Vila Joya

A sybaritic oceanside retreat with a state-of-the-art spa and one of the country's finest restaurants

When Vila Joya's mâitre, dressed in oriental attire, greeted me with a broad smile and the words 'Welcome to Paradise!', I admit to having felt hesitant. Yet a few hours later, gazing out from my terrace across sub-tropical gardens to the glittering Atlantic, with the setting sun framed between swaying palms, I really did feel as if I'd arrived in a Xanadu of sorts.

The creation of this oceanside Shangri-la didn't happen overnight and the Jung family have spent more than 25 years transforming what was once a private villa into the Algarve's most exquisite boutique hotel and spa. The alchemy which fused traditional Portuguese with Moorish architectural elements has also been present in its kitchens, where Dieter Koschina's culinary creativity has won Vila Joya's restaurant that fabled second Michelin star. If your Algarve idyll is about 5-star sumptuousness, cossetted relaxation and outstanding food, Vila Joya should be right at the top of your list.

Highs

• There are few places in Europe with such a dreamily picture-perfect beachside location
• Food here is in a class of its own: some would say that this is Portugal's very best restaurant
• The new Joyjung spa is a flight of decorative fancy and makes a perfect partner to the hotel and restaurant
• Every room and suite (bar the very smallest one) gets a share of that heavenly ocean view
• The high staff-to-guest ratio, and their polished yet friendly professionalism, make you feel cared for at every minute of the day

Lows

• Most Vila Joya guests return time after time so you'll need to book well in advance in the main season
• Staying here will leave a sizeable dent in your bank account but the experience will be with you for a very long time
• The hotel is tricky to find, hidden away in a residential area just back from the Praia de Gales. Print out arrival instructions or bring your GPS