Apple Vacations to Punta Cana
 

Has anyone travelled with Apple Vacations to Punta Cana? We are considering booking a 7 day package which would be all-inclusive at the Fiesta Resort. It would be my wife and I, along with our two small children (two and one year old). The price of $1850 for the four of us seems absolutley incredible!!! Has anyone travelled with this company? Is this a great deal, or not? We stayed at Casa de Campo (La Romana) on our honeymoon, four years ago, and loved it... How would this compare? Should we try to upgrade to a different hotel??? Thanks!

I've traveled with Apple four times. Twice we got delayed at the airport and twice we did not. They do offer great deals but you do take your chances with the potential for delays. The first times we were delayed 9 hours at O'Hare while the last time, only about 30-45 minutes. But it's hard to beat their deals so I'll take my chances and travel with them again.<BR><BR>Yes, sounds as though you did get a good deal albeit an average one from Apple. Sorry, don't know anything about the Fiesta. <BR><BR>

Agree with Mary. The reason why Apple has cheap vacation packages is because they use charter planes which are often times delayed for hours. Used Apple to go to Aruba and flew on Southeast Airline which was delayed for 4 hours. Since I had my toddler with me, this was pretty hard on her.You might want to take this into consideration since you're taking your kids with you. If the package is for a commercial flight, then you got a pretty good deal.

My family has used Apple 4 times and has never had a delay. That is indeed a great price. My mom and sis went in March to Natura Park and leave next week for the Fiesta Bavaro with my sister, mom and our 3 kids. <BR><BR>It is not in the same league as Casa de Campo but at less that 1/4 of the price you really can't expect it to be, can you? My sister and mom loved Natura Park and quite frankly, at $ 600 week all-inclusive each, they couldn't go wrong. <BR><BR>Previously I've stayed at Ritz Carltons Westins, Hyatts and Intercontinentals. If this place is half as nice I'll be satisfied, since the price can't be beat and we travel a lot. If you only go away once a year you may want to splurge on a nicer place, but we don't want any spa services, just a gorgwous beach, a good kids program and lots of activities, all of which you will find at the Fiesta. <BR><BR>For lots more reviews and info, go to debbiesdominicantravel.com. Also, did you know Apple is running a great special to Robinson Club Tulum in the Riviera Maya for $ 598 including all taxes? The place gets great reviews, especially for it's food (unusual in an AI). Unfortunately we already booked to Punta Cana! Oh well, next time...

So, would you say that the trip to the Riviera Maya is a better value (at $150 per person less) than Punta Cana? Anybody been there?

I took this exact trip several years ago, and spent my first vacation day at Atlantas' Hartsfield airport. It appears that Apple is very good at selling tours but the quality is certainly lacking. The company forgot that they had an entire group of folks (well over 70) waiting for a plane that the company FORGOT!!!!to schedule, we sat at the airport until 2:30 in the morning, when they officially declared there was no plane coming nor was there ever. We had been at the airport since 10:00 am waiting to go and they would not release us from the area because the gate agents were so sure a plane was coming for WHAT A BUNCH OF CRAP!!!<BR>we were told to come back the next morning were surprise the plane was ready and waiting. When I asked one of the flight crew what happened to the saturday plane and she told me the flight was cancel days ago because the plane was not going to be full enough and that those passengers could just fly the next day. This is simply incredulous behaviour on the part of Apple, but they do use contract jcharter planes.BTW our travel agent refused to answer are calls, despite holding for 20 minuts from the airport payphone and then the afterhours emergency number just rang and rang and rang. So as usual the TA was useless!! The DR was great once we got there but vacation time is precious, as my husband was in the middle of his medical school internship and had to fight hard to get a week off. So this is my one and only experience with Apple vacations!! I will not deal organizations that are this irresponsible. Remember you get what you pay for, so if you don't mind the possiblity of lengthy flight delays and losing a day or two of your vacation, I would say yes you got an incredible deal. At what point does the law of diminishing returns apply?

Jason, I'm sure there are exceptions as in the above posters case and yes, s**t happens, but I've had nightmare flights and delays on non-charter flights too. <BR><BR> At any rate, we've had good luck with Apple. I would go for the Riviera Maya for the lower price. There are some great properties there and it has gorgeous beaches. I'm looking at it for our February vacation. I wouldn't wait too long to make a decision though, with the really cheap last minute deals at Apple you snooze you lose, good luck!

Since you are a chef, you might try Royal Hideaway in the Mayan Riveria. It's a very upscale AI, we went in April and we were very impressed with the food -- absolutely the best we have had in the Caribbean and Mexico and we have stayed at some pretty nice places. Also, it can't be beat for value -- you get a lot for your money. Oops, just noticed you are travelling with children -- sorry, RH is an adults only resort.

Beware of Apple, they are a big rip-off. they don't have any better service than any of the charter companies but have the worst service!!! I have numerous times been in the airport while traveling with vacation express (another charter company), we were on our way and Apple people were stuck there for hours. Talked to some people on one island at the airport, they were 2 days late getting a plane, had been stranded there that long and still weren't sure if they would send a plane that day. We flew on off with our vacation express flight. If you want the prices of charter but the service of regular flights and transfers try vacationexpress.com. No I do not work for them but have traveled over 20 times with them and never a disappointment!!

Vacation Express is no better than Apple. I have had clients delayed on both. Your price is absolutely incredible.<BR>Go here to read reviews<BR>http://www.debbiesdominicantravel.com/travel5.html

Booked with Apple last summer. NEVER AGAIN! Lousy service at the airport and at the hotel. Hotel awful. Your best agent is you and your computer.

If you are a serious chef, Why not try the Cusinart Resort on Anguilla. They have a culinary arts institute on the premises and it is one of the very best reosrts in the Caribbean. I am sure you would find it more interesting than Punta Cana