'I found an uncrowded beach in Europe under three hours away and it's warm in February'

ok.co.uk:

Our journey began at the five-star Pine Cliffs resort, a thirty-minute drive west of Faro. As the name suggests, it's perched on a cliff top, offering captivating sea views.The atmosphere is all about relaxed luxury; sun loungers are spread out in the lush gardens, providing natural shade from the trees, or you can choose to relax by one of the eight pools – the one with a swim-up bar if you fancy a daytime cocktail, the pool next to the ocean suites for a more peaceful afternoon under the glorious sunshine, or the indoor one if you're visiting during the cooler months or fancy stepping straight out of the water and into a steaming hot tub.

A wooden boardwalk guides you down to the wide stretch of golden sand at the bottom of the majestic sandstone cliffs.There are quite a few stairs, but a lift will take you down the steepest part.

We started every morning with a beach stroll at sunrise – you can walk for miles. Our bedroom was light and airy, with a balcony overlooking the gardens.

We were particularly impressed with the Serenity products in the bathroom. It's not often that a hotel conditioner can tame our unruly hair, but this one did the job perfectly, reports the Mirror.