Warm Vacation near end of April, need some input - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

photon · 03-11-2009, 07:21 PM

We want to go on a family vacation with my sister and her son as well. Has to be somewhere where WestJet flies. We'll be going 2nd last or last week in April.

Got a 4 and 5 year old along so nothing too strenuous, just want an easy lay on the beach style vacation, other activities for kids would be a bonus.

We're thinking of going to Cancun, and renting a condo or house in the area. Cost is a factor so we want to rent something so we can cook and such.

I've been looking on http://www.vrbo.com and http://www.greatrentals.com and seems like there's lots to choose from.. too much!

Any suggestions or experiences?

03-11-2009, 07:34 PM

Maui? They have some condos in Kihei on VRBO that aren't too bad...

kipperfan · 03-11-2009, 08:20 PM

I would say if your going to be bringing a young child along then skip Cancun and go to the Mayan Riviera (which is 45mins drive from Cancun airport). Having been to Cancun a few times and the Mayan a few times I can say with assurance that Cancun is MUCH more suited to the young, single, party crowd where as the Mayan is much more laid back, family orientated but still has the jazz of Cancun if you want it. I have stayed in the Iberostar and the old Robinson Club Tulum (change names now I think) in the Mayan and they both were top notch (the Iberostar moreso or course). Great spots for children and adults alike, amazing beaches, great pools and awesome excursions if you're into that type of thing. The cost can be slightly more then Cancun depending on the season, but given the fact your going in late April I would think you would find some nice deals. Hope that helps a little.

Edit: There are alot of good condos for rent in the area as well, look into Condos in or near Playa del Carmen, right in the heart of Mayan and most of the condos are within a gated community which is kind of nice IMO.

Dion · 03-11-2009, 08:28 PM

Atlantis in the Bahamas

http://www.atlantis.com/explore/thebahamas.aspx

http://www.westjetvacations.com/cont...oMealsIncluded

burn_this_city · 03-11-2009, 08:36 PM

Go to Playa del Carmen.. The Mayan Riviera is nicer than Cancun.

Ace · 03-11-2009, 08:48 PM

Last year near the last week of April westjet had some crazy $70 flights to orlando. It seemed to be the last 3-4 days of that route (before the shift for the season). It worked out great as their are many other carriers to come back with.

From orlando you're an hour from anything you want to do, including sitting on a beach.

Looks like westjet ends their direct to orlando april 30th, might want to keep an eye on those flights near the end of March. Coco Beach seems like a nice place to relax...

photon · 03-11-2009, 08:53 PM

Wow Dion that place looks amazing! If my sister wasn't coming I'd go there. We're trying to keep the cost down though (buddy passes for flights and stuff).

Thanks for the info on Cancun, yeah down the coast a bit seems nicer.

And thanks for the suggestion for Hawaii! That actually might work better, I like the flight times and stuff there more, and there's places to rent there as well that look nice.

redforever · 03-11-2009, 11:39 PM

West Jet flies to Barbados now I believe. Great beaches there.

Ryan Coke · 03-11-2009, 11:42 PM

If you are looking at using buddy passes then I would recommend checking loads for a few options, then from there you can research the accommodation. If the flights are full, it doesn't matter how cheap it is if they can't get on.

Cancun may be great, but it isn't a scheduled flight out of Calgary, so whoever is on buddy passes would have to go from YEG or somewhere else (long story involving Canadian route authority designations, it will change to sked next winter).

I do hear lots of good things about Bahamas, and am sure there are lots of other cheaper accom, just depends on flights.

Hawaii (Honolulu or Maui) is great, but loads can be tricky at times. Lots of good condos in the Kihei area of Maui.

Feel free to PM me if I can help out at all.

photon · 03-12-2009, 07:53 AM

Yeah it's on buddy passes likely, my sister works for WestJet.

That's one thing that appealed to me about Hawaii, there seemed to be a lot more flights there (Cancun only twice a week, but one of the Hawaii destinations was daily), so if for some reason we can't get on a flight then the next one isn't too far away, losing one day isn't the end of the world.

Since we're going right after Easter I figure the loads might be lighter too.

chid · 03-12-2009, 09:16 AM

Yeah April for Puerto Vallarta doesn't look too bad to go on Buddy Passes, the loads are okay. Hawaii is looking a bit scary, doesn't look like a lot of open seats.

photon · 03-12-2009, 09:37 AM

Ah ok, thanks. I think that's why my sister brought up Cancun, since the loads looked good there.

prarieboy · 03-12-2009, 11:57 AM

Look into Puerto Morelos.

It's about a half hour from the Cancun Airport, about half way to Playa Del Carmen. The snorkelling is good as a reef is just off shore. Lot's to do in the area. We loved it.
Try this link for some info and Villa rentals. Let me know if you have any questions about it.

http://www.puertomorelosvillas.com/

photon · 03-12-2009, 01:08 PM

Nice, thanks!

Aeneas · 03-12-2009, 01:52 PM

Family just got back from Playa del Carmen, resort Rio something.
They said that most of the resorts they visited (they could hang out at 5) still had little to no beach, due to the hurricane.

Just saying if that is very important you might want the Vallarta side.

Though they loved everything else!

redforever · 03-12-2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prarieboy

Look into Puerto Morelos.

It's about a half hour from the Cancun Airport, about half way to Playa Del Carmen. The snorkelling is good as a reef is just off shore. Lot's to do in the area. We loved it.
Try this link for some info and Villa rentals. Let me know if you have any questions about it.

http://www.puertomorelosvillas.com/

We spent two weeks in Puerto Morelos as well. Absolutely loved it. We rented a house on the north part of town, a few houses up from the Ciebe del Mar, about a 20 minute walk to the town plaza.

Extremely safe area, we walked the beaches on our own midnite or later. People are very friendly, you dont need a car rental if you stay in the town, you can walk anywhere. Lots of taxis in town if you want to go to Cancun or Playa del Carmen.

If you want to do day excursions, you can do day rentals of cars, take a taxi, or go on tours. There are many places to arrange tours.

I would go back in the blink of an eye.

redforever · 03-12-2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aeneas

Family just got back from Playa del Carmen, resort Rio something.
They said that most of the resorts they visited (they could hang out at 5) still had little to no beach, due to the hurricane.

Just saying if that is very important you might want the Vallarta side.

Though they loved everything else!

I dont believe that. My son was in Playa del Carmen last year, you could not tell a hurricane had been there.

We were in Puerto Morelos 9 months after Hurricane Wilma (and that was one big monster of a hurricane) and almost everything was rebuilt by then. And we went to Playa del Carmen for a day, we could see no damage there either.

No problem with the beaches whatsoever.

We just spent two weeks in the Tulum area within the last month, no damage there either. And we went up to Playa del Carma for a day trip as well, absolutely no damage whatsoever to the beaches there.

Aeneas · 03-12-2009, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redforever

I dont believe that. My son was in Playa del Carmen last year, you could not tell a hurricane had been there.

We were in Puerto Morelos 9 months after Hurricane Wilma (and that was one big monster of a hurricane) and almost everything was rebuilt by then. And we went to Playa del Carmen for a day, we could see no damage there either.

No problem with the beaches whatsoever.

We just spent two weeks in the Tulum area within the last month, no damage there either. And we went up to Playa del Carma for a day trip as well, absolutely no damage whatsoever to the beaches there.

Maybe all the beach/sand recovery efforts just started last week?
I would offer to show you all the pictures, but you may not believe them!

Cheese · 03-12-2009, 06:46 PM

You could fly directly here to Waterloo...Ill tour you around RIM Park!
We are always warm here!

pepper24 · 03-12-2009, 06:56 PM

Go where ever the Flames are playing. It'll be sometime in the 2nd round.