Imagine a chilled-out surf pad for adults wanting the finer things in life, and you have Sol Beach House at Melia Fuerteventura. This oceanfront bolthole overlooks the sparkling lagoon of Playa de Sotavento – a windsurfing hot spot, and home to the world championships. It’s a place to unplug and unwind: the vibe is relaxed, the interiors minimalist, and the food for buffet breakfast and dinner farm-to-fork fresh. If you’re more into your asanas than your surf, then the outdoor yoga sessions against a dramatic Atlantic Ocean backdrop are for you – there’s no need for a Spotify relaxation playlist with waves crashing against the sand. An infinity-edge pool looks out over the same glorious vistas, as does the outdoor terrace and its lantern-lit wooden tables. You’re also surrounded by the untamed beauty of Jandía Natural Park, a wild sliver on the south-west spit of land jutting out into the Atlantic – great for scenic hikes. The newly refurbished rooms and suites are styled as beach houses, with a pale colour palette accented by driftwood sculptures and headboards, rattan scoop chairs and brightly patterned cushions. Pick a INNSiDE Sea View Room for light-flooded digs overlooking the Atlantic, or go for a INSiDE Sea View Room with Garden which are located on the ground floor and have a terrace that leads to a small garden area. The Studios Sea View are wonderfully spacious and have added benefits such as a daily replenishment of selected drinks from the minibar thrown in.
Fuerteventura basks in 3000 hours of sunshine a year, calling for optimum sun-basking opportunities – and XQ El Palacete delivers. Balinese days beds are dotted around a bubbling whirlpool bath on a wooden terrace, with views of the ocean beyond. A smattering of padded loungers line a glass-edged terrace above the jewel-toned sea below, while a gleaming outdoor pool begs to be dived into – the sun bouncing off its sparkling surface. You couldn’t ask for a better location: XQ El Palacete looms over the powdery dunes of Playa Jandía in the south of the island; you weave through the undulating sand to reach the beach and Atlantic Ocean beyond. The foam-tipped swell lures windsurfers from across the world, but the golden grains are just as enticing for sunbathing. The pace shifts down a few gears in this corner of the island: wake to leisurely breakfasts set against a soundtrack of crashing waves, go cycling in Jandía Natural Park, and help release rescued loggerheads into the sea at Morro Jable’s Turtle Nursery. While away the afternoon flitting between the hot tub, pool and sun lounger, before ending the day with a feast of day-fresh seafood and local cuisine. Behind a lemon-yellow façade, rooms are classic and rooted in place – think oceanic blues or bleached stone hues, coastal-inspired wall art and coral-pink cushions. Many come with private sea-facing balconies for optimal blue-on-blue views.
Sol Beach House at Melia Fuerteventura
XQ El Palacete
