10 of the best resorts TENERIFE TRIO

EL MEDANO

A favourite of the Canaries with its great beach, ace cafes and seriously relaxed atmosphere.

LAGOS

Family-friendly town in Portugal’s Algarve offers a sweep of superb beaches and a rich sense of history.

PAPHOS

This Cypriot charmer packs in beaches, tavernas where you can enjoy huge mezze feasts and the remarkable Greek and Roman heritage of its UNESCO World Heritage-listed old core.

ALICANTE

Bright and breezy Spanish city which most people sadly just bypass to get to Benidorm. They are missing urban frills, excellent tapas bars and beaches up there with the more renowned resorts.

BUDVA

A rising resort in Montenegro, whose sweep of sandy beaches and clean waters are backed up by a striking historic old town.

CORFU TOWN

The Venetians carved the best of this resort’s architecture, while it must have been a higher power that blessed it with beaches.

ANTIBES

Perhaps the finest resort town on the French Riviera. Chocolate-box pretty old town gives it a layer of character rarely found elsewhere.

PIRAN

The prettiest resort on Slovenia’s bijou coast sports a Venetian-era old town and clean seas.

PORTO SANTO

How about a whole island rather than just a resort? That is what you get with this laidback Portuguese gem in the Madeiran archipelago.

I’m cheating here including three resort siblings. Together they offer quite a package – Playa de las Americas for younger visitors, Los Cristianos for families and Costa Adeje with more upmarket hotels.