Vila Vita Parc Resort & Spa

Vila Vita Parc runs along the clifftops at Porches, on the stretch of Algarve coast where the limestone breaks into arches and hidden coves. The estate covers around fifty-four acres of subtropical gardens, with accommodation spread across rooms, suites, standalone villas and a couple of private residences rather than concentrated in a single block.

The scale allows for an unusual amount of choice. There are a dozen restaurants and bars, headed by the two-Michelin-star Ocean, plus a wine cellar stocked from the owners' own Portuguese estates. The Sisley spa runs to fourteen treatment rooms, and there are multiple pools, tennis courts and a private beach reached by a lift down the cliff.

For all the facilities the atmosphere stays surprisingly unhurried, helped by gardens dense enough to absorb the guest count. Praia da Marinha, one of the most photographed beaches in Portugal, is a short walk along the cliff path, and the Benagil sea cave is a boat trip away.