JUST ACROSS THE BRIDGE FROM NASSAU , Bahamas (a hub for cruise-ship daytripping, duty-free shops and streetside food stalls on New Providence Island, near Lynden Pindling International Airport), paradise awaits. Paradise Island has been a jet-set destination since the heirs of the A&P Supermarket fortune established a resort here in 1962. Yes, the Caribbean is a bit of a haul from the West. But the deals these days are as irresistible as Nassau’s bargain duty-free shops.

Stay
The mega-resort of Atlantis (888-528-7155, atlantis.com) has a handful of different hotel options, from budget to luxe. The Beach, Coral and Royal towers cover the value bases, and the ultra-posh hotel One&Only Ocean Club (242-363-2501, oneandonlyresorts.com), a few minutes’ shuttle away on the island, is the ultimate tropical hideaway: it has formally planted Versailles-inspired gardens and a kids’ clubhouse that is kitted out more fully and luxuriously than most homes are (huge plasma screens, Wii and a kiddie pool). Three-bedroom villas with private pool and a personal chef can go for up to $10,000 (U.S.) a night here in high season.

But the “just right” option is the Cove, a boutique hotel. A separate pool area and breezy contemporary rooms with big balconies and water views that take in Nassau or the cobalt Atlantic make this 600-room tower feel exclusive. (Bill Clinton is rumoured to have stayed in the penthouse here during the 2009 Michael Jordan Celebrity Golf Invitational, held annually at Ocean Club’s championship Tom Weiskopf course.) Families might opt for its sister tower, the Reef, a condominium hotel with residential-style suites with kitchens.

Eat and Drink
In Las Vegas, you’d have to tour a half-dozen casinos to equal the celebrity chef dine-around that’s possible at Atlantis. Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill is packed nightly with diners sipping authentic margaritas and tearing into seared rib-eye and signature small plates like blue corn pancakes with spicy barbecued duck. Nobu is a sexy, wood-panelled, high-ceilinged boîte where the chef’s famous miso cod, sashimi-dressed salads and Matsuhita martini (vodka, sake and ginger with a cucumber garnish) are the choice orders. Dune at the One&Only Ocean Club is the domain of Jean-Georges Vongerichten and graceful French cuisine with Asian and Bahamian (from conch chowder to local pumpkin soup) influences. All three restaurants are part of an optional Cove gourmet meal dining plan, which usually sells from around $124 a day (U.S.) per person—a steal.

Play
For those who tire of the white-sand beach, Cain is the adults-only pool for Cove guests and party people: red lounging beds float in and surround the pool and a DJ spins loud tunes, complemented by delicious daiquiris and light noshes like Asian-inspired chicken lettuce wraps. After sundown the same party crowd retires to the chic Aura nightspot in the Atlantis casino.

Atlantis’s Mandara Spa is a Balinese-style pavilion with a cascading entryway water feature that puts you instantly at ease. A highlight is the separate women’s and men’s soaking areas, with hot and cold plunge pools, steam and sauna. The must-have treatment is the Caribbean Coffee Body Scrub: dead skin is dry-brushed away, then you’re slathered with delectably toasty coffee scrub and vanilla and spice oil. While you’re wrapped up to brew, a mini-facial leaves your face fresh. A full-body Swedish massage is like the foam on the latte. Bonus: your spa experience includes entrance to the state-of-the-art fitness centre, saving you the $15 (U.S.) daily fee. (Ocean Club’s own spa, with similar treatments and gorgeous teak spa suites, is open to the public.)

The big attraction for kids is the Water Park, which includes an 18-metre vertical drop, labyrinthine
inner-tube slides and rides plus heart-stopping waterslides, one which shoots you in a clear tube right through the shark tank. Adults might prefer a lazy inner-tube journey that circles the property, with just enough whitewater and chutes to keep it exciting.

While the Atlantis recreation area called the Dig is a slightly hokey faux-archeological site, the fascinating marine habitat has everything from seahorses to stingrays. Daily marine animal feedings, scuba and snorkel trips and swimming with dolphins are also options. This “ancient” city has a surprisingly high degree of eco-consciousness: various species of marine life are bred, rescued, rehabilitated and then released back into the ocean from Atlantis.

Live
Condos at the Reef start at $700,000 (U.S.) and include marble vanities in the spa-style bathrooms, professionally equipped kitchens plus in-suite laundry.

Getting There
Check for flights to Nassau (through Toronto) on Air Canada, CanJet and WestJet, or see a travel agent for bargain air-and-accommodation packages to Atlantis, which are usually routed through major U.S. airports. wl