Melanie Reffes

Ocho Rios-based foodie enclave, Miss T’s Kitchen and popular Jerk spot Scotchies, Montego Bay are nominees of USA Today’s Best Restaurants in the Caribbean award.
Currently ranked #3 and #14 of the 20 eateries nominated, Loop Lifestyle reckons the popular hideaway and chophouse have easily secured the top 15 spots. Preceding Miss T’s in first place is Lime Out in St John, US Virgin Island, followed by Elements Restaurant in Aruba.
The Best Restaurant in the Caribbean category is a sub-categor...

There was a time when hunkering down in an airport hotel was the last resort for those dealing with cancelled flights and other travel mishaps. Fast forward to today and hotels with airport views are vacation gold to legions of plane spotting fans worldwide.
For heart stopping vistas of the runways in the Caribbean, check out and check into our six-pack of the best hotels with airport views under the tropical sun.
Plane spotting paradise
St. Barths Airport (SBH)
A beach is a beach is a beach ...

New resorts in the Caribbean 2020

Cheers to the Caribbean
Nothing beats discovering rum on its home turf. Crafting unrivaled sips and shots, distilleries in the Caribbean run the gamut from small batch to ultra-modern that churn out thousands of bottles each year.
For a liquid history lesson worth its sea salt, check out the Best Caribbean Rum Distilleries as voted in the 2019 USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards.
1. Topper's Rhum | Sint Maarten
With legions of loyal fans, it’s no surprise Topper’s Rhum (French spelling fo...

New resorts and hotels in the Caribbean 2019-2020

Cool Curacao: Boatload of fabulous photos from the Dutch Caribbean

Special to USA TODAY
If the thought of booking a Caribbean vacation during hurricane season makes you have you palpitations instead of daydreams, you'd do well to consider Curaçao.
A Dutch island in the southern Caribbean, Curaçao (pronounced "Cure-uh-souw" as in "ow, that hurts") conveniently sits below the hurricane belt, making it appealing for travelers who can do without the angst of weather delays during the Atlantic hurricane season that continues through the end of November.
Where is ...

On the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana is on the A-list with Canadian sunseekers on a mission to escape the deep freeze at home. Where the Caribbean Sea abuts the Atlantic Ocean, plenty of affordable flights from Montreal make it easy breezy to swap those woolen sweaters for skimpy swimsuits.
“All major tour operators including Air Transat, Sunwing, Air Canada and West Jet offer daily flights from November to April,” said Cosette Garcia, director, Dominican Republic Tourism ...

Best secret beaches in the Caribbean

Special to USA TODAY
If you thought all beaches were created equal, think again. Sure, some travelers prefer the party scene but for beach aficionados, it's that quieter nook that is worth seeking out. What the smaller out-of-the-way beaches lack in amenities, they more than make up for with countless miles of buttery sand and surfer-ready waves. Plant your sun lounger by the water's edge and make a beeline to the Top Ten Secret Beaches in the Caribbean and try not to let the cat out of the b...

With a few lost shakers of salt and those iconic cheeseburgers in paradise, there’s no mistaking the Jimmy Buffett vibe at Margaritaville Beach Resort Grand Cayman. A 15- minute drive from the Owen Roberts International Airport, the family-friendly resort on the western end of Grand Cayman (the largest of the three islands that make up the Cayman Islands) is a fan favorite with a big, blue flip-flop at the entrance, fruity margaritas expertly shaken and stirred and a cock-a-doodle-do wake-up ...

With a few lost shakers of salt and those iconic cheeseburgers in paradise, there’s no mistaking the Jimmy Buffett vibe at Margaritaville Beach Resort Grand Cayman. A 15- minute drive from the Owen Roberts International Airport, the family-friendly resort on the western end of Grand Cayman (the largest of the three islands that make up the Cayman Islands) is a fan favorite with a big, blue flip-flop at the entrance, fruity margaritas expertly shaken and stirred and a cock-a-doodle-do wake-up ...

Special to USA TODAY
With a few lost shakers of salt and those iconic cheeseburgers in paradise, there’s no mistaking the Jimmy Buffett vibe at Margaritaville Beach Resort Grand Cayman. A 15- minute drive from the Owen Roberts International Airport, the family-friendly resort on the western end of Grand Cayman (the largest of the three islands that make up the Cayman Islands), is a fan favorite with a big blue flip- flop at the entrance, fruity margaritas expertly shaken and stirred and a coc...

South of Cuba and west of Jamaica, Cayman Islands is a tropical trio sitting pretty in the Caribbean Sea. Grand Cayman is the largest at 35 km long and 12 km wide with postcard-perfect beaches, spectacular snorkelling and top-shelf restaurants. Cayman Brac is a hot spot for divers while on Little Cayman privacy is regal and iguanas have the right of way.
With year-round temperatures near 30°C, the islands are a win-win for a sunny getaway.
“In the fall we have three to five flights a week fro...

New resorts opening in the Caribbean 2019-2020