If you don’t have kids, or if they’ve flown the nest, or even if you simply want a holiday that doesn’t involve dozens of them (including your own) causing mayhem in the hotel pool, then an adults only resort is pretty much your ideal option.
This leaves you free to completely indulge yourself and your other half. That might involve a couples massage at the spa, an intimate dinner at a luxury restaurant, going hiking or scuba diving together, taking a cooking course, finding a sense of physical and emotional balance with a little yoga, or simply relaxing by the pool and catching up on some reading.
And that’s not forgetting the group of friends going away together who want to avoid the child crowds!
All of which leaves one question – where to go?
Island of wonders
There’s something for everyone in Cyprus, whether you’re looking for unspoilt sandy beaches, a lush and varied countryside, ancient historical towns with a rich architectural legacy, or a buzzing nightlife. Then there’s all that delicious Greek and Turkish food to think about, not to mention two millennia of wine-producing expertise to grapple with.
For that idyllic getaway, try the Atlantica resort in Amathus Bay on the island’s southern coast. A gold medal winner on TripAdvisor, it sits on a hillside looking out over the sea, and comes with a large lagoon-like pool and half a dozen bars and restaurants on site. The beach is a short walk from the hotel and, if you’re looking to liven things up at a club, enjoy a bit of shopping or take in some classical ruins, the town of Limassol is a ten-minute drive away.
Continue west on the island’s southern coast and you’ll arrive at arrive at the city of Paphos, where people flock for the Blue Flag beaches and the charm of Paphos’s Old Town with its Greek temples and Medieval churches and forts.
If you and your friends are looking for an adults-only oasis here, try the Pioneer Beach Hotel, with its beautiful palm-fringed pool (the curving golden sands of the beach are only meters away), its well-appointed rooms with sea or mountain views, and its excellent spa.
The Canaries for couples
This archipelago of volcanic islands are a constant favourite for holiday-makers, and whether it’s Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote or Fuerteventura that you choose to make your base, you won’t be short of untouched beaches (some of which feature giant sand dunes that extend for miles), spectacular volcanic mountains and lush pine forests (ideal for hiking), and great art thanks to Spain’s rich heritage of painters and sculptors.
For couples heading to Tenerife, the TUI Sensimar Los Gigantes on the west coast offers stunning ocean views, newly-refurbished rooms and a spa with bespoke couples treatments. Head to the marina at Los Gigantes for sensational seafood, and make sure you bring your hiking boots for a trek up Mount Teide volcano, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The lesser-known island of Fuerteventura is home to the Royal Palm resort and Spa, opened a few years ago and based on the edge of the Jandia National Park on the island’s southern tip.
The spa includes Turkish bath, salt room and all kinds of treatments, while the white sand that stretches at the base of the Pico de la Zarza mountain range not far from the hotel is one for beach purists. For more active couples, the windsurfing around here is justly famous, while 20 minutes away is the surfers’ hangout at Sotavento.
Croatia the great
Croatia isn’t quite the travellers’ secret it once was, but with over a thousand kilometres of coastline and a thousand islands scattered off that coastline, you won’t have any trouble finding a part of it to call your own. The Dalmatian Coast is perfect, taking in the beautiful Makarska Riviera that faces out onto the Adriatic Sea, while islands like Brač, Vis and Korčula are within easy reach by boat.
The Adriatic Beach resort was refurbished in 2015 and flaunts a large infinity style pool looking out over the sea, two fantastic a la carte restaurants and stylish rooms with sea views. It’s 20 kilometres from the town of Makarska, where you can catch a boat to Brač and other islands to explore the small, quiet coves or enjoy snorkelling in the sparkling emerald waters. Ideal for a group of adventurous friends.
If you’d rather take to one of Croatia’s islands from the get-go, try the Kalamota Island Resort on Kolocep, the only hotel on the island. Here you’ll be able to really get away from it all – there are no cars and officially only 165 inhabitants. What makes it really special are the secret little coves and beaches on the island’s south coast. And if all that splendid isolation gets a little too isolated, take the hotel’s private shuttle-boat to Dubrovnik.
Aegean gem
Exotic, sensuous and romantic, Turkey is the perfect fit for couples looking to spend time together. The coastal hotspots tend to be in the south, looking out onto the Aegean Sea, and stretching from Izmir across to Antalya. It’s characterised by Blue Flag beaches, turquoise waters and fascinating historical towns like Ephesus and Didyma.
For a party of friends who have enjoyed enough, well, partying, head to the Antalya Area and you’ll find the Belek Resort, which has a pool that stretches just about everywhere on the hotel grounds. It also has its own private beach and jetty, and comes with an extremely laid-back vibe, perfect for recharging those batteries.
Also in Antalya is the TUI SENSIMAR Barut Andiz, a more conventional style of hotel, given it’s based in the town of Side, but which nevertheless comes with a pool and a section of private beach. Side itself is full of Roman ruins and lively bazaars – a visit to the Roman amphitheatre is a must, as is indulging in a spot of night shopping.
All hotels featured in this article can be booked with TUI. Book your last minute holiday today!