Author Archives: Chau Tran (Senior Revenue Analyst)

Family Vacation in Punta Cana

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It’s that time of year again for our annual family vacation.  I have vacationed in Punta Cana before and completely fell in love with the people and the culture in the Dominican Republic. Warm smiles friendly attitudes and a care free environment are the staples of Punta Cana and I was not going to chance losing that going elsewhere. The hardest part about planning an all-inclusive vacation with a family of 10, is choosing the right resort.  It’s a bit of a task finding a place that caters an age disparity that ranges 10 to 65 years old.

Set on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic in Punta Cana, this resort offers 13 different outdoor pools with gorgeous views of the Caribbean Sea and a secluded lagoon.

With activities that range from arcades to casinos, The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino was really a ‘no-brainer.’  The moment we stepped off the Apple Vacations van and set foot on the property the whole family was blown away by the aesthetics of the place. Flashy, yet controlled; spacious yet completely decorated in rock memorabilia, the Hard Rock is really a sight to behold. All the rooms are full blown suites equipped with Jacuzzis, personal balconies and stunning views. It really has a way of making you feel like a rock star. Something tells me that’s exactly what they were going for.

 

 

The Hard Rock features luxurious accommodations, fine dining at nine restaurants, seven bars, thirteen pool with four swim-up bars, casino and spa.

 

The resort also offers a magnificent state of the art Spa and an elegant full service Casino. And when you're hungry, you'll have a choice of 9 different restaurants, wireless Internet service, a sports bar, 24-hour room service and much more.

The resort is home to 9 restaurants, 3 deli/snack bars, 15 bars, 15 pools, lounges/nightclubs, arcades, a spa, a casino, and a variety of shops.  Plenty to keep a large family like mine completely entertained. There are also a plethora of excursions available through the Apple representative on site.

 

When the sun goes down, Hard Rock knows how to rock. The fun has just begun. You can go check out a rock show, or bet against lady luck at the casino. Perhaps you want to test your own rock and roll voice at the Karaoke, dance the night away at the club, or sit, relax and have a drink at one of the many lounges. The possibilities are endless and so is the fun.

 

The majestic Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana brings the Palace brand of uncompromising, all-inclusive luxury to its newest destination - one of the most beautiful beachfront locations in the Caribbean.

 

This vacation reminded me why I love Punta Cana so much and why its growing in popularity as the years pass. With great people, great food, spectacular service, beautiful scenery and incredible beaches its not hard to see why Punta Cana is becoming THE place to vacation.  Don’t overlook this destination next time you are in need of a great vacation!

Happy travels…

Beach Lover’s Paradise

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It doesn’t get any better than Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun.  This adult’s only resort, nestled on the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, is located on the most beautiful beach I’ve ever seen.  The pure white sands and crystal clear, bright, turquoise water is the closest thing to a beach lover’s paradise. 

 

Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun - Ocean View

 

Recently, my boyfriend and I were lucky enough to stay and experience all that Secrets Maroma offers.  Secrets Maroma has 8 restaurants, 7 bars, 2 pools, a Secrets Spa by Pevonia, and endless day and evening activities.  We enjoyed kayak tours, archery, cooking lessons, Beach Olympics and tequila tastings. Secrets Maroma also hosts a wide variety of night shows every night of the week including a Rock of Ages show, a comedy show and a Fire show. All of these shows are spectacular and very professionally done.

 

Rising up over the opal waters of the Caribbean, Tulum is an archaeological gem, standing guard over pristine tropical shores like a proud great, great grandfather. Tulum is the only walled Mayan coastal city ever discovered and has fast become one of the most popular sites in Mexico.

 

During our trip, we booked 2 excursions through Apple Vacations.  The first was called Tulum Jungle Maya.  This is perfect for those who are interested in learning about the local culture and history of Tulum but also want an adventure.  Our tour guide picked us up in the lobby and was very friendly. We were briefed on the day’s plans that included a tour of the ancient Mayan City of Tulum, zip-lines and snorkeling in one of the many Cenotes of Mexico. Cenotes are underground fresh water rivers that span throughout the Mexican terrain. These Cenotes make up the second largest underground river in the world. When we arrived at Tulum we were schooled on the city’s history, then we were allowed to roam about to take pictures as well as take in the breathtaking views from the city’s outer limits. The city of Tulum is absolutely stunning, set on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean. 

 

Purification Ceremony

After the Tulum visit, we were driven to a Mayan ranch to participate in a Mayan purification ceremony located in a sub-tropical rainforest. The Mayans believe that going underground and purifying your body through the ritual symbolizes death and being reborn. This ceremony is supposed to transcend your body from old to new, and it was very interesting to take a part in the ceremony which was held in the ancient Mayan language.  After the ceremony the adventure begins. We started by rappelling down a 50ft cavern into the Yaxmuul Sac-Actun Cenote, a natural pool where you snorkel through beautiful rock formations.  Afterwards, we flew through the jungle on 3 different zip-lines, the last of which dips you into one of the many openings of the Mexican Cenotes.  Just when you think the adventure is over, you board a cross country all-terrain Mercedes Benz Uimog vehicle that takes you through the rain forest but you’d better hold on, because it is very bumpy but fun ride. It was a fun filled day packed with oohs and ahhs as well as a high entertainment value. This excursion comes highly recommended.

 

Experience the thrill of flying 20m ( 66 ft) over the jungle canopy on a 580m. (1,930 ft) long zip-line circuit. The longest "zip" is 260m (865 ft.), the longest & fastest in the region! We will prepare & gear you up to rappel 18m. (60 ft) into the depths of an underground river.

We love to snorkel so our second excursion was the Mayan Adventure.  This excursion lets you explore 3 uniquely different eco-systems.  A calm, isolated inlet where you can zip-line and jump off to the Cenote.  Then you explore an underground river cave Cenote filled with stalagmites, stalactites and small river fishes.  The 3rd is a natural Caribbean inlet filled with coral reefs and a variety of tropical marine life as well as endangered sea turtles.  If marine life is your thing, this excursion is a must.

 

Six à la carte theme restaurants, and six fabulous bars ranging from elegant to swim-up will delight your senses and satisfy all your culinary desires.

During our week’s stay at Secrets Maroma we were able to experience the best that resorts have to offer. The resort had great service, exquisite food, relaxing beach views, and incredible amenities. Through my experience with all-inclusive resorts,Secrets Maroma, is by far the most impressive experience. From the wonderful staff to the picturesque beach this resort is a complete package. No request is over the top, no appetite goes un-filled, and no ambience goes unfulfilled. It doesn’t matter whether you want a relaxing, quiet experience or a fun filled experience filled with good music and cocktails; Secrets Maroma has it all. It is an unforgettable experience that has my boyfriend and I counting down the days to our next experience.

 

Zoetry – Everyone should enjoy Endless Privileges

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This year’s family vacation was to Zoetry Agua Punta Cana, a beautiful, luxurious, oceanfront property, with the most amazing amenities!

When we first arrived in Punta Cana, we had a driver waiting for us with a private nonstop transfer to take us to the resort. From the moment I stepped foot into Zoetry, I fell in love. We were immediately seated with warm towels and drinks while they checked us in. The exceptional service never stopped.

Zoetry Agua is located on an isolated stretch of beach that gives the resort an exclusive feel. Although we were advised the resort was full, it never felt crowded. Beach chairs were always available and there was never a wait for anything. Easily accessible on the beach, is a batch of coral reef that could be easily seen through the crystal clear water along with tropical fishes. Every night, we would receive the resorts newsletter “Sundial”, which listed all of the following day’s activities. Zoetry offered a wide variety of daily activities to choose from. As a family, we chose to go horseback riding on the beach and took a bike tour around the neighboring towns.

Being as I was in the Dominican Republic, I wanted to try some local dishes. Unfortunately none of the dishes we wanted to try were officially on the menu; however, the Chef was more than happy to cook us up some local cuisine. One of my favorite Dominican dishes is Mofongo. This dish is comprised of mashed up plantains with garlic and a side of fried cheese or a choice of meat with a side of broth for dipping. Another one of my favorite dishes is called La Bandera. La Bandera is spanish for “the flag” as in the Dominican flag. It is named the Dominican flag because it is the traditional meal for Dominicans; consisting of rice, beans, choice of stew meat, salad, and fried plantains The next day, a Zoetry staff member brought us local Dominican fruits like zapote, guanábana and guayaba to make fruit platters and shakes for us. Nonchalantly, I mentioned to a staff member how much my family and I enjoy coconut milk. From the time I made that remark, until the day I left the resort, the staff made sure to have fresh coconuts waiting for us as we arrived at the beach even though I never officially asked.

Due to the small size of the resort, guests are able to become familiar with the staff and vice versa. The staff catered to our every need, if we wanted something, they found a way to get it to us. They made sure you felt like Zoetry was your second home. It made leaving so much more difficult, because not only are you leaving stunning surroundings, it feels like you are also saying goodbye to good friends. On our last day, the restaurant manager surprised us with a special last lunch with all of our favorite dishes.

Zoetry Agua is hands down the best resort I have been to with Apple Vacations. A great resort, offering excellent food and drinks, great service, broad choice of activities, and a relaxing homey feeling, everything I think makes a great vacation. Zoetry Agua is my benchmark for measuring future resorts experiences and what an amazing trip should be.