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Find sun, surf and seclusion in the Caribbean. Here, newlywed couples share the highlights of their tropical escapes.

As far as honeymoon destinations go, there’s no doubt that the Caribbean offers a little something for everyone: tropical sunshine, miles of unspoiled beaches, romantic resorts and plenty of activities to keep you busy. Take it from these real couples, whose Caribbean honeymoons took them to the Dominican Republic, the British Virgin Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

St. John, U.S.V.I.: Ellen and Charles

Charles and Ellen

Shortly after they got engaged, New Yorkers Ellen and Charles Kreps vacationed on the lush island of St. John, and ultimately decided to return there to get married and spend their 10-day honeymoon. “We wanted a peaceful, secluded spot—somewhere away from our busy city lives,” explains Ellen, a grad-school student majoring in speech-language pathology. She and Charles, a software developer, chose Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort, which, like 75 percent of the island, lies within the unspoiled Virgin Islands National Park. The land was acquired in the 1950s by environmentalist Laurance Rockefeller, whose goal was to preserve its natural beauty. “You won’t find any high-rise hotels in the area,” says Ellen. The resort has an open-air feel that blends well with the lush landscape, and the rooms have no phones, radios or TVs to distract you, she adds. The property was built from native woods and stones, and guest rooms feature locally handcrafted armoires, tables, chairs and four-poster beds. Ellen and Charles stayed in a room with a large living area, a patio and a lovely view of the gardens. Because there are no airports on St. John, the smallest of the three main islands of the U.S.V.I. (the others are St. Thomas and St. Croix), the couple flew into St. Thomas, where they rented a Jeep, since they knew it would make navigation over the occasionally rough roads easier. Then they took a 30-minute trip on the car ferry to their final destination (you can also use the resort’s private shuttle boat).

After the wedding, held at the resort’s Turtle Bay Estate House, the couple spent a day exploring some of the property’s seven gorgeous beaches. “Usually there were just a few people on the beach,” says Ellen.

On another afternoon, the honeymooners visited Trunk Bay, a nearby cove that has some of the best snorkeling in the world. They swam along its famed snorkel trail, following the underwater signs that describe the different kinds of coral and marine life. And that evening, the couple enjoyed a memorable dining experience at Asolare, a restaurant located in the island’s main town of Cruz Bay, which offers a fusion of Asian and French cuisine. The restaurant sits on a cliff that provides a gorgeous view of the harbor. “We would recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting the island!” says Ellen. Another favorite dining spot: Tage, also in Cruz Bay. The couple feasted on seared scallops, a calamari salad, pan-roasted yellowfin tuna in a champagne truffle vinaigrette—and shared a tasty molten chocolate cake for dessert. “The French-inspired food was amazing,” says Ellen, “and the intimate bistro-style dining room reminded us of New York.”

The gentle surf of Caneel Bay's Hawksnest Beach. Photography: Courtesy of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts.

The next morning, Ellen and Charles bought souvenirs in Cruz Bay and then returned to Caneel Bay for a wine-tasting in the Estate House’s wine room, hosted by the resort’s sommelier. They sampled a fumé blanc, a chardonnay, a pinot noir, a merlot and a cabernet sauvignon. “We learned a lot,” says Ellen, “and got a little tipsy toward the end.”

They also took a 20-minute hike to one of Caneel Bay’s more remote beaches, Honeymoon Beach. “There isn’t a lounge chair or staff member in sight,” says Ellen. Later, they drove to the town of Coral Bay on the east side of the island. “St. John is so small, it only takes about a half hour to drive from one end to the other,” notes Ellen. They stopped to admire the town from a lookout point at the Chateau Bordeaux restaurant and had mahi mahi sandwiches for lunch at the Skinny Legs Bar & Grill. Then they headed back to the resort to watch the sun set from Scott Beach. With exceptional views of St. Thomas, Tortola and other islands, the adults-only beach is one of the most romantic spots to experience at dusk. “We had the whole beach to ourselves practically every night,” recalls Ellen.

The couple tapped into their creative sides by signing up for a watercolor class taught by a local artist. “The paintings made for a nice souvenir from our trip,” says Ellen. Charles painted mangrove trees by the sea, and Ellen’s piece depicted Turtle Point, the grassy spot where she and Charles exchanged vows—and where their honeymoon paradise began (888-767-3966; caneelbay.com).

* Bridal Guide Exclusive! Mention Bridal Guide and receive complimentary round-trip ferry transfers from St. Thomas airport and an upgrade to the next room category. Go to bridalguide.com/deals for more information.

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