I am sure our story is like no other…When we first decided to plan a
destination wedding, we booked with a travel agent that happened to be
a close family member. We chose a brand new beautiful resort in the
Mayan Riviera, Mexico and looked forward to it very much. Our agent
didn’t plan our wedding, ignored emails and we really were not happy.
It was a disaster from day one, so we searched for someone who could
actually help us and a friend led us to Pauline. It was a struggle to
transfer out of the agency we were at but Pauline went out of her way
to help. From the start, we knew we were in good hands. She contacted
our entire group of 45 with a sincere welcome letter and started the
planning process for our wedding instantly. Any email that was sent,
she replied within minutes, questions were answered, and she was very
patient with us having no clue about anything. We were able to enjoy
the months leading up to our wedding, stress free.
Pauline made sure everything would be perfect. But there was one thing
none of us could control, not even Pauline. Swine Flu…2 weeks before
we were to depart, Pauline called to let us know the flight had been
cancelled. I don’t really remember the minutes after that phone call
as we were devastated. Pauline assured us that she would do whatever
she could to make things right. That evening was horrible, not knowing
what was happening with our wedding that we looked so forward to for
the past year. The next morning at 6am the phone rang. It was Pauline,
excited on the phone, shouting…you’re going to Jamaica!!!! She put
her whole heart into correcting the situation that she stayed up that
night! After our obvious approval, she had our entire group,
transferred to another resort in Jamaica for the same dates and price
by noon that day. We were unbelievably thrilled with the outcome.  But
it doesn’t end there. Pauline worked day and night to plan our wedding
in a matter of 2 weeks. She jumped through hoops for us like we never
imagined!! She found a local wedding coordinator and they worked
together to plan our amazing day. We had a private beach ceremony and
a dinner reception and dance right there as well. Everything from
decorations, cake, food, music and even a steel drum band was all
taken care of. Walking down the isle to “here comes the bride” in
steel drums is something I will never forget. The day was absolutely
beautiful, despite a bit of rain. Pauline, by far, exceeded our
expectations. We felt like we knew her even though she lived across
the country. It was an absolute honor to have her at our wedding to
share the amazing day that really would not have been with out her.
She’ll never know how grateful we are for everything, and will always
hold a special place in our hearts!!! We will definitely book every
trip through Pauline and already have referred her to everyone.
Cherie and Sheldon
Planning a destination wedding can be extremely overwhelming. Luckily
for me, I found Pauline through her website to assist my fiancée and I
plan the most perfect week possible. Pauline helped with EVERYTHING
from researching possible destinations and resorts, to final
arrangements with the wedding coordinators at the resort we chose.
I began speaking to Pauline a year and a half before we planned to get
married. I was in the very beginning stages of humouring
the idea of getting married in a beautiful tropical destination but
had no clue as to how to begin this process. Pauline was very
knowledgeable of all the top resorts across the Caribbean and knew all
the right questions to ask to find a perfect match between resort and
“us”, the bride and groom to be. She gave us all the specifics on the
hotels and provided us with a lot of information that you would not be
able to find in a catalogue, as Pauline has travelled to many of the
resorts herself. Once we decided on a resort, Pauline went over and
above for us by assisting in the communication between the resort’s
on-site wedding coordinator and ourselves. This was extremely helpful
as I wanted to be sure that no detail was spared for our special day.
Pauline was always available to chat via telephone or email and I can
honestly say that our wedding would not have been as wonderful as it
was without her help.
I have, and would recommend Pauline to anyone considering a
destination wedding, especially those brides who want the very best
for their wedding. Her knowledge, warmth, availability and genuine
understanding make her the best at what she does. Pauline, thank you
again for making our wedding one that myself, my husband, my friends
and family will never forget!
Jackie and Corbin
What
first stood out to us and consequently why we chose to have Pauline organize and
book our destination wedding was her incredible enthusiasm and honesty. We
found Pauline to
be a great source of knowledge as neither of us had been to Cuba previously.
It was an overwhelming task to find the perfect resort for our wedding and
Pauline helped us narrow down our options to find the resort that was right for
us and our group. Pauline got back to our millions of questions efficiently and
was able to get us the best rate going, even better than those who waited until
last minute to buy their ticket. Thank you Pauline for giving us the wedding of
our dreams !
Calli and Evan
When we
decided to have a destination wedding, we thought of a quaint little ceremony
with  10-15 people. It turns out we had 100 people fly to Cuba with us to
celebrate our wedding. Pauline,
I don't think we would have been able to do this without you. Thank you for all
your help, time and patience. Also, a big thank you to all the staff and wedding
coordinator at the Occidental Grand Playa Turquesa in Holguin Cuba. Our wedding
was perfect, from the food to the decorations. Everyone's hard work made
planning our wedding extremely easy and made it a really fun, relaxing
experience. Nothing better then planning your wedding in the sun, by the pool,
with a cocktail in hand. I would definitely recommend Pauline and the OGPT to
anyone.
Nathan and Devan
Pauline went above and beyond to make sure our destination wedding was amazing.
From the beginning she did her absolute best to find us a great resort full of
recommendations, and
amazing wedding services, and a deal that would ensure almost all of our friends
and family could afford to join us. She was helpful in every way, organizing
last minute bookings, finding us great deals, coordinating with the staff at the
resort, and keeping our friends and family in the loop. Our destination wedding
was the most memorable experience of our lives. The Iberostar Varadero was a
spectacular resort, and the staff went above and beyond to give us the perfect
day. Thanks to Pauline, we were able to spend our wedding day dancing on the
beach and in the waves, with all of our loved ones. Everything ran smoothly and
Pauline was very courteous and sweet and amazingly helpful, not to mention
patient with some of our group. Thank you Pauline, for making all of our dreams
come true!
Juli and Dave
 We
decided on a destination wedding without a destination. Pauline was recommended
from a friend and once we told her what we were looking for she came back with
lots of options for us. We were able to plan our trip and wedding all with the
help of Pauline. Our trip and wedding was amazing and we want to thank Pauline
for all of her hard work and dedication in making our trip everything it was.
There was a party of 45 guests and they were all very happy...Thanks
Pauline.
Krystal and Will
Pauline, we are back and everything was awesome. From the resort to the weather
to the
ceremony, there were absolutely no complaints and it even exceeded our
expectations. We were extremely impressed with the Riu and having access to all
the different resorts was a definite plus that everyone used. I would definitely
recommend the weddings by Riu. We just want to thank you for all the work you
did for us and everyone appreciated how smooth everything went. Thanks again for
everything
Stephanie and Michael
We looked all over for someone to help us plan a destination
wedding. We found someone's web
site who had a link to a travel agent who focused on destination
weddings. So I emailed Pauline. (Ironically I came to find out
that she is the aunt of a friend of mine...small world). I think I
emailed her 20 times with all my questions. She got back to me
within minutes. This was all while she was camping...(talk about
roughing it). I asked her opinion on different resorts, and she
gave me honest opinions as she had been to all the resorts that we
were looking at. She worked with all my guests and helped each of
them out with their individual needs. Even when we were a day away
from leaving and a hurricane was cutting across Cuba, she ensured
that all our worries were dealt with. We had the best time in Cuba
and the best day for a wedding. Pauline did a great job and we were
so grateful to have found her.
Janet & Corey
Pauline, Thank you so much for helping us plan our honeymoon
at the El Dorado Seaside Suites. We were very pleased with the ease of booking
with you and felt that you knew your stuff! You were a pleasure to deal with and
we look forward to planning future vacations with you.
Jennifer and
Brad
 Pauline’s
eagerness to help down to every last detail has made the planning of our wedding
that much easier. The time, and patience in which she has demonstrated in
researching any, and all of our requests has been remarkable. Without hesitation
I would recommend her services to any family, or friends in the future wishing
to plan a group getaway. She has been a life saver in helping organize our
wedding. Thank you so much Pauline.
Jason and Petra
When we first decided on a destination wedding I had no
idea where to start, what to expect and how to get the ball rolling. With
Pauline's help, everything got moving in no time! I was able to relax (which
says a lot in my case), make the necessary arrangements, and am now excitedly
awaiting our wedding. All with the peace of mind that if I have any questions
or issues. I could always turn to Pauline for assistance and advise along the way.
Alex and Yoni
A bride living overseas in Europe and planning a
Destination Wedding in Punta Cana ...
 Sounds
impossible, right?! After countless emails and frequent communication, Pauline
worked very hard to help us find the perfect venue for our Destination Wedding.
Even with a six hour time difference in our way, Pauline managed to help make
the travel arrangements and come up with the most competitive rates during the
holiday season. We are grateful to her for all of her hard work and dedication
and for making us feel like we were the only couple on the planet getting
married. With Gratitude.
Jelena and Bojan
 When we decided on a destination wedding we knew we needed someone
to help us as we were not very organized people ourselves. Pauline
helped us select our destination and get it to a price range that we
needed for our guests. She put us in touch with the wedding planner
immediately and Pauline was very responsive to every phone call,
text and email. She knew what to expect when getting married in
another country and all the details that needed to be taken care of.
Thank you Pauline for making our destination wedding a dream come
true!
Chantel and Clynt
 When we first decided on a destination wedding we
had no idea where to begin. After searching online we found Pauline. She
quickly put us at ease and we knew we were in good hands! She made the
entire process very easy and stress free. She was always there to answer
any questions, was quick to respond and didn’t ever make us feel like
there was a silly question. She really made sure we felt 100%
comfortable and went above and beyond to take care of our party. She
made great recommendations for resorts and booked a last minute change
in honeymoon plans. Thanks Pauline – we couldn’t have done it without
you. I would recommend your services to anyone booking a destination
wedding!
Blair and Ben
Pauline has been great right from the start. She has made planning
for our destination wedding a breeze. Through taking the time to check
for quotes from numerous resorts to contacting the wedding coordinators
herself. She has made our wedding planning so much easier. Thanks so
much for all you've done Pauline!!
Sandra
& Corey
 I
found Pauline Blacoe's Shinetravel.ca website by chance when I was browsing
through the internet. My fiance and I wanted to do a destination wedding, but
we were not quite sure how to go about it. Pauline responded right away to my
inquiring emails, and booked us into the Riu Tropical Bay (now a Riu Palace)
in Negril, Jamaica. We were married on a sandy beach February 6, 2008. I would
recommend a destination wedding to anyone, it was so easy, and I couldn't have
asked for a more beautiful setting for our special day. Thanks Pauline !
Angie and Kelly
We were so happy and privileged to have been able to work
 with
such an experienced travel agent that specializes in Destination Weddings.
Pauline made everything seems so easy for us during the planning of our
special day. Whenever we had questions she was quick to respond by a
phone or a quick email. Thank you again Pauline for everything you have
done for us for our wedding in Punta Cana! We would definitely
recommend Pauline to anyone having a Destination Wedding!
Stephanie and Mike
 Pauline was such a great help with
me and my family. She gave me great suggestions and helped me book a great
spot for my destination wedding!! Pauline worked within my time constraints,
budget and found us a resort we all loved. She answered every question we
had for her and was readily available if we had any concerns or requests! I
would definitely recommend to anyone thinking of a destination wedding to
use her services. She is very knowledgeable, helpful, caring and
professional. She really knows her stuff! If we
didn't have her help, I'd probably still be looking for resorts!
Nina and Aaron
 Pauline
did an amazing job! We really didn't have to do anything, except decide
where we wanted to go. She made the whole process very easy, which allowed
us to enjoy our engagement (fairly) stress free. I would definitely use her
again for any vacation getaway!
Andrea and John
 Pauline is great. She always replies to e-mails right away, and if she's
not at her computer, she'll get back to you within minutes from her
blackberry! I have hassled her with questions numerous times and she is
always so polite and treats me like I'm her only client. I would recommend
Pauline (Shine Travel) to anyone! Thanks for everything!
Mandy and Simon
When we decided to have a
Destination Wedding we started looking for specialist travel agents and we
came across Pauline's website. We emailed her with some initial
 questions
about resort recommendations, but we were skeptical about using an agent who
wasn't in our city. Pauline's services, however, have far exceeded our
expectations and not being in the same city has never been an issue.
Pauline's response time, enthusiasm, as well as her personal knowledge and
insight are superior. If you choose Pauline to help plan your wedding you
will not be disappointed!
Tim and Tania
 I would recommend Pauline's services to any
bride/groom trying to plan a destination wedding. She is so helpful, and
really takes an interest in the planning with you. Her response are always
quick, and you can reach her by so many outlets (email/phone/msn/facebook), it
couldn't be easier! Pauline has helped to alleviate any stress that comes with
planning a destination wedding!
Amanda and David
I have never conducted business with someone
that understands their customer's needs as well as Pauline does. As a bride
planning my destination wedding, deadlines and time pressures are a constant
reality. Due to the fact that we are not only trying to organize our big day,
 but organize 25 or more guests/travelers, we require prompt replies and
helpful information on the spot. Pauline would literally have emailed me back
within 5 minutes of my original message. Unbeknownst to me, I would send off
emails to here at 7 pm Pacific time and she would be replying immediately at
10 pm her time. I had no idea in the beginning that she was located in
Toronto because the replies were instantaneous. It is a pleasure to be
planning my wedding with such a kind and personable person. I feel like I
know her even though we have never met and live across the country from one
another. I would highly recommend her services. Believe me, she will make
your life easier.
Selina and Steve
When I first started planning my destination wedding
in the Dominican Republic, I was working with a travel
 agent who was a
"friend-of-a-friend." I didn't know anything about planning a destination
wedding, and after doing some research on online forums, I discovered that
this TA didn't either! She had told me I couldn't book my wedding or get
rates for the following year for another 6 months...which was
completely wrong. I ended up corresponding with Pauline through one of
the online forums I had visited - she was kind enough to point out to me
that my TA should be able to get rates and dates for me at this point, and
that I should insist on it. I did her one better than that...I called
Pauline that afternoon and asked if she would handle my wedding instead!!!
Within a couple of weeks we had our wedding date booked and were comparing
all-inclusive prices between vacation companies for our guests traveling
from both Canada and the US. Pauline has been incredibly responsive and
helpful, and I have full confidence in her ability to make my destination
wedding perfect. I'm so glad we made the switch!
Liz and Mark
 We
are so glad that we used Pauline as our destination wedding agent. She
helped us on every details, from picking the resort to arranging the wedding
event. She is always there when you have questions and concerns. Although
we've never met Pauline face to face, we know she can be trusted. We had
our wonderful wedding in the last week of May 2008 at Melia Las Dunas Cuba.
It's Pauline who helped us to make our dream wedding come true. We've
already recommended her to our friends who are thinking of destination
weddings. We will definitely use her again.
Yvonne and Bryan
What do say about the person that made my
wedding happen for me. Both my husband and I had never traveled before, we
had little idea about where we wanted to go, and even less idea about how to
book a wedding. Pauline was an amazing help, she did it all!! She got us the
best quotes, gave on advice on how to find the place that was right for us,
and even booked my wedding for me when I didn't know how. She really took
care of every detail, and was able to handle my group that was traveling from
various spots all across Canada to Jamaica. I am still impressed with the
personal attention that she provided me with, and I never miss the opportunity
to tell other people about her services. She is so reliable and dependable,
that I often forgot that she was so far away in Ontario. She is a wonderful
travel agent who goes above and beyond for her Brides and their families!! We
plan to use her services for all of our future trips. Pauline, thank you so
much for making us feel so special.
Amanda and Brent
I was so excited to start
planning a destination wedding...until I realized that I had no idea where
to start! I looked on-line for destination wedding planners / travel
agents and made phone calls, sent emails and left some messages. Out of all
of the vendors I contacted, Pauline was the only one I felt comfortable
with. When I made my first call to her, I did not have a specific
destination
(let alone a resort), no travel dates, and a really rough guest list - she
really had her work cut out for her! Right from the start, Pauline was
honest (she gives you the facts - the good and the not-so-good, and also
provides suggestions and alternatives), patient (she took the time to answer
my daily questions and emails) and very approachable. Her first hand
knowledge of several destinations and resorts made it very easy for us to
make important decisions, and her ties to resort wedding coordinators helped
get answers and confirmations quickly. Planning a wedding can be so
overwhelming!!! I'm glad we had Pauline to guide us through the process and
details from start to finish. I can honestly say that Pauline played a big
part in making our week special and seamless, and one that we'll never
forget.
David and Carolyn
Pauline, I wanted you to know that I am most grateful for all
you did to make our vacation spectacular, as you know, this was a much needed
getaway. It was such a great pleasure to put a face to your name, on Jamaican
soil of all places! It was so exciting to meet you at the hotel upon our
arrival! And a most special thanks for ensuring the comfort of my In-laws the
day prior to our arrival. In spite of their many travels around the globe, I
do believe you've won their acclamation. We are all very impressed with your
service, and how you pulled it all together in a couple of short weeks.
Admittedly, we were all a little uncertain of the E-tix process, especially
knowing you'd be out of the country at the time of our departure, but your
instructions were meticulous and the airport check-in for all of us went like
a breeze (the Air Canada staff were also very pleasant and patient with us "newbies"
to the technical world!) I am still shocked by the complimentary car you
arranged for us, and frankly, I'm pleased that the driver inadvertently mixed
the names/dates up and picked my in-laws up instead, as they were completely
"wowed" from the moment they stepped off the plane. Our ocean view rooms were
nothing short of magical intervention, to which we also extend our sincere
thanks. It was the nicest room we have had in our 6 stays at this property.
Most of all, thank you for taking time to join us and our friends for dinner.
I know your schedule was very tight during the week, so we were all the more
honoured that you took the time to spend with us, we all had a most excellent
time. We appreciate all you did for us and we look forward to doing lots of
travel business with you in future!
Donna and Terry Marshall
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