Pestana Porto Santo

Fine golden sand runs for nine kilometres along Porto Santo's shore, and the water here stays notably warm for the Atlantic. Pestana Porto Santo sits directly on that beach, with rooms and villas done out in ocean-blue tones, each with a balcony or terrace facing the sea or the gardens. The grounds cover 30,000 m² of tropical planting, threaded with pools including a heated indoor pool reserved for adults and fitted with water jets. It is an all-inclusive stay. Four restaurants cover ground from a buffet room seating 270 to an Italian kitchen and a Maghrebi menu, both booked through kiosks at reception. Three bars punctuate the day: a beach bar for cocktails within earshot of the waves, a poolside spot serving snacks without fixed hours, and a sunset bar where families gather to watch the light go down over the water. Guests can spend an afternoon on the sand courts, book a Hammam or Turkish bath at the spa, or send children to the supervised Kids Club pool in summer. Vila Baleira, the island's main town, is five minutes away by car, and an 18-hole golf course runs along the coast nearby. Porto Santo's airport sits about 3 miles off, with daily ferry and flight links to Madeira. Check-in runs from 3pm.