PINE CLIFFS, ALGARVE, PORTUGAL
Think of Portugal and what probably springs to mind are boutique hotels and quintessentially rustic farm rentals. However, Pine Cliffs Resort brings a slice of total luxury on a grand scale in the heart of the Algarve. Giving new meaning to the term ‘all-inclusive’, Pine Cliffs is like its own exclusive village, with activities and restaurants aplenty. With the award-winning Serenity Spa on your doorstep, kitted out with treatment rooms and multiple retreat packages (including a digital detox option for those brave enough to go sans phone), this place has enough to keep anyone seeking effortless R&R more than content. For the sportier holidaymakers, there are five tennis courts and a golf course – both with their own academies – as well as enough swimming pools to try a different one every day of the week.
The constant striving for new and exciting activities keeps the resort’s finger on the pulse. In honour of celebrating its 30th anniversary, Pine Cliffs is hosting a range of events across the year, including the Algarve Smooth Jazz Festival, drawing musicians and guests from around the world.
Rooms here are slick and modern but with a nod to Portuguese culture. Traditional influences are cleverly interwoven into the contemporary aesthetic of the hotel, such as the headboards made from Portuguese painted tiles and cork accessories produced from the local trees (Portugal is responsible for 50% of the world’s cork supply).
But it’s the coastline that the Algarve is most famous for and at Pine Cliffs, it doesn’t disappoint. Walking to the beach, the golden shore unfurls before you as you take the glass lift from the clifftop resort to the bottom, before making your way down the winding gangway wedged between two cliffs to the water’s edge. The sand here is pale golden and the sea is incredibly clear. Sun-worshippers can spend all day lounging around, while the thrill-seekers can try their hands at watersports, from surfing and kayaking to wakeboarding and jet-skiing.
If you’re anything like me, food plays a big part in the holiday experience, and Pine Cliffs has something to suit every palate. Head to the relaxed Maré beach bar for a sun-drenched lunch or just a quick bite in between sunbathing. Come the evening, the first stop has to be the Mirador Champagne Bar. Situated on the cliff edge and overlooking the
Atlantic Ocean makes it the ideal spot to sit with a glass of something bubbly as you watch the sunset. Ready for dinner, the biggest challenge is what to choose: a steak at Piri Piri Steakhouse, Japanese cuisine at Yakuza, or fresh local catches from the sea at O Pescador.
Want to go a step further? Head to MIMO for a cookery school experience in July and August as part of the anniversary celebrations. JODIE DUNWORTH
ROOMS FROM £378.50 A NIGHT. PINECLIFFS.COM