Greening Your Life

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Ali Gerakaris (Marketing)

More than one million Apple Vacationers will hit the beach in 2013, but with the help of the growing eco-friendly vacation trend, their impact on the environment can be minimized, protecting the fragile ecosystems of our beloved jungles, beaches and oceans and enhancing relationships with the local culture.Eco-friendly travel is more just than a buzzword; it is a way to preserve beautiful destinations for future generations and for the locals lucky enough to live there.

Eco-Friendly Resorts

Apple Vacations is proud to partner with a variety of resorts that have made an extra-effort to preserve our planet. Eco-friendly resorts can fit any budget and will leave travelers with a more authentic vacation experience, due to a deeper understanding and respect for the places they visit.

Here are more Earth-friendly Travel Tips to use when you’re on an Apple Vacation!

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.

Susan Haigh-Bishop Senior Sales Manager, Kaanapali Beach Hotel with Tim Mullen and Karen McFadden from Apple Vacations.

Hot Wedding Destinations in 2013

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Christine May (Managing Editor)

Considering a destination wedding in 2013? These 5 romantic spots are ideal for tying the knot in style!

1. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

The Caribbean islands are blessed with all the trappings for a spectacular destination wedding: powder-fine sand, crystal-clear waters and romantic resorts aplenty. But lately the tropic sun seems to shine brightest on the resort area of Punta Cana, thanks to new direct flights from wallet-friendly airlines AirTran and Frontier, it makes getting to this breathtaking (and affordable) stretch of paradise a cinch. The plethora of choices extends to lodging as well. No matter your style, there’s a resort for you: All-inclusive ease! Resorts in this popular wedding locale come with staff planners to handle the work and packages that make pricing a breeze.

Travel Tip — Welcome your guest! Leave a gift bag in each room full of goodies for your guest. Don’t forget suntan lotion and trinkets to remind them of your wedding destination when they’re back at home.

2. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Fiestas don’t get any more authentic than in Puerto Vallarta. It’s the perfect spot to welcome guests with icy margaritas and exchange “I do’s” as the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean. Sheltered by the jungled landscapes of the Sierra Madre Mountains to the east with romantic views of the Pacific to the west, Vallarta provides an exotic blend of cosmopolitan culture, Mexican flavor and nature at her best. Vallarta is home to Banderas Bay, where you can enjoy the thrill of whales up close from December through April. Vallarta is divided into two general areas: Puerto Vallarta to the south and Riviera Nayarit to the north.

3. Montego Bay, Jamaica

Exchange vows on this island paradise where reggae, romance and the Caribbean sun come together. Pioneers of the all-inclusive vacation concept, you won’t find an island that does it better. For many, it’s positively addictive. The country’s pulsating heartbeat is embodied by soulful cuisine, lively reggae and generous smiles from locals who love to show off their country. Getting married here is so simple that more visitors than Jamaicans are wed on the island every year.

Travel Tip – Planning an off-season wedding or honeymoon (May – Dec) can help you save big on hotels & other costs. Jamaica’s tropical climate does not vary from season to season so marry in the “off-season” and save!

4. Maui, Hawaii – U.S.A.

Maui is a hassle-free place to make a tropical wedding a reality. Both independent wedding planners and onsite coordinators at big resorts can pave the way to I do. There are countless reasons brides and grooms flock to this ever-popular Hawaiian isle. For starters, everything about it seems to cater to couples seeking one romantic experience after another (think unlimited sunsets and picture-perfect beaches). Although Maui’s certain to exceed your expectations as a tropical paradise, its unique inland offerings will give you the opportunity to turn a fantastic beach vacation into an unforgettable adventure. Plus, with direct flights from the mainland, the island is easily accessible for wedding guests.

5. Riviera Maya, Mexico

This 112-mile stretch of coastal paradise, with its white sand beaches fronting turquoise waters, tropical jungles and ancient Mayan ruins, provides the perfect setting for your fairy-tale wedding and heavenly honeymoon.

Travel Tip – While a tropical climate might be great for your tan, it can wreak havoc on big, fluffy satin dresses. Consider lighter-weight fabrics, a shorter hemline or a strapless gown to keep you cool on your wedding day.

Sandos Caracol Eco – Resort and Spa

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Eileen Herncane (Editor at Large)

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.

Philadelphia Flower Show – Brilliant!

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Christine May (Managing Editor)

Brilliant!

The largest indoor flower show in the nation, the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show is going to be “Brilliant!” in its 184th year.

The Crown Jewels – White Diamonds

Capturing the majestic beauty and creative inspiration of Great Britain, displays at this year’s Flower Show will pay tribute to centuries of inspiring, influential design sense of London.

Visitors will be greeted by the scent of thousands of English roses at the Royal palace gates, which open to the show’s grand centerpiece: a sculptural, digitally enhanced rendition of Big Ben, complete with an hourly light and sound show.The main exhibits will focus on Britain’s heritage and culture including Royal events, the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, foggy London streetscapes and a floral presentation of the Crown Jewels.

It’s produced by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and is supported by a host of generous sponsors. Too many to list, they include: Subaru, the Premier Sponsor; the Official Sponsor, Bank of America; and dozens of others that include EP Henry, Einstein Health Network, Visit Hershey and Harrisburg, A. C. Moore, Apple Vacations, Acme, and Giant.