Tag Archives: Travel

Apple Vacations Fall 2012 Tradeshows and Educational Presentations – Let’s Get Personal

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Apple Vacations #AVTS13 – Trade Shows

 

 

Apple Vacations is in the final stretch of our Fall 2012 Tradeshow and Educational Presentation series. Our events are for travel agents only. Over the past 3 months we hosted over 30 different events across the U.S and were able to meet with well over 5,000 travel agents.

One-on-one time with agents is very important to us. It is not only putting a face with a name, but we also get to know agents personally. Just as no two clients and vacations are alike, no two agents are alike! At our events, we get to provide agents with personal education based on the hotels, airlines and destinations they sell and want to sell. We get to show them what’s new, what’s hot and why Apple Vacations is THE tour operator to book with! We distribute all of our new brochures and personally show the unique features of each – did you try our new IR codes yet?  We also bring along some of our key hotels, airlines and tourist boards as well.

Just as an agent provides personal attention to their client, we like to provide personal attention to our agents. Check out some of our photos from the road. Did you attend any of our events?

 

Apple Vacations #AVTS13 – Trade Shows

Money saving tips for booking your winter vacation

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Here are some of our favorite travel tips for keeping you and your family traveling this winter while still keeping your budget intact.

  1. Look for a vacation package – Often times, you’ll get a better deal when you buy a package that includes your airfare, hotel and transfers, and you’ll save your own time by not piecing your vacation together from several different travel sites. Apple Vacations packages can include round-trip air, hotel accommodations, hotel transfers, all meals and drinks and taxes and fees. You’ll know the entire cost of your vacation up front.
  2. Make sure you’re comparing Apples to Apples – most online travel companies do not include hotel transfers, which could add another $100 each way. With Apple Vacations, hotel transfers are always included in international destinations.
  3. All-inclusives are the way to go – today’s all-inclusives have great dining options. A la carte restaurants, room service and your beverages are all included. There won’t be any unexpected bills at check out.
  4. If you know the dates you want to travel or have a particular hotel in mind, buy your vacation as soon as possible. This winter, we are seeing the best dates and hotels selling out already. So while you may have gotten a great last minute deal in year’s past, this winter you may not get your first or second choices unless you book early. Apple Vacations AVOK vacation protection offers a cash-back feature, where if the price of your vacation goes down after purchase, we will refund the difference so you know you’re always getting the best price.
  5. Your time is valuable too – Spend more time on the beach and not in the airport with Apple Vacations’ nonstop vacation flights. This winter, Apple Vacations will have 130 nonstop vacation flights to sunny destinations.
  6. Shop the sales like Apple Vacations SuperSale – Each November, Apple Vacations holds its biggest sale of the year, discounting brand name resorts like Iberostar, Riu, Secrets and Dreams for winter travel dates. SuperSale ends Nov. 22nd.

 

Apple Vacations SuperSale from an Agent’s Perspective

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As 2012 comes to an end, the travel agent community would like to say “Thank You, Apple!” for your continued support of our businesses. Not only have we learned to work together in making every vacation dream come true, but along the way have formed great friendships!

Some agencies really dislike this time of year, but we thrive on it. Generally, October – January is a slow time for our agency, since most people have already booked their winter vacations and at least deposited their spring break trips you can find many agents looking for new ways to promote themselves and their skills.

 WE LOVE Apple Vacations SuperSale. We use this opportunity to advertise for those procrastinators that haven’t purchased a holiday gift for that “hard to buy for” family member or friend. Usually the first week of November, we hit the social media outlet pretty hard with our sales and before you know it, our agents are booking away.  We have trained ourselves to notice the good deals during high season (high season is an agent / not consumer term maybe say winter?)  People shouldn’t expect the $699 for 7 night deals during the high travel season. Keep in mind that when it’s cold here, it’s warm weather destinations such as Mexico & The Caribbean! 

Kimberly’s Travel Discounts – Kim Pack & Sherry Bailey

Kimberly’s Travel Discounts number one best seller during November: GIFT CERTIFICATES  with Apple Vacations! You cannot go wrong with this type of gift. You can use it for virtually anything Apple has and there isn’t anything better than the gift of travel.

Have your agent keep you in the loop about any upcoming sales. Sometimes we know ahead of time which resort chains will go on sale, not always but sometimes we get a “sneak preview”. One week it could be the RIU Resorts, the next week could be the Iberostar Resorts. Stay in contact with your agent, they are there for you; you just have to give them the chance!

I think it’s very important for each client to be up-front about what they expect out of their vacation. If someone tells me “I just want a good deal” that doesn’t give us a lot to go on. I can put you anywhere, but would prefer to put you somewhere that you’ll enjoy.  Anyone can book a “good deal” but it takes an outstanding agent to book a “great vacation”.

A large majority of the public think we charge fees for our service, my agency has never ever charged a fee and 9 times out of 10 we are going to find you a better deal than what you can find on your own. Granted, there are some agencies out there that charge for airline tickets or long detailed itineraries and that’s fine, but we prefer not to.

As a longtime advocate for the travel agent community, I always advise to book your trip with a qualified travel consultantespecially during Apple Vacations SuperSale!

 

 

Apple Vacations SuperSale is here!

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It’s Apple Vacations SuperSale! We are offering savings as big as 50% on many of your favorite resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean. It is currently scheduled to run for bookings made by November 22.

I wanted to give you some tips on how to find the best pricing within the sale, what hotels to look for, and how you can take advantage of our great SuperSale Rates. Before I even get to that, I want to emphasize that hotel rooms, especially in Punta Cana, will sell out FAST for winter 2013 travel! More advance bookings are coming in, and they are also much earlier than last year. The best hotels will sell out quickly, so make sure you book the resort you want while you still can.

Apple Vacations SuperSale features prices up to 50% off at select resorts, and many resorts even though they are not 50% off, still have some amazing rates! SuperSale offers are valid on select departures and the best rates can be found for early January 2013 departure dates and post Easter through mid May. Weekday departures are also typically less than a Saturday or Sunday. SuperSale rates are available nationwide, but it is no secret that the best rates can be found on Apple Vacations charters or “value flights”. To see if we have a charter from a city near you click here.

Hotels I want to point out with some of the best rates and value in Punta Cana are RIU Palace and Bambu, Grand Paradise Bavaro, Now Larimar, Iberostar Punta Cana and Dominicana in Punta Cana; and Dreams Puerto Aventuras, Dreams Rivera Cancun, Now Jade and Sapphire, Iberostar Paraiso del Mar, Sea Adventure, RIU Palace Peninsula and Grand Sunset in Cancun and Riviera Maya. On the West Coast look for Now Ambar in Puerto Vallarta and RIU Santa Fe in Los Cabos. To see all the hotels and great deals click here.

To support the sale we’ll be running advertising nationwide including TV, radio, billboards, on – line advertising and much, much more! We even have a billboard in Times Square


Apple Vacations SuperSale

So hurry and book your Apple Vacations’ SuperSale vacation! Book it NOW so you can enjoy the upcoming holidays even more, knowing you have and Apple Vacation to look forward to. Log on to www.applevacations.com/supersale-2012 or call your local travel agent to book your winter 2013 Apple Vacation.

 

 

The peculiar pole flyers of Puerto Vallarta

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written by Dennis Jacobs, guest blogger
 

Photo Credit: Dennis Jacobs, Voladores de Papantla

There I was, walking along the Malecón, minding my own business, when these four guys started flying at me from a pole on a beach next to the Pacific Ocean, while another guy sat on the top of the pole, playing weird music on a flute and a small drum.
 
Now, this sort of thing doesn’t happen to me every day, and it might have discombobulated me normally, but I had been warned by no less than Mexican President Felipe Calderón to expect their appearance here.
 
While channel surfing a few days before my trip to Puerto Vallarta, I stumbled upon a PBS program called “Mexico: The Royal Tour,” in which Calderón showed some of the highlights of Mexico, including these pole flyers, to noted travel journalist Peter Greenberg.
 
As Calderón explained to Greenberg, these five men, known as the Voladores de Papantla, or Papantla Flyers, are taking part in a traditional religious ceremony which dates back 1,500 years. It began with native cultures in central Mexico, perhaps originating in the state of Jalisco, of which Puerto Vallarta is a part. It then spread to the Totonacs, an indigenous people who founded the city of Papantla in the Mexican state of Veracruz about 800 years ago.

The 10th Annual Sea Turtle Festival

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Photo Credit: Apple Vacations - Tulum Ruins, Mexico

 

Photo Credit: Apple Vacations - Baby turtle in Tulum Mexico

If you’re thinking about a trip down south to soak up the sun and enjoy warm tropical waters, here’s a great reason you should consider visiting Tulum, Mexico. The 10th Annual Sea Turtle Festival will take place in Tulum this upcoming week. Activities will include sandcastle competition, children’s painting, art exhibition, raffle and live music. It’s really great how many wild animals live and nest in the area.

From the 25th to the 28th October you will be able to be part of an exciting gathering of people who are passionate about sea turtles and their conservation. One of the hosts will be  Bahía Príncipe Hotel in Tulum. The festival aims to raise the local population and tourists awareness on the sea turtles protection, as one of the most primitive vertebrates in existence and now endangered too. Centro Ecológico Akumal is part of the organizing committee.

Will you be visiting Mexico in October? Here are some other exciting things to do in while visiting Cancun and Riviera Maya with Amstar DMC!

#BeachThursday – Top 5 Dreamy Beaches

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A common question I hear at Apple Vacations – Where is the best beach?

Sit back, relax and imagine warm, tropical breezes tickling your skin as I take you on a tour of the Top 5 Dreamy Beaches to go to on an Apple Vacation!

1. Bavaro Beach - Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Named one of the top ten beaches in the world by National Geographic, Bavaro Beach is an immense stretch of beautiful white sand beach, dotted with swaying tropical palms and bordering along warm turquoise waters. Bavaro boasts a majestic coral reef for diving and other water activities.

Photo Credit: Apple Vacations - Bavaro Beach - Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

 

2. Playa de Los Muertos – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Puerto Vallarta‘s golden beaches and indigo waters invite carefree bayside relaxation. The famous Playa de Los Muertos (“Dead Man’s Beach”) is named for a legendary story that this stretch of sand was a hub of pirate activity during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Photo Credit: Apple Vacations - Playa del los Muertos - Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

 

3. Waikiki Beach – Oahu, Hawaii

Waikiki is most famous for its beaches. With Diamond Head as your backdrop, the calm waters of Waikiki are perfect for a surfing lesson.

Photo Credit: Apple Vacations - Waikiki Beach - Oahu, Hawaii

 

4. Maroma Beach – Riviera Maya, Mexico

Often nominated as one of the best beaches in the world, Maroma Beach is Mexico’s most exclusive beach hideaway. Determined to preserve its ecological balance, Maroma is a world away from the Yucatan hot spots’ hustle and bustle. Set against 500-acres of lush jungle, the beach is a pristine stretch of sand slipping in the calm turquoise waters of the Caribbean.

Photo Credit: Apple Vacations - Maroma Beach - Riviera Maya, Mexico

 

5. Playa Tamarindo – Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Located in the northwest of the country on the Pacific side, Guanacaste is known for its beautiful beaches, incredible bird watching, excellent surfing and superb snorkeling.

Photo Credit: Apple Vacations - Playa Tamarindo - Guanacaste, Costa Rica