What Guests Can Expect: Costs of Going to a Destination Wedding in Mexico
Attending a destination wedding at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico can be an unforgettable experience! From sipping cocktails on your beach lounger to celebrating with loved ones in a breathtaking tropical paradise, it’s much more than just a wedding—it’s a mini-vacation where you’ll be making lifelong memories with your family and closest friends. However, as exciting as all of this sounds, guests often wonder: What will it cost me?
This resource is here to help! We’re breaking down some of the most typical expenses guests can expect when attending a destination wedding at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico, from flights and accommodations to optional activities like off-site excursions. You’ll also find practical tips to maximize your experience. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or heading to Mexico for the first time, this guide will help you plan and budget for an incredible trip.
Travel Expenses
- Flights: The average costs for flights to Mexico will vary based on where you’re flying from and what airport in Mexico you’re flying into but you can expect to spend anywhere from $250 – $500 on average for round trip non stop flights to Mexico from most flights in the US. (Pro Tip – Don’t forget to use flight miles/points you may have and any flight credits that may be sitting in your account!)
- Airport Transfers: A few resorts in Mexico offer complimentary transportation to/from the airport/resort but most do not, so you’ll want to reserve transportation for you and everyone in your room. For most areas, you can expect to spend appx $60 – $150 per person for private transportation, based on 2 adults sharing a shuttle. Pro Tip – Pair up with a few friends to share a private shuttle to reduce your costs significantly!
Accommodation Costs
- Room Rates: Nightly rates for all-inclusive resorts are charged based on occupancy (how many people are sharing a room). Single = 1 adult per room, double = 2 adults per room, and triple occupancy = 3 adults per room. Room rates will vary depending on the resort and room category and most couples will have a room block contract that guests will need to book into in order to attend their destination wedding. At this time, we are seeing typical room rate averages starting at $275 per person per night for the lowest category room at a low/moderate quality resort and to approximately $450 per person per night for the lowest category rooms at the true 5-star higher quality resorts. Obviously, room rates can change significantly from resort to resort depending on dates of travel. (Pro Tip! – Not booking into the assigned room block could cause both the guest and the couple to incur extra fees to attend each wedding related event, so booking into the couple’s room block, and not through any other source, will be very important for both the guest and the couple.
- Group Discounts: Years ago, groups used to be given great discounts at resorts, but this is no longer the norm since occupancies are at record levels, so they no longer feel the need to discount. Nowadays, most resorts will “stop the rate” when the couple starts their room block and keep this rate in place for a period of time (often until appx 5 – 6 months prior to travel) where the group will be able to enjoy one price that’s locked in, even when rates at the resort may continue to rise, as long as they book into the room block before the deadline. (Pro Tip – Since a lot of resorts now limit the total number of rooms that a couple can hold, and more popular resorts will completely sell out of rooms, it’s best to book your room early – as soon as the room block is open – to take advantage of the best rate and to make sure you have an available room.)
On-Resort Expenses
- Included Amenities: Food, drinks, and entertainment are typically included at all-inclusive resorts, so guests can enjoy without worrying about extra costs.
- Optional Extras: Extras like spa treatments, off site excursions (except for at resorts like Hotel Xcaret, where all parks and excursions are included), premium experiences (think, private romantic dinners on the beach), and any extra tipping you would like to offer are not typically included in the price.
Wedding Day Costs
- Wedding Attire: Unless you’re in the wedding party, most guests are not expected to rent/purchase formalwear. (Pro Tip – check with the couple to see if they are requesting that guests adhere to a “dress code”. At Mexico destination weddings, this could be anything from “resort chic” to requests that the guests wear vibrant colors or 1 specific color.)
- Gifts: If gifting to a couple hosting a destination wedding, it’s most expected and greatly preferred that you do not bring physical gifts with you, as it will be a bit difficult to carry gifts back home. If gifting a physical item to the couple you would want to do this prior to departure and if you plan on gifting cash, it’s perfectly acceptable to do this prior to departure or to bring it to the destination wedding to personally deliver to the couple. Pro Tip – Even if there is a card box available we recommend hand delivering the envelope to the couple or their assigned helper mid reception in case envelopes are misplaced or in case the card box is being left unattended.
Additional Costs
- Travel Documents: Passport fees or renewal costs. Make sure to take care of passport requests or renewals 6 months or more in advance, just in case there are any hiccups in the process.
- Travel Insurance: It’s a must! Travel insurance can protect against unexpected cancellations, in travel delays, and even medical needs in your destination. Trust me when I tell you that the traveler that swears to us that they don’t need travel insurance and they’re “going no matter what” is, for some unexplained reason, the person that will always need to cancel for some unforeseen reason! (Pro Tip – Your US medical insurance is not accepted in Mexico, so even if you have health insurance you will have to pay cash/credit card 100% up front for any medical treatment in Mexico before they will administer treatment, even for life threatening issues.)
- Childcare: If guests bring children, some resorts offer babysitting services at an extra cost. The cost usually ranges from $15 – $25 per hour per child but varies based on resort and the services offered. (Pro Tip – Even with a sitting service, most resorts will not allow the parent(s) to leave the property while their child is being cared for, so you will want to check with your particular resort before making off site plans.)
- Excursions: Plan for any trips or activities like snorkeling, ruins tours, or adventure parks. And if the couple has planned a group excursion it’s always a good idea to clarify who is paying (them or you) and for what, so there are no unexpected surprises, leading to hurt feelings.
Insider The Yellow Umbrella Take
- Guest-Friendly Planning: The team at Yellow Umbrella Events is here to ensure the process is easy for all destination wedding guests by managing the couples room block, assisting with all reservations, keeping everyone on track with payments, sharing travel tips with guests, and providing answers to your common (and not so common) questions.
- Transparent Communication: For ease of travel and to help make the most of your experience, even before you travel, we are here to help you have a full understanding of your attendance costs. We’ll always be upfront with you about total room and transportation costs, offer payment plans when available, and give you access to all the detailed travel resources we have available.
