A week at “the shore,” “the beach,” “The Hamptons,” or “down the ocean”  (whatever you call it in your area) …. is a rite of passage each summer, especially for East Coasters.  However, in this economy Apple Vacations encourages you to consider this alternative. Spending your summer vacation in Mexico or the Caribbean will not only save you money - it will also save you time.  Time you can then spend with the family.

I did the research. A 3 bedroom beach-block house in a New Jersey shore town (I looked up Ocean City, NJ) can cost $3,800.00 on average in July.  That is simply for the house. Don’t forget gas and tolls, breakfast, lunch, snacks, ice cream, dinners out each night, drinks, boardwalk games, miniature golf, parking at the boardwalk… the list goes on.
If you pick a sale week then you can save up to $4,300.00 just by choosing Mexico or The Caribbean.  An  ALL-INCLUSIVE week at Palladium Resorts in Mexico is less than $2,400 per family and in Punta Cana is less than $2,800.00 per family (both plus taxes). But that is all–inclusive WITH AIRFARE! Click on www.applevacations.com/swotc to see the details, our pricing comparison, and to pick your 2010 summer family Apple Vacation!

Since we do not advertise a hotel name, we can offer some amazing rates without associating the name of a high - end hotel with such a low rate. Why would Apple or a hotel do this? They need to fill rooms. An empty hotel room is lost revenue to the hotel, just as an empty seat on an airplane is to us. There may be a small window where a group canceled or there happens to be some open inventory. We work together to come up with some GREAT offers that you would never get if you booked the hotel as a name brand. 

Square Deals offer a great value to Apple Vacationers looking for an unbeatable value. When you book them, you must understand the potential hotels. If you would be happy with any of the possibilities, then a square deal is good for you. I recently had someone ask where they would wind up if they booked a 6 Apple Square Deal to Cancun. I can’t tell you exactly, but I can say that Dreams Cancun, Le Blanc, Palace Resorts and Gran Melia are the only 6 Apples in Cancun. I’d be happy with any of them. If you would, then book it.

You should not book Square Deals if you need a specific resort, need the hotel information ahead of time, have special dietary restrictions, or need to book multiple rooms, as all passengers booked into a square deal (even on the same date) may not go to the same hotel. Don’t book a Riviera Maya Square Deal if you want to stay in Cancun.

Q – When do I find out my hotel?
A –  At the airport upon check in.

Q – What if I get there and do not like the hotel?
A – Most people are more than happy with the hotel for the price they paid. If you are unhappy, the Apple Representative in resort can provide options for moving. Keep in mind, since the Square Deal was sold at such a negotiated discounted rate, to move to a hotel with an equal Apple rating may be substantially more expensive.

Q – Can I request a specific hotel?
A – No, hotel requests and specific room requests cannot be made for Square Deals.

Q – Are Square Deals ever to a specific Hotel Chain versus an Apple rating?
A – Yes, at times a chain, such as Dreams Resorts & Spas or Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, will offer a Square Deal. They can offer this for any hotel in their  chain in a specific vacation destination or by any hotel in their chain at a specific Apple rating.

So if you are just a little bit flexible and want a great deal on your next Apple Vacation, book a Square Deal!

1 - When making the booking ALWAYS provide Apple Vacations and your travel agent a correct phone number. This is in case we need to reach you the day of, or day before your flight. A cell # is best. For example if you are leaving on a Sunday, don’t leave your work number, if you are not going to be there after Friday. Apple Vacations does not ask for your number for any type of solicitations, only official use.

2 - Always call the number on your tickets or E-Docs before you leave for the airport to ensure there are no weather delays.  

3 – Plan ahead and leave in enough time to reach the airport in inclement weather. You need to be at the airline check-in counter 2 hours prior to your scheduled departure time. There is nothing worse than getting stuck in snow or traffic and arriving late to the airport, only to find the flight has left without you.

4 – Consider a Park, Sleep & Fly. Apple Vacations offers discounted rates to several airport hotels. Many include FREE parking. You can stay at the airport the night before departure, so you are nice and close. In many cases the 1 – night room cost is not much more than what it would have cost you to park at the airport for your trip. Here is a link: http://tinyurl.com/yafyg73

5 – Finally, wear layers. It will be cold at home but warm when you get off the plane. You don’t want to get overheated while gathering your luggage or getting your transport to the hotel.

“The hotel was breathtaking. Gran Melia is located on a very large, clean, white-sand beach. It was picturesque. The room itself was beautiful and we had superb turn-down service. I have to say the entire resort is spotless. The pool was nice with a great pool bar and fun music. The staff are super attentive and very informative, they go out of their way to make your stay memorable. Good food & drinks were a plenty. There was a welcome fruit basket when we arrived and you know we ate it all! The night before we left, we received three pinafores - delicious! I had not been to Cancun in a long time, and was very pleasantly surprised. This trip was a great celebration and a welcome break from the snow we were having at home!”

Thanks for the review Cris. And, Happy Birthday!!!

Gran Melia Cancun

Royal Hideaway Playacar

We’ve receive questions and a lot of positive feedback about the beach restoration in Cancun & Riviera Maya and Cozumel. I thought it would be a good time to share what I know about Mexico’s efforts to rejuvenate their beaches. I’ve watched this progress unfold and what I’ve seen is a remarkable. Cancun has restored some of their beaches to their original, natural beauty — and the progress they’ve made is amazing.

The reason why they are doing this project is that Cancun proper, Riviera Maya and Cozumel have suffered beach loss, in isolated areas, over the past 3 years. Earlier projects to sustain further beach loss have been unsuccessful. Even though they are almost done, here is what I have been able to find out over the past few days.

1.     This project itself is not being managed by the resorts themselves. The Mexican Government is re-coooperating beach locations because there was little to no beach area due to erosion.
2.     If a beach is targeted for re-cooperation, it was because there was little or no beach.
3.     The Government has not provided a list of what beaches are earmarked for restoration nor have they published an official time-line.
4.     We do not have a schedule specifying what day construction will occur at what hotel.
5.     Construction typically takes only a few days, per hotel.
6.     They are working as fast and as diligently as they can, so that the beach restoration projects can be completed as quickly as possible and there is minimal interruption to resort guests.
7.     I have read on some sites that the work is to be complete by February 10, and other sites by mid-February.
8.     We know the Government was to target beaches in Cancun proper, in Riviera Maya and in Cozumel. At this time, from what we can tell, all the beaches in Cancun are complete and they are now working toward making beaches in Riviera Maya as beautiful as ever.

ME Cancun

Affected hotels have handled this beach re-cooperation project as best they could, knowing that there would be no time lines for restoration. Hotels are providing guests with options to visit the beach. Some of the personal feedback I have received is that vacationers were able to walk down the beach to an open beach, take a bus to an open beach or go to another hotel that had an open beach. Several people have even commented that they grabbed a cocktail, put their feet up, and enjoyed sitting and watching this very exciting project.

Ritz Carlton

The Resorts that have undergone the completed re-cooperation have had the natural beauty restored in their beach.  I have seen photo’s of many of the “new” beaches including Palace, Allegro and Occidental.  This is a project that will revitalize the beaches and restore their beauty for vacationers to enjoy for many years to come.  For more details and to see some photos, here are a few places to visit:

Visit www.cancun.travel. Click on the top right button for beach restoration photos.

Palace Resorts was recently complete and they have some great pictures on their website: www.palaceresorts.com.

There is till time to book for this year! Reinvent the meaning of Spring Break and take the whole family to Cancun, Riviera Maya or Punta Cana.

Most hotel chains are creating rooms, activities and amenities to meet families’ needs.  Hotels are more family friendly than ever. Hotels offer family suites and “Family of  5 Friendly” rooms. In the past, families with 2 adults and 3 kids had to book 2 rooms. This is no longer the case. For bigger families, look to hotels such as Barcelo Family Deluxe, Dreams Resorts & Spas and Palladium Resorts.

If you have “teens”, some hotels are focusing on them as well and creating teen clubs or centers. Check out Palladium Bavaro in Punta Cana or Iberostar Resorts in Riviera Maya.

There are so many hotels that have special family features. A good resource to help plan your Family Getaway is our specialty site: http://tinyurl.com/ygjp5jh

Also, in this economy many all - inclusive hotels offer kids stay, play and eat for FREE! You just can’t beat that.  No worries on how many times your child wants to go for a snack, drink or dessert - it’s vacation right? You are not socked with a bill at the end of your stay. Look to Dreams Resorts & Spas and Barcelo to find these offers as well. Log on to our or website and check out our Sunday Travel newspaper ads to see which hotels are currently offering the best deals. http://tinyurl.com/ykqz7bm

Remember, there is no better time spent, than the time on a Family Vacation!

I returned last week from Punta Cana and have to say that it remains one of my favorite vacation destinations. The beaches are beautiful, the hotels are terrific and vacation values and service are over-the-top.

The tragic events in Haiti had no impact or effect in Punta Cana; I know because I was in Punta Cana when the earthquake struck Haiti. I didn’t realize this had happened until that evening when I turned on CNN. I spent the following three days inspecting hotels up and down the Punta Cana area coast, and can tell you that there was no effect. The services, facilities and features of Punta Cana are fully functional and it remains one of the best vacations areas.

Bruce Wilson, Apple Vacations’ Senior Sales Manager, New England, Albany and Hudson Valley

There are a couple of other things that stand out about his hotel that are worth mentioning. First is the wedding area. It is located on the 3rd floor of an ocean-front building looking over the beautiful crystal blue turquoise water, and gorgeous white sand. It is truly a unique wedding venue. Another is the buffet. It is an ocean-front buffet so you get to dine gazing out at the crystal blue water. It is truly exquisite! What better way to eat surf and turf than with ocean-view dining. This new hotel is a real home-run!

Punta Cana and Port Au Prince are about 400 miles apart or 12 hours away by car. There are mountains and extremely rough terrain that divide the two nations. So the resort operations and vacations are uninterrupted in Punta Cana, and it is business as usual. The Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism assures visitors that all of its cities, tourism and resort areas are conducting normal business operations.

Since vacations have not been interrupted, and the resorts are still welcoming visitors, we are in a unique position to help the Haitian Relief effort not only through our employees, tourism contacts and friends in Punta Cana, but even through Apple Vacationers going to Punta Cana.

If you or anyone you know is going to Punta Cana, La Romana or Cap Cana and staying at a Zoëtry, Secrets or Dreams Resort & Spa, who have a little extra space in the suitcase, can pack some items for the relief effort in Haiti. The resorts will gladly ensure it is delivered to the Red Cross and those in need in Haiti. The approved list of items needed (that you can pack): gauze, cotton, analgesics (acetaminophen, ibuprofen), slings, elastic Bandages and sanitary napkins.

The Apple Leisure Group held a collection in our office for The Red Cross. We collected bandages, water, baby formula, medicines and many items needed by the Red Cross. More than 2,000 pounds of supplies have been collected by the Apple Leisure Group. We have been able, through USA3000 Airlines, to deliver supplies directly to the relief effort on the ground. It feels good to know if we collect Thursday, the items can be on the ground where they are needed Friday.

We plan to continue helping the victims of the earthquake, not only with our continued collection efforts, but also in our ongoing support of The Dominican Republic. The people of the DR are vital in helping the Haitian relief effort, so our continued, collective support of this popular resort destination is more important now than ever.

Joyce (seated in the first row, last person on the right) enjoying dinner at The Davy Crocket Restaurant with the Apple East Coast Sales' Team.

Hello My Friends,

I just returned from Punta Cana and Cap Cana, and I hope I can express how wonderful it was.

I stayed at Secrets Sanctuary, and words can hardly describe my stay and the resort itself. It started with a short 10-minute transfer to the resort. We pulled up to the gates of the hotel, and I can only describe it as what it must feel like to pull up to an enormous Spanish villa. The landscaping, the architecture and the sheer impressiveness of the location took my breath away,

Once in the resort, the view of the ocean from the oversized balcony was exceptional. The food was incredible.  My favorite was the Davy Crockett restaurant, where they have fresh fish caught daily by four fisherman who are employed by the hotel! This is a true catch of the day! Secrets Sanctuary is Unlimited Luxury so all the amazing meals were included!

Please know that I felt fine and comfortable in Punta Cana. A group I am working with had some concerns. They were wavering with their March booking. They have decided to stay with their plans, and I am so happy. I know that they will have an incredible time.

When I was there, I also did tours of Punta Cana and some other hotels. I was so impressed with the resorts. I’d like to mention 2 specifically: The Sirenis is a fabulous property and they offer unbelievable prices. The NH Royal far exceeded my expectations. The suites, the restaurants, the beach and everything there was top notch. They will have satisfied clients.

Sell and book Punta Cana with confidence!