Madeira
Why go?
Nearly 1,000 km from Lisbon lie Portuguese Madeira and Porto Santo (there are also two other uninhabited islands). Visitors come to the archipelago's largest island for its warm comfortable summers and mild winters due to the Gulf Stream - an enchanting green and azure holiday destination all year round. Temperatures range from a maximum of 33º in summer if the wind blows from the Sahara, to a minimum of 13º in the winter; miniature climate zones exist all over the island. Madeira has imposing mountains and peaks - of which Choupana Hills Resort and Spa has the most stunning views - plus a rocky coastline and black sands. Porto Santo by contrast has little vegetation but a 9km sandy beach.
Any Downsides?
Trade winds do bring rain, particularly on Madeira's East coast, but this accounts for the luxuriant vegetation. And Madeira's beaches aren't too pretty, though this means there's no avalanche of 18-30s, which the slightly more discerning holidaymaker might find an advantage.