The Portuguese islands
Our really high end hotels lie in Porto Santo, a tiny island just a 40-minute ferry ride away from Madeira. Vila Baleira is the main town, thanks to its supersized sandy beach. The Pestana Colombos Premium Club scores a 10/10 for its sand-side spot, while the Hotel Pestana Porto Santo offers a spa. The Madeiran capital Funchal serves up its fair share of luxury hotels, too — and then throws in a boutique-heavy old town and flashy marina for kicks.
The Algarve
The Algarve is well-practised at serving up the ultimate beach holiday. You get to pick ‘n’ mix tiny tucked-away coves and long, lively stretches of sand. And our hotels put the scenery front and centre. For a choice of five-star hotels, try the village of Olhos d’Agua. It’s only a 15-minute taxi ride from lively Albufeira.
If you’re hunting for a break that pulls out all the stops, check out our luxury holidays to Portugal. They’re All Inclusive, so you don’t need to think about adding extras like hotel transfers and main meals.