Bermuda has been given a major public relations boost thanks to the mass circulation USA Today newspaper naming Horseshoe Bay as a favourite Valentine's Day getaway for sweethearts.

The article by Islands magazine editor Allison Joyce, also recommended Church Bay and Elbow Beach to US Today's 2,250,500 readers.

She described Horseshoe as "shimmering with sands in every shade of pink" and said Church Bay and Elbow had "rosy hues underfoot" in the Valentine's Day special on February 12.

And the Fairmont Southampton was named as one of the top favourite romantic hotels in a US Today feature on February 7.

Tourism Minister Renee Webb said: "It is very satisfying to have someone as knowledgeable as Ms Joyce recommend Bermuda to millions of readers.

"We at Bermuda Department of Tourism are thrilled to receive this type of quality exposure. It is sure to reinforce the travelling public's opinion that Bermuda is a destination for romance any time of the year."

The other top ten pink beaches named in the article were Pink Sand Beach in Harbour Island, Greenwood Beach, Cat Island, Club Med Beach, Eleuthera (all (Bahamas), Zoni Beach, Culebra, Puerto Rico, Red Sand Beach, Maui, Hawaii, Red Beach, Santorini, Greece, the island of Barbuda, Great Santa Cruz Island in the Philippines, and Crane Beach, Barbados.