With its soft, pink sand and crystal-clear blue seas, Bermuda is one of those dream destinations that seems like it should be expensive. Fortunately, deals abound in this British colony's 400th anniversary year.

Head to Bermuda this season and take advantage of "Sizzling Summer" offers from 15 island hotels - a $400 credit toward your stay of four nights or more. Book a flight from JFK on JetBlue, from $238 roundtrip. Or cruise to Bermuda from New York on Norwegian Cruise Line or Bayonne on Royal Caribbean, either from only $549.

Bermuda's big attractions include beaches and golf - there are eight top-notch courses. Then, of course, there is the British-ness. People like to say Bermuda is more British than Britain, and you just might believe that's true when you observe Bermudians watching a live cricket match or gathered around a pub TV cheering for Manchester United (New Yorkers, be forewarned: They also root for the Red Sox). Union Jacks seem to be flying everywhere.

As Britain's oldest colony, Bermuda is proud of its roots. Special events for the 400th anniversary year include historical exhibits, lectures and military "tattoos," or exercises.

While some people think of Bermuda as a Caribbean island, it's actually in the North Atlantic (the nearest land mass is North Carolina, still hundreds of miles away). The main island is just 20 square miles - there are also more than 100 smaller islands, most of them uninhabited. Bermuda is home to about 65,000, with a mix of roots that includes British, African, Caribbean and American.