Advantages: Stunning scenery, history and a great cup of tea!
Disadvantages: None

...Did you know that tea grows in Europe? Well I didn't until I went on holiday in the Azores. Friends all said "Where are the Azores?" so I'll start by briefly explaining where these wonderful islands are situated. The Azores consist of nine islands found in the Atlantic Ocean between the continents of America and Europe, Sao Miguel is the largest of these islands and is about a two and a half hours flight from Lisbon. Not quite the middle of the ocean, but a good distance from Portugal, so it came as a surprise to see tea growing. The temperate climate and rich volcanic soil results in lush vegetation and the growth of tropical plants - I can recommend the pineapples! We were touring the island and were on the lookout for another tea factory mentioned in the guide book, which we knew the bus tours visited, so were delighted... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap
Disadvantages: Utterly useless

...According to Toyota, their Hybrid Synergy Drive system uses a complicated array of batteries in a twenty-first century Wales & Edwards milk float sort of way to generate power in their Prius car up to 27 miles per hour, at which point a 1.5 litre petrol engine kicks in to carry you the rest of the way to the speed limit. Heat from brakes and other clever paraphernalia are regurgitated to recharge those same batteries, thus allowing Toyota to promote their Hybrid Synergy system as a safe, economical, environmentally friendly solution to motoring. Their sister company, Lexus, use the same system to improve performance and reduce emissions. You could be forgiven, then, for thinking that the King of Shaves Azor razor, which boasts a Hybrid Synergy System, might be one of those razors fitted with a Duracell AAA battery so that the ladies... Read review

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Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Lots

...The preamble to the launch of the Azor suggested that it was going to be hype and gimmick free, yet it's being marketed with all the nonsensical blurb we'd expect from any of its competitors and despite that it's no better than them and possibly even worse. I've previously criticised the Gillette and Wilkinson Sword multi-bladed razors for being too big and clumsy, like picking your nose with a shovel was the expression I used I think and they have at least responded by adding yet another blade but mounted in such a fashion that it is supposed to be good for shaving those difficult bits like under your nose. The Azor's head is about the size of a small aircrafty carrier, I'd defy anyone to shave the bit under their nose with one of these. If you compare it with a two blade design like the Gillette Sensor the Sensors two blades... Read review

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Advantages: Relaxing, stunning scenery and still unspoiled!
Disadvantages: Cuisine lacking in fancy menus.

...Sâo Miguel also known as the Green Island is 65 kilometres long and 16 kilometres wide. It is the largest of the islands making up the Azores. The island is made up of several volcanic groups, the black lava fields form a dark coastline dotted with a handful of beaches, but the green hills provide some splendid scenery, and every turn (and there are many!) along the windy roads unfolds some wonderful surprises. In the east the highest point is Pico da Vara standing 1,103 metres tall, in the centre is the Sierra de Água do Pau, with a volcanic Lake called Lagoa do Fogo. In the west are the smaller volcanoes, and the highest point is about 900metres, one of the most popular places to visit called the Caldeira das Sete Cidades, where the ground still rumbles and geysers boil and streams flow with the water of hot springs. There are two... Read review

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Advantages: Read review!
Disadvantages: See review

...My hubby bought me this book after rooting through the books in our local charity shop. He was really looking for Jackie Collins books for me!! Not finding any he came home with this and a few others. I only got around to this book recently and really enjoyed it. It is written by Faye Kellerman, an author I hadn't before heard of. She is the wife of Jonathan Kellerman, who is also an author and psychologist. She has written 9 books in total featuring the detective Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus, who in this book is married to Peter Decker. She has also written one historical mystery. This book revolves around the murder investigation of Doctor Azor Sparks. He is a widely respected and celebrated heart surgeon. He has been working on a revolutionary medicine that is designed to help stop heart transplant patients from... Read review

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Advantages: Beautiful setting
Disadvantages: Buffet dinner could be better

...Stepping off the plane at 21.00 hours in Ponta Delgada, on Sao Miguel in the Azores the humidity hit me. WOW. It was hot, I was tired and hadn't expected this level of humidity. Thankfully we quickly collected our cases and didn't have any passport control to queue in, as we had flown in from Lisbon. Our tour operator was waiting as we came into the arrival hall and whisked off to our destination. Twenty minutes and many bends and bumps later we turned a corner and saw a large hotel block, lit up and sparkling against the dark sky, standing beside the Atlantic ocean, with a high tree covered backdrop or should I say side drop! The long driveway through the gardens with lovely trees and flowers prepared us for the serene and calm entrance to this otherwise pink concrete block. There was a plaque saying when the hotel was opened... Read review

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Advantages: It works
Disadvantages: None

...... Read review

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Advantages: One of the best in the world. Even recomended by Jaques Custo!
Disadvantages: A slog to get to and certainly not cheap. No nightlife.

...I was introduced to Sipadan Island by a friend of mine in a Biology set from school who wanted to dive there but had no one to go with. Everything just seemed to fall into place and so less than two days after my flight landed in Kuala Lumpur I found myself on this Island. Sipadan Island lies in the Celebes Sea about 50 km off the East Coast of East Malaysia and it is argued that it lies amongst the top five diving sites in the world. The thing is a lot more than five dive sites claim that they fall in that category, you name it: French Polynesia, The Azores, other islands in Malaysia, Australia and Vanuatu to name just a few. All the brochures promise superb diving and everyone who comes back from there raves about it, I think though Sipadan rises above these and does indeed fall in at least the top ten. When I say top ten I... Read review

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Advantages: modern, good transport infrastructure
Disadvantages: airport bus service only runs until 9pm

...Lisbon airport, a mere 7 km from the centre of Lisbon has been recently rebuilt, partially to coincide with the 1998 Expo, and also because before that it badly needed it. Now there is a very modern terminal building, with excellent connecting infrastructure (didn’t imagine myself saying that in relation to Portugal!) and altogether it is a very pleasant experience. Many Brits fly into Portugal via Faro, so may not be that familiar with Lisbon, but its airport is certainly worthy of praise. Firstly there minimum check-in times are shorter than in a lot of airports in mainland European. For internal flights you can check in half an hour before departure, for flights for Madeira and the Azores, which of course both belong to Portugal, the minimum check-in time is 45 minutes in advance, and for other European destinations... Read review

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Advantages: Exotic locations, hot weather and new faces
Disadvantages: Could be a little hungry at times!

..., one of the Azores Islands, to attend a conference in 2000. We stayed at the 4 star Hotel Bahia Palace, which was lovely. The room was large, it had its own pool and was right next to the beach. Sao Miguel has 3 volcanoes, Fogo, Sede Cidades and Furnas, which we visited during our stay. The hotel was located on the side of one of these volcanoes. Unfortunately the restaurant didn't live up to the hotel. There were no vegetarian options for dinner, and I had to ask them to make something especially for me. The waiter had to be sent to the chef by my supervisor, otherwise he would have left me to watch everyone else eat. I got pasta with tinned vegetables! When we went for field trips, we were taken to various restaurants, who didn't know how to deal with vegetarians. I ate a lot of salad! The only exception was at one restaurant... Read review

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