Mr. Claudio A. Zboznovits, Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Barcelo Resorts, Dorita Scott, Director of Sales Manager and Ana Diaz, Director of Sales Manager had all visited SVH Travel last week. We were very grateful to have Claudio, Dorita and Ana visit our headquarters and talk about our business opportunities as a team! We discussed the future plans of the hotels and magnificent deals we can offer. Our clients are very happy with Barcelo Hotels because of the quality of everything! From Barcelo’s family resorts to the Paradise Getaways! Barcelo’s Resort chain has hotels that offer much that other don’t! Such as Barcelo Maya Palace Deluxe’s Mini Water park! You have your slides, fountains, creative characters and everything else for your child’s enjoyment. We had gone through some very crucial points for introducing Barcelo Resorts to the public. We at SVH Travel just enjoy sitting down and speaking with Representatives about Resorts so that we can get a more thorough knowledge and pass this down to our clients for better insight of the hotels.

Question 1: How many Partial Ocean or Ocean View suites does this resort have?

Question 3: View Barcelo Puerto Vallarta’s HD Slideshow. On Minute 3:37, please tell me what Team’s Jersey the man in the picture is wearing. Or give me the three colors of the Jersey.

Geography Question: Puerto Vallarta is located next to the beach. Which area of water is Puerto Vallarta’s beach called?

Travel Trivia Rules and Terms: By participating in the travel trivia contest you are agreeing to follow all rules and terms of Applespecials.com, SVH tours and travel and any state or government regulations. Void where prohibited. Be aware that your IP Address will be recorded when submitting answers, do not use multiple e-mail addresses. Only submit one set of answers per Travel Trivia Contest Video. Read the rest of this entry »

Travel Trivia Rules and Terms: By participating in the travel trivia contest you are agreeing to follow all rules and terms of Applespecials.com, SVH tours and travel and any state or government regulations. Void where prohibited. Be aware that your IP Address will be recorded when submitting answers, do not use multiple e-mail addresses. Only submit one set of answers per Travel Trivia Contest Video. Read the rest of this entry »

On April 17, 2011, SVH Tours and Travel serv. participated in another Bridal Show located at the Hilton Hotel in Universal City, California. SVH Travel had participated with its’ travel agents to introduce Apple Vacation’s Special Honeymoon Packages. Lisa, from Central Holidays, lent a helping hand to the travel agency and explained many of the offers with great enthusiasm which we were greatly thankful for. From Barcelo Hotels, Dorita Scott had joined us for the day, standing by our side with Barcelo’s all-inclusive packages. During these types of events, my lovely wife and children are always with us trying to help as much as possible. Read the rest of this entry »

A Lot A’Do
Ever heard of the Sandals Regency in St. Lucia, aka the Sandal Regency La Toc, aka Sandals La Toc, aka the Caribbean’s most glamorous resort? A resort with so many names should be a resort with many options; and it is!! This all inclusive resort provides unlimited access at no extra charge to all kinds of exciting land and water sports, including scuba diving and golf! But pack light: the year-round daytime temperature average is 82 degrees Fahrenheit, with nighttime averages at 72 degree Fahrenheit.
Nearby are 14 different coral reef sites, with optional scuba tours such as Night Dives, or Underwater Digital Photography. Stick around the resort when night falls for live shows and bands, a piano bar, karaoke, fashions shows, and more.  Water elements are everywhere you look. Sandals Regency boasts 4 pools (including the island’s largest), 4 whirlpools, 2 swim-up bars, private plunge pools, waterfalls, bridges, a sauna, a steam room, and of course the glistening ocean at your door. An Apple vacation is never boring, unless you want it to be.
Stay At 1, Play At 3:
Sandals doesn’t have just one resort on the island of St. Lucia. It has three world-class all inclusive resorts, all within a short distance from each other. And guess what? If you stay at one, you enjoy full exchange privileges at all three. So don’t forget to check out the scene at Sandal Halcyon and Sandals Grande St. Lucian, both nearby. So, if you get tired of the 9 restaurants onsite at the Sandals Regency, you can go enjoy your all inclusive meals at the neighboring Sandals Resorts. Enjoy their pools. See their shows. Drink their drinks. You simply cannot get more out of a Caribbean all inclusive vacation package than what you get here.
A Posh Place to Be
Stretched along a half-mile crescent-shaped beach, this all inclusive beachfront property is surrounded by lush hillsides, rolling fairways, and exotic coral bluffs. The vibe here is very posh, like everyone knows it’s the place to be. England and France fought over this dazzling Caribbean island for almost 200 years, so St. Lucia is some pretty hot property.
Hey Honeymooners!
Although we weren’t newlyweds, I brought my honey here because I heard it was recently voted Best Honeymoon Spot for a Caribbean all inclusive resort. With the romantic natural settings and plush king size four-post beds, we couldn’t wait to get it on our schedules to come back again!

20 Minutes away from Punta Cana International Airport is the mother of all inclusive luxurious resorts. The Paradisus Punta Cana offers incomparable extravagance and lavish all inclusive vacation packages. Satin white beaches and warm crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea are surrounded by gentle breezes and hundreds of coconut palms. Situated on the Eastern coast of the Dominican Republic, Paradisus Punta Cana is truly a tropical Eden for an Apple vacation. This Caribbean all inclusive resort is owned by Sol Melia, a renowned Spanish hotel chain.

When You Arrive:

Elephant ear plants and feathery palms give this resort an exotic Polynesian ambiance. At every turn there are new species of exotic vegetation, native birds, and delicate garden scents. As a leader in luxury, this is undoubtedly the most exquisite resort in Punta Cana. Guests are greeted with magnificent slated walkways, lagoons filled with goldfish, tropical gardens, iron sculptures of indigenous Taino art, triangular plantation style ceilings, and large draped pillars. Light classical music drifts through the air as sunlight shimmers on the ponds.

Sustainability:

Any all inclusive resort company can bulldoze wildlife and build a fancy resort. It important to know that Paradisus Punta Cana an ITR-certified resort comprised with sustainability, and special attention to the environment and local culture.

Let’s Get Down To The Details:

Furnishings include Victorian upholstered chairs, tapestry carpets over marble floors, and plush comfy couches. Steal a moment on hand-carved and polished wooden swings. 24-hour room service is available to all 689 over-sized suites. Most rooms have Jacuzzis, and PlayStations are available upon request.

7 outdoor pools (YES, 7!), including a free form pool the size of a lake, are surrounded by the extravagant outdoor décor. Don’t worry: one pool is reserved for adults only… and two pools are reserved for kids complete with fun slides!! Eat till you drop at any of 10 (YES, 10!) on-site restaurants. Party till you drop at 8 (YES, 8!) cocktail lounges. You will find these bars and restaurants all in one beachfront place that the hotel calls “The Gastronomical Temple”. Eat. Pray. Love.

Don’t forget about rock climbing, archery, dance classes, night shows, yoga classes, Kids Zone, and every non-motorized water sport imaginable.

The term Caribbean is quite broad and can have several different meanings. Modern Caribbean territories represent two continents and 10 countries that have coastlines and islands in the region.  Essentially, the Caribbean is a region made up of the Caribbean Sea, the 7,000 islands, islets and reefs that exist in its tropical waters and the bordering mainland coasts.

The Caribbean Islands are also referred to as the West Indies, since Christopher Columbus thought he had reached the actual Indies in Asia when he landed there in 1492, beginning the vast European influence that still exists in the region today.  Politically, the Caribbean region is basically an extension of North America, with territories that have influence from the British, French, and Dutch as well as North American countries.

Climate

The Caribbean Islands enjoy a tropical climate and a vast assortment of schools of fish, turtles and coral reefs. Some islands are relatively flat and non-volcanic, such as Aruba, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands and St. Croix.  Other Caribbean vacation spots are quite mountainous such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, St. Thomas, St. John and Trinidad & Tobago. Interestingly, the Puerto Rico Trench, which is basically North of Puerto Rico where the Atlantic and Caribbean Sea meet, is the deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean.  Hurricanes threaten the region seasonally, usually hit north of Grenada and West of Barbados. The season is also divided into the dry and wet season, with the last six months of the year being much more humid and rainy than the first, though rainfall also varies greatly with elevation.

Tourism

Millions of travelers visit all inclusive resorts and tropical beaches in various Caribbean destinations annually, and have done so since Caribbean tourism boomed in the 1980s. Hurricanes and recessions in the Western world have caused nothing more than tiny bumps in the travel industry and visitors travel by plane and cruise ships alike to a vast number of the Caribbean Islands year-round.

Best Time To Go

Statistically, Apple Vacations books more all inclusive vacation packages to the Caribbean in its peak season of December through mid-April.  Winter is the driest season in the Caribbean islands. Many travelers love the tropical climate during this season because of the relief in humidity.  January is actually the biggest travel month statistically. All of the islands will boast all inclusive resorts, sunny skies and breath-taking white sand beaches on turquoise waters.  After the Easter season, the hotel rates and all inclusive vacations tend to start discounting as the humidity and temperatures really crank up. Hurricane season is technically June through November—Apple Vacations usually has heavily discounted all inclusive vacation packages and hotel rates during this season.

Most Popular Islands

Some of the hottest vacation spots for travelers to the Caribbean include Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Belize, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Punta Cana, St. Barthe, St. Croix and the British Virgin Islands.  Mexican Caribbean destinations such as Cancun and its surrounding areas are also extremely popular among spring breakers and adult vacationers alike.