Magic 100.1 returns from their All-Inclusive Apple Vacation!

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Eileen Herncane (Editor at Large)

Magic 100.1 from New Jersey just got back from a week at Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun in Riviera Maya Mexico.

Glenn Kalina, who has been a radio fixture in the tri – state region for many years, travelled with The Magic Morning Show with Diane De Oliviera down to Riviera Maya.

They broadcasted live each morning from the lobby of Now Sapphire. They also got to experience a true Apple Vacation at Now Sapphire by enjoying the amazing pool, great beach, spectacular restaurants and relaxing spa services. The Magic Morning show were even treated to the Tulum Xtreme Tour where they zip-lined and visited the ruins courtesy of our friends at Amstar Resorts.

If you are in the area make sure to tune in to the station, over the next few months they will be giving away trips to Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun so that some lucky listeners will be able to have the same great experience.

Get Reconnected and Recharged

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Shannon McCain (Resource Development Manager)

I just returned from an unbelievable one-week vacation in the Riviera Maya. My fiancé and I were really looking forward to a chance to spend some quality time together. Our hectic (and completely opposite) work schedules make it almost impossible for us to see each other throughout the week. We figured the only way to catch-up was to hop on a plane and head somewhere warm. Not a bad plan, if you ask me.

We knew we wanted Mexico. We knew we wanted an amazing beach with everything included, and though we look forward to having a family in the future, we knew we wanted an Adults Only resort.

Lucky for us, all signs pointed to Secrets Maroma Beach.

We wanted to make this a special trip so we couldn’t skip out on the necessary extras. We started the vacation off right with Preferred Perks. We had incredibly convenient and comfortable seats in the second row with more seating room – is a must for my 6’4” amigo. Being among the first off of the plane, we zipped through customs and by the time we reached the baggage carousel our luggage was already waiting for us. We grabbed it and headed outside to our private transfers. If you have never used private transfers before, you must do it. If you don’t believe me – try it, just once, and you will see the incredible difference it makes in your trip. We made it to beautiful Maroma Beach is about 30-minutes. To be fair, I purposely left my watch at home, so give or take a few minutes.

Ok, I have to be completely honest here. We have been to a few adults only resorts in the past, usually for short stays and we have always had a great time; but I was wondering “can we really just gaze lovingly into each other’s eyes for an entire week?” Rest assured there’s no other face in this world I would love to stare at more, but for an entire week? Speaking in hushed voices, tied at the hip and using pet names for eight days straight is just not our style. We want the romance but we like to have fun too, and I was nervous that there wouldn’t be enough options for us. Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The resort was incredibly elegant, romantic, and the service was unbelievable. It managed to be all these things and yet still comfortable. From the moment we arrived we were able to really relax, have fun and most importantly, spend time together. Our week was spent so many different ways. We laid on the beach and soaked up the sun, met new friends at the beach bar, dined at amazing and intimate restaurants, even watched the Eagles game at the outdoor Sports Bar (which in retrospect, we probably could have skipped that week). We even participated in activities hosted by the Entertainment Staff – a bit out of character for us. One night we hopped in a cab and headed into Playa del Carmen for a fabulous dinner and some shopping, and the next day we took a fantastic snorkeling excursion in Puerto Morelos. We were able to make our romantic getaway 100% suit us.

It was by far the best vacation we’ve ever had. It was so hard to leave after only one week, but we came home reconnected, relaxed and ready to tackle reality again. And naturally we’re already planning our next trip back!

Just in time for Halloween: Spooky Travel from Apple Vacations

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Ali Gerakaris (Marketing)

Rose Hall Great House, Jamaica

Apple Vacations sells more than 40 destinations, all with their own colorful legends and histories. Between the real pirates of the Caribbean, the mighty, but violent, legacies of the Aztec and Mayan Indians and the ancient stories of native Hawaiians, Apple Vacations’ portfolio is full of locations with mystical and/or spooky tales. Here, in no particular order, are some of the scariest things sold by Apple Vacations:

1. The Rose Hall Great House in Jamaica is a landmark Georgian mansion, high on a hill with sweeping views of the ocean. In the early 1800s, it was owned by Annie Palmer, whose four husbands died suspiciously. Additionally, Annie was a practitioner of voodoo and was called the White Witch. Today, Annie, who was killed in her bed in a slave uprising in the 1830s, haunts the Rose Hall Great House.

True story: Around 10 years ago, Apple Vacations hosted a fancy-schmancy dinner for travel agents at the Rose Hall Great House. Dinner was elegant, with white-gloved service and tuxedoed waitstaff. After dinner, the group was given a guided tour of the mansion, complete with detailed stories of the cold-blooded life of Annie Palmer. Apple Vacations Director of Sales Sally Favia was there that night. She said the tour guide was a hypnotizing storyteller, bringing them room to room where Annie’s husbands died and her lovers murdered. The house is old and creaky, and they could hear banging from empty parts of the Great House. But, Sally said the scariest part of the tour was outside on the grounds, where allegedly you can still see the blood of Annie Palmer’s last victim. “Bone-chilling” is how Sally described it, and she insists that after that night, she won’t return to the Rose Hall Great House under any circumstances.

Heading to Jamaica? Ask your Apple Representative about taking a tour of the Rose Hall Great House. Tours are offered both during the day and, gulp, after dark.

2. Once an ancient Mayan seaport, today Xcaret is a popular Riviera Maya attraction. It’s an eco-archeological park, welcoming visitors to swim in the underground river, view tropical birds, jungle cats and monkeys and explore the Mayan ruins throughout the property. At night, Xcaret hosts an impressive evening performance, chronicling the history of Mexico through costume and dance.

But before the night show starts is when it gets real. As you walk through the ruins, prior to stepping into the theater, costumed performers are stationed periodically to set the stage and lure you into the show. Dressed as Mayan warriors, stoically posing with fantastic headdresses, incense and weaponry, the performers goose-bumpingly take you back thousands of years, when the Mayans ruled the very ground you’re walking on.

Explore Xcaret for yourself – you can add your tour to your Apple Vacations reservation before you leave, or see your Apple rep at your Cancun/Riviera Maya hotel.

3. Oahu Ghost Tours claims that Oahu is one of the most haunted islands in the world with activity equal to Savannah, Georgia or New Orleans. For more than 10 years, Oahu Ghost Tours has been scaring the pants off of its clients, and Apple Vacations offers you three tour options:

Honolulu City Haunts Walking Tour: On this tour guests will visit several known haunted hotspots in Honolulu. This includes Iolani Palace, the State Capitol and China Town as well as downtown Honolulu. Guests are led by a storyteller who will relate the tales behind the spooky locations. Guests with cameras may be able to observe unexplained events at these sites.
Orbs of Oahu Driving Tour: On the Orbs of Oahu driving tour, you’ll be witness to the creepy sites where many years ago, horrifying events took place. The events are over, but the haunts are just beginning. On this 4-hour tour, guests will be taken halfway around the island to visit the same spots that have been told in books and tales for hundreds of years, and that make the island of Oahu famous for being a supernatural hotspot in the Pacific.
Sacred Spirits Driving Tour: These places are treated with much respect by the Hawaiians and from visitors alike. The Native Hawaiians adamantly protect these sites. On this excursion you will visit several of the most ancient and sacred spots in Hawaii. You’ll learn about Menehune (the little people), as well as the feared Night Marchers. You’ll visit the sites where Pele, the fire goddess visited

You can book your tour with Oahu Ghost Tours before you leave or after you arrive at your hotel. Call Amstar Hawaii, the office representative of Apple Vacations in Hawaii at 1-888-946-3930 to reserve your spot.

Tower of London

4. Known as the most haunted building in England, the Tower of London was a palace, a prison and a place of execution. With the ghosts of Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, Guy Fawkes, Sir Walter Raleigh and more, the Tower is a don’t-miss if you like spooky spots.

After booking your Apple Vacation to London, you can book a walking ghost tour of the Tower from a variety of companies or take a tour from an official Yeoman Warder.

5. While Nassau, Bahamas might be known for modern hotels and colorful casinos, you can learn all about its pirate history on the Historic Tour of Nassau City. In the 1700s, Nassau was a famous pirate hideout, and it’s said that Blackbeard himself haunts the Old Fort of Nassau.

See your Apple Representative at the hotel for information on these and other optional activities and excursions.

Did we miss any scary Apple Vacations destinations? Let us know in the comments below.

Why you should go to Mexico

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Timothy Mullen (President Apple Vacations)

Now’s not the time to visit our neighbor to the south, right? Well, wrong. Mexico is still an amazing tourist destination that we have come to love. I’m currently in Cancun and wanted to take the time to let Apple Vacationers know what I’ve been experiencing firsthand. I’ve noticed thousands of happy travelers from around the world, most of whom are Americans. They are enjoying the sun, sand and warm Mexican hospitality. The vacations are meeting and exceeding expectations, exactly what you dream of when booking your vacation.

I am experiencing nothing like what the American press is reporting at all. When I’ve been talking to travelers, there seems to be the consensus that the negative press on Mexico is ridiculous! They’ve managed to lump all of Mexico – a country that’s the size of Western Europe – together! I personally don’t think that’s indicative of what’s happening in the entire country. Americans who travel to Mexico primarily go to six places, none of which have had travel alerts. These destinations are Cancun, Riviera Maya, Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit and Los Cabos. As a travel expert, I can tell you that it’s as easy-going as it’s always in these tourist destinations. And, it’s no surprise to me that Mexico remains one of the top tourist destinations in the world! It’s home to archaeological wonders, turquoise seas, a magnificent underwater world, and world-class hotels and vacation amenities.

Most travel to Mexico, ultimately, is simply good travel. It’s fun, affordable, eye-opening and fascinating. But, no, you don’t have to visit Mexico. Just know that the Mexico vacation experience on the ground almost never matches the sensationalized Mexico we see and read about.

Stay Connected to Mexico

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Stephanie Diehl (President, Travel Designed by Stephanie)

To help Golden Apple agents stay connected at the Apple Vacations Tradeshow in Chicago, they were invited to a very informative presentation Mr. Rodolfo Lopez Negrete, Deputy Director General of the Mexico Tourism Board. I wish agents everywhere had the opportunity to hear his dynamic presentation. He gave us the facts and figures to help set the record straight about traveling to Mexico. Mr. Lopez Negrete explained why the perception about travel to Mexico is not the reality:

Mexico is the #1 destination for American travelers.
97% of American travelers to Mexico find they are very satisfied or better.
99% of American travelers would recommend a vacation to Mexico to their family and friends.
The number of worldwide international travelers through July is up by 3.5%

The top markets are experiencing growth from 6.6% to 57% with the exception of the US which is down 6.3%. Research finds Americans are traveling closer to home not only because of fear but more importantly due to the economy. Cruise lines that have temporarily suspended visits to Mexico did so because of economic reasons not because of safety issues.
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