Secrets Vallarta Bay…..The best all-inclusive resort ever.

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Christine May (Managing Editor)

One of our employees, Marilyn Hagy better known as M.J., blogged about her trip to Secrets Vallarta Bay and we wanted to share her experience with our Juice readers!

It really is UNLIMITED-LUXURY®!

From the time you walk into the lobby, you are wowed! Their greeting couldn’t be friendlier and the service is superb the whole way through.

They use the color purple (my favorite) in such a classy way all throughout the resort.

The view from your balcony is spectacular. You see beautiful pools, beach, ocean and then the picturesque mountains of Puerto Vallarta. Every night you could sit on the balcony and see fireworks down the beach.

The food was spectacular from fruit ceviche (fruit cup diced really small and served in martini glasses), to nachos at the pool, to filet mignon and lobster for dinner.

The area of Puerto Vallarta cannot be beat either. Secrets Vallarta Bay is in a great location to easily experience the magnitude of culture and events that make up the inviting city.

Well…it seems like there should be more to say, however, the place just leaves me speechless!

Hanging by the pool

Snack time!

Beach

View from the room

Lobby Bar

Stay at Secrets Resorts & Spas

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Christine May (Managing Editor)

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

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

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

Family Vacations – Ready or not, it’s time to GO!

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Eileen Herncane (Editor at Large)

Another major “vacation company” has a great marketing campaign out right now, and it is what I preach all the time. Take your vacation NOW, your kids are only this age once. Don’t miss out on it.

As my son gets older, I want to freeze time. My son is 8 and he will only be 8 once. OK, it is for an entire year I know, but I feel like he was 3, I blinked and now he is 8. I want to soak up every minute of him being 8 and acting 8 (the good and the bad).

I do understand when people want to “Wait until their kids remember” before spending a lot of money on a vacation, or wait until their kids are “old enough” to really enjoy it. But your kids are only this age once. Every family can use some together time away from work, school, video games, homework, laptops and television. This summer, plan your family together time on an Apple Vacation!

Plan it together by picking out destinations you want to see, hotels that have activities your family enjoys or excursions you want to experience. Or just be spontaneous and surprise them!

There is no better time spent with your family, than on an Apple Vacation! Make the summer of 2013 one your family will never forget. Go ahead and pick out your vacation here.

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!!!

With Apple Vacations – It’s Summer Fun for Everyone!

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Eileen Herncane (Editor at Large)

No cooking, no cleaning, no laundry, no food shopping – you get the picture! This summer, take an Apple Vacation the whole family will enjoy. This summer make it Summer Fun for Everyone to the white sandy beaches and blue turquoise waters of Mexico or The Caribbean!

It’s time to book that summer family vacation while the rates are good and the best flights and top hotels are still available.

You think it sounds expensive to take the whole family away? Well, do the research, it is really not. And, starting tomorrow, it is even less! I want to let you in on a secret that will really help families afford an Apple Vacation to Mexico or The Caribbean this summer. Starting tomorrow, many hotels will offer Kids Stay, Play, and Eat FREE all summer long! That’s right, they just pay airfare and taxes.

Starting tomorrow (March 29, 2013) for bookings through April 25, 2013 – Kids will Stay, Play, and Eat Free at specific resorts.

Here are some of the featured hotels and the specifics: Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun and Dreams Punta Cana. Up to 2 kids free with the purchase of a paying adult. 1 paying adult = 1 child free, 2 paying adults = 2 children free. Booking Window: 3/29/13 – 4/25/13. Travel Window: 5/1/13 – 8/23/13.

Grand Palladium Bavaro. Up to 2 kids free with the purchase of a paying adult. 1 paying adult = 1 child free, 2 paying adults = 2 children free. In a Junior Suite. Booking Window: 3/29/13 to 4/30/13 for travel 5/1/13-8/24/13.

For more details and more hotel choices for you, check out Summer Fun for Everyone!

And check out our TV ad here!

Visit us online or call your travel agent today!

Secrets Royal Beach Resort & Spa – Punta Cana

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Christine May (Managing Editor)

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®.

The Xcalacoco Experience.

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Eileen Herncane (Editor at Large)

Sandos Caracol Eco – Resort and Spa – The Xcalacoco Experience.

Sandos Caracol ECO Resort and Spa has many sun, fun and Eco activities for families. One of the most unique is The Xcalacoco Experience. It is worth the stay at this resort alone. Not only are families going on a fun vacation at Sandos Caracol, they get to truly experience Mayan culture.

The Xcalacoco Experience is a unique program that allows guests to discover the Mayan culture in distinctive natural surroundings. At Sandos Caracol ECO Resort & Spa, Xcalacoco is a way of being, living and thinking.

Activities in The Xcalacoco Experience include an Eco tour through nature trails that allow guests to explore the Mayan jungle. Guests witness Mayan ceremonies, visit a Mayan herb garden and plant indigenous species significant to the Mayan culture. Guests also participate in natural treatments and ancient rituals at the Spa.

The Xcalacoco Experience adventures in nature and environmental activities, encourage guests to reconnect with nature, respect the planet and engage in ecologically sustainable practices.

Families go home from this unique vacation experience both renewed and inspired. Imagine the unique stories your kids will have to tell after your family vacation to Sandos Caracol.