Melanie Reffes

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...

Scoring a holiday homerun is no trivial pursuit these days. Although chaotic airports and sky-high airfares kept many on the sidelines this summer, traveling has made a comeback following the end of mask wearing on planes and that pesky ArriveCAN app.
There’s no time like the present to pack the bags and make a beeline to the beach where you’ll find boatloads of deals, discounts, and even free stuff. “The Caribbean is still very much in demand,“ said Nicola Madden-Greig, president Caribbean H...

After two years of going almost nowhere, Montrealers are ready for a vacation. As post-pandemic travel took off, so did angst-boosters from flight cancellations to lost bags. Yes, some vacation plans have soured but it’s not all doom and gloom. Testing requirements, for example, have gone the way of the dinosaur, although filling out the Arrive Can form to re-enter Canada is required until at least Sept. 30.
Whether you’re a frequent flyer or a newbie itching to get out of Dodge, get the skin...

The Caribbean’s first and longest-running conference laser-focussed on regional aviation, the sixth annual Caribavia Summit & Retreat was held at the Simpson Bay Resort on the Dutch side of the dual-nation island this week.
The conference welcomed delegates from the U.S., Canada, Portugal, UK, France, and United Arab Emirates and Caribbean participants from Sint Maarten, The Bahamas, Barbados, Curacao, Dominica, St. Eustatius, Saba and Turks and Caicos Islands.
Delivering opening remarks, Hon...

Excitement was in the air as Sandals Resorts International hosted the Grand Opening this week of Sandals Royal Curaçao; the 16th property in the Sandals portfolio and the first in the Dutch Caribbean.
During a high-energy sunset gala with fireworks, music mash-ups, and Carnival performers, industry insiders from the Caribbean, U.S., Canada, and the U.K mingled with SRI’s executives and local dignitaries that included Gov. Lucille George-Wout and Gilmar Pisas, the Prime Minister of Curacao..
I...

For an easy breezy summer vacation, look no further than an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean. Where food, drink and play are rolled into one price, an everything-included holiday is one-stop shopping for families, couples and singles.
With no shortage of sun loungers on the beach and a plethora of convenient flights, check out the seaside sales and beachfront bargains at the best all-inclusive stays under the sun.
Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa - Sint Maarten
Photo courtesy of S...

Bundle Booking with JetBlue Vacations is on the Rise
Melanie Reffes
Long Island City, New York, March 2022: In an exclusive interview with www.caribbeantravel.com, Andres Barry, President, JetBlue Travel Products shares his insights with Journalist Melanie Reffes on topics ranging from the burgeoning market for bundled vacations and 2022 travel trends to the hottest destinations under the sun. With convenience top-of-mind as the COVID curtain lifts, good things come in packages. “Booking thro...

Photo courtesy of Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts
Fun in the sun is even more fun when the entire brood travels together. Known as a multi-generational holiday, grandparents, kids and grandkids bunking in the same resort has quality time written all over it. Whether you choose a seaside all-inclusive resort or a standalone villa, an extended family vacation in the Caribbean is a win-win.
For a holiday home run, check out these family-friendly suggestions and trade the whines for wows in record t...

Special to USA TODAY 10Best
Up the ante this February and swap those chocolate-covered strawberries and red roses at home for a Valentine’s Day tryst in the Caribbean. Whether you’re going for laid-back casual or top-shelf swanky, check out our top suggestions and whisk your sweetie to a sunny getaway where romance is always on the radar.
Aruba Marriott Resort
For couples who like a brand-reliable stay where every balcony salutes the Caribbean Sea, you’re in business at the Aruba Marriott Res...

Up the ante this February and swap those chocolate-covered strawberries and red roses at home for a Valentine’s Day tryst in the Caribbean. Whether you’re going for laid-back casual or top-shelf swanky, check out our top suggestions and whisk your sweetie to a sunny getaway where romance is always on the radar.
Aruba Marriott Resort
For couples who like a brand-reliable stay where every balcony salutes the Caribbean Sea, you’re in business at the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino on Pa...

In the opulent world of resort design, no two bathrooms are created equal. It takes a lot more these days than an outdoor shower to make a bathroom fabulous. While many of those classic white tubs have gone the way of the dodo bird, there is a new generation that has elevated the bathing experience to new heights.
In spaces bigger than some studio apartments in Manhattan, check out the crème de la crème of bathrooms in the Caribbean. Toast the sunset from a super spacious soaking tub built fo...

Special to USA TODAY 10Best
Up the ante this February and swap those chocolate-covered strawberries and red roses at home for a Valentine’s Day tryst in the Caribbean. Whether you’re going for laid-back casual or top-shelf swanky, check out our top suggestions and whisk your sweetie to a sunny getaway where romance is always on the radar.
Aruba Marriott Resort
For couples who like a brand-reliable stay where every balcony salutes the Caribbean Sea, you’re in business at the Aruba Marriott Res...