Shortcuts to Paradise

A view of St. Thomas harbor; Photograph by Don Hebert/Getty Images

GREAT ESCAPE #1: ST. THOMAS
A view of St. Thomas harbor. In late 2009 US Airways joined American Airlines in offering weekly nonstop flights from the Hub to the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas. Once you land, it’s easy to hop a ferry to picturesque St. Croix or St. John… but why delay your gratification? This island has plenty of luxe of its own. Case in point: the Ritz-Carlton, about a 40-minute drive from the airport. The 180 plush guest rooms, each with a private terrace or balcony, are newly renovated, and the hotel’s beachfront location on Great Bay means amazing views of crystal-blue water at every turn. Laze by the infinity pool, grab a massage in a seaside cabana, or cozy up in a hammock with your toes dangling in the white sand. The best part? You don’t even have to flash a passport to get there. Doubles start at $279; 340-775-3333, ritzcarlton.com.

The islands’ bright blue water; Photograph by Stephen Vance

GREAT ESCAPE #2: TURKS AND CAICOS
The nonstop routes from Logan to Providenciales on American and US Airways are reason enough to put these British Crown colonies on your honeymoon wish list. The just-opened Seven Stars resort on Grace Bay, however, will seal the deal. An all-suite property on white-sand beaches, the hotel boasts plenty of creature comforts, from the beach attendants who anticipate your every need (cocktail, anyone?) to foot and hand massages by the heated saltwater pool. But its proximity to natural charms — Turks and Caicos has one of the longest coral reefs in the world — makes it a sweet retreat for sybarites and naturalists alike. Doubles start at $350; 866-570-7777, sevenstarsgracebay.com.