I am looking to take my kids away using buddy passes that my friend is able to give me for westjet - any suggestions? It will only be for a week, 1st week of April. Not really interested in Disneyland. Kids are 8 and 18. My 8 year old son is dying to go diving with sharks!

Hawaii.

I had that in my head..just not sure how much accommodations will be

Find a vrbo

airbnb BUT make sure you stay on Oahu.....its the only island that has shark diving.

Grrrrr you weren't supposed to see this!!!

It popped up cause we’re both in the group, and fb friends... I won’t tell noah.

Ocean World in Puerto Plata, DR you can go snorkeling with nurse sharks and sting rays (also swim with dolphins). (westjet fly's to Toronto then down).

Maui is amazing and would be my pick, but you can go cage diving with sharks on Oahu. Tons of accommodation options in all price ranges, so I’m sure you could find something that would fit your budget.

Bahamas - Atlantis is incredible and you can have sharks as you go through water slide

Bahamas has a lot diving with sharks... and pretty pink beaches

Free airfare? I'd probably go to the most expensive place westjet flys to & grin all week.
Belize - Turks & Caicos - Aruba etc etc

Not completely free mind you I will have to pay the taxes but definitely helps out a whole lot

Well that's no fun. I've had buddy passes on AA and delta and never paid a dime.

Belieze you can go swimming with harmless nurse sharks

I would go somewhere where the currency isn't USD. Better value since the flights will be cheap.

I did Oahu and loved it

If your friend hasn’t already warned you...Buddy passes are really hard to use because you are last in line basically, pick flights/destinations that aren’t popular and days that are the least popular to have a chance at actually getting on the flight especially if there is more than 1 of you.

Yes I already know about the stipulations so that does factor in as well

PV then

I want to stay away from Mexico as of taking them there a few times... Looking at something new

Atlantis is amazing and non stop fun for those ages

west jet does Maui.

Maui is amazing but Hawaii is frightfully expensive.... especially with the exchange. Maybe Mexico or similar?

We've done Mexico a few times so probably my last choice but good tip thx

Carla we went to Maui a year or so ago and spent about $1500 (so around $1900 cnd) food alone, we were there less than a week, two of us. Every thing else was taken care of so it wasn’t too bad but still shocking. What about the Bahamas?! westjet flies there!

Tons of sharks in the Bahamas and you can swim with a gazillion stingrays which is such a cool and unique experience!

Bahamas sounds fantastic!!

We swam with sharks and rays in Belize.

I did Belize as well. I did San Pedro island. I wouldn’t stay in Belize city at all.

Aruba

Mexico !!

I've been there with my kids already a few times so looking for something new

We’ve gone to the Bahamas 1st week of April twice now… great WJ deals but expensive to eat on Paradise Island (which is where we stayed). We also fill a suitcase full of food and snacks which helps cut down on the food bill quite a bit. Its amazing there and the water slides and pools will keep them super busy.... if that’s what they like.

Exactly what we like!!

Carla you can take quite a bit for food but usually only have a small fridge…if you have that in your room. PM me if you’d like more info.

Bahamas. Keep in mind first week of April is spring break and standby seats will be super limited.

Ugh you're so right and thats why I wanted to go. My bad luck.

You’re better off to choose a week that won’t be as busy. Getting bumped is a hassle and would put you in a real accommodation bind. In addition, I’d look for destinations that have more frequent service so that if you do get bumped you can get on another flight more easily.

Careful with buddy passes this time of year with warm destinations, flights tend to be full and you'll get bumped off

westjet flys to Belize!!

Hawai! The big island is more reasonable, dolphins turtles Volcanoes!

Belize if he wants to do sharks. They are nurse sharks, so as docile (as a shark gets), and there's some pretty fantastic snorkelling too. I LOVED the food.....and it wasn't out of this world expensive (like groceries/food in Hawaii is)

Oh! But do NOT stay in Belize City. It is Ambergris Caye where the shark ray excursion is. You didn't mention if you have a significant other? If you are an unaccompanied female, just keep in mind the men will harass you. (And by that, I mean cat calls, remarks, etc). The Cayes are much safer for a single lady than the mainland.

Great thanks for info and it's just me and my kids going

Ambergris Caye for sure. Swim with sharks and manta rays and the snorkelling is incredible. I travelled as a single woman and felt safe the whole time. Mt some great people from other places as well. Rented a bike off a local and toured around the caye. Will go back for sure.

absolutely one of my favourite places to go too. Wasn't trying to scare anyone off of it for sure...(well, maybe the mainland). Oh! Take a day trip to Caye Caulker too! It was so fun to sail and snorkel our way there! And it is an adorable island! Would probably not be enough for kids to do the entire trip there, but it's worth a day trip.

Shark Ray Alley in Belize. Amazing!
We stayed in SAN Pedro. It was super safe and low key. Not tonnes to do but lots of excursions available. Look at the Blue Tang Inn for accommodation.

How old are the kids? Instead of Blue Tang which is in the pricier range, look at Caribbean Villas. Good set-up there for kids. Or if you want to be right in town with a kitchen, see if you can get Room 15 at Mayan Princess.

8 and 18

Best not to stay right in town then, IMNSHO, so forget Mayan Princess. Could be trouble for your 18 year old as it's too close to the action . . .unless your 18 year old is a real homebody.

Tell me what you'd like to have at your accommodation and I might be able to direct you further. (Also look at Banana Beach)

No problems with my 18 year old, she's not a partier at all she's a book worm! We like some relaxing days and love a nice big pool and then a few days away doing some excursions as well. A mix of both.

Hard to get nice BIG pools on Ambergris Caye and still be anywhere near town. Reasonably priced excursions can be hard to come by too. I like to rent a golf cart for the day and just drive up island or down south.

Mayan Princess has no pool or grounds of its own. Blue Tang's pool is more of a dunking pool. Banana Beach has 2 pools.

I am not a diver but I love sharks. My favorite are hammerheads and you can dive with them in Cocos islands, Costa Rica. https://www.underseahunter.com/.../dive-with-hammerhead...
UNDERSEAHUNTER.COM
Dive with Hammerhead Sharks Cocos Island Costa Rica

Bahamas has sharks. The
Atlantis Bahamas is awesome!! Don’t just eat at the resort though. The food off resort is amazing as cheaper. I’m a diver. So my husband, brother, and I went with Stuart cove dive shop.

thats where we went to , they are good

Mike yeah we were happy with them. My husband and I went to Freeport after for a week. There was some good diving there too. My husband went to tiger beach since he loves sharks. I’m a turtle girl myself.

Was not a fan of freeport

The diving was good. That was about it. One of the few places we didn’t really leave the resort. Not as nice as Nassau I think

Sharks = Roatan (Honduras) too. It is the same reef system as Belize (we’ve also done shark diving there too). Check out Infinity Bay. The reef is literally right there.