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Back when WestJet was fun to fly with, we used WestJet Vacations a number of times for WestJet destinations that they flew to *direct* out of Calgary. Instead of buying standard 7 day or 14 day packages, you could pick any arrival or departure date you wished - we usually liked around 8 days.

After some terrible experiences in winter air travel, non-stop, direct flights became an absolute requirement for us.

We’ve stayed all over Mexico, (and elsewhere) in VRBOs, small, family run hotels, off-beach and on, but as we aged, we moved to all-inclusive resorts. A favourite of ours has been the Xcaret resort on the ‘Mayan Riviera’ near Cancun. If you inquire, you can buy a discounted, hotel guest pass for the adjacent Xcaret Park, and use the entire park for its excellent walking trails, beaches and shows for the duration of your stay. It’s a 3 minute walk (or boat ride on the canal) from the hotel to the park gate, so you can go back and forth all day for your resort drinks, buffets & private amenities.
Families are able to let their kids go ‘free-range’ with the Xcaret park almost like an extension of their resort. Senior friends were delighted with the accessibility of the park and its myriad of walking trails, things to see and do - without the worry of crime or being badgered.
We miss the cultural interactions that we used to enjoy - sitting around having dinner at someone’s kitchen table with the owners in little ‘hole-in-the-wall’ places, but even at the resorts, you can usually get a feel for the area if you can get over our usual Canadian reserve and make an effort to get to know a couple of the regular staff. Start by asking them about their families….