Pinewood Beach Resort & Spa

Although this mid-sized resort has three restaurants and three bar areas, along with a large central patio and pool, it retains a refreshingly intimate feel. Spaces flow one into the other, and are used regularly in rotation. You could have a pool-side BBQ one night, dine at Peponi Beach Restaurant the next (shoes optional), then cap-off the night with a cocktail at the beach bar. The thatched traditional lapas provide plenty of shade, and there is oodles of outdoor seating.

Pinewood has 38 rooms, 20 suites and one family suite spread across the property. The ground-level rooms offer views of the garden and, sometimes, a peep at the sea. Their interiors are spacious and airy, and simply furnished in (slightly dated) style, with a king-sized bed and en-suite bathroom. Suites are roomier, with an additional lounge/kitchen (personal chefs are available). The family bungalow has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a large living area leading to a covered patio. Aircon throughout.

If living in your swimming costume while wandering from pool to sea to bar to hammock is what most appeals, you wouldn't be the first. The beauty of Pinewood is that it's truly a village, with everything you want for a quintessential beach holiday at your sandy toes: food and drink, massage, a crystal-clear pool and super-friendly local staff. But you'll need to venture off-site if you fancy snorkelling the fish-filled reefs, trying your hand at deep-sea fishing, or kite-surfing.