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Want a getaway with a heavy dose of sun and sophistication? Say "hallo" to these veddy British Caribbean islands.

You want a destination with afternoon tea, a wee bit of culture and locals who speak your language, albeit with a different accent. He wants fruity rum drinks on the beach. For a locale sure to satisfy you both, choose an island with gorgeous strands and tropical flair—minus the jet lag and fog. On these Caribbean dots, you and your groom will discover sparkling blue waters, Carnival-dressed fish and charming English customs. Each isle provides perfect settings for adventure, partying and beach strolls.

Bermuda

With its pink-sand strands, pastel-hued houses and lily-trimmed roadways, Bermuda seems like something from a fairy tale. The island is an overseas territory of Great Britain, so English accents are commonplace, cricket is the sport of choice and afternoon tea is a treasured ritual.

Why Go: Honeymooners love Bermuda because it's so close to the U.S.; it sits off the coast of North Carolina and is just a two-hour flight from the East Coast. Other reasons: The weather is sunny year-round (temperatures are warmest in summer, Bermuda's peak season), and the sailing and snorkeling are superb.

Must-do: Keep your eyes peeled for the island's many circular Chinese moon gates, often used as landscaping ornaments. A walk through one of these Asian imports reputedly ensures lasting marital bliss.

Play and Party: By day, shopping, water sports, golf and a variety of historic and natural attractions entice couples out of their rooms. Rent a two-seater moped—there are no rental cars on Bermuda—and head west to the Royal Naval Dockyard, or east to the Town of St. George, for shops, museums and entertainment. In between, tour the fragrant Botanical Gardens, visit the Bermuda Aquarium and Zoo and make a pit stop at the Swizzle Inn for a rum swizzle (rum punch) or Bermuda Triangle beer. After dark, the liveliest nightclubs can be found along the streets of Hamilton, the island's capital city. Best bets include Oasis—hit the Back Room Bar for local bands and "laser karaoke"—and The Club.

Eat: For a thoroughly British dining experience, take afternoon tea at The Lighthouse Restaurant & Tearoom, a rustic and romantic setting overlooking the sea at the base of Gibb's Hill Lighthouse. Besides the usual scones, clotted cream and teas, it serves up soups, sandwiches, salads and such. In the evening, head for the harbor views and wonderfully creative French provincial cuisine at La Coquille, a favorite of love-struck couples, located just outside of Hamilton.

Sleep: The beachfront Sonesta Beach Resort Bermuda offers plenty of places to splash about, including three sandy coves plus an outdoor and domed indoor swimming pool. Facilities include a world-class spa, three restaurants and a scuba shop. Call 800-766-3782. With cliffside rooms and cottages overlooking a private beach, The Reefs pretty well defines the phrase "romantic retreat." This small (65-room) property offers three restaurants, including Coconuts, which is located on the beach and features tasty Bermudian fish chowder and broiled rock lobster tail. And don't miss a visit to the sexy, new La Serena spa for a pampering massage or facial. Call 800-742-2008.

The Bahamas

Despite its independent-nation status and close proximity to the U.S. (about a 35-minute plane hop from Miami), The Bahamas proudly celebrates its British heritage—though each of its 13 or so most-frequented islands possesses its own unique charms. Most visitors head directly to New Providence Island, home to the bust- ling capital city of Nassau. Attached to New Providence by a tiny bridge is Paradise Island, where The Bahamas' glitziest casino action can be found at the Atlantis resort. To provide a nice balance to all the nightlife and big resort fun, be sure to catch a fast boat or shuttle flight from Nassau to the old-island romance and breezy solitude of quaint out (smaller) islands such as Cat Island, Green Turtle Cay and San Salvador.

Why Go: Teeming coral reefs are reason enough for divers and snorkelers to visit, while the countless miles of beaches that seem to stretch on forever appeal to sun lovers. At night, clubs and casinos keep your adrenaline pumping.

Play and Party: Splash all day in the water. Frolic with dolphins. Dive with sharks. Kayak into estuaries that teem with birds. Escape the mid-day sear at a cavernous, 18th-century fort or peaceful art gallery. Take in a zoo where flamingos daintily march. Sample conch salad and cold Kalik beer by the beach or pool. Sail into the sunset on a catamaran cruise. Enjoy all the Bahama Mama libations you desire at a local beach club bonfire party. Dance 'til the wee hours at one of the casino resorts. Whew!

Eat: Reserve a pair of seats at Nassau's classically romantic Graycliff restaurant. There, lace tablecloths and antique sideboards set the stage for Bahamian food with a creative flair. Sip cocktails in the comfy living room, and then indulge in a five-course meal in the open-air dining room. For a more casual, upbeat vibe, visit Nassau's fun Café Johnny Canoe on Friday nights. This eatery re-creates the bells, whistles and flamboyant costumery of a mini-Junkanoo (a spirited local festival); the menu features Bahamian and American specialties.

Sleep: Nassau is known for its high-rise beach resorts and bastions of fantasy. To escape the crowds and kids, sneak off to charming Compass Point, near Cable Beach, a lollipop-colored collection of upscale beach cottages minutes from the ocean and just far enough from Nassau's hoopla. Call 800-688-7678. On Grand Bahama, the sprawling Our Lucaya Beach and Golf Resort includes two hotels—a Westin and a kids-friendly Sheraton. Together, the properties offer 14 restaurants and lounges, a pair of golf courses, a spa, and three elaborate pools, two perched at the ocean's edge. Book a room in the Westin's tranquil Lighthouse Pointe section or more active Breakers Cay area to avoid hordes of adorable screaming children. Call 877-687-5822.

British Virgin Islands

Great Britain's robust maritime traditions took hold most firmly in the British Virgin Islands (B.V.I.). This cluster of more than 30 islands attracts sailors with the magnetic pull of a compass. Most visitors station themselves at one of the "big" islands—Tortola or Virgin Gorda—and boat-hop to the smaller gems.

Why Go: The B.V.I. entices lovers with lots of secluded beaches (many accessible only by boat), funky party places, scenic mountain drives, Technicolor reefs and alone-at-last isolation.

Play and Party: The most romantic spot to don your snorkel gear is at the Baths on Virgin Gorda. There, massive boulders create a labyrinth of secret grottoes and cozy coves where kisses are easily stolen. On Tortola, hike Sage Mountain National Park to take in spectacular views, or hop a bike and careen 1,400 feet down the steep, windy road that ends at Bomba's Shack. (You can rent bikes from local outfitters who'll drive you to the top of the mountain.) At this legendary party spot, surfers shred the island's gnarliest waves by day and guzzle Bomba's rum punch by night. Other island-wide hot spots for dancing—or just limin' (the tropical version of "chillin'")—are Foxy's on Jost Van Dyke, and Pusser's on Tortola and Virgin Gorda.

Eat: Tortola is the island of choice for serious foodies. Particularly toothsome: the delicious fare served at the Sugar Mill restaurant, housed within the dramatic stone walls of a 17th-century rum distillery. The restaurant is owned by two Bon Appetit columnists who prepare delicious Caribbean specialties, such as spicy Jamaican jerk pork, and ginger-lime scallops with pasta. For authentic West Indian cuisine, the place to dine is Mrs. Scatliffe's restaurant. Not only are dishes such as conch soup and curried goat delicious, but the Scatliffe family also often entertains guests with dancing and music. For fun British pub food such as fish 'n' chips and shepherd's pie, the aforementioned Pusser's fits the bill.

Sleep: The stunning, all-inclusive Biras Creek resort appeals to amorous and adventurous sorts with its serene nature-preserve setting, romantic cottages and lengthy list of complimentary toys, including boats, bikes, Windsurfers, sea kayaks and snorkeling gear. (Lessons and/or guided trips for all of the above are gratis!) Call 800-223-1108. Escape to the private paradise of luxe Peter Island resort, sole occupant of its very own sexy 1,800-acre island. Its 52 luxurious, mahogany-paneled rooms, five incredible beaches, three restaurants and glamorous infinity pool send the romance factor over the moon. Call 800-346-4451.

Barbados

Unlike the region's other islands, many of which have flown the flags of several different countries over the centuries, Barbados has always remained loyal to Great Britain. On this island, residents and visitors alike enjoy cricket, calypso, the Crop-Over Festival (an island-wide party, held each summer, that celebrates the historic end of the sugar harvest) and, of course, a bevy of beaches. Much of the activity centers around the Gold Coast (western shore) strands, where you'll find many hotels. But don't miss a drive through the central east coast's Scotland District, a region reminiscent of that rugged country, where greenery carpets sheer cliffs, sheep graze and villages are filled with charming houses and sea-salted fishing boats.

Why Go: The reasons are many: excellent shopping, interesting museums and historic sites, a wildlife preserve, beaches both calm and windswept, romantic resorts and top-notch restaurants that serve everything from souse (head cheese) and blood pudding to, shall we say, more palatable Continental cuisine.

Play and Party: Daytime action occurs on the beach or golf course, or in the water. Boat charters and tours can take you snorkeling, swimming with sea turtles or moonlight cruising. When you need to duck the blazing sun, visit one of the island's magnificent great houses, wildlife reserves, cool caves or museums. Better yet, get the party started by touring the Mount Gay Rum Distillery, and keep it going at St. Lawrence Gap, on the south coast, near the capital of Bridgetown. This is Nightlife Central, where clubs such as Harbour Lights host beach parties (drinks are often included in the price of admission). Post-party, hit Baxter Road, "the street that never sleeps," in Bridgetown, for fresh fish fried on the spot.

Eat: Make like the Bajans (island residents) and head to Atlantis Hotel in Bathsheba, on the east side, for lunch or a Sunday brunch buffet. You'll enjoy the views of the rumbling Atlantic Ocean and local specialties such as flying fish and cou-cou (an okra and cornmeal mash), the island's unofficial national dish. For romance, beat a path to Carambola, on the island's west coast. This restaurant's terra-cotta terraces overlook the sea, and its menu features a wonderful culinary blend of French, Asian and Caribbean flavors.

Sleep: On the west coast, the resorts loom grand and legendary. Among the finest is the family-owned Coral Reef Club, which feels charmingly old-world. Its luxury cottage suites offer private plunge pools for the ultimate in skinny-dipping fun. Call 800-223-1108.

The more remote Sam Lord's Castle is a romantic, all-inclusive beachfront resort. Stroll along the sand to explore sea-swept caves. Post-sunset, let 'er rip on the dance floor at the Main Brace Lounge or go barefoot at a themed beach party. Call 888-765-6737.