Stay at Secrets Resorts & Spas

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Christine May (Managing Editor)

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

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

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

Family Vacations – Ready or not, it’s time to GO!

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Eileen Herncane (Editor at Large)

Another major “vacation company” has a great marketing campaign out right now, and it is what I preach all the time. Take your vacation NOW, your kids are only this age once. Don’t miss out on it.

As my son gets older, I want to freeze time. My son is 8 and he will only be 8 once. OK, it is for an entire year I know, but I feel like he was 3, I blinked and now he is 8. I want to soak up every minute of him being 8 and acting 8 (the good and the bad).

I do understand when people want to “Wait until their kids remember” before spending a lot of money on a vacation, or wait until their kids are “old enough” to really enjoy it. But your kids are only this age once. Every family can use some together time away from work, school, video games, homework, laptops and television. This summer, plan your family together time on an Apple Vacation!

Plan it together by picking out destinations you want to see, hotels that have activities your family enjoys or excursions you want to experience. Or just be spontaneous and surprise them!

There is no better time spent with your family, than on an Apple Vacation! Make the summer of 2013 one your family will never forget. Go ahead and pick out your vacation here.

Apple Vacations LOVES Travel Agents

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Eileen Herncane (Editor at Large)

This May kicks off Apple Vacations 9^th annual Travel Agent Appreciation Month. It is Apple Vacations time to applaud agents for the valuable travel services they provide.

Baltimore Travel Agent Dinner

In this DIY and technology age, I know a lot of travelers like to book themselves. They think they will “save money” or “get a better deal”. But the knowledge, experience and service of an agent is truly invaluable.

If you are a Travel Agent, make sure check with your Regional Sales Manager or log on to the Travel Agent Café starting Monday to see all the exciting programs we have to offer. If you need to find an agent to book your next vacation click here: Ask An Agent

Here are some photo’s of our recent Golden Apple dinners where the “best of the best” received their Golden Apple awards.

Congrats Agents and Happy Travel Agent Appreciation Month!

Baltimore Travel Agent Dinner

Philadelphia Travel Agent Dinner

Milwaukee Travel Agent Dinner

Cleveland Travel Agent Dinner

Kaanapali Beach Hotel – a great choice for families in Maui

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Eileen Herncane (Editor at Large)

I wrote a resort review of The Kaanapali Beach Hotel. But, I also wanted to highlight why Kaanapali Beach Hotel is an excellent choice for family vacations. Kaanapali Beach Hotel is a beautiful beach-front location. One of the best views and most picturesque beaches you can find, perfect for swimming and close to snorkeling. But they also offer value, convenience, cultural activities and entertainment to keep families happy from the moment they arrive until it is time to depart.

Ka`anapali Beach Hotel

When I go on vacation, especially with my son, I like for our family to experience the local culture, food and traditions. I especially like for us all to learn something new about each place we visit. In Hawaii, a stay at Hawaii’s Most Hawaiian Hotel, will be a must for my family!

Kaanapali Beach Hotel offers a great program for children. It is an interactive family experience. Upon arrival, children 12 and under receive an Aloha passport with their Hawaiian Name and what it means. Then, during their stay, children complete various activities throughout the resort. Kids receive a makana (gift) for each completed activity. This creates fun for the entire family, and children get to take home their rewards. The resort employs full-time Hawaiian “Culture Advisors” (Alaka̕i) right on property. Children can learn about the history, language and traditions of Hawaii right within the resort.

In addition to the miles of amazing beaches and fun pools to keep the family happy, Kaanapali Beach Hotel also offers daily Hawaiian activities including free lei making, free hula lessons and free ukulele lessons. They also offer a complimentary welcome breakfast, complimentary Hawaiian Entertainment & Hula Show in the Tiki Courtyard, and Kids 5 and under eat free at the Tiki restaurant. All of this will help the budget while keeping the family entertained.

Upon departure from resort, Kaanapali Beach Hotel offers a complimentary Kukui Lei Ceremony. Kukui Nut Tree is the State Tree. “Kukui” means Enlightenment. Kukui Nut Lei is part of the employee uniforms. The staff explain why the Kukui nut is so important to the Hawaiian people then they sing and present a departure gift of a kukui nut lei’.

Kaanapali Beach Hotel was the only Hawaii hotel voted in “Top 10 Family Hotels” by Trip Advisor. Make sure you look into Kaanapali Beach Hotel, for your next stay in Hawaii.

Ka`anapali Beach Hotel

Ka`anapali Beach Hotel Aerial

Ka`anapali Beach Hotel Golf

Ka`anapali Beach Hotel Maui Waterfall

Fitcations – 10 Healthy Travel Tips

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Christine May (Managing Editor)

Don’t miss out on the 2013 Fitcation featuring Zumba by Apple Vacations this year at Dreams Villamagna Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. HURRY, book by April 30, 2013!!!

Here are 10 Healthy Travel Tips from Apple Vacations own April Wickey.

10 Healthy Travel Tips

Have a light breakfast before you leave for the airport, and carry a water bottle to fill up while you wait. You can’t bring food and drink past security.
Bring sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and reapply often! Bring a travel size sunscreen, big sunglasses and bathing suit in your carry-on in case your room isn’t ready when you arrive.
Take an early morning walk or run on the beach, or hit the fitness center before breakfast. That way, you’re burning stored fat instead of readily available carbs.
Join in on the activities by the pool and beach. Water aerobics, volleyball,yoga…you’ll have so much fun, it won’t even feel like a workout!
With tropical fruit, veggies and fresh seafood readily available, you can fill up on the tasty and healthy stuff before you’re tempted by heavy meats and fat-packed entrees on the buffet.
Those fancy tropical drinks are packed with sugar, and even though you don’t taste the alcohol, don’t be fooled! Drink plenty of water and limit alcoholic beverages, especially the kind made in a blender.
Don’t have dinner too late, as you won’t be able to burn off those calories as readily. After dinner, hit the disco for more fun and aerobic activity.
Limit dessert to a cup of decaf cappuccino and a bite of dark chocolate. You’ll thank yourself later and won’t have trouble zipping your jeans.
Get pampered at the spa with a relaxing massage, facial or seaweed wrap for your skin. Stress is the #1 cause of illness.
If you over-indulge, it’s OK. After all, you’re on vacation! Just don’t over-do it at every meal.

Fitcation by Apple Vacations at Dreams Villamagna Nuevo Vallarta

Here’s whats included:

Round-trip Non-stop flights from Chicago O’Hare and Dallas Ft Worth or direct flights from Minneapolis to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
All-Inclusive hotel accommodations at Dreams Villamagna Nuevo Vallarta
$200 Resort Coupons per room included (restrictions apply)
All meals, snacks, unlimited drinks, non-motorized watersports and more
FREE non-stop transfers to and from hotel
Sunset welcome cocktail party June 8, 2013 and farewell dinner party June 14, 2013
Daily fitness activities including Zumba Fitness classes with licensed Zumba instructors

HURRY, book by April 30, 2013!!!

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

Posted on March 23, 2013 by Christine May (Managing Editor)

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 8^th through June 15^th. 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

Hawaii’s Most Hawaiian Hotel – Kaanapali Beach Hotel

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Eileen Herncane (Editor at Large)

For many vacationers, especially “East- Coasters” like me, Hawaii is a “bucket – list” vacation. A trip to Hawaii is where you go on your Honeymoon or for a special occasion. It really does not have to be that way. With current airfare rates Hawaii is very, very

affordable. And with several islands to explore and various hotels to choose from, an Apple Vacation to Hawaii the possibilities are endless. Myself, I have a Hawaii “list”, places I want to visit, hotels where I want to stay, and excursions I want to do. I bookmark websites, print articles and save magazines. Whenever I come across something new or interesting about Hawaii, I file it away so I don’t forget about it when it is time for me to book! Low and behold, I recently added to my list! I learned about the Kaanapali Beach Hotel at an educational presentation and now I can’t wait to stay there!

Maui is the 2nd Largest Island in the Hawaiian Island Chain and Kâ‘anapali is Located in West Maui. Kaanapali Beach Hotel is a stunning Beachfront Location on 3 miles of golden sand beach. The hotel has been voted #1 for the past 19 years voted by Conde-Nast. The Kâ̕anapali Beach Resort is the world’s first “planned resort community” – 1,200 acres! There are two 18 – hole championship golf courses, private hotels, five condominiums, several restaurants, the Whaler’s Village Shopping Center and Whale Museum and hotels and resorts.

That all sounds great, but here is why I really think you should book Kaanapali Beach Hotel:

Kaanapali Beach Hotel offers the best location, location, Location! It is on the widest stretch of beautiful Kâ̕anapali Beach. And, Kaanapali Beach Hotel is Hawai̕i’s Most Hawaiian Hotel. When I travel I am all about the view, location and immersing myself in local culture. This is definitely the hotel for me.
As Hawai̕i’s Most Hawaiian Hotel, Kaanapali Beach Hotel offers daily Hawaiian activities and they employ full-time Hawaiian “Culture Advisors” (Alaka̕i) right on property. They offer nightly complimentary Hawaiian Entertainment & Hula Show in the Tiki Courtyard. the hotel is adjacent to Pu̕u Keka’a (Black Rock) for world-class snorkeling. They also have the first and only outdoor Tiki-Themed Bar on Maui with exotic cocktail blends, famous Mai-Tais, Pupule and Tiki Tini cocktails. The hotel provides trolley service to Historic Lâhainâ if you want to venture into town.
Kaanapali Beach Hotel sounds like paradise and everything I look for in a vacation. Stay tuned for my next blog on Kaanapali Beach Hotel and why this resort is an excellent choice for family vacations.