If like me you are looking for something more than just a beach vacation, have you considered Costa Rica for your next trip?

Costa Rica is one of the most advanced countries in the world to travel, with high literacy rates, a booming “Health Tourism” industry and service levels to rival the most advanced of tourist destinations.  Did you know this small country is a firm favorite with Americans choosing it as their home away from home, with more Americans choosing to live in Costa Rica, than Costa Ricans (affectionately known as Ticos) moving over here to the USA? …Read More>>

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Forty is the new thirty. That’s what they keep telling us in the media, anyway. Personally, I wouldn’t want to be thirty again. I’m smarter, stronger, more secure and in better shape than when I was thirty.  I appreciate the amazing women in my life far more now. Not that I didn’t love ‘my girls’ then, but now that the kids are grown, I look back and cherish the village that helped raise them.

I feel fortunate to work here at Apple Vacations, where I get to be the one who organizes the Girls Getaway for our crew. I can put together an all-inclusive trip that allows the girls to truly relax and not think about anything. From transport to and from the airport to tipping - everything is done ahead of time. No cooking, no clean up. There is no worrying at all. Just laughing, singing and there’s always dancing.

I polled ‘my girls’, who range in age from thirty-five to mid-sixties, to get their thoughts on how our annual “Girls Getaway Vacation” has changed over the years.  Here is what we came up with …Read More>>

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I am a beach lover. I am also someone who loves to float, swim, snorkel, play, or even just stand and chat with friends in the ocean.  I love looking at the ocean, listening to it, smelling the saltwater scent, but most of all, I love submersing myself in it. If given the choice, I will always opt to sit in the sand on the beach and swim in the ocean rather than be poolside while on vacation. That’s just my preference.

The average beach-goer brings a plethora of paraphernalia along with them for a day at the beach. A variety of suntan lotions, a hat or visor, sunglasses, aquatic shoes, perhaps something to read or some sort of listening device, a camera to capture memorable moments, snorkel, fins, goggles…these are just some of the items we bring to the beach to entertain us.

In addition to many of these standard items, my personal beach bag includes one rather unique item… …Read More>>

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There’s no better way to get the most out a vacation than to go on an optional excursion. It’s a great way to experience a destination’s culture, people, land and sense of adventure.

In my opinion, tours break up the daily ‘routine’ of breakfast in bed, indulging in phenomenal cuisine, drinking margaritas and soaking up the sun on the beach. Who would want to break-up that routine, you ask?! I know it’s hard to convince my friends that it is worth leaving the lap of luxury for half a day. But once they experience these adventures, they never regret it. We remember those moments like it was yesterday and we haven’t stopped talking about them since!

No matter the destination, there are always excursions to choose from for every interest. The culture-craver, the adventure-seeker, the history-buff, the shopper, the night owls…there is an excursion for everyone.

One of my favorite adventure-packed excursions is the Jungle Crossing Tour offered in the Riviera Maya.  …Read More>>

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Chicago White Sox Pitcher Octavio Dotel, Apple CEO John Mullen, and Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia.

Sports fans probably know that Apple Vacations sponsors several major teams nationwide.  We’re the proud sponsors of three Major League Baseball teams, the Chicago Cubs, the Chicago White Sox, and the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies.  As sponsors, we host special events at the games, give away vacations, and invite our employees and customers to be our guests at home games.

Just this week, Apple Vacations hosted “Dominican Republic Day” with the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.  The first 20,000 fans were presented with a commemorative poster featuring past and present White Sox players who hail from the Dominican Republic.  In addition, the Chicago White Sox honored Mark Buehrle’s perfect game with “Mark Buehrle Day”. Fans also received a Mark Buehrle baseball card, sponsored by Apple Vacations.

Apple Vacations' Executive VP Jeff Mullen and Senior VP Tim Mullen; Dominican Republic Minister of Tourism, Francisco Javier Garcia; and Apple Vacations Founder and CEO John Mullen.

One of the highlights of the night was when the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Tourism, Francisco Javier Garcia, threw out the first pitch and took a photo with pitcher John Danks.  Apple Vacations executives and officials from the Dominican Republic Office of Tourism took an on-field photo with Dominican White Sox pitcher Octavio Dotel.  There was also an on-field performance by Dominican Republic Folkloric Ballet.  Along with thousands of fans, Apple Vacations hosted 70 travel agents and eight hotel partners and celebrated a White Sox win!

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