
they took us four Wheeling
the very first thing that happened is
as we were pulling out
I found out as we were pulling into the road
that my four Wheeler didn't have any brakes
um I found that out the hard way
that was a lot of fun uh
and then we did have
yeah it's we
it's you know what
the vendor got their back on that one though
because I found out
when I was behind one of their new four wheelers
and drove right into it and broke the
not my fault um
so um
but it was a fun excursion
we went and had a good time
but it's also like we stopped at a random bar
I didn't know where we were
you know that's
no one would have known where any of us were
at that time so it
it's always encouraged to go through a reputable vendor
that you know
is gonna make sure that you enjoy yourself
while you're out there also
we know these vendors are insured
we know these vendors are bonded
we know these vendors you know are
are gonna be able to uh
you know take care of things if
for whatever reason something goes wrong
things go wrong not even necessarily the vendor's fault
it just sometimes it happens right
um so
I think one of the most important things
that we like to talk about
when we're talking vendors
is just making sure
that we were booking with a reputable one
and we have ways that we help you do that
so as we dive into it here
that's prissy
can you give us just kind of a breakdown of like
maybe some of the more popular excursions that are
that are out there um
most of our wedding groups love a catamaran
so they'll do a sunset catamaran
some may take it up a notch
and turn it into a full fledged party boat
so we do a lot of boats
and who doesn't love a private boat experience
with your favorite 50 60 people
um we also do the four wheelers
the Dune buggies we do jet skis
we do yachts um
we do photo shoots on the clear kayaks
so we have helped our couples do it all
absolutely absolutely
I think you know
it's the nice thing about booking some of these
is it is a way to see different
you know when you're on the resort
yes it's beautiful
and you get a little bit of touch of the culture
you get a little bit of touch of
of you know
some of the things that are out there
but it's you don't necessarily get to really
experience the locals right
it's Jody
tell us a little bit about like tastings
it's
what are some of the tastings that are out there and
and how you know
what do some of the excursions include
when you do those um
one of my favorites is tequila tasting
and then after that I don't even remember
but there's um
I I wouldn't start with the tequila
the rum wine
um of course coffee
anywhere I go in the world
I like to experience their coffee
so this is a great way to do that
a variety yeah um
I'm not a cigar smoker but trying different cigars
that's a great maybe um
like for the the groom and his groomsmen or
I mean some of the couples like to
to try just different things when they're local
yeah a little bachelor party experience
something that you gotta get out and
and explore with the guys or
you know same thing with the girls
go out and you know
have a great time um
that's I think those are some of the fun ones that's
that you get to do
and really dive into the local experience
there's also a lot of food tours that's
there is I
I was just in um
in the Yucatan and I got to do like
chocolate making literally
like from the cocoa bean
crushing the cocoa bean and then adding our sweetener
and adding our different flavors and what not there
it doesn't get any more authentic than that right
that's so there's really so much that you can do and
and find out there that whatever interest your group
whatever you know
that you think your group is really gonna get into
that's there's a ton to find there
um
Nikki I know we talk about
you know this obviously
if guests stay at Ish kareth
the hotel like
ish kareth Mexico ish kareth arte that's
they can go to the parks that's included in their stay
but tell us a little bit about the ish
kareth kind of parks and and what all that looks like
they have a great selection of parks
they have a water park they have one where your
you know it's like the mystery spot
where you're not sure if you're leaning
you look like you're leaning
but you're really not we don't know
I got so emotional thinking about that
they have the nighttime um
with the mariachi's and um
they have a lot of parks
they have a lot to choose from for all ages
you can go to the ziplining water park
all of that yeah
you don't have to stay there
if you're staying in another resort'cause
maybe you're like I like parks
but only for one day yeah right
so you can you can book an excursion
transportation will pick you up at your hotel
take you over to the park
drop you off
pick you back up and return you to your hotel
yeah um
that way you don't have to get a random cab
it can be arranged for you
if it's just two four six
eight 10
12 people whatever you need
it can be arranged that way
and it make it seamless
to go from one door into the craziness
and then right back with your friend
I think the census was one of my favorite ones I did
it is so much fun at that park
um the
the leaning city it
it did actually like
make me Sensus
that one right
yeah yeah yeah
I had a hard time with that
but the rest of it was fun
we did the zip lining you know
we did the um
there's just a little photo ops everywhere
that you can do yeah
so much fun um
so it
those excursions if
if your group is more adventurous
more like getting out and into the wild a little bit
those parks are a fun
safe way to do a lot of those things instead of like
random the flying in the middle of nowhere
you don't know right right
because it is such a big group and or
you know group of entertainment and hotel facilities
their stuff has liability insurance
exactly that's
you know their name is on the line
um I like that because
you know I
I like Mario
I've had a bad experience waterskiing at Al Capone
we don't have any life vests
oh now I fell down
I can't reach the strap I'm just in Al Capone
bag loading waiting
yeah
speaking of that my husband was not a good person
driving on the it's driving on the road like
he was not a good driver right
it's um
and we got on again I
I do as I say not as I do
that's uh
we got on a random jet ski um
and went out into the ocean
we had maybe had a couple cocktails the night prior um
and that's it was speeding up
and then he would cut the power and we would dive down
that's and that's
I lasted maybe five minutes before I got sick
and needed to get back to shore
um hahaha
so
yeah just other advice
drive your own jet ski um
it's hahaha
I think one of the ones that I absolutely love
if you're in this area is to do the ferry um
or the catamaran to Isla Mujeres
um first of all
Isla Mujeres is just off the Cancun coast
it's a it's an island over there
it is the island itself is stunning
and you can do like uh
you rent a golf cart go around the entire island
that's a fun excursion to do
but also but the catamaran
getting there is an experience
that water is crystal blue water
you can see right down to the bottom of the ocean
it's so beautiful um
you'll see you know
some wildlife in there and what not
but usually
what they'll do is they'll take the catamaran
you'll go about halfway to Islamorada
there's a little meet up
where all the boats kind of jump in
and everyone jumps in the water
some of them have water slides
yeah you have the sandbar
um
that's and usually most of those will include like
food and drink experiences as well
as well so that's
you know
if you're really looking for that stunning blue water
getting your people out there
if you're in the area that
that camera out there is phenomenal
um I know we kind of touched on it
Chrissy kind of touched on it before
but private yachts so
if you really want an elevated experience
for your group especially for like
instead of a rehearsal dinner
maybe you take the close friends and close family
and go out on the yacht right
um and of course
you can get any size yacht that you really want to
but you know
just something that you can get out
we can get to the pirate yacht too
ah yeah
hahaha
that was the most impressive pirate art
that I've ever heard that's hahaha
you practice that one hahaha exactly hahaha
I'll have a pirate outfit next week for you hahaha
um this
you know that is just kind of a really nice way to do
like a more higher end experience
obviously that's not one that you wanna do with like 50
60 people that's gonna be
you know a smaller group
that you just kind of go out and escape a little bit
um that's one of the kind of more beautiful ones
the ones that people don't think about so much
is the bioluminescence
it's so bioluminescence at
if you haven't seen it I
you know encourage you to go on
go on YouTube find it somewhere um
but it's so beautiful to see
it's at night so this is a night excursion
um and usually you don't even have to go into the water
usually it's you know
more of like
a coastline experience but you're out there
and the water as the waves come in
you're gonna see the bioluminescence light up
kind of on its way in it almost doesn't feel real
it doesn't it's it's
I mean Jody
you've you've seen it right
yeah yeah yeah
it's just it's
I don't you're on Avatar
yeah yeah
it makes me think of alien I don't wanna do that
like my mind goes places like hmm
I'm not gonna go well
see that's why there
you know there's something for everyone right
it might not be bioluminescence
it's not a bicycle
that's the bicycle wouldn't be for me that's right
I'm not a coordinated person
it's you put me on a bike
and I'm definitely leaving in a ambulance so
and that segues us into talking about
you know if you're going to be active on your vacation
we always think
you should have some kind of travel insurance
but if you know you're going to be active
or if you happen to be like us
um
and block yourself in your own house yep
make sure you have that
make sure you have that coverage
get covered
you're gonna make my premium go up
Nikki like
girl I
I broke my foot standing in my shoe
it really is you know
it's
you don't think about these things
you know as you're going out on these excursions
you're thinking blue water
you're thinking you know
ziplining through the jungle
you're thinking you know
all these things about the experience is gonna be
but you're not thinking about
if something does go wrong
right um
and so that's
you're right Nikki
that was kind of the perfect transition into
if you're gonna be out doing these things
travel insurance is highly
highly encouraged um
and really it's just to make sure that
you know you are covered if you need to
you know make a trip to the hospital
or even if you just need you know
a little bit of medical attention or
you know something like that
that's
travel insurance will cover you while you're overseas
I think you know
what a lot of people don't realize is
for the most part
your American health insurance is not gonna cover you
in Mexico in Dr
in Costa Rica right
um and if you do have to go to the hospital
if you do have to have you know
if something does happen
if you don't have cash and you don't have insurance
you're not getting treated
mm hmm it's
so it's we wanna make sure that for the what if
that you have a travel insurance policy in place
and that you're you're covered
just to make sure that you
you are able to get the attention that you need
if you're out there and
something happens from a reputable company as well
because a lot of these excursions
when you're signing away your life
they'll offer you a policy
I have never seen the terms of those policies
so in my mind I'm like oh
this is just a money grab
so make sure you have you
some insurance from a reputable company
preferably
that you purchased before you left your house
right so you know exactly who to call and what you get
yep absolutely
and Chrissy
that kind of transition transitions us into
the next point is you know this
we do have vendor partners that we use out
in some of these destinations right
we have a you know
couple partners in Mexico
we have a couple partners in Dr
they do a phenomenal job
of putting these things together
and we've had groups travel with them multiple times
so we know exactly how the experience is gonna look
exactly how it's gonna you know
how it's gonna be
we've been on these excursions ourselves a lot
um but we know if the weather is not going to be good
they are going to cancel your catamaran and refund you
rather than take you out in the bouncy bounce
and risking it all yup yup
absolutely it's so
you know we
we have a couple of those partners
and we also for you know
for your guests if you're
you know booking your wedding
and you have your wedding website with
our wedding website
we always include a link to those partners
right we use a
a company called Project Expedition that that
you know they have all these tours from different uh
vendors but different vendors that have been vetted
and so
we are comfortable recommending Project Expedition
because we're able to go in there
and you can find any experience that you want
you know swimming with the dolphins
whatever you want it's all in there
and we know that you're gonna be taken care of
while you're while you're on your way
right um I
you know of course
you can find so many different experiences out there
but when you're looking online
and you're running through Google
and you don't know who these companies are
it just is a little unnerving on
you know where you're going
what you're doing when you're gonna be back
especially these days like
we're in South Florida
we have excursions here for visitors
now I wouldn't
I wouldn't get on just any of them
even though we're in the United States
a lot of those are not licensed
a lot of those do not have insurance
they are shaking you down here
just like they will anywhere else
so when I take my visitors on excursions in my town
I go to my regular people that I know
provide the service and the experience that we want
absolutely absolutely
that's haha
yeah it is haha
South Florida is almost worse
um that's haha
um alright
so now let's talk about the
some of the different ways that we can book excursions
right like
there's a couple different approaches
that you can do to this first of all
if you wanted you know
to book ahead do a little bit of research
we have a couple options for that
like I said you know
on our wedding website
we have that link to Project Expedition
you can go in there
find an excursion that works for you
or works for your group and
you know go ahead and get that booked ahead of time
the advantages to that is
it gives your guests kind of an option on
if you wanna join hey
we're gonna be out doing this
if you guys wanna join
go ahead and purchase your tickets and come with us
right um
you can also go ahead and book directly at the resort
so I think you know
the nice thing about excursions is
you know they're always available
kind of no matter where you go
as long as you're going through a reputable company
the resorts also use companies that they trust
that they know are gonna you know
get you there safely and those people are right in
usually like right in the hotel lobby
right off the hotel lobby
and you can go in and say hey
I wanna go on a camera if they're on the property
you can trust them yeah
if they're on the beach beware
not so much yeah hahaha
exactly it's so it's
I think that's a nice way to just kind of
you know that's find a little extra to do it
don't you don't necessarily
feel like you need to book it ahead of time
it just gives you a little extra planning a little bit
you know letting people know that hey
we're gonna be off property this day
this is what we're gonna be doing
you feel welcome to join
yep um okay
let's talk about customizations on excursions
cause there's a lot of different ways to customize them
I guess especially when we're talking about like
the catamarans the boat tours
right um
what are gonna be
some of the things that affect the price
Nikki that's like
if we're looking at a catamaran tour
what are some of the things that we need to consider
well the Catamaran Packages tours offer packages
so you can take your guests out there
or everyone can book in
you could get just chips and salsa and drinks
that's it
or you can go all the way up to steak and lobster um
brochettes with all of the service we work with
with vendors that can really personalize a
how much you want to spend
how much your guests want to spend
how long you want to be out there
if you want the different times of the day
I prefer sunset don't make me get up early
like hahaha
get on the boat after I was drinking um
the these are the different kinds of things
the transportation
coming to the hotel and picking you up
so everyone doesn't have to figure out
how to get a cab to the Marina
um
what size boat or if you need two
2 vessels um
maybe it has a slide maybe it has a hype crew
um there's just
there's so many different things
that are going to be on there
or not yep
if you want a calm peaceful
relaxing just detox tour
yep we can do that
if you want it to be a rager
we can do that hahaha
I I will tell you that's
on that note
that if you are booking the sunset catamaran cruise
do not book any events
after the Sunset Catamaran Cruise
no it is the event it's
your guests are spilling off of that boat like that
and you know Nikki
you'd mention like
kind of food and beverage and
and what not on there
and I think that's a really good point to make
and an argument for for booking ahead of time
and making sure that you're booking the packages
because that's I'm gonna use a
again South Florida local example
let's talk about you know
the difference between traveling domestic and overseas
that's I did a
a a boat tour in Miami
there were packages available
I didn't do it I bought
you know drink by drink
on the boat and the credit card was stolen
yeah you know that's
so when you're booking ahead
and you have these pre planned packages
other than like
some singles for tips and a DOC fee
and a DOC fee yeah yeah
you're coming on mine next time
you're coming on mine with me
I'll take care of you but we will spill off
into the Uber listen
I think that's
I think that's part of a catamaran experience
if you if you can walk off the boat
you didn't do it right you didn't do it right
but you can also
you can upgrade the booze on your catamaran experience
a lot of the bars is the domestic bar
so the Ron Rico rum or what not
so you can upgrade it to the more premium brands
that we're familiar with
I've seen some boats offer hookah or offer a um
photographer or you know
cigars so dancers
they even offer like you know
it's like those type of dances
so you can pretty much do whatever
whatever makes your heart smile
the photographer on the sunset cruise is a nice
little touch'cause people can get that like
oh here's me in the sunset
yeah yeah
it is it it
they really can customize it
kind of however you want to
and I think those are
those are some of the more popular excursions
for a reason like
it gives everyone a way to get off property
it's not excuse me
it's not necessarily a more authentic experience'cause
the can ran more
you're kind of isolated right
yeah the cat brands really kind of be on the water
like you're in keep
the Caribbean you're in Mexico
who doesn't a lot of people are coming from up north
the Midwest they are not on the water
and the cat brands are very stable
so these are things that a lot
that most of your group is gonna be able to do
they you know
twin haul usually wide
not too whatever auntie can get on
uncle's not gonna complain
and you know
whether or not some might want kids on there
some might say no kids
but we we find that out too
but usually it's something that just
it fits everyone or most people
you know and that's a really good point
Nikki when you're talking about accessibility that's
there are some of these cruises
and it's something that we need to talk about
you know with our clients as
as we you know
are having these conversations
is
are you know
do you have grandma and grandpa
coming on the excursion with you
it's there's
you know a property down in Dr
that has their own little catamaran tour
and it's wonderful
but you are literally walking from the beach
into the water
and then up some steep stairs to get into the boat
right that's
or you know
when we're talking like
the catamaran in Islamorada
you have a dock that steps into the boat
that goes from there and even that
sometimes if the water is a little choppy
it's hard like
I have
I have taken a running jump to get on that boat before
like it's
I've done that and missed the boat
ha ha ha ha ha did you
really clumsy well
it wasn't my fault I was actually
actually I was stepping on
and the other guy ran and jumped
and I fell into the intercostal
it's right right over here
we could reenact it nice nice
hahaha
I think that's a good point though
Mario about roping us in on your excursion choices
because certain excursion have mobility requirements
weight requirements right
all of these things that we deal with
day in and day out so
I had clients in a destination
attempting to do a camel ride
they pulled out a scale so like
you know
you wanna know those things before you're in line
with 60 of your closest family and friends
like we might not wanna do that
so yeah
it's good to rope us in on these decisions
just so you can save yourself some headaches
and embarrassment a little bit later
we can check ahead of time
mm hmm yep
exactly and we've done a lot of them
so we know like
and we know what to ask the vendors
just to make sure you're covered
and that kind of takes us back to the
you know we go
so you know that's
I know you know that's
everyone will look at our Instagram and be like oh
you know that's
oh she's yeah
Prissy's out Prissy's out on the catamaran today
that's you know that's
he's working um
that's you know
Mario's out four Wheeling today
he's working but it actually
it's it
we are going on those things
yes of course
to have fun cause we're gonna have fun in destination
but also it's to see what the experience is like
it's
to make sure that we know what is gonna be happening
while your guests are out
it's to make sure that you know
that's like you said Percy
that's if
you know I have some family members that
if they walked up to a camel ride
and someone pulled out a scale
someone's getting hit like it's
it's those things that you know
it's the reason that you have us
it's the reason that you hired us
it's the reason that you are not going with someone who
you know
maybe doesn't have as much experience in destination
it's your you know
you want someone
that really has an understanding of this
of this entire process
to make it as seamless as possible
of course there's things that can pop up
of course you know there's
there's a million different things that can happen
but that's if we can help guide that along the way
one less stressor that you have
while you're trying to organize all these events
and do I need water shoes for this
like yes
yes you always need water shoes
most boats don't want your shoes on there
and if you're weird
and don't like your feet being on surfaces
take your water shoes
I don't like to step on things underneath
so no
what's under there I don't wanna know
I still will never understand
maybe I maybe it's a slippery thing
I'm not sure but like
there any of those boats that I've been on that's
you cannot wear shoes on it
even sandals if you have sandals
that you cannot wear them
um
which is fine but yeah
then you wanna make sure you have your water shoes
because you just don't know
you know it's
it's companies like I said
all reputable companies I'm sure they clean the floor
is very nice but you don't know whose feet
but your Tory Burch flip flops are not going to work no
they are not
they're cute for the resort hahaha
so I guess as the last part of kind of excursions
and what to do and how we do it let's
let's talk about that planning process a little bit
so there are kind of
two different ways to approach group excursions
so this isn't necessarily talking about like
your guests just going to find
you know whatever excursion that they want to do
this is more so like
we are trying to plan an organized event
we are trying to get um
everyone together and and do this now
that's the first way that you can approach it
is kind of as a thank you to your guests that's
you have you know
flown 11 miles you are here for three nights
you're staying at this gorgeous resort to celebrate us
as a thank you we are taking you on this excursion
we are doing this you know
sunset catamaran tour the day afterwards
and we are gonna pay for it for you
right that way makes it easy
there's only one credit card
there's not a lot of like
we're not figuring things out
it's just confirming the number of guests
that are gonna be there right
um and we're figuring out what packages
that you're gonna go with
that makes sense for your group
there's also a kind of more of
like a group pay experience where the
you know we're putting you in contact with the
with the tour uh
excuse me with the excursion um
company with the tour operator
and they're out there giving you a link
and so you can approach your guest ahead of time
this is something that you want to do
with a little bit of kind of time in between
to give your guest a chance
to decide if they want to do it
um but if we do it that way
they can jump in it doesn't feel as mandatory
it doesn't
feel like a mandatory wedding experience that oh
now we have to go to this
I'd rather be laying on the beach
you know I'd rather be
you know laying by the pool
this is kind of an opt in
hey yes
I want to be there they go in
they pay they confirm
and then you get a final desk uh
guest count and
you know the
the tour operator is going to confirm the boat
from there on
which boat they end up putting you on and what not
but there are kind of
two different ways to approach that
um
Nikki would you agree
I think kind of
the group pay experience is a little bit more common
that's it it
it is it's
it's fine though
like we typically do that
like maybe after final payment
and that way
people that are staying longer
people that are leaving you know
they know okay
so we're gonna go here's what we're doing
anybody want to be naughty with us
n a u t I haha
very nice very nice haha
we can send it out as a group email
with the payment link and
and people will book you know
as they as they want to
and as they decide they will require closer to
only maybe a few days before the
the boats going out the final headcount
that way they can order that
have the food and have the drinks
and have it all stocked properly um
if it's going to be privatized
you might need a minimum number
but a lot of the vendors we work with
have multiple size boats right
so okay
we only have 45 you're getting this one
we have 75 it's this one now
so it works it works both ways if
if the couple or somebody in the wedding group
it could be anybody
maybe somebody wants to treat everyone to it
if they are hosting the excursion
they get to pick the package
they get to pick the time
they get to pick it all yep
so um
if people are paying in they can do that too
yeah yeah
it's um
I guess I just kind of want to wrap this up with
what are some like
what is your number one favorite experience
like favorite excursion
let's uh
I'm going around my screen here like this
so Jody
what is your like
number one favorite excursion that you like to
or like to do or have done
um well
in true Jodie fashion
something that we haven't talked about
um the cenotes
I we didn't mention those
really really have loved visiting different cenotes
it's just a cool experience
yeah absolutely
that's it you know
the snow days that's
I was just again
I was just down in the yukatan
and they were telling us kind of
about the history of the snow days
and you know
that some of them are man made
most of them are natural
and just kind of what the history is behind them and
like what the Mayans believed them to be
and I think that right
a whole another layer of
you know just the mistake
the mistake yeah
yeah cause
it does kind of feel like a little bit of a mistake
and there's different levels of
of difficulty with the yeah
some of them you just kind of browse and
and make your way in
some of them you have to climb down a ladder to get in
I've never done
the ones where you have to go down on a rope
yeah cause I don't know how you're getting out of there
but yeah
well and there are some
there are some that like
you do you do
need to be a little bit more of an experienced swimmer
because you're waiting through yeah
like some of them like
you have to go under you have to go under yeah
hold your breath and yeah
to get into the caves that are in there um
with the bats not for me
not for me but
haha
the bats so that's
will went on one of those cenotes
where you had to go down and in that's
and they have
they have a photo of him
and it's the funniest photo I've ever seen
because it's him he was literally like
swimming in the snow day he's in the cave
he's having a blast and they
caught him
right as he looked up and saw the ceiling of that's
that's
and it's just pure terror on his face
hahaha
but get me out of here yeah
these are things that you need to know about
before you go so that you don't
you know give uncle a heart attack
that's yeah right
or the little shiny fish that are in
I'm confident they're in all cenotes
and they just nibble at your feet
and if you have an anklet on or a toe ring
they're coming after you
you can't wear shiny in the water
no no
shiny in the water that's yeah
hahaha
yeah uh
prissy what is
what do you think is to date
what is your favorite excursion that you've done so far
um I'm a food tour girl girly
so there's a food tour in Puerto Vallarta
best food tour ever cocktails were involved
Agua fresca was involved like
deliciousness all around
so I do all the other stuff for you guys
for the clients I don't
I don't never need to do all the other stuff
I don't need an ATV
I don't need to get on another catamaran
I hate the clear kayak photoshoot
like all of the things I do for
for you but if it's for me
I'm going to eat I'm going to drink
listen
you tell me if there is physical activity involved
I'm out like
get somebody else to do it
don't put me on a bike don't put me in a kayak
I don't wanna break a sweat
it's no
I don't wanna die I don't wanna die
that's what I don't wanna do
I don't wanna die like
leave me alone no hahaha
that's I do love a good food tour
I think that's it's a perfect way to experience it
and I know we mentioned it last episode
on different regions of you know
places to go and things to experience
but Puerto Vallarta really is one of those ones that
like if you're gonna go out into the city
and you're gonna go experience some things
Puerto Vallarta is one that is
just offers so many different things that you can do
their culinary their cocktail scene is unmatched
it's just chef's kiss
yep absolutely
Nikki what about you
what's your favorite favorite excursion
you're not getting me out of my lounge chair unless
it's a vessel of size
I'll take a catamaran I'll take a luxury yacht
but um
not it's gotta be big
I'm
I've been on too many small ones that
this is sounding bad
yeah no that's
I agree I do like the bigger boats
like if I'm gonna be out in the water
I wanna be in a bigger boat
I wanna be I also I
I love it when my resort is so amazing
that I don't want an excursion
I mean I think that's
that's a you know
bonus in itself but
you know my husband is one that he cannot sit still
yeah so he would be okay
I'm gonna go I'm gonna go fishing okay
I'm gonna go snorkeling I'm gonna go scuba diving
this is great because like
it is there's something for everyone
like we all don't have to
like the same things
we all don't have to do the same things and
but the opportunities are there to make everyone happy
yep absolutely
and I you know
that really brings up a good point
Nikki it's
excursions are not mandatory
you are not required as the wedding couple
to put together an excursion for your group
you have you know
very carefully curated with us
of course um
that whichever resort that you want to be at right
and there's gonna be so much to do that are on property
most of these properties have little
you know classes
little things that you can do right there
without ever leaving anywhere
um I know
we just spent an entire episode
talking about excursions and
and getting off and do that
but it is a very valid point
you know it's
they're not mandatory it's not something you have to do
um I would say for me it's
I'm kind of split so
my first one is that catamaran to Islam Harris is
by far that's one of my favorite things to do
that's just you know
first of all for the color of the water
secondly you like the it's one of the
I've done it a couple times
so one of the times that I was there
it was actually a little more rough in the water not
not bad but just a little wavy um
and it's to be on that the front of that catamaran
and you're hanging onto the rope and you're
yeah it's
and it's splashing up with water
and you're trying to keep your champagne balanced and
you know that's
listen that I had so like
we were crying laughing
we were having so much fun on that
it's so that one's a fun one
also some of the more historical ones for me
are a lot of fun it's
I was um I
as part of my transfer when I was in Mexico last week
and I went from uh
Meroma which is like Riviera Maya area
and I went over to the yukatan
which is on the other side of the little boot there
um
that's right in between is a city called Ismail
and Ismail is known as the Yellow City
um and so that's
we got there we got on four wheelers um
we had a little tour guide that took us along
so we all had our own little four Wheeler
and we're stopping at the different Mayan temples
and taking a look at some of the pyramids
and what the story was and I found it so interesting
like you get to the small and you know
I'm probably in trouble for saying this
but my my tour guide
I'm gonna blame it on my tour guide
my tour guide was very passionate about this
that's you know
it's um
you get to the yellow city and you think wow
this is you know
all the buildings are painted yellow
it's so beautiful uh
really very historic looking
it's not modern at all um
and it kind of gives you this happy feeling
and then the tour guide goes into
why they're all painted yellow
and it was because the Spaniards came over
they you know
it's they took over kind of where the Mayans were
made them pull like
bricks from their pyramids
bricks from their temples
to build the houses for the Spaniards
and then force them to paint them all yellow
because that was one of the colors
that's on the Vatican flag
um that's on the vacuum thing
so it's you didn't need the story
it's I didn't need the story
I was happier not knowing the story
right hahaha
you get there and it's so like it's
you know it's kind of more of a muted yellow song but
but people do love like
Chichen Itza and all of those ruins are very
very popular so the history is a blast
I you know
I was in Mexico City and I climbed to the top of the
the moon pyramid there like
so cool to be able to do um
and you know
something that is you know
for us we go to Mexico a lot
but you know it's
it's a lot of like just maybe once in a lifetime
you get to sit and climb that pyramid
I will also tell you
if you go to Mexico City and you climb that pyramid
you better be in shape because it's
this is you're climbing
another fun fact that I found out on
on this this time
is the reason those pyramids are so steep
is because you're meant to be bowing as you climb
oh okay yeah
so it's you know it
it is steep cause you're
you're supposed to be bowing and
you know kind of uh
praying as you go um
but I'm praying that you make it up there
listen I'm glad I did those so long ago
I you know
I went with a whole group of people
when I went to Mexico City
and uh Ashley is one of our colleagues um
she gets to the top and it's the last step
and she slips oh shit
she kind of like falls forward to try and stop herself
but you know it's those
you have to be in shape to do those things
cause it yeah
it is not I I
you know and not that Ashley's not in shape
but you know
not coordinated cause like
hahaha
it's falling forward right
like she she really
and all of us you know
you hear the entire group go like
you're up there like
I think that brings up a point
like the more active and intense
you kind of need to be in shape
you need to start conditioning your body
if you're planning some of these
and this is outside of weddings
but if you're planning some of these bucket list
active excursions don't do it to yourself
cause you will come home broken and and
and experience
and if you are gonna do something that's strenuous
manage your night before yes yep
you know manage your night before
party down hard after you made it out on the period
hydrate make sure you yeah hydrate get some protein
some of these yeah
some of these excursions are not cheap right
like that some of them can really get up there in price
and for you to be out partying all night
the night before and then just be absolutely miserable
dehydrated you know
while you're trying to you know
hike up a pyramid like
and know yourself it's okay to sit out
I I'll see you when you get back
like because
yeah I don't want to watch this
I don't want to die so I'm not
I'll see you when I get when you get back
I got it the
the quality of the pool needs to be checked every hour
huh right
that's it's a volunteer's trivia
like
the bartender needs somebody to talk to him
that makes sense
they need me here right
he needs supervision
ladies is there anything that I'm forgetting
anything you wanted to address on excursions
before we jump off today
nope nope nope
perfect put some thought into it
make sure you know your group
yeah don't do anything
that's eight hours nobody wants that much time with you
no um
keep it short if it says eight hours
it might be 10 right
don't don't do it
no so yeah
perfect you guys
thank you so much for the conversation today
I really like talking about excursions
I think it's one of the more fun things that we can do
for our couples out there that are looking
you know are looking to possibly consider an excursion
use us as a resource we are here
we have you know
done most of these and if we haven't
we have people who have um
and you know
it's it's a nice little add on
that you can do with your group
just to kind of keep uh
the entertainment flowing as you go
I wanna thank you all for listening in
thank you all for joining us
and we will talk to you soon bye
