Estalagem Da Ponta do Sol

This is Portugal, technically, although it's hardly the Portugal you are accustomed to — the island of Madeira is more a part of Africa than of Europe, and lies 400 miles off the western edge of Morocco. It's a volcanic island, which means lush vegetation, and the climate is tropical, which means plenty of elderly folks on holiday. Until now.

This is not to say that Estalagem da Ponta do Sol discriminates on the basis of age; nothing could be further from the truth. But its audience skews toward the spiritually youthful, at the very least, the kind of style-conscious travelers who will appreciate the fact that not only does their hotel protrude spectacularly from a cliffside over the sea, but that it cuts a fashionable silhouette while doing so.

Interiors are chic in the current minimal style, with hardwood floors in the public spaces and plenty of whitewash and designer furniture. The guest rooms feature the sort of design guests are accustomed to seeing in Barcelona or Miami, a far cry from the colonial kitsch of other Madeira hotels. Each of the 54 rooms has a balcony, with dramatic views of the ocean, the cliffs, or the village below. No need to scale the cliff face just for a meal, as there is a restaurant, as well as a poolside cafe.

The entire village of Ponta do Sol shares the hotel's unique geography — buildings line the terraced mountainsides, and the main drag is all whitewashed, red-roofed charm, with plenty to see and refreshingly few tourists. The hotel offers a somewhat stripped-down menu of activities, appropriate for a small cliffside boutique, but arrangements can be made for any outdoor activity imaginable, from tennis and golf to jeep safaris and mountain biking. Ponta do Sol's own beach is small and pebbled but the surf mecca of Jardim do Sol is just twenty minutes away.

How to get there:
The Hotel is located in Ponta do Sol. 40 minutes from the airport and a 20 minute bus ride from Funchal.