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A beach and boardwalk in Armacao dos Buzios in Brazil in January, 2026. MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP/Getty Images
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My family and I didn’t go anywhere this spring break, but if we had, I would have started my vacation research with this Canadian-made comparison chart of all-inclusive resorts. |
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The rather extensive Google Sheet was compiled by one of the moderators of a Reddit group devoted to sharing experiences and recommendations about hotels that offer full-price packages in sunny destinations within a short flight from Canada and the United States. |
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I only discovered this subreddit a few weeks ago, through a tip from my Globe colleague Bianca Bharti. But I like what I’ve seen so far. While some of the contributors and at least one of the moderators are travel agents, the group does a good job of discouraging sales pitches and inviting honest discussion. |
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The resort comparison tool shows prices for either a couple or a family of four for seven nights in either adult-only or kid-friendly establishments, although the rates do not include flights. You can narrow down your options by setting a maximum budget and sorting results through a variety of filters, including choosing from a list of amenities that range from adult-only pools to horseback-riding and golf courses. |
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I tried it out by setting a relatively low budget of $8,000 and checking off the one must-have for my family: a kids’ club that would keep little ones entertained for most of the day. It was interesting to see the results sorted by country. The cheapest options were all in Cuba, which is unfortunately off-limits right now, and Mexico. No surprises there. |
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But what did surprise me was to see Brazil show up repeatedly on that list. It’s further afield than we’d normally venture for a week at the beach and the longer flight would likely drive up the price of the full package. But it’s an option I had never considered, and it’s now on my radar. |
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Are you reading this newsletter on the web or did someone forward the e-mail version to you? If so, you can sign up for On Money here. |
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| The new GST/HST rebate for first-time homebuyers
The Carney government’s beefed-up sales-tax rebate for first-time buyers purchasing a newly built home became officially available this week. Eligible individuals can get a tax break of up to $50,000. | | |
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Good news for coffee drinkersInflation has been brutal for caffeine fiends, lately, with prices in Canada up 30 per cent from last year. Thankfully, relief should be on the way. | | |
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An 18-month battle to fix a credit ratingI’ll leave you with the key sentence from this harrowing story from CBC’s Go Public series: “Experts say her experience is all too common, in part because the corporations are regulated under both provincial and federal laws, making accountability complex.” |
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| Tapped-out on tipping
Nearly 70 per cent of Canadians would like to abolish tipping altogether, according to a recent survey. Widespread digital-tip prompts are contributing to the growing frustration. |
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I’m excited about this one. Here’s a brand-new cost of aging calculator that will show you yearly costs for at-home care, as well as nursing and retirement homes. This is what often makes the last years of retirement both very expensive and hard to plan for. Kudos to the National Institute on Ageing for putting this together. |
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