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Castaways Choice

A world of idyllic islands for discerning romantics.

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THOUGH THE WORLD BRIMS with honeymoon choices to celebrate the start of your new life together, something about an island escape is especially appealing. There’s the allure of runaway romance. And with miles of ocean separating couples from work and daily concerns, honeymooners can lose themselves completely in the island’s attractions—and each other. From palm-fringed outposts to stately retreats, following are some the world’s most inviting island destinations.

BAHAMAS—SOUTH ANDROS ISLAND

After an idyllic retreat on Andros, you’ll find your friends envious when you return home rested, tanned and carrying yourself with Zen-like serenity. Measuring 100 miles by 40, it is the largest of the hundreds of islands that make up the Bahamas yet it remains sparsely populated, with just 8,000 locals living in small communities with names like Congo Town and Mangrove Cay. Ignored by Spanish explorers because it lacked gold, the island’s empty stretches of sugary beaches and world-class diving and snorkeling on the world’s third-largest barrier reef are the treasures that lure present-day visitors. Savvy travelers retreat across the South Andros Bight—a natural seaway—to the even more isolated South Andros Island, home to the eco-chic Tiamo Resort.

 Green before it was cool, Tiamo is 100 percent solar powered and accessible only by boat. At this resort, barefoot elegance is defined by 11 sublimely simple bungalows featuring pitched roofs and wraparound porches set on 12 acres of pristine beachfront property. A menu of soft adventures that would make Indiana Jones jealous— including sailing, wall-dives and snorkeling—matched with inspired cuisine and an impressive wine list complete an escape of unrivaled proportions. Tiamo Resort: www.tiamoresorts.com.

BORA BORA

The name alone conjures visions of palm trees nodding in gentle trade winds and aquamarine waters lapping at chalk-white beaches. Prepare yourself: In reality, it’s even better. Add to the setting the towering green spires of Mount Otemanu—which sets an almost mythical backdrop for a sheltering lagoon, idyllic islets or motus— and a handful of luxe hotels featuring over-water bungalows anchored in seemingly impossible shades of blue. Now imagine admiring jaw-dropping views from your bungalow deck before retiring inside only to be entranced by a clear glass floor at the foot of your bed opening a window to the lagoon below.

It’s not a dream but reality at Le Meridien resort, a perennial favorite with honeymooners that also boasts the only turtle sanctuary in French Polynesia, allowing you and your mate to swim alongside hawksbill turtles. At the nearby St. Regis resort, Polynesian-style pampering awaits at the Miri Miri Spa, a 13,000-square-foot oasis set on its own private island. The menu here includes couples’ treatments and indulgent ingredients such as mother of pearl salve and monoi oil. And if you want to dine with the celebrities, head to Bloody Mary’s, a “Bora” institution, where the likes of Cameron Diaz and Robin Williams have come for the superlative seafood and potent rum cocktails. Le Meridien Resort: starwoodhotels.com/ lemeridien. St. Regis: www.starwoodhotels.com/stregis.

CYPRUS

If Cyprus was good enough for the ancient goddess of love, Aphrodite, to call home, certainly there should be plenty of appeal for discerning honeymooners. Indeed, Greek legend holds that this diva of deities emerged from the foaming sea here and often bathed in a fern-shrouded grotto that guests can still visit today. Situated in the eastern Mediterranean, for centuries the island has served as a crossroads for many cultures and personalities including the Greeks, Romans, and Richard the Lionheart and his crusaders, all of whom added to the country’s colorful legacy.

Culture buffs will appreciate preserved Roman villas and amphitheaters, while foodies will be inspired by tempting Mediterranean cuisine. Those looking for nothing more than sunshine and beaches will be happy to know Cyprus averages 340 sunny days per year and features miles of beaches waiting to be discovered. To experience the best the island has to offer, head to the Akamas Peninsula, home to Aphrodite’s bathing grotto and the Anassa Hotel, a cluster of whitewashed villas that re-creates the feeling of a traditional—albeit very upscale— Mediterranean village. Rooms at the Anassa range from studios and suites to a two-story villa with private pool, and each room boasts a balcony and ocean views. Take a cue from the goddess and indulge in the hotel’s Thalassa Spa, which pampers with thalassotherapy (treatments using seawater and sea products), body wraps and aromatherapy utilizing native botanicals and prestige lines. Cyprus Tourism Organization: www.visitcyprus.org.cy. Anassa Hotel: www.thanoshotels.com.

FIJI

Echoing another era, Fiji is a collection of more than 300 islands scattered across the South Pacific. Featuring incredible natural diversity ranging from palm-fringed atolls to lush tropical forests, Fiji is arguably the most multifaceted destination in the entire region. Azure blue skies are the limit when it comes to choosing the types of activities and accommodations that best suit your plans. You can opt to merely escape civilization on islands such as the Mamanucas, with their idyll-inducing white sand beaches and upscale resorts (many on their own island), or go native on the Yasawas, known for their raw beauty and adrenaline-inducing menu of adventure-travel options. In the Lomaiviti group of islands, the Wakaya Club & Spa is emblematic of the ultimate Fiji private island experience. Located on its own 2,200-acre island, the resort features an ecosystem that supports flowering fruit trees, exotic birds and forests of ferns and banyan trees. The hot tip here: arrange a private picnic on your own secluded beach, where you will be left with a gourmet meal and a two-way radio to alert the resort when you’re ready to come back. Fiji Islands Visitors Bureau: www.fijime.com. Wakaya Club & Spa: www.wakaya.com.

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