Los Caños de Meca, Cádiz, Spain
Wild, windswept, unspoiled and beautiful, the Costa de la Luz in Spain is the coastline that time forgot. It’s a dramatic stretch of Atlantic drama with a smattering of sandy beaches and seaside villages. Hotels Madreselva, surrounded by the pine forest, wetlands, dunes and sea cliffs of the Breña y Marismas de Barbate nature reserve, makes a suitably tranquil base, with a palm-shaded courtyard, flame-walled pool area and 18 stylish rooms, all with a private patio. A minute’s walk from the beach at Los Caños de Meca, the hotel is perfect for watersports lovers, as well as exploring this unspoilt corner of Andalucia. The hilltop pueblo blanco Vejer, just 20 minutes away, is full of charm, and Cape Trafalgar lighthouse offers stunning views of Gibraltar Strait. It’s only 10 minutes walk from the beach.
Doubles from £83 B&B, hotelmadreselva.com
Sagres in Algarve, Portugal
Views are what makes this place so special. Memmo BaleeiraThe hotel is a modernist building on the Algarve’s southernmost tip. There is an authentic feeling of being at the edge. The beach is just a few feet away, and the sky is endless. Sagres is steeped in history – it was the gateway to the unknown world during Portugal’s Age of Sail and has a spectacular windswept fortress, dramatic cliffside scenery and a chilled-out, surfy vibe. Memmo Baleeira is a member of Design Hotels and has rooms that are in shades of taupe, shell, and cream. The restaurant is open for breakfast and serves fresh seafood and fish from the local boats. A large lawn area surrounds the pool and is great for kids. Down at the harbour, boat trips head out each day to spot pods of dolphins, and the long-distance Rota Vicentina (Fishermen’s Trail) runs through the town, offering fabulous hiking.
Doubles from £105 B&B, memmohotels.com
Pelion, Thessaly and Greece
Pelion is a peninsula of unspoiled beauty, where wealthy Athenians own holiday villas and run small family-run hotels. The Pounda Paou is one, set on a hillside above the sea, with rooms linked by shady paths and leafy sitting areas, and a pool terrace with glorious sea views. The nearest village is Argalasti, which is a short drive away. Half the fun is driving along quiet country roads, stopping at hilltop villages that have excellent tavernas or tiny coves where there are few people. The village of Chorto, around 15 minutes’ drive (or a two-mile hike), has a good selection of tavernas, although dinners at Pounda Paou – home-cooked, hearty dishes including slow-cooked meats, vegetable stews and handmade pastries – are not to be missed.
From £399pp a week B&B, ionianislandholidays.com
Elounda, Crete
Elounda’s transition from sleepy fishing village to five-star haven has been one of the biggest changes on Crete, but in spite of numerous glitzy hotels, the area remains extraordinarily beautiful. The village is made up of stone houses and tavernas clustered around a harbour which opens onto the blue lagoon that separates mainland Crete from Spinalonga Island. The opening of the new Innside Elounda on 1 May means this gorgeous slice of Cretan coastline will now be affordable (once again) for mere mortals. It will have chic, comfortable rooms stepping down the hillside (most with sparkling sea views), two restaurants, outdoor yoga classes and works by local artisans dotted around the communal spaces. And it is perfectly placed for exploring some of Crete’s ancient sites, including Knossos.
Doubles from £92 room-only, melia.com
Tučepi, Dalmatian coast, Croatia
In between Croatia’s glittering islands and big draws such as Dubrovnik and Split, the Makarska Riviera stays happily under the radar – a long stretch of coast fringed with quiet beaches, pine forest and small resorts that attract far fewer crowds than their glitzier siblings. Tučepi is one of them, with traditional stone houses and a handful of hotels scattered along a stretch of pebbly beach, with a palm-lined promenade edged with seafood restaurants and traditional Konobas (taverns). Villa Andrea opens out directly on to the prom, with 18 comfortable, unfussy rooms (it’s worth upgrading from a classic to a standard room for £17.50 a night). There are wine tastings in the cellar and friendly staff who can arrange everything from restaurant reservations to white-water rafting on the Cetina River. Makarska, a larger resort just 10 minutes away, offers more activities.
Doubles from £94.50 B&B, villa-andrea.info
Near Essaouira, Morocco
It’s not always necessary to stay on the beach. You can still go shopping, or have a nice meal. Kasbah d’EauThe hotel is located on an unspoiled beach, 25 minutes from the bustling seaside town Essaouira. Cooking classes, horse-riding and quad-biking are all on offer, along with visits to Essaouira’s picturesque medina, with its art galleries, cafes and stalls selling everything from Berber rugs to leather goods. The haggling here is less competitive than in other places, and the rooftop bars make for a great place to enjoy a sundowner. Back at base, the restaurant serves local dishes – grilled chicken, garlicky prawns, lamb tagine – with aplomb.
Doubles from £122 B&B, kasbahdeau.com
Salento, Puglia, Italy
The Maldives are in Italy? Although it may sound exaggerated, the white sands and clear water of the Litorale di Ugento nature park are reminiscent of a deserted island. The beach is only a short distance away. Masseria Fontanelle is a restored 17th-century convent that oozes tranquillity (not least because of its 12-plus age policy), with cool, cocoon-like bedrooms that have whitewashed walls and stone floors. In the summer, there is an outdoor cinema and classic Puglian cuisine in the restaurant terrace. Trattorias are plentiful in Torre San Giovanni’s beachfront village, and Ugento has stunning baroque buildings with a historical centre you can easily explore on foot.
Doubles from £122 B&B, masseriafontanelle.it
Panarea, Aeolian Islands, Italy
A house for two, tucked away on an island that’s car-free and crowd-free, with a nightly light show from Stromboli, rumbling away in the distance … what could be more blissful? A Picciridda The cherry-pick from the collection of small rental homes on Panarea is located off the north coast Sicily. Panarea is the smallest Aeolian Island. This blue and white cocoon, for two people, is located on a hillside close to San Pietro. Like all of Italy, it gets busy in August, but the average day here is a mix of gentle hikes through olive groves, lazy hours on quiet coves and long lunches in waterfront restaurants, while evenings are for suppers on A Picciridda’s lovely private terrace – with fresh fish bought from the harbour.
From £1,005 a week self-catering, sawdays.co.uk
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