Category Archives: Mexico

Stay at Secrets Resorts & Spas

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 One of our employees, Nina M. Scimenes, blogged about her trip to Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun.  We wanted to share her blog with our Juice readers!

Secrets Resorts & Spas is included in Apple Vacations’ Summer Fun for Everyone sale , and it is appropriate because a stay at one of the adults-only beachfront properties is beyond ‘fun’!  You can expect a spectacular beach vacation with the inclusions of Unlimited-Luxury® with spacious accommodations, unlimited top-shelf spirits, gourmet dining without reservations, 24-hour room service, nightly entertainment and more.  What’s not to love?

View of infinity pools at Secrets SIlversands

View of infinity pools at Secrets SIlversands

 

This past July I soaked up the sun for three days at Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun with my best friend.  I loved every second of our getaway.  The resort is very modern and chic and you feel it as soon as you enter the main lobby and see the sculpture of silver fish.  We received a warm welcome from the staff with a cold hand towel and glass of champagne!

 

It was the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure. From peaceful pampering at the Secrets Spa by Pevonia, to an exciting bike ride into Puerto Morelos, we enjoyed the best of both worlds. Most of our time was spent lounging poolside near Manatees and sipping on refreshing cocktails at the swim up-bar.   When the sun goes down the party continues with lively entertainment.  One night we enjoyed a captivating performance at ShowTime Theater, Secrets Idol, presented by Secrets Entertainment Team.  Guests competed in a singing competition and the judges were also guests.  The music selection got us on our feet dancing.

Lobby Bar at night

Lobby Bar at night

Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun offered a variety of dining options.  Each morning I enjoyed a hearty breakfast at World Café complete with a Mimosa and Bloody Mary bar! The ceviche at Oceana was one of my favorite meals and it is served al fresco overlooking the main pool.  El Patio is my favorite restaurant at the resort, not just because it serves authentic Mexican cuisine, but the warm ambiance is very inviting and just down right adorable. As soon as you enter the restaurant, there is a tree with blown glass hearts dangling, making the perfect photo opportunity. At least one Mexican meal is a must when in Mexico! I highly recommend the delicious guacamole and El Paster pork tacos. And of course, while we were there, we just had to order 24-hour room service one night for a midnight snack! There is truly something for everyone.

 

With 12 stunning Secrets Resorts & Spas to choose from, there is defiantly a perfect resort for you. Recently, SecretsResorts.com added a resort finder to their newly revamped website. http://www.secretsresorts.com/resort-finder. How clever! By answering a series of questions about what you expect from a vacation, you can find the Secrets Resort that is perfect for you. Sun, sand and special moments are waiting for you. Enjoy your getaway.

 

Spa by Pevona
Secrets Silversands room
Overview of Secrets Silversand
Lobby Bar at Secrets Silversands
Lobby at Secrets Silversands
View of infinity pools at Secrets SIlversands
Lobby Bar at night

Fitcations Fit-Trip to Paradise – We’re at it again!

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as told by Apple Vacations very own April Wickey

  

Last year, the Apple Vacations’ team got their feet wet by mixing the vacation package experience that we are experts at and adding in a little flare with Zumba®, Yoga, and other fun fitness activities.

We created Fitcations to offer the opportunity to take the fitness classes we love out of the gym.  We wanted this experience to be not only for the fitness savvy people out there, but also those looking to try something new.  Sometimes it’s easier to step outside of your comfort zone when you know no one else knows you.

We offered daily morning yoga classes by the beach and Zumba classes by the pool.  Even when the sun got hot, we kept our cool by making our own shade.  We even turned the disco into a Zumba® party.

With all of the publicity we got from this Fitcation experience, we heard a lot of good feedback from both the travel agent community and people just looking for this unique opportunity. We also received a lot of inquiries as to when we were going to do this again.

 

Well, we are ready to do it all again.  We’d like to introduce this year’s Fitcation experience.  We will be heading down to the beautiful Pacific coast of Mexico, and staying at the luxury-included Dreams Villamagna Nuevo Vallarta.  This Fitcation will take place June 8th through June 15th.  We have packaged this with our charters from Chicago O’Hare, Minneapolis and Dallas-Fort Worth.  And we have our personal touch desk ready if someone is looking to travel from another city.  We have, once again, teamed up with Suzelle Snowden founder of Fit Bodies Inc.  And we have added Zumba® Education Specialist (ZES) Kelly Bullard to our list of instructors to make sure that this experience will be one of a kind.

Spa by Pevona

The Xcalacoco Experience.

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Sandos Caracol Eco – Resort and Spa – The Xcalacoco Experience.

Sandos Caracol ECO Resort and Spa has many sun, fun and Eco activities for families. One of the most unique is The Xcalacoco Experience.  It is worth the stay at this resort alone.  Not only are families going on a fun vacation at Sandos Caracol, they get to truly experience Mayan culture.

The Xcalacoco Experience is a unique program that allows guests to discover the Mayan culture in distinctive natural surroundings.  At Sandos Caracol ECO Resort & Spa, Xcalacoco is a way of being, living and thinking.

Activities in The Xcalacoco Experience include an Eco tour through nature trails that allow guests to explore the Mayan jungle. Guests witness Mayan ceremonies, visit a Mayan herb garden and plant indigenous species significant to the Mayan culture. Guests also participate in natural treatments and ancient rituals at the Spa.

 

The Xcalacoco Experience adventures in nature and environmental activities, encourage guests to reconnect with nature, respect the planet and engage in ecologically sustainable practices.

Families go home from this unique vacation experience both renewed and inspired. Imagine the unique stories your kids will have to tell after your family vacation to Sandos Caracol.

 

Sandos Caracol Eco – Resort and Spa

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If you are looking for somewhere different to take the kids for a spring adventure, or for a summer family vacation, take a look at Sandos Caracol ECO Resort and Spa where there is plenty for your family to discover. Sandos Caracol is great vacation for family fun all while teaching your kids about the environment.

 

Discover the Eco activities. The resort focuses on teaching children to live in harmony with nature and to take care of the environment.  They offer an Eco -Tour for kids to teach them to respectfully interact with the environment. Kids can also bike ride on the trail, plant a tree (give back to nature), or attend an interactive eco-talk.

Discover the fauna and flora of the region in the Aviary/Bird Sanctuary.

Discover the Mayan Jungle including Turtle Lagoon, Iguanas, Mangrove Crabs, Eco Club Nursery, Mayan Herb Garden, Orchids, Mangroves and the Organic Garden.

Discover the Water Park.  17 fun slides and water games surrounded by water spouts.

Discover time for mom and dad! There is a baby club for children 2-3 years old which is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. There is also a kids club for children 4 – 12 years old which is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Stay tuned for my next blog on one of the most exciting kids adventure at Sandos Caracaol – The Xcalacoco Experience.

 

 

I Have a Secret – Secrets Capri

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I know you are not supposed to have “favorites” when you work with so many hotels in Mexico & The Caribbean, and if you do, you are not supposed to talk about them right? It’s like, when you have children, you never say which one is really your favorite.  But I do have a favorite Secrets Resort – Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun. I love it. I have written about it many times before.  It is currently a part of Apple Vacations SuperSale, so I wanted to feature it here again. If you are considering a vacation at this resort, you are making a great choice.

If you book with Apple Vacations, all of the Secrets Resorts and Spas have non-stop transfers to and from the resort, and you do not need wristbands, dining reservations or towel cards.  The service, staff, dining and amenities are exceptional at all of them as well. They are adults only unlimited luxury ™. Secrets Capri, however just speaks to me from the moment I walk in. It’s a smaller, more manageable resort for me and that is exactly what I prefer on a vacation. It reminds me of a colonial plantation resort on the west coast of Mexico.   It is very easy to walk around, and nothing seems too far away. The pool is a perfect size with space to relax and be alone, but also a pool bar to be social with other guests if you prefer.  The Cactus Club Ceviche & Taco Bar next to the pool and beach, is not to be missed.  Oceana the Fresh Seafood and Seaside Grill & Caribbean Steakhouse offer spectacular view of the Caribbean Sea while you dine.  And, the food at all restaurants is just spectacular. The rooms at Secrets Capri are a perfect size, they are a little bit larger than I was expecting and the bathrooms are beautifully decorated.  Even the beautiful yellow color of the resort is just calming.

Sure Secrets Maroma has one of THE  most amazing beaches in the world, and Secrets Silversands has a spectacular infinity pool and is a bit livelier, and Secrets the Vine is just breathtaking and in the middle of  Cancun, but Secrets Capri has my heart. Vacationing and visiting Secrets Capri is truly treat for me, since most of my vacations are family oriented and this resort is adults only.  But I cannot wait to get back here soon, very soon.

 

The 10th Annual Sea Turtle Festival

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Photo Credit: Apple Vacations - Tulum Ruins, Mexico

 

Photo Credit: Apple Vacations - Baby turtle in Tulum Mexico

If you’re thinking about a trip down south to soak up the sun and enjoy warm tropical waters, here’s a great reason you should consider visiting Tulum, Mexico. The 10th Annual Sea Turtle Festival will take place in Tulum this upcoming week. Activities will include sandcastle competition, children’s painting, art exhibition, raffle and live music. It’s really great how many wild animals live and nest in the area.

From the 25th to the 28th October you will be able to be part of an exciting gathering of people who are passionate about sea turtles and their conservation. One of the hosts will be  Bahía Príncipe Hotel in Tulum. The festival aims to raise the local population and tourists awareness on the sea turtles protection, as one of the most primitive vertebrates in existence and now endangered too. Centro Ecológico Akumal is part of the organizing committee.

Will you be visiting Mexico in October? Here are some other exciting things to do in while visiting Cancun and Riviera Maya with Amstar DMC!

If you like Piña Colada’s and getting caught in the rain…

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I just got back from Secrets Vallarta Bay Resort & Spa a couple weeks ago. It was truly amazing; the pools, the beach, the view from my room, the über-relaxing spa and every luxury you could imagine. I’ll get in to more detail in an upcoming blog so be sure to keep an eye out for it.

 

Photo Credit: Christine May - Secrets Vallarta Bay Rendezvous Lobby Bar

 

Anyways…

I found myself ordering an “oldie but goodie” drink when I was hanging out at the Lobby Bar, Rendezvous… The classic  Piña Colada. Since I enjoyed this drink so much while at Secrets Vallarta Bay, I wanted to provide you with the recipe so you could make this tropical libation at home! Cheers!

 

Ingredients:

  • Ice cubes
  • 1/2 cup rum
  • 1/2 cup coconut cream
  • 1/4 cup coconut milk
  • 1/4 cup pineapple chunks
  • Sliced pineapple, for garnish, optional

Directions:

Fill blender halfway with ice cubes. Add rum, coconut cream, coconut milk and pineapple chunks. Puree. Serve, garnished with a slice of pineapple, if desired.

If you like piña coladas (“and getting caught in the rain!”) fix yourself an ice cold drink and enjoy responsibly.

 

Photo Credit: Secrets Resorts & Spas - Grab a drink at the lobby bar where you'll reconnect with ones your with or meet new friends

 

Remember to stay tuned for my upcoming blog about all the wonderful amenities and resort review of Secrets Vallarta Bay Resort & Spa.