Melanie Reffes

Things to do in Jamaica
Source: Captain Jetson
Coveted for its calm vibe and named for the iconic towering black cliffs, Negril is the Jamaican road-less-traveled about a 90 minute drive from the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.
Photo: Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay is one of the busiest airports in the Caribbean. Credit: Inter-Jamaica Information Service.
A vacation platter of stunning sandy beaches and a small local population numbering less than 7,000, the form...

Coveted for its calm vibe and named for the iconic towering black cliffs, Negril is the Jamaican road-less-traveled about a 90 minute drive from the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.
A vacation platter of stunning sandy beaches and a small local population numbering less than 7,000, the former fishing village is on the A-list for vacationers looking for the real deal beyond the big resorts that line the northwest shore.
Tropical treehouses
Adults-only, Sunset at the Palms is a tr...

There’s no mistaking the western vibe with streets like Deerfoot Trail, stores like the Alberta Boot Company, bars like Cowboys Dance Hall and friendly locals decked out in their finest denim and cowboy hats. With plenty of swagger, Calgary sits pretty in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at the intersection of the Bow and Elbow Rivers.
A world away from Montreal yet easy to get to aboard Air Canada, “Cowtown” — as the city is affectionately nicknamed courtesy of the Calgary Stampede — is ...

“Plane spotting is one of the most popular activities on the island,” said May-Ling Chun. Our airport is unique in the world with runways so close to the beach that plane spotters can watch the big jets soar overhead from safe viewing points on Maho Beach and the adjacent Sonesta Resorts Sint Maarten.”
“For our next visit, we booked a stay at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort both for the location near the SXM airport and the all-inclusive option.“
The primo perch for viewing the planes, Sonesta ...

The comeback kids in St. Maarten, Sonesta Ocean Point Resort and Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa, are open for business after monster Hurricane Irma pummeled the dual-nation island nearly two years ago.
The island known as St. Martin in English is divided between the French Saint-Martin and Dutch Sint (St.) Maarten on the south side of the island, which is where the Sonesta Resorts are.
After extensive and expensive rebuilding, the beachfront resorts are bigger, better and armed with ...

St. Maarten Sonesta Resorts : The island's comeback kids

More often adored for cold weather lures rather than hot weather tours, a summer holiday in the Caribbean is easy on the wallet and a great way to audition an island before spending the big bucks for a winter vacation. For a change of scenery, switch it up this year and head south where you’ll find cool breezes, uncrowded beaches and discounted stays at resorts.
The green islands of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique are rolling out the welcome mat with the #NextStopGrenada campaign cho...

Where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean, Leeward Islands are a string of stunning isles spanning 400 miles between Puerto Rico and Martinique. Courtesy of the Spanish, the islands south of Puerto Rico were named ‘Sotavento’ or the Leewards while the islands east of Puerto Rico were known as ‘Islas de Barlovento’ which translates to Windward Islands. Starting with the Virgin Islands, Leewards include Antigua, St. Maarten, St. Martin and St. Kitts and the smaller i...

Fabulous photos CARIBBEAN on sale during the summer !

More often adored for cold weather lures rather than hot weather tours, a summer vacation in the Caribbean is easy on the wallet and a great way to audition an island before spending the big bucks for a winter vacation.
There’s no shortage of beach chairs, flights are plenty and hotels are dishing up perks galore.
Shake it up this summer and swap those backyard barbecues and buggy city nights for breezy trade winds and bargains on the beach.
Jamaica
Jamaica is red hot during the summer with a...

Where Mayan culture is celebrated and vacations reigns supreme, Cancun is framed by the denim blue Caribbean Sea and long stretches of sandy coral beaches. On the Yucatan Peninsula in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, the city by the sea is a holiday hot spot courtesy of the resorts that line the water’s edge, nightlife that never sleeps, open-air markets, haute and spicy food in umpteen restaurants and plenty of perches for a seaside siesta. — www.visitmexico.com/en/
A 4-hour flight from Mo...

The Caribbean has long attracted adventurers to its clear waters and technicolor underwater world, and today, it remains one of the most popular scuba diving destinations on the planet. From wreck dives to plummeting walls, there's a dive for just about everyone in this sun-kissed region.
The top 10 winners in the 10Best Readers' Choice Best Caribbean Dive Site category are as follows. Scroll through the gallery above to see photos and find out more about each one.
Butler Bay Wrecks - St. Cro...

A vacation in the Turks & Caicos Islands is the stuff of caviar dreams and champagne wishes. With beaches that are prettier than postcards and easy flights from the U.S., the islands are the gold standard for luxe villas and spectacular suites. Here are the best luxury stays which set the bar high.
The Shore Club
Offering views that salute Long Bay Beach, it's where jet-setters shell out big bucks to lie low in the lap of luxury. The property boasts four pools, on-site Dune Spa, three bars an...

For some, a marriage proposal on bended knee or a diamond ring stashed in a chocolate dessert does the trick. But for the next-gen, the hashtag #MarryMe might be the way to go. Shake up the mix, ditch the predictable and check out these cool Caribbean locales perfect for popping the question.
Better in the Bahamas
Photo courtesy of Visit Green Turtle Cay
For a small isle just 1.5 miles wide, Green Turtle Cay packs a big romantic punch. Home to sea turtles (hence the name), pretty pastel colon...

Photo: A classic wedding on the beach at the JW Marriott Cancun, Credit: JW Marriott Cancun
Where Mayan culture is celebrated and romance reigns supreme, Cancun in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo is framed by the denim blue water of the Caribbean Sea and sandy stretches of coral beaches. On the Yucatan Peninsula in an area known as Riviera Maya, Cancun is adored for fine resorts that line the beach, sizzling nightlife, open-air craft markets, haute and spicy food in umpteen restaurants and ...