Tag Archives: Preparation

Promises in Paradise

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Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. That’s why Apple Vacations has selected the resorts that offer everything you’re looking for in a destination wedding — professional wedding coordinators that take the stress out of planning, an incredible setting for your ceremony, whether indoors or barefoot on the beach, and the most romantic honeymoon you could ever imagine!

Promises in Paradise - Holding Hands, Barefoot on Beach

We know you’ve dreamed of this day for a long time. Few things in life are as important as this day and few options as romantic as a Destination Wedding. When properly planned, a Destination Wedding can actually save you a lot of money…but most Brides and Grooms don’t know where to start. That’s where we come in. Apple Vacations will not only help you find the perfect destination; we’ll make your wedding easy and affordable for friends and family too!

At Apple Vacations, we are very serious about our commitment to you and your wedding. We are here to ensure your Destination Wedding is hassle-free and you’re getting the best possible price. In fact, when you book your Destination Wedding with Apple Vacations, we provide more perks, discounts and value than you’ll find anywhere else:

  • Room Discounts for the Bride and Groom
  • Guaranteed Room Rate and Room Block for all your Guests
  • One wedding group booking number that identifies your wedding group.
    This means your guests can book their own trip, leaving you free to think about the fun stuff!
  • For every 21 Adult Guests, One Stays Free
  • Discounts on Popular Excursions
  • Honeymoon Registry Website
  • Guest Discounts
  • And much more!

 

Newly Engaged?
START PLANNING TODAY or Call
800-815-9000 for Assistance

 

 

Showing off the Best Apple Advantages

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I have to get this off my chest…Tuesday after a long weekend always feels like Monday! Between the gloomy weather and coming to terms that summer’s over, all I want to think about is my next vacation.  And I’ve got an idea! I’ve been listening to my sisters ask me “When are we going to take a Girls trip?” for months now. It’s time to show them all the relaxing amenities of an All-Inclusive Apple Vacation. Keep in mind, neither of them has actually been on an Apple Vacation yet, so I’m extra excited to be a guide for them. With all of these Apple Advantages, they are going to be really impressed!

Sanctuary Cap Cana - Dominican Republic

 

The Best Apple Advantages

  • Preferred Perks Plus – makes flying actually comfortable and I really like the non-stop transfers to your resort once you arrive.
  • Flowered Shirts – “A friendly face in a faraway place” is an understatement. You just have to spot the flowered shirts, a.k.a. Apple Reps, when you arrive and you’re all set for an easy drive to your resort. Here’s another little extra bonus, there are non-stop transfers with Preferred Perks Plus. Apple Rep’s are in every resort, so if you have questions about your departure or looking for fun things to do outside the resort, they’re the people to ask.
  • All-Inclusive – the best 2 words on any vacation. It’s definitely more relaxing when you’re lounging around the pool or on the beach and you’re not worrying about how much cash you have with you. Or when you’re going to a restaurant and there’s not bill to take care of at the end of your meal. It’s like a vacation for your wallet, and who doesn’t mind that?
  • AV-OK – Total Vacation Security Package. It’s necessary if you ask me, and completely worth it. If there’s a price drop in your vacation, you can get refund. If you need to cancel, for whatever reason, you can get a refund. If something happens in resort, you’re covered. AV-OK = Peace of Mind.
  • Last but not least, you’re in tropical paradise! All of the details I mentioned previously are wrapped up in a bow call an All-Inclusive Apple Vacation.  I think it’s a big relief for vacationers to really unwind and relax and not have to worry about organizing the small details that Apple Vacations has to offer. Vacationers can enjoy what they came to do – VACATION.

I’m sure my sisters will love their first Apple Vacation, and I’ll keep you posted how the trip turns out. In the meantime, while I’m stuck in my cubicle today, I’ll daydream about the beautiful beaches of Punta Cana or Mexico.

 

West Coast Mexico, Secrets Marquis Los Cabos

 

 

 

Dominating your Euro-Pack & Flight

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One of the fine arts of traveling is mastering the pack for air travel. My friends and I get nerdy about it and revel in the glory we feel when baggage fees are averted.  Here are my rules/tips for a great pack & smooth flight to Europe.

  • Keep it light! When choosing clothing, go practical over fashion.  You likely only need one coat that is seasonally appropriate. To save room in your baggage wear your coat and bulkiest shoes through airport security and keep it out of your bag.
  • Pack a lightweight duffel bag in your suitcase. Choose one you can scrunch up in your luggage in case you need to shuffle around items or you buy too many souvenirs. Inter-continental European flights tend to be small planes and have more restrictions on the weight of baggage. Having an extra duffle will help you even out the weight or possibly combine forces with your traveling companion to avoid fees.
  • Bring a pen. You’ll need it to fill out forms for immigration & customs.
  • Put your carry-on items in the overhead compartment. There’s nothing worse than having your knees stuck to your chest for 8 hours because you couldn’t part with your laptop, ipod, jacket, book, magazines. Take something reasonable out of your bag that you will use and leave the rest overhead.
  • Purchase a Euro or UK power adapter (depending on where you are going) before your trip or at the airport. Most cell phones and laptops work 110-240V but not all electronic devices so an adaptor is very handy. If your device isn’t rated up to 240V, don’t use it. You can always purchase a step-down power converter for travel but they can be a little heavy.
  • Put your smart phone in Airplane mode and turn off all GPS and data sources. I bring a cheap £20 phone I bought in Scotland with a pay-as-you-go plan that I use to communicate with friends I meet overseas. My travel mates and I set up regular meeting times so we can split up and have traveled weeks without phones.
  • Pack a little snack for your flight! If an airline offers in-flight meals for purchase they don’t always have enough for everyone. Avoid having to chew on the Sky Mall magazine.
  • Put luggage tags on everything! Traveling is disorienting and you’re bound to forget something one of these days.

 

San Sebastián is located in the north of Spain, on the coast of the Bay of Biscay. Close to the French border.

Living the Life at Secrets Silversands

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My husband and I needed a vacation, badly. Choosing to go to Mexico was a no brainer, mostly because last year we went to Punta Cana. But if you haven’t noticed, Mexico’s a big place and there are a lot of destinations to choose from! There’s Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, Cozumel, and Cancun to name a few.  So, we live on the east coast, and wanted a direct, non-stop flight, something close (only a 3 day, 4 night jaunt) so we chose the beautiful beaches of Cancun, specifically Riviera Maya. The next few decisions were easier. We wanted adults-only, gorgeous beach/pools, and spa. ONE word – Secrets. Plus there are 3 of them in the Cancun vicinity. We went with Secrets Silversands, and it was the perfect choice!

Secrets Silversands brings a brilliantly contemporary atmosphere to Cancun's famed Riviera Maya. Surrounded by warm crystal waters, this all-suite Unlimited Luxury ® resort features 433 sumptuous suites, everyone is a showcase of modern luxury and elegant appointments.

Preferred Perks PLUS - Frontier Airlines Introductory Rate $39

Let me jump to the vacation…

We packed our bags, and were ready to go! It was a little exciting for our first Frontier plane ride. I’d like to add that we opted for the Preferred Perks, and in my opinion it’s totally worth it. I watched a couple shows on Bravo, (YES – Frontier has direct TV) and bam, we were there, in gorgeous, sunny, Cancun Mexico. We hopped in our non-stop transfer, arrived at Secrets Silversands in 20 minutes, stepped out of the car and were greeted “Welcome, home”.

The next few days were nothing less than lying by the pool, (there are 8 to choose from, I might mention), relaxing under a palapa on the

Savor Mexican a la caret cuisine in a traditional authentic ambience.

beach, eating fresh avocados or guacamole with every meal, and sipping delicious tropical libations. I have to say that the food at Secrets Silversands is better than you can imagine. They have 9 restaurants, which are beautifully styled, have excellent customer service, and extremely scrumptious fare. Secrets Silversands has an extremely active entertainment program. You can do Yoga on the beach in the morning, join a game of beach or pool volleyball during the day, and there’s always something fun going on at night like a band playing or dance show.

My husband and I decided to go for a couples massage at their elegant SPA by Pevonia. WOW! We had access to the spa’s private pool, Jacuzzi, and sauna for the entire day and couldn’t wait for our late afternoon Swedish Massages. We had the most relaxing time, and afterwards we lay in the meditation room to continue the relaxation. It was completely dreamy and all my stresses easily drifted away.

Over the course of the 4 days we swam, we slept, we ate, we drank, and we relaxed. The vacation went by quickly, as they always do. But it was really a great time and I highly recommend it!

Secrets Silversands is nestled on the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and lies a mere 15 miles south Cancun and about 20 minutes from the Cancun Inernational Airport. This all-suite haven is surrounded by coral reefs and adventurous attractions

Oceana Seafood Grille Situated directly under a giant palapa with a beautiful view of the ocean, serving a la carte seafood specialties in a quiet romantic and seaside setting.

 

Here are a few tips

  • If you like seafood try Oceana, delicious shrimp tacos and ceviche. There are 9 Restaurants, 8 bars and 24/7 room service.
  • The expansive 12,000 square foot Secrets Spa by Pevonia is Amazing! I highly recommend it!
  • Rooms are spotless and ultra-chic - amenities in each room include Sitting area with sofa, Bathroom with jacuzzi for 2, satellite TV, CD/DVD player, MP3 docking station, Internet dataport ($), Minibar, hair dryer, iron, telephone, room safe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

All-Inclusive Style

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I’m so happy it’s Spring – probably because I’m a borderline “shop-a-holic” and seeing styles change makes my heart beat but more importantly because I can combine two of my great passions in life – clothes and travel! And I love the new bold and bright colors I’m seeing! I watch my email come in with new trends and Spring Styles that have already started flooding department stores and boutiques.  So what does a girl like me do to prepare for vacation to the Caribbean or Mexico? I have to make a list of what I’ll need.

There are plenty of hard to ask questions that every girl has to ask herself while she’s packing for a getaway.

Flip-flops, wedges, or both? Bikini or One-piece? You get my drift…

I’m happy to see that full bathing suits are more in trend then those barely there string bikinis. So I’ll need a few different styles of bathing suits, cover-ups, sunglasses, and wonderful beach tote to carry my essentials.

Note – leave your designer bags at home, you can get by with a tote and wristlet no problem. You really only need a place for your room key, smartphone, and a lip balm.

Another staple for a tropical vacation is a good “going-out” dress (and shoes if your luggage can handle another pair). Besides your daily swimsuit and cover-up gear, you’ll need something for the wonderful dinners you’ll be having in the evenings and something fun to dance in at the discos if you’re up for it.

Now as far as toiletries go – with all the TSA regulations and baggage fees– who can keep up? It’s a safe bet that less is more in this instance. Embrace your wavy beach hair and let your sun-kissed glow do all the work.

With all these little style tips hopefully you’ll be more organized packing – and can focus on the wonderful vacation you’ll be on. Relaxing by the pool, on the beach and enjoying the company of your travel companions.

Here is my essential packing list for 3 night – 4 day getaway:

  • 2 bathing suits
  • Pair of flip-flops
  • Pool/Beach cover-up
  • Little black dress (you know the drill – you can dress up or dress down)
  • Light Sundress for casual
  • Capri’s and/or Bermuda shorts
  • T-shirts, tank tops, halter tops – bright colors and prints are definitely in style
  • Sweater just incase
  • Accessories – belts, wraps, funky jewelry, and sunglasses can complete any outfit
  • Toiletries & Unmentionables

What are your Tips for Stylish Travel?

A Friendly Face in a Faraway Place

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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. Continue reading →

Say YES to Customer Service!

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Travel Agents, and even Apple Vacations, are often asked … why book with you, when I can go direct and book with an On-Line Travel Site and save a few dollars.

I say step back and look at the big picture. What are you really saving? OK, you might on occasion save a few dollars, if anything…  but what are you getting in return? What if there is a problem, or a delay or change in plans, who is there to help you?  Don’t you want a travel agent and a reliable Tour Operator like Apple Vacations to take care of you? Don’t you want a customer service team and representatives in your travel destination?

A friend of mine was planning a trip to New York for an event last fall. I told her to book through the hotel website as the cancellation policy was 4PM day of arrival. She found a rate of $20.00 less with an On-Line Travel Site. I said don’t do it! She did and when the event was moved by one day she was out 100% the cost of the room. She called and asked me for help, and there was nothing anyone could do. They would not allow her to move the date by 1 day. So she paid for a room she never used. Continue reading →