Apple vacations uses a rating system based upon apples. The minimum Apple rating is a 2 red apple and the highest rating is a 6 golden apple.

Red apples are the rating designated by Apple vacations to indicate quality of the hotel. Ratings are given based upon a multitude of factors: hotel services offered, quality of the beach, quality of the food, room quality, etc.

Golden apples are ratings given by you, the travelers. When Apple vacationers provides Apple with many excellent reviews about a hotel, the hotel is then given a golden preferred status. This is to help you know what travelers just like yourself are saying about the resorts.

Just because a hotel does not have a golden rating does not mean it is a bad hotel. Some resorts have not been open long enough to have earned a golden rating. The ratings are also periodically reviewed and changed to meet the current opinions of travelers and to reflect any changes a resort may have recently gone through. This is the reason a resort may have been a golden rating when you went there and now it is a red apple, or vice versa.

When in doubt, give us a call! Since we specialize in these hotels we can give you feedback from our own clients as well as personal opinions about the resorts we have visited ourselves.

While planning a vacation is one of the most exciting events of the year, it can sometimes be very overwhelming when you don’t know where you want to go. With so many beautiful destinations and resorts out there how do you choose?

The first piece of advice I like to give my clients when beginning to plan a vacation to anywhere is to not overwhelm yourself with every option out there. Start by asking yourself, what do I want out of my vacation? Do I want crystal clear waters and powdery sands? Do I want to go surfing or swimming with the dolphins or just lay on a beautiful beach and relax? Do I want to leave the resort and take in the local culture or just stay at the resort? Doing a little research on the internet only takes a few minutes and can help you narrow down what country would be best for you. A good destination is always Cancun/Riviera Maya as there are relatively easy flights into Cancun from almost anywhere in the United States, you get the quality service Mexico has to offer and the beautiful Caribbean waters and beaches since it is located on the Caribbean Sea.

The next step is choosing a hotel. This can be the toughest part because there are so many hotels in each destination. Ask yourself what you want out of your resort, keeping in mind that there may not be one resort that can meet every wish you have, we can always try to find one that meets most of your needs.

When you are pricing a vacation on our website and you find a hotel at the price you like, you can click on the name of the hotel to see a full brochure listing the amenities, room styles, activities, locations etc. of the particular resort. This is a very helpful tool in deciding if this resort is perfect for you. It is important to remember that when you find one you fall in love with that’s a good sign.

Remember when you call us, we specialize in these resorts. While each resort has differences they also have similarities. When you call and ask “what’s the difference”, that is not always the easiest question to answer. It could be something as simple as location and room types, or as complex as a 5 star adults only resort compared to a 3 star family resort. Remember to look at the ratings, golden apples mean travelers just like yourself have given that particular resort exceptional reviews for its rating level. A 5 golden apple resort is a 5 apple rated property that has excellent reviews.

Keep in mind, we are here to help. When you start finding some resorts that look good to you, Give me a call. Remember to keep it simple, pick a couple of resorts that stood out to you the most. It’s always easier to make a decision when you have a couple of choices you like the best, instead of a list of 10 different resorts that all looked ok. Since we specialize in these resorts, we are here to help you narrow down which of the two or three will fit your needs the best.

Finally, remember to have fun with your planning. A vacation is supposed to be a relaxing and joyful experience. Don’t stress about the small things, the perfect vacation is out there waiting for you to book it and I am here to help you do just that!

One of the most common questions asked of the travel consultants at Dream Vacations is “When is the best time to travel” This can easily become a loaded question as many times the best time to travel depends on each individual travelers needs. Travel can easily be broken up into seasons that may easily help you and your family figure out the best time to suite your needs.

Peak Season:

Peak Season is considered Thanksgiving-mid April. As the air in the U.S. Cools down and the snow heads in, most of us start getting the travel bug and are ready to bury our feet in some silky sand. For the best prices during peak season ALWAYS avoid the Holidays. Christmas, New Years Eve, Presidents weekend and Easter offer days off from school making it easier for family travel, however due to their popular nature prices will be higher during these times. Avoiding the month of March and the first couple weeks in April will also help to lower cost as this month and a half time frame is considered the “Spring Break” season when many families head to the Caribbean or Mexico.

Late Spring/Summer Vacation:

Summer Vacations season usually starts in June so traveling in May can help with your budget as well. Typically June and July will be the most expensive months during Summer to travel, however your budget will stretch much farther than during the peak months of travel. Summer travel is perfect for the vacationer looking for the warmest weather possible to enjoy your vacation.

Hurricane Season:

Hurricane Season in the Caribbean and Mexico is June-November. Typically the most active months for hurricanes are August-November so planning an early summer vacation is not necessarily a hurricane risk. Prices will usually be lowest August, September and October. We recommend always taking insurance on your vacation regardless of the season, however during Hurricane Season cancellation insurance is a must, as it will help you and your family avoid large headaches, change fees, late departures, etc due to weather.

Regardless of your season of travel, flying on weekdays like Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will typically help with flight costs as Fridays and Saturdays are usually the more expensive days to fly.

If you have any questions about your choice of travel season, give us a call today and we can help you find your perfect Mexico or Caribbean vacation!

A visit to the all inclusive Iberostar Paraiso Beach resort in the beautiful Riviera Maya, Mexico is a must for families of all ages. The sparkling white sand beach is the perfect place to jump start your vacation upon arrival. Head over to the watersports desk and grab some snorkel gear, a kayak or a catamaran for free and head out in the ocean to enjoy the refreshing turquoise Caribbean waters. The Star Friends team is sure to keep you entertained from sun up to sun down with endless activities like volleyball, basketball, salsa dancing or Spanish lessons and with nightly shows and entertainment you can keep the action going all day long! For the traveler looking for a little more relaxation, grab a lounge on the beach or pool and relax while you soak up those rays. Organized daily activities at Lucy’s club are perfect for your little ones while Mom and Dad relax and enjoy some together time but family fun abounds at this resort. 7 restaurants offer plenty of dining options and with daily room service for free you don’t even need to leave the room and with all of your meals and drinks for free, yes even Margaritas, you can’t beat this value. All inclusive family fun at it’s best the Iberostar Paraiso Beach resort is the perfect family vacation spot!