Paradise Beach

Located on the north-western tip of Paradise Island, Paradise Beach promises 1.5km (1 mile) of pristine powder-white sands and warm, crystal-clear waters. The secluded beach area, among the most beautiful in the Bahamas, was recently revamped with the construction of the new Cove Atlantis hotel (Paradise Drive), a sister property of Atlantis Paradise Island Resort & Casino (Casino Drive), but the public still enjoys access to large parts. Besides lounging in the sun, you can enjoy snorkelling, jet skiing and parasailing here.

Paradise Island and its namesake beach is a sought-after escape among North Americans and Europeans from April and December, the high season. May to October is the rainy season, while June through November is official hurricane season. The area is especially popular with couples, families with children, and honeymooners.

In the Bahamas, Paradise Beach sits at the north-western tip of Paradise Island, which lies just opposite Nassau and is linked to New Providence Island by toll bridge and ferry. It's about 10km (6 miles) from Lynden Pindling International Airport and about five minutes by car from the toll bridge.

The beach overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, backed by groves of casaurina pine and exotic foliage. To the north is Hog Point, while Pirate's Cove and Cabbage Beach (also known as Atlantis Beach) lie to the east.

This secluded stretch of sand is known as one of Paradise Island's most stunning. In addition to topping off your suntan, you can enjoy a range of motorized and non-motorized watersports here. Guest of the new Cove Atlantis Hotel (Paradise Drive) have unlimited access to the beach, but portions are always open to locals and visitors. Unless you stay at one of the hotels along the shoreline, you can pay for privileges to use their facilities.

Take a dive or snorkel tour to explore the underwater wonders such as wrecks, caves and sea gardens around Paradise Beach and the island, or visit the Versailles Gardens at the One&Only Ocean Club on Paradise Drive, 10 minutes away by car. On the premises, you'll find the Cloister, a reassembled 12th-century French monastery that once belonged to Californian William Randolph Hearst.

Kids (and many adults) love Atlantis Paradise Island Resort & Casino (Casino Drive) (website: www.atlantis.com) and its world-renowned, 34-acre playground, Waterscape, which features a massive marine habitat, an underwater snorkelling trail called Paradise Lagoon, a five-storey replica of a Mayan temple and a Lazy River Ride for tubing. Visitors can observe sharks, stingrays, lobsters and piranhas from glassed-in underwater viewing tunnels. A new marine park and dolphin channel are expected to open in late 2007.

Vendors around Paradise Beach sell such Bahamian goods as handcrafted bookmarks, key chains, and beaded and shell jewellery. While some Nassau stores have their own outlet shops around Paradise Island, including the mall at Atlantis Paradise Island Resort & Casino (Casino Drive) (see above), the best shopping is found in the island's capital at famous spots like Nassau Straw Market and Prince George Wharf. Look for deals on gold and silver jewellery, linen, leather perfume, cameras, spirits, cigars and watches.

Paradise Island is known for its lively nightlife. In general, much of the action is connected to the resort and hotels, and particularly at Atlantis Paradise Island Resort & Casino (Casino Drive) (see above), where you'll find Vegas-style gaming at Atlantis Paradise Island Casino in addition to dozens of lounges, nightclubs and restaurants. Guests at Cove Atlantis Hotel (Paradise Drive) on Paradise Beach have full access to all the entertainment offered at Atlantis. If you seek a bar outside the hotel complexes, popular Green Parrot Bar & Grill in Hurricane Hole Marina offers live music on weekends.

Just like the nightclubs, many eateries across Paradise Island are connected to the resort and hotels. On the beach, there's the upscale Mesa Grill at Atlantis (Paradise Drive), Bobby Flay's first restaurant outside the US. Other more intimate and budget-friendly restaurants serve a variety of local and globally inspired dishes.

Unlike most of New Providence Island, there's no public transportation system on Paradise Island. Most people walk to and from the most populated areas or hire a taxi for longer hauls. To get to Nassau, you can walk across the toll bridge, flag down a taxi, take a water taxi or hop on a ferry. Guests of the Cove Atlantis (Paradise Drive) can take advantage of a free shuttle service to and from the airport.

Create your own desert island fantasy during a trip to the Blue Lagoon on uninhabited Salt Cay. Here, a 30-minute ferry ride from Nassau, you can snorkel, parasail, play volleyball and swim with dolphins (in captivity). You'll also find nature trails, restrooms, changing rooms and 200-plus hammocks slung between palms.

Enjoy a bird's-eye view of Nassau, Paradise Island and the beaches of Rose Island during a 15-minute helicopter flight with Paradise Island Helicopter Tours. The tour, offered daily between 0900 and 1800 at the Paradise Island Heliport (Paradise Beach Drive), takes in such popular attractions as Nassau Straw Market, the Fish Fry on Arawak Cay, the lighthouse on the western tip of Paradise Island, along with some of the island's most impressive celebrity homes.

Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS)