Please describe your favourite resort

[charlie1]

What makes this a great resort for you?

[Carolinian]

There are two types of resorts that would be my favorites.

One would be a resort in a historical building.  That sort of character and charm just cannot be created in modern buildings.  Examples would be Stouts Hill, Sutton Hall, Broome Park, Thurnham Hall (original building), Knocktopher Abbey, Chateau de Maulmont, Chateau Country Club de Tredion, and Schloss Grubhof.

The other would be a nice resort that is directly on a nice beach.  For a beach-oriented resort being on the beach rather than having to walk several blocks or even drive to it is critical.  Extra amenities are good, but the most important amenity is being right on the beach.  Most of the examples I can think of here are in the Caribbean or on the US coast.  Most European beach resorts I have been to have had the actual beach a bit too far away though some have been waterfront.  Also, when I say ''beach'' I mean a sand beach.  I have been to resorts in Europe that were on stone beaches, but you had to walk a distance or drive to find a sand beach.

[Willself]

There are Endless Beach Resorts...just a hop,skip & jump away from a Beach!! My Favourite would be Oura-View, Beach Club on the Algarve.
Followed by Several in the Canary Islands...There-after  a few more on the Costa-del-Sol. Mainland Spain..

Numberous more just 1 block Away!! 1biza..Majorca..Malta..others too  many to mention!! All offering Quality Accommodations, Great Resort
Facilities..

1n fact you would be hard pressed  to find a Run down Resort...That Close to a Beach Location....

[charlie1]

My current favorite resorts have to fall into those that cater for children and there has to be a beach just around the corner from the resort.  This is all a must for me otherwise Dad ends up being the entertainments manager!

The best resorts so far visited in no particular order are Palm Beach Silverpoints in Tenerife, (It helped as we somehow ended up in the Penthouse!) I could have had several parties in my own private courtyard that had beautiful views. The beach was across the road and plenty to do entertainment wise. 

These following resorts had no beach close by, but the kids don’t mind that in Disney Florida so we were more than happy with Vistana, Silver lakes and Cyprus Points all in Orlando. They are the favourite resorts so far in that area and they all worked in well with family and friends that joined us.

Last year it had to be the lovely Scottish island of Arran where you have free roaming very friendly deer. Whales and dolphins and seals were all seen. There’s a great resort there that caters for all ages Auchrannie.

All our trips involve a little homework, the resort is important but we don't stay on site for most of the holiday during the day. So for us with young children we plan some of the main activities or places to go long before we leave. My wife signs up to the likes of Groupon or its equivalent in whatever country we are visiting by email for that area. They then email us not just deals and discounts, but this gives us good information before we even arrive and were google this as well. 

This article gives some great tips for everyone if they want value for money holidays using timeshare effectively with some good examples of savings that can be made in timeshare. http://www.timeshareweekly.com/index.asp?bid=38 [nofollow]

[gasheadpirate]

There are Endless Beach Resorts...just a hop,skip & jump away from a Beach!! My Favourite would be Oura-View, Beach Club on the Algarve.
Followed by Several in the Canary Islands...There-after  a few more on the Costa-del-Sol. Mainland Spain..

Numberous more just 1 block Away!! 1biza..Majorca..Malta..others too  many to mention!! All offering Quality Accommodations, Great Resort
Facilities..

1n fact you would be hard pressed  to find a Run down Resort...That Close to a Beach Location....

For family holidays, I agree with Willself that OVBC on the Algarve is the best I have been to. Been there three times and going again this year.  Has a fantastic pool area, the apartments are very good (the Infiniti and Club ones are very good) and while it is very near to the very busy and noisey Strip, it is far enough away to be quiet.  It has a good gym and has a quiet bar with reasonable entertainment.  Its sister resrot CPO is best for entertainment but I never want to actually stay there again!  Rooms not great and no air con.   

[Bwolf]

My favorite is Sanibel Beach Club.  Why?  It is well-run and well-maintained, our unit has a great Gulf view, and it fits right in with the old-Florida charm that Sanibel tries to maintain.  It is a great place to relax for a week.

We have fond memories of Marriott Marbella, where we had a three-bedroom unit for a week.  Had a great time with in-laws and the resort quality is quite high.

[Gail2005]

The place we own at and excitedly go back to whenever we can is Holiday Club Amadores Beach Club in Gran Canaria. Why? 25 terraced 1 bed bungalows plus about 8 2 bed ones each with their own huge very private terrace. The resort is located in front of the most beautiful horseshoe shaped bay. Weather is almost guaranteed sunny. Heaven!

Having said that, we love several resorts in Florida and would go back in a flash, particularly The Galleon Resort in Key West, Palm Beach Resort & Beach Club at West Palm Beach and The Longboat Bay Club at Longboat Key.