Elba Costa Ballena Beach & Thalasso Resort

Set directly on the sand at Costa Ballena, this resort sits in the Cádiz province of Andalucía, within reach of Doñana Natural Park and the towns of Rota and Puerto de Santa María. Rooms and suites face the beach, the hotel gardens or the fairways beyond, each with a balcony or terrace. The suites run larger, with separate living rooms and wide terraces for slow mornings over the coast.

Golf sits close by: a 27-hole course designed by Olazábal lies eight hundred metres from the door, drawing guests who split their days between sand and fairway. Thalassotherapy is the other pillar here, with a dedicated spa centre using the sea itself as treatment, alongside a gym for a plainer workout. Three outdoor pools spread across the grounds, one with a swim-up bar, plus a separate pool for children and a mini club to occupy them. You can eat at the buffet restaurant for Cadiz and international dishes, or take a table at the beachfront restaurant with sand underfoot. It is a straightforward beach stay. Evening entertainment runs through high season, and a poolside bar keeps drinks moving through the afternoon heat.