The Place
Well-heeled thirtysomethings make up the clientele of the hip and casual Hurricane Hotel. Its name more than hints at the prime attraction. Strong winds make the southern end of the Costa de la Luz the best windsurfing spot in mainland Europe, and you can learn to ride or hire a board at the windsurfing school right next to the hotel.
The Hurricane’s snazzy gym and riding stables also lure sporty landlubbers, and the hotel offers many enticements for indolent types too. A gorgeous palm, hibiscus and eucalyptus filled garden envellops two swimming pools (one set aside for adults only), and leads to a narrow but pretty and secluded sandy beach. The Spanish/Italian food has a good reputation, especially for its fish dishes. When it’s warm, dinners are served under towering Moorish arches on a romantic terrace overlooking the main pool, and the beach cafe does excellent salads and pastas for lunch.
Standard bedrooms are simple but tasteful; avoid those facing inland as they suffer from their proximity to the busy main road. Suites are worth paying extra for. They either come with private gardens, or are grand and exotic – maybe with keyhole arches over the bath and bold pictures of tigers on the walls.