Category Archives: Grown Up Play

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 – 10 Healthy Travel Tips

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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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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!
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. Get pampered at the spa with a relaxing massage, facial or seaweed wrap for your skin. Stress is the #1 cause of illness.
  10. If you over-indulge, it’s OK. After all, you’re on vacation! Just don’t over-do it at every meal.
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!

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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

Secrets Royal Beach Resort & Spa – Punta Cana

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We have the cure for your Spring Fever! For those of you suffering from unpleasant cold weather, constant wind and snowfall and dreary days, your distress is over. Start thinking of warm weather, pristine beaches, unlimited gourmet cuisine and endless top-shelf spirits.

 

Read about a recent review of Secrets Royal Beach Resort & Spa, located in Punta Cana. As told by Apple Vacations own Kathleen Kroos, who recently vacationed there.

We left Philadelphia on a cold early January morning.  We left our coats in the car and boarded the airport shuttle for what was to be the most relaxing trip we had ever taken.   Even the plane ride over was restful!  Frontier Airlines seated us with plenty of leg room and the cabin crew was very pleasant.  We loved the quaint thatched roofed on the Punta Cana airport and were amazed by the efficiency of the airport staff.  All accompanied by the music of a local band.  We then met the Amstar rep., in his red and blue flowered shirt, who then showed us to our mini-bus for the ride to the hotel.

We were the second stop for the bus.  It was a pleasant comfortable ride. Secrets Royal Beach Punta Cana had a beautiful exterior.  It’s in a park-like setting with a pretty little lake running through it. The hotel porters had already taken our bags and we went into the lovely lobby to register and be taken to our room.  Our room was sumptuous!  The king-sized bed was very comfortable and every evening it was decorated with rose petals.  Our balcony had a lovely view of the courtyard and lazy river below.  The bathroom was very convenient and beautifully decorated.  It had a room for the toilet and a vanity with double sink and a beautiful walk in shower.  My husband is an amputee and they had included a chair for him to sit in while showering.  Every one of our needs were taken care of by the hotel staff!

 

 

After looking at the room we put on our bathing suits and strolled around the pool, the lazy river and then down to the beautiful beach for a delicious snack, a stroll along the waterand an opportunity to sit a stare at our beautiful surroundings.  Other than the occasional waiter taking our drink orders we relaxed to the sound of the waves, and the far off sounds of other happy travelers enjoying their day.

The first night we chose the Oceana seafood restaurant for dinner (good food and service) and later went to the entertainment in the courtyard just outside the hotel.  We listened to beautiful music and laughed at comedians.  We were pretty tired after our trip and went to bed early that night.

We had a great breakfast the next morning at the buffet and took our mimosas out to the beach to sit in the lounge chairs and enjoy the view.  After we’d been there about an hour, a man came up and invited us to a dance class.  He was gorgeous!  I took the class right on the beach just to watch this guy!  So did a large number of other women.  The rest of that day and the next are just one relaxing blur of relaxation, great food and friendly people all having a wonderful time!

Located amidst palm trees, lush vegetation and manicured gardens on an expansive sugar-white beach, this colorful Caribbean resort offers adults a seaside escape to romance, relaxation and Unlimited-Luxury®.

 

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.

 

Exclusive Usher Concert Bash

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Superstar Usher brought down the house at a concert at Cancun’s chic Moon Palace Resort and Spa on Dec. 29, 2012.

 

I “Usher-ed” in a new year, at a new night club, and at a recently renovated resort. Superstar Usher brought down the house at a concert at Cancun‘s chic Moon Palace Resort and Spa on Dec. 29, 2012.

Usher performed in front of more than 14,000 hotel guests, fans, VIPS and local government officials

Travel Tip – You need to see a concert while in resort!

 

Usher was awesome! The seven-time Grammy-Award winning singer and entertainer rocked the stage at an exclusive sold out concert. Famous for his record-breaking TOP 40 songs, Usher performed in front of more than 14,000 hotel guests, fans, VIPS and local government officials. No matter where you sat, the venue was laid out in such a way everyone was guaranteed a great view of the stage.  Attending a concert during vacation was such a cool idea! I would absolutely do this again.

 

The R&B singing sensation rocked the stage at an exclusive concert at Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort in Cancun on December 29, 2012.

 

FYI… Some of the Palace Resorts’ entertainment line-up for the first quarter of 2013 will be Jon Lovitz, Chris Kattan, and Tim Meadows, all former Saturday Night Live comedians. They will kick things off with two nights of live shows on February 16 and 17. On March 22 and 23, international soft rock duo Air Supply will perform romantic renditions of their timeless hits. They are expected to perform classic hits like “Lost in Love” and songs from their latest album Mumbo Jumbo.

Want to go now? Check out our great Cancun deals!

 

Fleet of Smart Cars at Oasis Sens

Side note:

Even though I didn’t stay at the Moon Palace, I was nearby at another resort in the Cancun Hotel Zone. I decided to take advantage of an offer from the resort to rent a Smart Car.  Driving to and from the concert was a breeze.  Plus it was something I have never done before, even though I’ve been to Cancun a dozen times.

Would you be up for driving a Smart Car in Cancun? Leave your comments below.

 

Usher performed in front of more than 14,000 hotel guests, fans, VIPS and local government officials
Fleet of Smart Cars at Oasis Sens
The R&B singing sensation rocked the stage at an exclusive concert at Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort in Cancun on December 29, 2012.
Setting up for the big concert bash!
Superstar Usher brought down the house at a concert at Cancun’s chic Moon Palace Resort and Spa on Dec. 29, 2012.
Showing off his moves!

Sandos Cancun Luxury Resort

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Located directly on the beach in the heart of the Hotel Zone, this resort is bordered by the Nichupte Lagoon to one side and the Caribbean Sea to the other.

Congratulations to Sandos Cancun Luxury Resort, a recent winner of an Apple Vacations Golden Apple award for superior staff and service. I had the pleasure to visit this luxury resort on my recent trip to Cancun and I was very impressed.

 

Sandos Cancun is a boutique resort just 10 minutes from the Cancun airport. When you walk in the resort there is understated elegance. Note – If you are looking for an all – inclusive with a kids club, huge buffet restaurant and miles of a meandering pool and crazy games, in my opinion this is NOT the place for you.

 

If you are looking for a sleek, luxury, intimate resort (just 214 rooms) with several a la cart restaurants offering a fine dining experience and an AMAZING Spa, then this IS the place for you.

 

Sandos Cancun Luxury Resort - Lobby

The lobby is smaller with a nice relaxing modern lobby bar -  Bar One , small gift shop and two a la carte restaurants to the right  off the main lobby. I dined at Zango and my lunch was delicious.  I always think it is nice to have an a la cart dining option in resort for lunch, it’s nice to get out of the sun and have a good, relaxing meal.  There is another A an a la cart Seasons which is open for dinner and is beautiful and offers stunning views of the Caribbean sea.

 

 

Sandos Cancun Room

The rooms at Sandos Cancun were exquisite with more than ample space. All of the rooms are ocean view with stocked mini bars, marble bathrooms, robes, slippers and even a safe that is wide enough for a lap top. The décor os neutral tones and made for a relaxing feel to the rooms.

 

 

 

Outside there were three pools that cascade one into another.  There were ample lounge chairs, bali beds and lounge beds on swings. The swinging beds were my favorite! There was a pool  – side restaurant of drinks and meals outside.  I have to say this was one of the nicest pool areas I have seen in Cancun, all the chairs were really nice, there was ample space between them for privacy and there were plenty of them.

I highly recommend this resort for a romantic vacation, girls getaway or spa getaway. It is also a perfect spot for a destination wedding.

Check out the pictures of Sandos Cancun and please leave comments if you have any questions.

 

Sandos Cancun Luxury Resort - View of Pools

 

Sandos Cancun Luxury Resort bali beds on beach

 

 

Sandos Cancun Luxury Resort View of Caribbean Sea