Melanie Reffes

It’s no secret — fewer Canadians are visiting the U.S. With ‘elbows up’, Canadians are sending a message that, for now, it’s fine to skip our southern neighbour. Whether that’s due to cross-border tension or the value of the Canadian dollar compared to the American buck, Canadians, the largest demographic of travelers to the U.S. , have pressed pause on American travel and are opting instead to vacation elsewhere.
As founder of One Caribbean Canada, a handy comprehensive resource for Canadian...

Bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the southeast, Caribbean Sea to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the south, Panama sits on a narrow spit called an isthmus that connects North and South America, similar to what is known as the isthmus of Suez that connects Africa and Asia. No longer an under the radar vacation destination, Panama is fast becoming a top pick for Canadians looking to retire south of the American border.
Born and raised in the U.S. Canal zone, Pedro Penalver is...

Panama is inviting tourism from all over the world

Bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the southeast, Caribbean Sea to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the south, Panama sits on a narrow spit called an isthmus that connects North and South America, similar to what is known as the isthmus of Suez that connects Africa and Asia. No longer an under the radar vacation destination, Panama is fast becoming a top pick for Canadians looking to retire south of the American border.
Born and raised in the U.S. Canal zone, Pedro Penalver is...

Bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the southeast, Caribbean Sea to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the south, Panama sits on a narrow spit called an isthmus that connects North and South America, similar to what is known as the isthmus of Suez that connects Africa and Asia. No longer an under the radar vacation destination, Panama is fast becoming a top pick for Canadians looking to retire south of the American border.
Born and raised in the U.S. Canal zone, Pedro Penalver is...

Across the river from Windsor, Ontario, Detroit is not only the birthplace of the American auto industry but also where the Motown sound was born; a fusion of the words ‘motor’ and ‘town’. A combo platter of soul and pop peppered with those distinctive harmonies, many of us still know the lyrics of the classic tunes by Smokey, Stevie and Marvin and imitated (well, some of us did) the signature moves of The Jackson 5, Four Tops and The Supremes, to name just a few of the Motown greats.
Ten min...

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. ...