Why Protect Your Vacation Investment?

Posted on June 22, 2009 by Melissa Brown (Customer Care Manager)

090622_avok Approximately 80% of Apple Vacations travelers choose to buy “AVOK” travel protection when offered at the time of booking. The other 20% who do not are under the mistaken impression that the only reason they need this coverage is if they were to cancel their trip. As most are anxiously awaiting their anticipated vacation, they think “I have no intention of canceling, I don’t need insurance”. Inevitably, it is these same would-be travelers that will wind up breaking a leg the day before they are supposed to travel, or worse yet experience the death of someone close to them. Unfortunately, the vacation they have dreamed about for so long has now become a nightmare, and instead of lying on a tropical beach somewhere, they are in the hospital or at a loved one’s funeral. The sad fact is that for these passengers who elected not to purchase AVOK , there is no way to redeem their trip at a later date! However, those who did elect insurance can still look forward to their long anticipated vacation at no additional cost to them (other than the initial cost of insurance $49 – $99 depending on duration, etc) *.
Continue reading →

Things to Consider When Traveling Internationally

Posted on June 15, 2009 by Melissa Brown (Customer Care Manager)

People often ask me, what are the most important things to know about vacationing in another country?

Well, the first thing to know is that you are not in Kansas anymore! The U.S. is very different from Mexico, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic! The best thing to do is to keep an open mind! You just don’t realize how many rules and regulations govern our country, until you visit another one.

For instance, the physically handicapped (and those traveling with them) should remember, while we in the U.S. have the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) looking out for you, there is no such equivalent in many countries. Does this mean you won’t be able to get around at all? Of course not, but it does mean that you need to remember that while not everything may be accessible to you (i.e. that roof top pool, that cool underground wine cellar, etc), in most countries the resident employees will do everything they can to try to help you, even though there are no laws forcing them to do so. The best thing you can do is be understanding, open minded and remember that your Apple Representative will do everything they can to help. It is also a good idea to make sure you alert Apple Vacations to your limitations prior to traveling. Continue reading →

Through a Tween’s Eyes

Posted on June 8, 2009 by Melissa Brown (Customer Care Manager)

Meet Madison, Melissa Brown’s “tween-ager” and a frequent traveler to Apple Vacations’ destinations. Read about her experiences on a recent trip to Riviera Maya with her mom and big brother, GT.

090608_madison Hola! My name is Madison, I am 12 years old and I am in the 6th grade. Last week I got to go to Playa del Carmen, Mexico with my mom for a long weekend!

We stayed at the Iberostar Tucan, and it was so kewl! I saw real Toucans, monkeys and all sorts of wild life right there in the mini-jungle! The water was so turquoise and clear, you could see right though it, and the waves were ginormous! My mom and I spent hours jumping in the big waves. I also built a sand castle to look like a Mexican Mayan Ruin.

I think I probably had 10 ice cream cones because since it was all-inclusive, all the ice cream you could eat was included. My mom even let me have ice cream and French fries for lunch one day (only because we were on vacation)! I got a Henna tattoo around my ankle from the guy with his shop by the pool, it is really neat and I am going to try to fool my friends back at school into believing my mom let me get a real tattoo! Really it will wash away in about two weeks.

One day when it was real hot, my mom and I decided to paint a piece of pottery in the shade by the pool. I picked a turtle, and painted it purple and green and blue. It turned out really great. The airplane ride was fun too, the movie on the way home was Madagascar 2, it was so funny and we were home before I knew it.

Adios until my next trip!

Madison

Vacationing as a Single Parent

Posted on June 1, 2009 by Melissa Brown (Customer Care Manager)

Palm Tree Going on vacation with kids can be stressful and doing it as a single parent can be downright scary, but it doesn’t need to be. With a little bit of extra preparation, the single parent’s vacation with kids can be an awesome adventure!

Prior to leaving for the trip, the most important thing to do is to have a meeting with your kids.

Here are some tips:

- Discuss ground rules and review a map of the resort in advance, if possible.
- Pick a central point to use as home base in the event someone gets lost or separated. Sometimes the actual hotel room is not the best place, as your child would be apt to head there alone if they get lost or separated. Pick a specific restaurant, area by the pool or, better yet, the hotel’s front desk.
- Point out how to identify the resort employees by their uniforms.
- Set guidelines of your expectations in advance (are they allowed to go to the beach without you? The pool?).
- Think about bringing walkie -talkies along. This is a great way to keep in touch with kids who are old enough to cruise around on their own, yet without the roaming charges you are apt to get on your cell phone bill!

Reviewing the map before you go is also a good way to let your kids know about activities and areas geared toward kids. Continue reading →

What Should You Share with Your Travel Agent?

Posted on May 25, 2009 by Melissa Brown (Customer Care Manager)

What is important information to share with my travel agent when planning a trip?

When planning a trip, your travel agent will likely ask you:

1) where would you like to go; 2) what time of year did you want to travel; and, 3) what is your budget? All critical pieces of information as they begin to suggest vacation destinations for you and your family.
However, there are a number of other items that are equally as important, but unfortunately sometimes overlooked. In this day of communicating electronically, or over the phone, some important details could be left out that make a huge difference in the trip you book.

For instance, we received a letter from a passenger who was upset with the resort she visited. This passenger went on to say, “that resort was not appropriate for a 79 year old woman.” Apple Vacations agrees 100 percent, and had they known Mrs. X was 79 and had physical limitations, we probably would have suggested a smaller resort with specific handicapped facilities and perhaps a private transfer to and from the airport. However, it was Mrs. X’s son who booked the trip through a phone call with his travel agent. Mrs. X’s son never shared information about his mother’s limitations. Sadly now, we have a customer who did not have the most enjoyable vacation.

Along with the help of our valued travel agents, it is Apple Vacations goal to please 100 percent of our customers, 100 percent of the time. Information is key to us being able to plan the perfect trip for you and make sure you are 100 percent satisfied with your Apple Vacations experience.