The Greek island of Paxos, sun-drenched and beautiful, is a clean, blue-water paradise with stunning beaches. A holiday to Paxos is a reward, possibly, given its charm and scenic coastline. Look anywhere and the view will be pristine.

A car will take a traveler from one end of the island to the other, but might not be so essential to reach the few beaches that have road access. Lakka and Loggos, two northern villages have their own beaches that cars can reach. Mongonissi, a recommended beach by travel sites, can be reached from an access road from Gaios, the capital of Paxos.

Kipiadi is also car friendly, sort of. South of Loggos, a track off the main road, and another track off of that leads to Kipiadi beach. Levrecchio, a five-minute walk south of Loggos, is also car-approachable, and is a good snorkeling area. It is a popular beach because it is reachable by vehicles.

All beaches on the west side of the island are only attained by boat. Two beaches on the east side open only to boat traffic or foot traffic are Kipos and Marmari. The hills surrounding the inlet of these beaches are pine-covered and the trees grow down to the shoreline, except for a strip of beach. Yes, it is picture-perfect. Assume that most beaches are only attained by water travel and the trip will be less detail-oriented. Boats can be rented by the day or week, and this allows visitors to stop anywhere for a dip or a snack whenever the thought strikes them.

Speaking of eating, Loggos has a few small tavernas that are easily spotted on the waterfront. It is a small village, but it also has a bakery and some tourist shops, and three mini marts.

Lakka, a bit larger, is the northern port of Paxos. There is more going on here, consequently, and water sports and corresponding equipment are conveniently near the water. The U-shaped bay is calm, protected from the open sea and boats can be moored overnight. Swimming, water skiing, snorkeling and windsurfing are all viable and there is a water sports school that teaches scuba diving. The clean, clear water is irresistible, so snorkeling and scuba are great options on all of the ionian islands - including Paxos. The white cliffs on this part of the island have "blue caves," and tourists can hire launches to take them out to explore.

Tavernas and bars are thick on the ground in Lakka, and some have live music. They tend to stay open late in the high season, and some have Italian food as well as Greek. The olive oil is produced from olives grown on Paxos and will enhance every dish. Thank the Venetians for that.