A survey conducted by Skift.com revealed that 42% of Americans failed to take a single vacation day in 2014. In fact, Americans are taking less time off today than at any point in the last 40 years.
Often times people avoid going on vacation because of the stress that goes into planning an entire trip for themselves or their loved ones. Where will you stay? What will you do? What will you eat? How will you stay on budget?
Fortunately, aspiring travelers don't have to go about it alone. Companies like Apple Vacations take the stress out of planning an amazing trip by offering a number of all-inclusive packages. Whether you're looking for a romantic getaway, seeking adventure, or want to connect with nature, Apple Vacations has a travel option for you. With an all-inclusive package, your flight, food, lodging, and if necessary, visa, is taken care of. And the best part is, you'll know exactly what you're paying for everything, up front.
While 2015 is nearly over, but there's plenty of time to plan for 2016. Check out our list for top 2016 travel destinations, below.
Cuba: Brush up on your salsa dancing skills.
For those searching for a trip filled with rich music, art, dancing, and food, look no further than Cuba. The small island, which sits only 90 miles from US shores, is sure to fulfill the most culturally starved traveler. Cuba is home to some of the world’s warmest people, and contrary to public perception, the country is safer to travel to than some islands in the Caribbean.
What to see, do, and eat in Cuba:
When visiting Cuba, the city's capital, Havana is a must-see. Travelers can take part in architectural walking tours within Old Havana, visit countless museums, and even take a ride in an antique car. Be sure to take a stroll around Central Park and visit El Capitolio — the National Capital Building — and the Havana Cathedral in Cathedral Square. The cities of Camüguey and Santiago de Cuba are also worth a visit. And if you're a cigar lover, or simply enjoy seeing things made by hand, head out to Cuba's tobacco region in the small town of Viñales. There, you can get up close and personal with the tobacco farmers responsible for the world's best cigars. The art scene in Cuba is hard to ignore. In recent years, tourists have come to the country seeking to purchase artwork from renown artists both young and old.
Visitors can't leave Cuba without enjoying its delicious cuisine, ranging from Cuban sandwiches to arroz con pollo to plantains to dulce de leche. In the past two years, the country has seen an uptick in the amount of restaurants in Havana and the food scene has become extremely competitive. Wash all those dishes down with a few Cuba libres made from the country's renowned rum. Havana Club Rum and Santiago Rum are hailed as some of the best rum in the world.
How to get there:
Although traveling to Cuba for tourism is not yet legal, US travelers are allowed to venture to the island under certain conditions such as for educational purposes, humanitarian work, and research. A hassle-free way of visiting Cuba is by purchasing travel packages through agencies. “Even though some credit card companies are authorized to be used in Cuba now, a lot of US debit and ATM cards don’t work in Cuban ATMs,” says Michael Zucatto of Cuba Travel Services. “So either you bring a bunch of cash with you or you work through a tour operator to make sure you can pay for your hotels, flights, and transportation in advance.”
Zucatto’s Cuba Travel Services company works in tandem with Apple Vacations to book exclusive Cuba packages for US travelers. Apple Vacations currently offers two packages to the island. The Havana Getaway tour includes one night in Miami, and 4 nights in Havana, while the Colors of Cuba tour that features one night in Miami, two nights in Trinidad, and four nights in Havana. Each package is chock-full of cultural experiences ranging from salsa dancing lessons to architectural tours to Cuban cigar rolling demos.
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