LABADIE, Haiti — The postcard-perfect curves of Labadie Bay in northern Haiti still sparkle in the sun, but the soundtrack has changed.
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaican capital awoke to pounding surf, howling winds and an anxious tourist population as Hurricane Melissa roared ashore near the south-western community of New Hope with sustained winds of 185 mph, making it the strongest Atlantic landfall of the year and one of the most powerful on record.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — With steel-pan music, dignitaries and a water-cannon salute, Contour Airlines touched down at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport on Thursday, marking the first nonstop commercial link between Dominica and Puerto Rico.
MIAMI, United States — The turquoise waters and palm-lined beaches that entice South Floridians southward are now paired with a series of stern warnings from Washington. Miami cruise passengers and sun-seekers alike should note that three neighboring destinations—Haiti, Turks and Caicos, and Trinidad and Tobago—carry some of the region’s highest U.S. State Department risk ratings.
DALLAS, United States — Travelers loyal to Dallas-based Southwest Airlines may soon find the carrier’s familiar heart logo appearing on departure boards far beyond the Caribbean. Negotiations now underway with pilot and flight-attendant unions, combined with fresh partnerships overseas, signal that Southwest is mapping a more global future.
CHICAGO — Dreaming of beach time in Cancún or cultural immersion in Bogotá? Hyatt has rolled out a slate of incentives designed to nudge travelers toward its growing portfolio in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, according to a press release by Hyatt Hotels Corporation.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — The United States has nudged the Dominican Republic back into the diplomatic spotlight, elevating its travel notice to a Level 2 “exercise increased caution” designation — a reminder for the nearly 3 million Americans who fly into this Caribbean hub each year that petty and violent crime remain concerns.
San Juan, Puerto Rico — A new “Music Lovers Island Concert Escape” pairs beachfront relaxation with live performances at the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, according to a press release by San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino. Condado’s rhythmic heartbeat just grew louder. Travelers booking the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino can now fold live music into their Caribbean getaway through the property’s newly announced “Music Lovers Island Concert Escape,” according to a press release by San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino.
The U.S. government has urged travelers headed to the Dominican Republic to “exercise increased caution”.
The update, posted June 12, 2025, moves the Caribbean nation to a Level 2 alert—one notch above normal precautions—because of a sustained pattern of violent crime that includes homicide, robbery and sexual assault. While the country remains a popular winter-sun escape, U.S. officials say an expanded police presence in resort zones has not fully stamped out threats elsewhere on the island.
Marriott’s portfolio of Caribbean luxury properties is charting a fresh course for high-end vacations in the year ahead, according to a press release by Marriott International. From private island hideaways in the Grenadines to storied landmarks in San Juan, the company’s regional resorts claim to be responding to shifting guest expectations with programs that highlight wellness, sustainability, and deeper cultural immersion.
