Apple Vacations Reviews

On 3/30/2022 I found a travel vacation website Apple Vacation and wanted to book a travel package. I booked a package for $2,771.09 which included 7 day all inclusive resort plus airfare. When selecting the flights, I selected a non stop, main cabin ticket. I work for an airline company and I knew I did not want a basic economy ticket because this type of ticket doesn't allow for seat selection and you're forced to wait at the gate the day of travel for airline to select any available seat for you. You risk not have a seat the day you show up. I paid extra to ensure I was going to have a seat once confirmed. Once I submitted my payment, Apple sent me a confirmation and I quickly discovered there was no ability to select seats on the airliners website. Once I spoke to a represented of the airline they told me it was not a main cabin ticket, rather a basic economy ticket and Apple downgraded my ticket automatically. The pulled the bait and switch technique. I wasn't happy about this but I still wanted to take the vacation. I figured I would pay more with the airliner for a Main Cabin Extra ticket, which was the only thing available to ensure I had a seat and I would contact apple vacations asking for a credit of the difference. Many of these dishonest travel websites will do this to consumers. You buy one thing and you end up with something total different. They force you to purchase insurance in order to cancel in the event something goes wrong with your travel plans. But, this wasn't a case of me not being able to travel, it was them not providing me a seat for which I paid extra to confirm. Other websites like Expedia.com give you the option to cancel with 24 hours without any charges or penalties and issue a full refund. This website does not offer that, in fact when you cancel with the airline within 24 hours, there is no penalty so I don't know why they wouldn't do the right thing by the consumer. So, in attempt to keep my money and offer me a travel credit, they denied me a refund even when I have a valid claim. Apple Vacations was in breech of their own contract. When I contacted them directly they offered no support. The employees waste your time on the phone and it took 45 minutes to cancel the reservation. I spoke to a Melissa Morell that lied directly to the consumer. She didn't tell me that anything could be done but in fact told me she would escalate to the department that would handle disputes only to email me back after getting off the phone to tell me there is nothing they can do and I was stuck with my reservation. An all inclusive resort in a foreign country is not going to care if you arrive on time or not. By Apple booking me a basic economy ticket, I risk arriving at the airport and not having a seat and the airliner rerouting me around the country with connections in order to get me to my destination or even worse rebooking me on the next flight the next day. They only had one flight per day. At that point, there is no guarantee the resort will hold my reservation for the next day which would mean I could lose an entire day of being at the resort. They didn't seem to care at all and came up with different excuses according to the Better Business Bureau responses. They blamed the airliner. I don't know how websites like this are able to sell something the airliners don’t have and then downgrade their passengers and get away with it. They stopped responding to my messages on the BBB. I asked for their company headquarters address so I can file a formal complaint with the courts and hire an attorney. According to their terms and agreement, if there are any major changes to the reservation, they have to notify me either electronically or by mail and I would have 7 days days to cancel in writing. The images attached will show the difference between Basic Economy and Main Cabin. It will also show Main Cabin as my ticket selection. Again, I work for an airline company and I know I exactly how ticketing works and what tickets you wanna avoid if you want them to assign you a seat at the gate. There is no guarantee you will actually get a seat.

I CONTACTED APPLE VACATIONS---BAD IDEA THEUY NEVER ANSWER THE PHONE EVEN AFTER THEY SAY THEY WILL CALL YOU BACK THEIR PHONE SEVICE IS VERY POOR--YOU EITHER CANNOT HEAR THEM OR THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON VOICE BREAKS UP EVEN WHEN THE FEW TIM ES THEY ANSWER I HAVE TOLD BY FRIENDS WHEN SOMEONE DOES ANSWER THE AGENT ASKS ALL KINDS OF QUESTION AND THEN HAS TO TRANSFER YOU TO ANOTHER AGENT

We booked with them months in advance. I purchased ins. (Always) We watched the weather for our resort and it was going to be awful the entire week . So I call 14 days prior and asked to completely change direction to a new resort. The CSR was more than happy to help. The resort I chose was a tad more but that’s fine as long as the weather was great. Went smooth as glass. We always use Apple. The past 8 Years with absolutely no issues what so ever. Thank you Apple.

Do not do business with Apple Vacations. If you have an issue they will not allow you to speak to the manager. I was told 'no one is here to help you, I cannot give you anyone's name or transfer you'. We paid over $7K and insurance and they would not give us a refund even during an emergency family situation. They just want money. Do not do business with this company.

I using Apple vacation about 8 years, always was pleased experience, but not this time. The costumer service very bad, looks they don't care about clients at all. I got lessons from last booking vacation. Very bad. I never again will be using this company.

Really bad service and not what was promised or paid for, do not book with them at all. Very disappointed with the whole set up from beginning to end. I had a lot of problems with the shuttle service to and the resort, the onsite representative made it clear he really didn't care and never helped. They promised a priivate transfer and I paid for a private transfer but that was not what I got. I guess I should just be happy I got a shuttle back to the airport at all. Apple should not be allowed to continue.

I've been using Apple to travel for 22 years now and I've never had a complaint with them. To be completely honest, I had a bad experience with a square deal once, but it was the hotel not Apple themselves where the problem lie. Guess I ought to elaborate and say, the hotel was gorgeous, everything Apple promised, but no one spoke English! Other than that(which is a discount deal so I mean you get what you pay for) no problems with flights, hotels, transportation, or tours. All were amazing... and I'm a spoiled, demanding brat so, trust me that's saying something.

UPDATE: I know nobody has posted on this board lately, but I am finally fed up with this ordeal. On March 8th I spoke with 'veronica' from apple who promised to follow-up on why I have been unable to book a room since Feb 12th, and why nobody from apple has ever followed through and returned my calls. It has been 6 days with no return call, I left her another message today.

To make matters worse, I emailed Mr. Stitt from Travelzoo on March 9th, 5 days ago. I have received NO response from anyone there either. So because of some major confusion at Apple when trying to book this replacement deal offered at apple, lack of communication, and no desire for anyone at both Apple and Travelzoo to followup on my issues, I'm now out $2800 bucks for flights and no room.

Below is the letter I emailed to Mr. Stitt at Travelzoo.

Dear Mr. Stitt:
I would like to thank you for your efforts on behalf of myself and other fellow Travelzoo Members that are left without unfullfilled accomodations from Fresh Trips. However, in my personal situation I have been left with no resolve after multiple and repeated attempts to make a booking with Apple Vacations at the Grand Sunset Princess.

I originally contacted them to make a booking on or about February 12,2016. Originally, although I called the 'dedicated' line, I was transferred around for just under an hour as nobody knew what I was talking about.
Finally, I spoke with an agent that AGAIN said there were no rooms available for my dates, but promised to research it and call me back. I received no call back as of Feb. 15. I called again, this time the agent I did speak with had no idea what I was talking about, but promised to find someone who was familiar with this ordeal and return my call. I called several more times (Feb 17, 20, 22, 23, 27, March 2,3, and 8) to attempt to make the booking with the same outcomes as above, not once did an Apple Vacations member return my call after calling repeatedly just trying to make the booking per your email.

I will tell you there was once I was actually able to speak with the "dedicated agent" (which by the way even though I called the 'dedicated number' again took 3 phone transfers and being on hold for 1 hour 20 minutes).
This agent told me there were no "project Travelzoo" rooms, but the representative actually made a booking for me this time at their listed rates, then she was to 'try to get the rooms approved and price adjusted'. Of course she stated she would finish looking into the matter and contact me within 2 days.
Of course, as predicted she did not contact me back. I called the agents direct line several times over 2 days asking her to return my call. She did not call. Instead, she emailed me back after my latest message saying " the travelzoo project ended 2/23/16, sorry".

As you can imagine her response made me very angry as I had spent the previous 3 weeks attempting to make the booking your email said I would be able to book.

So, of course I spent this past week or so trying to talk to supervisor at Apple Vacations, more phone calls, more promises to return my call which AGAIN never happened. Yesterday, I called again. I spoke with someone that actually followed up and had supervisor Daniel return my call. Once he did, he realized I needed to speak with Veronica, who also called me back as promised. Anyhow, she stated Apple is trying to secure me a room and would contact me in a day or two.

As you can imagine, I don't have much faith despite the recent efforts from Apple by finally returning a call. While I understand this situation was not created directly by Travelzoo or Apple, you did offer a potential resolution, which for some reason I have been dealing with roadblocks. I am reaching out to you to get a resolution to getting an accommodation. Because, as it currently stands I have nearly $3000 in airfare I stand to lose which had already been booked. I want to book my 2 rooms at the price paid for the base room $798 each (with fresh trips I upgraded one room for a larger unit for $180). It doesn't necessarily have to be at the Grand Sunset Princess, I would consider less costly options.

Apple Vacations web page slow, mistakes, incompatible property shots, deceptive low pricing. After calling three different times, on three different time, sales representatives were continuously offensive, disdainful and disrespectful… if they behave like that before you give them cash, just envisage how malevolent they’ll be after! Save yourself the aggravation, you can be regarded like dirt for at no cost… give your money to someone like theholidayhotels.com who can give you respect.