OOKING to take a holiday to a land of ?barefoot luxury?, where ?good manners? reign and there?s ?no winter? to speak of?

Well, according to the UK?s best-selling celebrity magazine, , you should look no further than your own back yard. The weekly magazine, which boasts a circulation of more than 500,000 readers, ran a two-page feature pitting our island against a tourist favourite further south, entitled ?Bermuda vs. Bahamas?, in its January 18 issue.

While there was no clear winner announced between the two island nations, the Bahamas was described as having ?an edgier feel than Bermuda? and a more ?laid-back approach to regulations?.

Bermuda, however, won accolades of its own from features writer Philip Blackmore. For instance, the South Shore beaches merited a special mention for their ?gorgeous confection of pink sands and turquoise waters?; Clearwater Beach and John Smith?s Bay were labelled the ?best known? of these local swimming spots.

Blackmore was impressed by Bermuda?s ?new casual chic? style ? according to the journalist, locals no longer favour conservative fashions, and have embraced jeans and khakis rather than the Bermuda shorts and blazers of yesteryear.

Also lauded in ?

The incomparable sights on both land and sea, from ?pretty Front Street? with its ?pastel-coloured Victorian buildings?, to ?the coral reefs, shipwrecks and astonishing marine life? of the Mid-Atlantic.

Blackmore evidently enjoyed the local cuisine while on the island.

He implored the British public to ?try the codfish breakfast?, and noted that our ?seafood specialties . . . and chowders? are particularly delicious.

While most of the article would ring true to a Bermudian reader, some of the island?s attributes as listed in could provoke rolled eyeballs from locals. Some may disagree with the assertion that transportation, from ferries to taxis, is ?cheap?, for instance.

Regardless, a profile in such a widely-read magazine could raise Bermuda?s profile and attract tourists who would typically flock to islands like the Bahamas for some winter sun.

According to the article, a seven-day trip to Bermuda from the UK can cost as little as ?949 ($1,660) per person ? a competitive price, including a room at the Granaway Guest House in Hamilton, flights and airport transfers. A similar trip to the Bahamas could set a reader back ?1,179.