Melanie Reffes

Although party politics and a tumultuous election may not be everyone’s cuppa tea, there is another side to Washington, DC that is popular with non-partisan vacationers. Compact on the Potomac River, the District is a walkable city that ticks the boxes for history buffs, foodies, shoppers, nature lovers and news junkies. One of many green spaces, National Mall has nothing to do with shopping but rather is a pedestrian-friendly boulevard home to 11 Smithsonian Museums, statuesque monuments and...

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Honored, indeed, to be on the nominating panel of journalist experts for USA TODAY's 10Best Readers Choice Awards for the Caribbean 2025.

The chill in the air is just the beginning with mercury dips and shorter days right around the corner. Although winter is not breaking news for Montrealers, many of us still do not relish the cold and all its trimmings. Rather than stew about it, ditch the whining and do something about it. Just thinking about a sunny vacation lifts our spirits while booking a Caribbean good-mood getaway is the quintessential energy boost. Up the ante this year and go for the luxe, you can wallet-watch when y...

Not to be confused with St. John’s, the capital of Newfoundland, Saint John (always spelled out) in New Brunswick is Canada’s oldest incorporated city and the only city on the Bay of Fundy where the powerful tides are the highest on the planet. Sweetening the pot, Saint John ranks in CNN’s ‘Top Places to Visit in 2024’ — the only Canadian city on the list.
Where natural splendour knows no bounds, Saint John is where seagull symphonies greet the morning, lobsters are so fresh they’re still ang...

Sitting pretty in the northeastern Caribbean, Sint Maarten, part of the Netherlands, known as the ‘Dutch side’ of the dual nation island and Saint Martin, part of France, known as the ‘French side’, is a hot spot year round. “Summer is the ideal time to travel,” said Jamie Lee, vice president, resort operations, Sonesta Resorts Sint Maarten. “Room rates are lower than during high season, restaurants and attractions are open and there’s always a beach chair with your name on it.” — https://son...

For golden agers dreaming about the next great adventure, there’s no time like the present to travel the world now that you’ve been around the block a few times. Senior-friendly options worldwide are catering to the powerhouse niche of the ‘over fifty’. “As long as seniors can travel, they should do so,” said Anne-Marie Brooks, general manager, Divi Little Bay Beach Resort in St. Maarten. “We take special care of our many senior guests by offering lower floor rooms, scooters, golf cart servic...

Tourism is red hot in Mexico

Despite an uptick in prices for just about everything and weather wildcards in the deck, heading to warmer climes is still tops with Montrealers. Popular year round, Mexico is an A-list vacation choice with a myriad of beachfront resorts in Cancun and the funky towns of Tulum and Playa del Carmen in Riviera Maya.
With nearly 40 visits under her sombrero, Sharon Boissonneault is a Montreal-based travel agent at Maison de Voyages (www.hot.ca) and the go-to for sun seekers on a Mexican mission. ...

Whether you call them ravioli, kreplach, gnocchi or pierogis, not all dumplings are created equal and no two dumplings are exactly alike. That’s especially true in New York City’s Chinatown, which is not only the largest Chinatown in the U.S., but also where foodies, and those travelling with them, sample a grab bag of dumplings, steamed or fried, at the many restaurants where dim sum — Cantonese version of brunch — is a time-honoured tradition.
Sweetening the pot and another reason to plan a...

Put a pep in your vacation step and opt for the sun, sea, and swagger in Jamaica where resorts are rolling out the red carpet for Montrealers looking to swap a chilly island for a sunnier one. “Our ambitious goal is to welcome half a million Canadian visitors by the end of 2025,” said Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister Tourism, during a recent Canadian marketing blitz. — www.visitjamaica.com
Whether you’re a vacation veteran or a newbie on a mission to relax, choosing a resort can be da...

Strung like a necklace southeast of The Bahamas and north of the Dominican Republic, the islands and cays that make up the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) really are as pretty as the postcards. The best known in the island chain, Providenciales, known as Provo, is where international flights arrive, and Grace Bay Beach is the star attraction.
With a longstanding connection to Canada, TCI is home to gaggles of ex-pats who happily swapped the snow for year-round sunshine, Cheshire Hall Medical C...

Whether you have a penchant for Seinfeld reruns, watched West Side Story more times than you can remember, or take great pride knowing our bagels are better than their bagels, the fond bond between Montreal and New York City is no secret. Although a popular getaway, Manhattan can be daunting no matter how many times you have been there. Sardine-packed with a maelstrom of hotels, restaurants, and attractions, forego the schlep to Times Square this year in favour of a breath of fresh air in a n...

The oldest city in Alabama, Mobile is a melange of French, Spanish, British, Creole and African cultures and where Mardi Gras was first celebrated in the U.S. courtesy of Pierre and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne. The Montreal-born brothers brought the French tradition with them in 1703 when they were governors of French Louisiana, which at that time included Alabama.
During February, Mardi Gras is a city-wide fete with parades and performances by The Excelsior Band; a 10-piece marching brass band ce...

If celebrating Valentine’s Day ranks right up there with celebrating Bagel and Lox Day on February 9, Extraterrestrial Abduction Day on March 20, or my personal favourite Sidewalk Egg Frying Day on July 4, you’re not alone. For many, the holiday hype and hullabaloo doesn’t exactly warm our hearts, however, Valentine’s Day this year doesn’t have to be a total wash.
Shake it up, ditch the clichés like bonbons, roses and jewelry and opt instead for a mojito-fueled tryst in the Caribbean. Whether...