Melanie Reffes

With social distancing and other safety protocols the new vacation norm, a holiday in a private villa could fit the bill if you're looking for a pandemic getaway. Toss the budget to the breeze and live the dream in your very own secluded Caribbean retreat under the tropical sun. Of course, be sure to check your destination's COVID-19 travel requirements before making plans. Scroll ahead to see options compiled by writer Melanie Reffes for USA TODAY on several popular islands, l...

Special to USA TODAY

The beach is just the beginning at a dazzling array of you-deserve-it villas in the Caribbean.

With social distancing and other safety protocols the new vacation norm amid the coronavirus pandemic, a holiday getaway in a private villa could just fit the bill. So why not toss the budget to the breeze and live the dream in your very own secluded retreat under the tropical sun over the holidays?

These Caribbean locales don't currently require visitors to quarantine upon arri...

Special to USA TODAY
The beach is just the beginning at a dazzling array of you-deserve-it villas in the Caribbean.
With social distancing and other safety protocols the new vacation norm amid the coronavirus pandemic, a holiday getaway in a private villa could just fit the bill. So why not toss the budget to the breeze and live the dream in your very own secluded retreat under the tropical sun over the holidays?
These Caribbean locales don't currently require visitors to quarantine upon arri...

Special to USA TODAY
The beach is just the beginning at a dazzling array of you-deserve-it villas in the Caribbean.
With social distancing and other safety protocols the new vacation norm amid the coronavirus pandemic, a holiday getaway in a private villa could just fit the bill. So why not toss the budget to the breeze and live the dream in your very own secluded retreat under the tropical sun over the holidays?
These Caribbean locales don't currently require visitors to quarantine upon arri...

Luxury in a Caribbean villa

Caribbean Comeback 2020

Relax by the pool at Ocean Two Barbados Photo Credit Ocean Two Resort
A family-owned company of hotels and resorts, Ocean Hotels Barbados invites with 3 hotels on the south coast of the island. Ocean Two Resort & Residences is oceanfront on Dover Beach; Sea Breeze Beach Hotel is all-inclusive on Maxwell Coast Road and on Rockley Beach, South Beach is a chic boutique hotel ideal for families and couples.
Poolside at Ocean Two on the south coast Photo Credit Ocean Two Resort
Ocean Two Resort & ...

The perfect prescription for a good mood pick-me-up, Caribbean cocktails are easy breezy to make at home. From Sint Maarten, Aruba and Saint Lucia to …

Though the Caribbean is a more popular destination for winter or spring getaways, the islands are trying to lure travelers who have a bad case of cabin fever after five months of lockdowns, masks, surges and paused reopenings. The deals and discounts on offer are giving the high season (December to April) a run for its money.
Stringent and mandatory health and safety protocols are in place at hotels, resorts and villas during the coronavirus pandemic, so you can swap your city or suburban sur...

By Melanie Reffes, Travel Journalist
Jade Mountain is luxury living high on a hilltop Photo Credit Jade Mountain
The superstar on the southwest coast high above its sibling 600 acre beachfront resort Anse Chastanet, Jade Mountain offers knock-your-socks-off gorgeous views of the Piton Peaks and the Caribbean Sea. Both resorts invite with rooms with views or more aptly views with rooms that are grand sweeping spaces with nighttime illuminating floating platforms that are called mere infinity p...

Bottoms up and raise a glass (or two) on August 16
Fruity cockails shaken and stirred with Bambarra Rum Photo Credit Bambarra Rum Facebook
Raise a glass in Turks & Caicos Islands on National Rum Day- August 16th- as blended beverages and cocktails create a delicious island celebration. Rum is a distilled clear alcoholic beverage which is a by-product of sugar production. It can also be made directly from sugar cane juice. After the fermentation and distillation process, most rum is aged in wo...

Though the Caribbean is a more popular destination for winter or spring getaways, the islands are trying to lure travelers who have a bad case of cabin fever after five months of lockdowns, masks, surges and paused reopenings. The deals and discounts on offer are giving the high season (December to April) a run for its money.
Stringent and mandatory health and safety protocols are in place at hotels, resorts and villas during the coronavirus pandemic, so you can swap your city or suburban sur...

Caribbean sale: Check out the deals and entry requirements
Best hotels in the United States according to Tripadvisor

While the Caribbean is a more popular destination for winter or spring getaways, the islands are trying to lure would-be travelers who have a bad case of cabin fever after five months of lockdowns, masks, surges and paused reopenings.In fact, the deals and discounts currently on offer are giving the high season (December to April) a run for its money.

With stringent and mandatory health and safety protocols in place at hotels, resorts and villas due to the coronavirus pandemic, you can swap y...

Following months of lockdowns, curfews and closed borders due to the coronavirus pandemic, the sunny Caribbean is readying to welcome back tourists. As restrictions, rules and regulations give way to new health and safety protocols, several islands are reopening their borders to travel from the U.S. while others take a wait-and-see approach.
With wildcards in the deck like airlines restoring flights and the hurricane season that continues through the end of November, comebacks are gradual wit...