Paradise Found

As the temperatures drop, having an easy, relaxing vacation in the calendar is precisely the escape that helps us cope with the deep freeze we get to enjoy for the next several months. The ultimate in stress-free travel: an all-inclusive escape without the littles. With sandy beaches, warm water and good food topping our priority list, a Signature Vacations by Sunwing getaway to the Paradise Island in the Bahamas perfectly fits the bill. —Karen Kwan

stay. Fresh from a $25-million makeover, the Riu Palace Paradise Island is looking bright and airy with hues of white, silver and blue and sparkling with chandeliers overhead in the lobby. The resort, now adults-only, has redone the suites, too, and they’re are just as crisp and clean, with luxe bathrooms’ rainshower showers make washing up a spa-like experience. Your stay can be as intimate or social as you wish: elect for a dinner in the beach with your love (worth the extra cost!), or join in the yoga or beach volleyball fun with other revelers if you’re looking to make friends.

sail. Although kicking back on a chaise longue on the beach is heavenly, going out sailing on a catamaran is peak bliss. Set out with Nexus Tours and they’ll take you out about 40 minutes to a quiet spot by to Antol Island, where there’s a reef you can explore while snorkeling in the perfectly warm water. Post-snorkel, dry off lying on the catamaran net and then enjoy a cocktail with the delectable lunch of chicken, ribs, greens and mac n cheese, and yellow cake for dessert. You’ll get back to Nassau just in time for more R&R on the beach.

shop. In town, there are plenty of luxury boutiques such as Gucci and jewelry stores you can splash out in if you’ve won big at the Atlantis Casino or are just looking to treat yourself. If your budget is more modest, get local souvenirs at the Straw Market, where you’ll find straw bags with colourful touches (think Dora the Explorer for kids and flower details for adults—which you can have personalized on the spot) along with elaborate wood carvings.

savour. The Riu Palace’s reno included some brand new restaurants. We dove into our Indian dinner at Chutney, where there was no need to elbow out our dinner mate for the last piece of tikka tandoori chicken because more of the crisp and juicy dish is available should your table need more. The meal here follows the history of India, beginning as vegetarian and them moving onto chutneys as the country began to trade with the British, for example. In town, grab a local cocktail (order a Sky Juice, a mix of coconut water, gin and condensed milk) at Lukka Kairi, where there’s often a live band playing.

spa. Just when we think we couldn’t be more relaxed, we’re proven wrong with a visit to the Renova Spa. We opted for a full-body Swedish massage and any kinks from sitting for a few hours on the flight down were washed away by the therapist’s expert hands. And by the way, if the beach or pool crowd is proving too crowdy, escape to the spa’s quiet hot tub at any time during your visit.

tip. Make the small splurge for Elite Plus when booking your vacay with Sunwing and you’ll gain not only extra leg room, but also priority check-in and boarding and extra baggage allowance.