We have gotten many questions on the Secret Shopper Program, so here is a little FAQ blog on the program.

What is Apple Vacations’ Secret Shopper program?
At Apple Vacations, we pride ourselves on outstanding service and product.  While we use Vacation Satisfaction Questionnaires as our standard in customer feedback, we now want to take it to another level. We are looking for Secret Shoppers, actual participants that consist of past, present, and future customers, who will report on their complete vacation experience.

Airlines, hotels, excursion operators and rental car companies all know that Apple Vacations is serious about the quality of its product and services. Unbiased consumer feedback will be brought to the attention of these partners to help maintain their quality control.

Can I be a Secret Shopper?
The application window for 2010/2011 Secret Shoppers is currently closed.  Keep an eye out on Facebook and twitter — when the program opens again later this year, we’ll announce it there. …Read More>>

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OK, so I wrote a blog a few weeks ago about why Travel Agents & Apple Vacations and not On-Line Booking Sites. It reminded me of an e-mail I got a few years ago from a media executive that I had in resort at the time a hurricane hit. I edited it, but after you read it I think you’ll know why… there is nothing better than Apple Vacations! The e-mail speaks for itself.

Man when you guys set up a vacation, you think of everything. I cannot tell you how much Susan, you and Apple Vacations meant to me and my wife especially because of adventure we wound up in. The clout Apple has is unbelievable.  Everyone, and I do mean everyone, was turned away at the airport road unless they were with Apple Vacations.  Thousands of people. The (Mexican) Army was turning away buses, taxis and people on foot. It looked like something out of a movie.  We got waved thru like we were rock stars.

Let me tell you about your guy at Secrets. What a nice guy.  He evacuated us & he brought his girlfriend to the shelter to be with us.  The guy did not stop. He was getting out when he could to get the information to brief us.  When we went back to the hotel put on a clean Apple shirt and was rocking with any information he could get! He banged on our door at 2:30 in the morning (no electricity — so he was running around with a flashlight) to tell us to be ready in the morning to split. What a guy.

Secrets Capri ran the crisis like a precision drill team.  The GM was cool collected and ran his employees better than a commando leader. I sent a letter to AMResorts commending him and his employees.

Thank you so much for the information you were getting to my staff and more importantly to my daughter. The hardest part of the whole thing was not being able to tell our daughter we were OK.  We were out of contact with her for almost 5 days, and I know getting info from Apple helped comfort her. You guys are the best and I will tell everyone I know that when it comes to Vacations if they don’t go with Apple Vacations, they are risking their lives!

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Did you notice the Facebook “Like” button is now on all of the Apple Vacations Hotel pages on www.applevacations.com?

I know not everyone has access in the office to Facebook. So here are the details:

When you are on a hotel page of www.applevacations.com, such as Secrets Sanctuary Capa Cana, and click on the “like” button you will now be prompted to sign into Facebook (if you are not already).

After you click “like” you will have a link added to YOUR Facebook wall showing that you “like” the hotel that you clicked on applevacations.com (in this case Secrets Sanctuary Cap Cana). …Read More>>

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I love the small touches at a hotel and also love to see the local flair and artistry when I am on a vacation. My favorite thing about Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita Riviera Maya is that they support the local craftsmen and economy. Upon arrival at Zoëtry there is a woven bag in each room. This bag is purchased for clients by Zoëtry and can be used as your beach bag during your stay; and you can also take it home! A great way to give back locally!

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On the flight down to Cancun, I heard the woman behind me say at least 10 times that she was worried about getting to the hotel. She was booked through Apple Vacations and the person in the aisle next to her reassured her that if she looked for the flowered shirts she would be fine. To prove how easy it was I took out my FLIP video camera after we cleared immigration.

I wanted to show everyone, who may go on an Apple Vacation to Cancun or Riviera Maya what to (and what not to) look for.

I travel often enough and know what to expect. For those who do not I thought this may be helpful. …Read More>>

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