Viva Mexico

Dallas-based hop-on jet service takes off to sunny Mexico for spring break

Spring break in Cabo, here we come.

Photo courtesy of JSX

Affordable hop-on jet service JSX is launching two weekend “pop-up” flights from its home base of Dallas Love Field to Los Cabos, Mexico this spring.

Though travelers should still follow CDC guidelines for flying, JSX says the fights are meant to be a safer alternative to overcrowded airports and packed planes amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“For many travelers, this will be the first international trip they have taken in over a year and we are pleased to offer our customers a safe and socially-distanced experience both on the ground, and in the air so they can fly with peace of mind,” says JSX CEO Alex Wilcox in a release.

The new roundtrip flights are offered just twice: Thursday through Sunday, March 11-14, and Thursday through Monday, April 1-5, and are available for booking now at www.jsx.com. (April 4 is Easter, by the way, for those who want sing the "Hallelujah" chorus on the beach.)

Fares start at $499 each way and details include:

Two roundtrip flights for either the March or April dates.
Roundtrip-only flights must be booked at least 72 hours prior to departure date.
Customers may arrive just 60 minutes before their flight from Signature Flight Support DAL, Terminal 2, 7515 Lemmon Ave., Dallas.
Arrive at and return from Los Cabos FBO Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico — free of crowds and lines.
Customers must follow all CDC requirements for COVID-19 testing and comply with federal regulations for face coverings on the ground and inflight. (The CDC requires each customer to present a negative COVID-19 test from a test taken within 72 hours of the scheduled return flight to the United States; not provided by JSX.)

"JSX flies between private terminals on 30-seat jets at prices comparable to a commercial ticket, which means travelers can escape for crowd-free spring break travel without exposure to airport crowds, jostling with overhead bins, or irksome middle seats," the release says. "Plus, two complimentary checked bags as well as beverages, snacks, and cocktails inflight are included in every fare."

The carrier is also launching a new daily flight between Dallas Love Field and Houston Hobby to support fast and efficient day trips between the cities. The second six-day-a-week roundtrip service begins on Monday, March 1, from the JSX private terminals at Dallas Love Field and Houston Hobby. Fares start at $99 one way. Houston flights operate from the JSX hangar at 8401 Nelms St., Houston. Read more about the existing flights to Houston here.

Dallas-based JSX debuted service from Love Field in June 2020, with introductory flights to Las Vegas and North Carolina. They've also added service to Lajitas Golf Resort in West Texas.

JSX calls itself a “hop-on jet service” because customers may arrive just 20 minutes before departure at private terminals and simply “hop on” a flight, avoiding the crowds and lines. At Love Field, travelers have access to valet parking, Wi-Fi lounges, and speedy baggage retrieval.

On board, passengers can relax in a business class-caliber seat and enjoy complimentary drinks, snacks, and cocktails. It also has a pet-friendly policy that allows small dogs and cats to fly for free.

The company's goal is to provide a luxury travel experience at competitive prices, they say.

Traveling by private jet became popular for travelers at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last spring and summer, experts say. JSX's safety standards, dubbed "Simpli-Fly," include contactless temperature screenings, an advanced air circulation system, and no middle seating. Masks are required in lounges and on board flights.

JSX is also now introducing a unique seating configuration whereby 30 single seats are arranged in a 1x1 layout, each offering at least 35 inches of legroom and no overhead bins to allow for comfortable social distancing in the air. Some seats offer a leather-covered cocktail table and work area.

JSX flights can be booked directly through the website or the app. The company also partners with JetBlue, and TrueBlue members may earn points on JSX flights.

transportation vacation

lets go camping

Llama ranch near Dallas roams onto America's 50 favorite camping spots

Courtesy of Hipcamp

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A family-owned, llama roaming ranch just an hour outside Dallas was just declared one of America's 50 favorite camping spots in 2026.

The field guide was compiled by online marketplace Hipcamp following a review of campsite ratings from users, regional trends, cultural relevance, and a "spirited debate" of Hipcamp experts. Campgrounds were chosen from 35 different states and organized into seven regions: the Pacific Northwest; California and Hawaii; the Southwest; the Mountain West; the Great Plains and Midwest; the Northeast; and the Southeast.

Llama Land Ranch in Tool, Texas was one of nine total campgrounds featured in the Southwest region. The ranch is the perfect place for families to go on core memory-making excursions like meeting the free roaming llamas or watching out for other wildlife like wild boars. The ranch spans 101 acres, and a 50-foot deep creek also flows along the property lines for fishing and swimming.

"The llamas will come to greet you and so will many more things in this wonderful place," the ranch's listing says. "We are conveniently located in a secluded area, but just a short drive from many local conveniences."

The listing also specifies that the pastures are only mowed three times a year and some of the property is on rough terrain, so campers are welcome to bring their own machetes if they want to explore the area thoroughly.

There are 14 sites available for guests to set up camp, with a mix of tent-only, RV/tent, and RV-only sites. The ranch is also very affordable; sites can be booked for as little as $15 per night.

Many reviewers enjoy getting out into the country to reconnect with nature, and many also praise the ranch's owner, Judy, who says the ranch has been in her family since 1987.

"I went with a group of women for an overnight camp at the pond," one reviewer wrote. "It was so beautiful and a much needed break from city life. The host was wonderful and kind. She was also very accommodating to our group."

A second Dallas-Fort Worth-area campground tucked away in Texas' newest state park was also highlighted in the report. Warbler Ridge Campground, located in Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, was the only other Texas representative on the list.

The pet-friendly campground's listing doesn't offer many details, but it says there are 22 RV and tent campsites for visitors, as well as showers, toilets, potable water, and picnic tables. There are activities galore for visitors, including a 68-acre lake for swimming, fishing, and boating, and over 16 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says campsites at Palo Pinto Mountains State Park start at $13 per night (plus a daily entrance fee) for hike-in primitive sites. Walk-in campsites with water are $15 per night and campsites with electricity are $30 per night.

camping travel vacations ranches campgrounds