Algarve

Vila Joya is a gorgeous, secret little hotel in the Portuguese Algarve. On a coast teeming with big hitters, it is a lovely alternative to hole up and hunker down, enjoy peace—a perfect escape without the children—and eat outstanding two-Michelin starred food that’s not in the least bit fussy. Just a forty minutes drive from Faro, the hotel itself is old-fashioned and family-run.

The sound of the sea echoes through open windows and the bedrooms are simple and comfortable (stay in the new Joya Suite if you want something sexier – it comes with its own terrace, a wooden four poster bed and a Jacuzzi). There are five golf courses within a 30-minute drive away, but most guests don’t leave the hotel. There’s a pretty jasmine-scented garden with a heated pool and knock-out views of the ocean. The beach is perfect for long walks and the intimate spa is truly serene: no branding, no lists. Seek out Dr. Kurian Jacob, an Ayurvedic specialist from India.

You can walk to buzzy local restaurants for fresh fish lunches, but the food at the hotel really is sensational: five course suppers with foams and sorbets, or simple chicken salad with chilled rosé for lunch – all served on the open air terrace. The hotel also has a lovely, casual restaurant by the beach.

A 45-minute drive from Faro Airport, Vila Vita Parc is located in Porches, a seaside oasis. The hotel is beloved for its bottomless inventory of amenities and services—a trip here is an escape in the truest sense of the word. Rooms are spacious and simply-but-beautifully decorated, seamlessly blending together the stunning outdoors with the indoor spaces. Few guests, however, spend much time in their rooms with seemingly endless amenities, activities and dining options.

Foodies appreciate the breadth of dining options at Vila Vita Parc. Ocean, Chef Hans Neuner’s two-Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant, is nothing short of a legend in Portugal. Choose from three, five or six-course menus which, depending on the often-changing selection, might include a delicious rock octopus paired with bone marrow—an inventive take on 'surf and turf'. So momentous is a meal here that diners are requested to don their most elegant piece of eveningwear for dinner. The nine other on-site eateries and cafes are sure to delight, too. Arte Náutica serves perfectly grilled seafood and meat in an atmospheric location right on the beach. And there is no more romantic setting for Portuguese small plates than at the lakeside Adega.

A day at Vila Vita Parc could be spent chartering the resort's 72-foot yacht, swimming in one of the property's six pools, playing tennis, going windsurfing or playing 18 holes of mini-golf. The only appropriate way to end such adventures would be to visit the nearly 12,000-square-foot spa, a wellness destination offering everything from anti-aging facials to five-day fitness programs.

If you do need to leave the property, the resort’s location in the center of southern Algarve makes cultural sights such as medieval fortresses and local fishing villages easily accessible.

Boasting impeccable views, this secluded hideaway, the size of a small village, offers the very best in casual resort living. Martinhal Sagres comprises more than a hundred houses, villas and rooms, along with a spa and relaxation lawn, a kids club and beach.