Pestana Colombos Premium Club Beach Resort

While its rows of low-rise blocks may first appear a little lacking in charm, it's hard not to be seduced by Pestana Colombos Premium Club's chic contemporary vibe and cheerful, canary-colored architecture. This sprawling all-inclusive resort is set amid extensive grounds characterized by dry shrubs and colorful flowers, cut through with meandering, paved paths that connect rooms with spacious terra-cotta sun terraces, various eateries, and a wooden footbridge that links directly to a fine stretch of golden sand beach. The hotel also shares facilities with its sister hotel Pestana Porto Santo Beach Resort & Spa nearby, which is more Mediterranean in flavor and has livelier nightlife. Couples tend to prefer the Colombos, thanks to its more stylish rooms (most with terrazzo tubs open to the bedroom), and families tend to prefer staying at the slightly less expensive Porto Santo, where the kids' club is located. Because the resorts feel like part of one big complex, though, it's hard to go wrong either way. 

The hotel is located on the south coast of the small Portuguese island of Porto Santo, about 27 miles northeast of the main island of Madeira. Unlike its big brother, the main feature here is a long, sweeping beach stretching almost the whole length of the island -- the resort is exactly in the middle. There's virtually nothing around the hotel, except a few houses, though the pretty nearby town of Vila Baleira is a five-minute drive away -- a free shuttle runs several times a day. Sister hotel Pestana Porto Santo Beach Resort & Spa is adjacent and the Porto Santo Airport is about 10 minutes away by car.

The hotel has 185 rooms, duplexes, suites, and villas, all of which are decorated in fresh, contemporary style with breezy light tones (mostly beige and cream) and streamlined furnishings. Standard amenities include well-stocked (and free) minibars, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels; there are no tea/coffee facilities (kettles can be requested for a steep fee) but room service is available. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors slide open to furnished balconies, some with sea views. Bathrooms in the couples-friendly rooms feature terrazzo tubs separated from the bed area only by drapes, as well as separate showers and sleek gray-stone basins. Suites and duplexes add extra bedrooms, bathrooms, and living/dining rooms, while villas feature fully equipped kitchens and private pools. 

All meals in the hotel's two buffet restaurants, local (alcoholic and non-alcohol) drinks, and three visits to the hotel's themed restaurants come included in the standard rate. Buffet eateries include kids' sections and the themed options offer Portuguese and Italian fare -- food is decent enough, though buffet dining came get repetitive and specialty restaurants can book up quickly (expect morning waits in line to make reservations). 

The main focus of the resort is the expansive outdoor pool terrace, which features three pools, sun loungers and a few daybeds. Reports suggest seating can be in short supply during busy times, though guests can also use the larger pools at the Pestana Porto Santo, where there are also some organized games. Sunbeds are also available on the beach, though incur a hefty daily rate. Entertainment -- including kids' club activities and adult-oriented evening shows -- is at the sister hotel. The kids' club is geared toward younger children, and there is a teens' club as well -- though it is underused.