Does my dream destination exist?

[LilyHarris]

I need a break. Can you help me find the perfect location? I've travelled a lot but always with friends and usually busy multi-destination type trips. I've never done the relax by the pool for a week thing, but that's what I'm now looking for. I'll be going on my own (a woman in my 40s).

Here's what I'm looking for:

Boutique, adult only hotel with a pool. Offers room only or bed & breakfast rates (all inclusive is not for me). Rooms have balconies, ideally with sea views. Has a relaxing, chilled out vibe. A spa or wellness facilities would be nice but not essential.

No more than a 10 minute walk to a gorgeous sandy beach that isn't entirely covered in sun loungers, a choice of excellent restaurants serving local food and craft/gift shops. It would be nice if there's a market too.

I'd ideally like to wander out of my hotel and down to the beach, stopping off for an ice cream or a drink or a sandwich, without encountering much traffic on the way. Not too busy, but lively at the same time. I love a nice sunset. No high rise hotels, no cruise ships on the horizon.

The other thing is, I say I want to lie by the pool with a book and a cocktail for a week and that's because right this second I feel burnt out. But when it comes to it, I do like to see and do things. Art, culture, nature, boat trips, obscure tourist attractions.

Ideally under an hour transfer time from airport. I don't want to hire a car.

Safe, welcoming area for solo female traveller. I'm not looking to make friends but an environment that encourages conversation and interaction would be a bonus.

This holiday would be late October 2024 so I was thinking the Canaries for sunshine. But happy to take suggestions for other times of the year too, as I'd like to plan more trips like this.

Does my dream destination exist? I'd love any ideas for specific hotels or even just areas to consider.

I like Cabanas in Portugal

A small village on the Spanish border, nearest big town is Tavira which is also not BIG

Its about an hours transfer by taxi - you can get a train and bus. Its so laid back its horizontal. A few "busy " bars - but mostly wee cafes. Beautiful walks and cycle paths, a beautiful beach - you need a water taxi - and slap bang on a nature reserve - lovely walk along the salt plains to Tavira

Very few hotels, most accommodation is private rentals but most have a pool

Ok this sounds wonderful, I'm off to have a look. Thank you!

We usually find accommodation at the Golden Club hotel. It is an AI, but most of the apartments are privately owned so you can book via air bnb, tripadvisor etc, get the use of the pools, bars, and water taxi, and have your own apartment to do your own thing. Right at the front and edge of town, we have found it to be a great base, one year the apartment we booked even had bikes and beach gear ( umbrella, wind break etc ) all included and we made full use , the beach is vast and lacking in facilities unless you go to the "centre" of it - we we never saw let alone got close too :)

What about Jamaica Inn..in Jamaica!

@LilyHarris

I was chatting to a friend yesterday about where someone would find some sunshine if they wanted to go on holiday in the autumn/winter.

He was born in London but is from a Cypriot family. He goes to Cyprus several times a year and said that it's not cold there in the autumn.

Would somewhere like this suit you?

https://www.fourseasons.com.cy/

The Ritz Carlton in San Juan, Puerto Rico ticks quite a lot of those boxes. Not adults only but there won’t be many kids around in October.

Cape Verde - Morabeza hotel. Plenty of options in Thailand but not sure how far you want to travel!

Sea Seeker Hotel Ao Nang Thailand. Not boutique but a nice hotel

Bali or Thailand?

Bali isn't as nice as Thailand by any means, but much cheaper. You can get your own villa with your own pool right next to the beach. Amazing!

Have a look at Puerto de Mogan in Gran Canaria.
It ticks a lot of your boxes but not sure if there’s an adults only hotel though.

I agree with the Puerto de Mogan suggestion, if you play with the filters on a package operator like Jet2holidays you should be able to find something that fits the brief. Just check out the location carefully because it could be up a very steep hill.

There's also some nice hotels in Meloneras, which is closer to the airport, although I find the stated Jet2 transfer times are overestimates, so also check out the road distance as it might not be as long as implied.

Another one I like the look of is White Suites in Playa Blanca Lanzarote

https://www.jet2holidays.com/canary-islands/lanzarote/playa-blanca/h10-white-suites#tab-rooms

It says HB or AI so if it's otherwise suitable, you could have lunch out and just take something small from the buffet in the evening.

It's a shame you're not going sooner than late October because this one in Mallorca would be otherwise perfect and there's also three nice beaches and a pedestrianised street of interesting shops. The only 'unusual' factor is that almost all the visitors to Paguera are German, so it's set up for German visitors but you can still get good Spanish and Mallorcan food.

https://www.bqhoteles.com/en/hotels/majorca/bq-paguera-boutique/?partner=8659&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8--2BhCHARIsAF_w1gwCOtUuSHkiPZvY3Ucdnu8U97iNshEfcQY6HayET8gJWsWMtGWZyXUaAiRwEALw_wcB

Thank you SO much everyone. I'm going to do some research on these suggestions - this should keep me going for the next few years

Hotel Blanco Formentera.

edited. may be a bit cold late October

La Minerva on Capri... I haven't stayed there for 10 years, but when I did, it was as you describe.

Except maybe the beaches which tend to be tiny coves, vs. Golden sand. But it's heartstoppingly beautiful.

To get there we flew into Napoli, and caught the boat. We didn't drive.

We once went to Palm Garden Resort and Spa in Hoi An, Vietnam and it was wonderful. It is not adult only however but we went during the summer and there were so few children there much to the disappointment of our then young DD. It is on the beach and the views stretch for ages - there are loads of local restaurants and everyone was so friendly. The hotel did a bus tour the busy Hoi A which is amazing. Although it may cost to get there, once there it was so cheap

Caesars Gardens or Rafael Lindos for another time maybe end of October is the end of season

My list is based in places I've been to only
Closer
Cyprus
Greece
Croatia
Albania
Morocco
Egypt

Further
Caribbean - Jamaica, Barbados, St Lucia, Panama, Mexico
Bali

Thailand. Lots of resorts in Khao Lak that fit this criteria.

Pool entry room solves the problem of the fight for sun loungers.

October won’t be busy at all.

We stayed at LaFlora, it has 3 swim up bars that serve the most amazing cocktails for about 3 quid.

There are wellness spas but you can get a massage right on the beach for a pittance.

Sorry, I've just realised my list doesn't include the specific resorts / hotels so may not be helpful.

Sorry bus shuttle not bus tour!

How about Sicily?

I think Sardinia hits the mark here! In San Teodoro there are tens of beaches you can easily walk to, lots of historical sites nearby if you want to hire a car a historic town nearby and of course, incredible food.

Baglioni resort is half board.

Sounds a lot like Asimina Suites near Paphos, except that it takes about 20 minutes to walk right into town (you'll go along the coast path and other hotels and restaurants, so hardly a wasteland!)

Contact Sunvil. They are a Greece specialist tour operator (although I think they do other countries too now). Much of their accommodation is the type of boutique, adults only style that you're looking for and many of the hotels are in small resorts or nice towns. I'm sure they could find you something to fit your requirements.