Review is written by Staff @ The Ring and is based on • Interviews with this vendor • Interviews with past brides
When many brides are faced with the thought of planning a destination wedding, fear and anxiety creep into their minds. If a wedding is loads of work when you’re within a close proximity to your wedding day sites, it’s got to be even more gruelling planning something that is thousands of miles away, right? Not so. With Raj Pahwa and the team at Marlin Travel, your destination wedding and honeymoon can be a stress-free, reasonably priced option that makes for a beautiful and memorable wedding experience.
Personally speaking
Raj Pahwa began her career in the industry because of her own fondness for traveling. As she says, “I have always been a savvy traveller and was always offering ways to help other travellers.” So, in September 2001, she began working at Marlin Travel. Since then, Raj and her team of “highly experienced, frequent travellers” have helped thousands of adventure-loving couples plan their weddings and honeymoons.
Unlike other travel companies whose services are strictly online, Marlin Travel and their subsidiary wedding-centred business, AbsoluteWedsite.com, offer a face-to-face dimension to their business. And as Raj says, the “casual, off-the-wall, flexible personalities” of the team at Marlin Travel make it a fun and relaxed experience as well. They’re your go-to contact at home, but you also have a specific coordinator in the destination of your choice. That way, you’ve got someone who knows all about the industry and the process close at hand to help you understand what’s going on in what could be an ocean away. And with multiple locations, chances are their services are within reach.
What they do
You may be asking yourself why you can’t just make all of your destination travel arrangements yourself, and while this is an option for some, wouldn’t it be easier to have someone with a history of organizing and first-hand experiences to deal with all of the little details that you may overlook? Raj and her team undergo constant training in order to know everything that needs to be known to make your wedding a calm and happy day. “All of our wedding coordinators continually go through product training to remain up-to-date,” she says. So, not only will they know the hot spots (literally) and regulations related to your wedding, but they’re on top of the latest trends. This year alone, some of the destinations they have travelled to include: Los Cabos Mexico, Riviera Maya & Cancun Mexico, Negril, Montego Bay, & Ocho Rios, Jamaica. For other destinations they have been to, please visit: http://www.absolutewedsite.com
Once you’ve decided on a destination wedding, Marlin Travel can also tend to your guests and their travel arrangements. “We also take care of your guests’ requests, including the ones that may require special assistance.” That way, you don’t have to look into arranging how to ensure Aunt Marge will get her room with a view or how to guarantee your divorced in-laws are housed on separate floors. Marlin Travel will take care of it all. On top of that, they offer group travel prices, so discounts that you may not have been able to manoeuvre can now be yours.
And if a destination wedding isn’t necessarily what you’re looking for, Marlin Travel can also arrange your honeymoon. They’ll share deals and info. on honeymoon packages and even offer a honeymoon registry service. “That’s right,” says Raj, “your guests can contact us directly to contribute towards your honeymoon!”
Little known things
Added to the services that they perform, like helping you choose a destination, showing you photos of your resort, and finding you the best prices, Marlin Travel also informs you of all the little details that are need-to-know. One of the most important things that travellers often overlook because, let’s be honest, they want to imagine their trip to be a guaranteed-good-time, is travel insurance. But it’s something that could help you save money—and even your trip—if something were to go wrong (which we hope it doesn’t!). “Our travel insurance is underwritten by Manulife Financial, and is an exclusive plan that cannot be offered by anyone else,” says Raj. It’s a good idea to have a solid plan, backed by a reputable company.
Marlin Travel also acquaints you with the travel requirements and rules of your destination of choice. That covers anything from the resorts’ policies on approved caterers, to the region’s procedure for applying for a marriage license, to both your destination and home country’s regulations on travel documentation. You’ll have the knowledge of the team at Marlin Travel, as well as a specific wedding and/or honeymoon coordinator at your destination location to ensure you’re equipped with the right facts.
Putting the more serious things aside, Marlin Travel also offers other bonuses that add even more value to your trip. They offer AIR MILES and provide their destination wedding customers with cute wedding e-invitations. “Your guests may RSVP us directly,” says Raj, “which means no extra work for you.”
The process
DESTINATION WEDDINGS
If you’re booking a destination wedding with Marlin Travel, you begin by contacting one of their fourteen professionals and looking into possible locations. They’ll show you some packages and options and then, once you’ve selected a location, they’ll set you up with a wedding coordinator in the area of your choice. From there, the coordinator will get in touch with you to work out the details, but essentially, they’ll be planning your wedding according to your desires. They’re even there on your day to make sure everything goes as planned. If you need to arrange travel for your guests, just talk with Marlin Travel and they’ll take care of it all.
HONEYMOONS
Like with a destination wedding, you contact Raj or one of her associates and begin looking into possible spots. After you’ve selected a location, they’ll make most of the arrangements for you, letting you know what you’ve got to do on your end.
Are you a destination wedding type of person?
A destination wedding is a completely different approach to weddings as compared to a traditional one. As Raj says, her clients are typically people “who’d choose rock and roll over an orchestra any day. They’re fun, sweet, down-to-earth couples,” but because the décor and services offered by the vendors that Marlin Travel works with are flexible, couples of varying styles could join the destination wedding club. It seems that it is becoming a more popular option and a wedding trend in itself, according to Raj, not only because of companies like Marlin Travel, but because it is now a more affordable option.
Details, details, details
Raj tells us that the average bride spends about $1400 on her destination wedding. But Marlin Travel works with couples with “budgets of all kinds.” She adds, “We always find the perfect resort to fit with our client’s budget, whether it’s $800 a person or $4000.” Some other details:
- The deposit required for booking a destination wedding or honeymoon varies based on resort and tour operator.
- Couples should aim to book at least six to nine months in advance.
- Marlin Travel says they are the “largest retail network in Canada” for travel providers.
In other words...
“Thank you so much to Marlin Travel for their help coordinating our destination wedding! They said they would take care of us and they did! The wedding and trip were amazing and we will never forget them for helping us. We really appreciated all their advice and wisdom about travel (and their hilarious stories!).” – Destination wedding couple
“On behalf of my wife and me, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Marlin Travel for creating a dream vacation we will never forget. From the moment they booked our vacation, we felt right at home and like family. They catered to our specifications and accommodated us with our hectic work schedules. The quality of service and treatment we received was superior. In fact, we’ve travelled to many places and this trip was the best trip we've ever experienced.” – Couple that honeymooned in India
“This group is dedicated to providing couples with quality customer service. They want to make sure that you have the most memorable experience when you are planning your wedding. They take the time to understand people's needs and offer suggestions to make the most romantic day of your life come true.” – Air Canada Vacations representative
“We just got back from our amazing European cruise, which was a wonderful trip. We thank the staff at Marlin Travel for assisting us with our questions, concerns and travel arrangements, which they did so professionally and timely! Thank you again for everything.” – Couple that honeymooned in Europe
Contacting Marlin Travel
The best way to get in touch with Raj and her team is through email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; or by phone at 905-857-9800 or toll-free at 1-877-817-3111. Their storefronts are located at:
30 Coventry Road
Brampton, Ontario
L6T 5P9
(Located inside Walmart)
150 McEwan Drive East
Bolton, Ontario
L7E 2Y3
(Located inside Walmart)
When many brides are faced with the thought of planning a destination wedding, fear and anxiety creep into their minds. If a wedding is loads of work when you’re within a close proximity to your wedding day sites, it’s got to be even more gruelling planning something that is thousands of miles away, right? Not so. With Raj Pahwa and the team at Marlin Travel, your destination wedding and honeymoon can be a stress-free, reasonably priced option that makes for a beautiful and memorable wedding experience.
Personally speaking
Raj Pahwa began her career in the industry because of her own fondness for traveling. As she says, “I have always been a savvy traveller and was always offering ways to help other travellers.” So, in September 2001, she began working at Marlin Travel. Since then, Raj and her team of “highly experienced, frequent travellers” have helped thousands of adventure-loving couples plan their weddings and honeymoons.
Unlike other travel companies whose services are strictly online, Marlin Travel and their subsidiary wedding-centred business, AbsoluteWedsite.com, offer a face-to-face dimension to their business. And as Raj says, the “casual, off-the-wall, flexible personalities” of the team at Marlin Travel make it a fun and relaxed experience as well. They’re your go-to contact at home, but you also have a specific coordinator in the destination of your choice. That way, you’ve got someone who knows all about the industry and the process close at hand to help you understand what’s going on in what could be an ocean away. And with multiple locations, chances are their services are within reach.
What they do
You may be asking yourself why you can’t just make all of your destination travel arrangements yourself, and while this is an option for some, wouldn’t it be easier to have someone with a history of organizing and first-hand experiences to deal with all of the little details that you may overlook? Raj and her team undergo constant training in order to know everything that needs to be known to make your wedding a calm and happy day. “All of our wedding coordinators continually go through product training to remain up-to-date,” she says. So, not only will they know the hot spots (literally) and regulations related to your wedding, but they’re on top of the latest trends. This year alone, some of the destinations they have travelled to include: Los Cabos Mexico, Riviera Maya & Cancun Mexico, Negril, Montego Bay, & Ocho Rios, Jamaica. For other destinations they have been to, please visit: http://www.absolutewedsite.com
Once you’ve decided on a destination wedding, Marlin Travel can also tend to your guests and their travel arrangements. “We also take care of your guests’ requests, including the ones that may require special assistance.” That way, you don’t have to look into arranging how to ensure Aunt Marge will get her room with a view or how to guarantee your divorced in-laws are housed on separate floors. Marlin Travel will take care of it all. On top of that, they offer group travel prices, so discounts that you may not have been able to manoeuvre can now be yours.
And if a destination wedding isn’t necessarily what you’re looking for, Marlin Travel can also arrange your honeymoon. They’ll share deals and info. on honeymoon packages and even offer a honeymoon registry service. “That’s right,” says Raj, “your guests can contact us directly to contribute towards your honeymoon!”
Little known things
Added to the services that they perform, like helping you choose a destination, showing you photos of your resort, and finding you the best prices, Marlin Travel also informs you of all the little details that are need-to-know. One of the most important things that travellers often overlook because, let’s be honest, they want to imagine their trip to be a guaranteed-good-time, is travel insurance. But it’s something that could help you save money—and even your trip—if something were to go wrong (which we hope it doesn’t!). “Our travel insurance is underwritten by Manulife Financial, and is an exclusive plan that cannot be offered by anyone else,” says Raj. It’s a good idea to have a solid plan, backed by a reputable company.
Marlin Travel also acquaints you with the travel requirements and rules of your destination of choice. That covers anything from the resorts’ policies on approved caterers, to the region’s procedure for applying for a marriage license, to both your destination and home country’s regulations on travel documentation. You’ll have the knowledge of the team at Marlin Travel, as well as a specific wedding and/or honeymoon coordinator at your destination location to ensure you’re equipped with the right facts.
Putting the more serious things aside, Marlin Travel also offers other bonuses that add even more value to your trip. They offer AIR MILES and provide their destination wedding customers with cute wedding e-invitations. “Your guests may RSVP us directly,” says Raj, “which means no extra work for you.”
The process
DESTINATION WEDDINGS
If you’re booking a destination wedding with Marlin Travel, you begin by contacting one of their fourteen professionals and looking into possible locations. They’ll show you some packages and options and then, once you’ve selected a location, they’ll set you up with a wedding coordinator in the area of your choice. From there, the coordinator will get in touch with you to work out the details, but essentially, they’ll be planning your wedding according to your desires. They’re even there on your day to make sure everything goes as planned. If you need to arrange travel for your guests, just talk with Marlin Travel and they’ll take care of it all.
HONEYMOONS
Like with a destination wedding, you contact Raj or one of her associates and begin looking into possible spots. After you’ve selected a location, they’ll make most of the arrangements for you, letting you know what you’ve got to do on your end.
Are you a destination wedding type of person?
A destination wedding is a completely different approach to weddings as compared to a traditional one. As Raj says, her clients are typically people “who’d choose rock and roll over an orchestra any day. They’re fun, sweet, down-to-earth couples,” but because the décor and services offered by the vendors that Marlin Travel works with are flexible, couples of varying styles could join the destination wedding club. It seems that it is becoming a more popular option and a wedding trend in itself, according to Raj, not only because of companies like Marlin Travel, but because it is now a more affordable option.
Details, details, details
Raj tells us that the average bride spends about $1400 on her destination wedding. But Marlin Travel works with couples with “budgets of all kinds.” She adds, “We always find the perfect resort to fit with our client’s budget, whether it’s $800 a person or $4000.” Some other details:
- The deposit required for booking a destination wedding or honeymoon varies based on resort and tour operator.
- Couples should aim to book at least six to nine months in advance.
- Marlin Travel says they are the “largest retail network in Canada” for travel providers.
In other words...
“Thank you so much to Marlin Travel for their help coordinating our destination wedding! They said they would take care of us and they did! The wedding and trip were amazing and we will never forget them for helping us. We really appreciated all their advice and wisdom about travel (and their hilarious stories!).” – Destination wedding couple
“On behalf of my wife and me, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Marlin Travel for creating a dream vacation we will never forget. From the moment they booked our vacation, we felt right at home and like family. They catered to our specifications and accommodated us with our hectic work schedules. The quality of service and treatment we received was superior. In fact, we’ve travelled to many places and this trip was the best trip we've ever experienced.” – Couple that honeymooned in India
“This group is dedicated to providing couples with quality customer service. They want to make sure that you have the most memorable experience when you are planning your wedding. They take the time to understand people's needs and offer suggestions to make the most romantic day of your life come true.” – Air Canada Vacations representative
“We just got back from our amazing European cruise, which was a wonderful trip. We thank the staff at Marlin Travel for assisting us with our questions, concerns and travel arrangements, which they did so professionally and timely! Thank you again for everything.” – Couple that honeymooned in Europe
Contacting Marlin Travel
The best way to get in touch with Raj and her team is through email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; or by phone at 905-857-9800 or toll-free at 1-877-817-3111. Their storefronts are located at:
30 Coventry Road
Brampton, Ontario
L6T 5P9
(Located inside Walmart)
150 McEwan Drive East
Bolton, Ontario
L7E 2Y3
(Located inside Walmart)
