The discreet charm of the Casa San Blas

Advantages: A five-star stay?
Disadvantages: ?with just three-star facilities

...simplicity often trumps ritzy ostentation. Attentive service matters, but nothing is nastier than the kind of smarmy obsequiousness that always seems to mask a sneer. And so on. Maybe it's simply down to that indefinable essence known as character or personality. These inconsequential musings are prompted by my trying to pinpoint what it was about the Casa San Blas at Cusco that I liked so much. The hotel is certainly not without its limitations and even its failings, but it's a nevertheless a charming and delightful place to stay. Let's try to summarise what it has to offer. * Location * The Casa San Blas is situated just a few minutes' walk from Cusco's Plaza de Armas (central square), and is therefore convenient for all the main sights of the ancient Inca capital, such as the Qorikancha (Sun Temple), the Cathedral...

torr 23.03.2008 (23.09.2008) · Read review
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Review of Casa San Blas, Cusco

The Casa Batllo - Possibly Gaudi's finest work

Advantages: One of the best examples of Catalan Modernism
Disadvantages: Very expensive

...My husband has a job, which more often than not requires him to work on Christmas day and through most of the Christmas period. Whilst this is the perfect reason to turn down all invitations to spend Christmas with family, it's not the greatest way to celebrate the big day with a 14 hour shift. So last Christmas I decided that we'd have our very own Christmas but just a few days before the rest of the world. And so I booked a long weekend in Barcelona. Our hotel - The Gallery (review already posted many moons ago) was just off the Passeig de Gracia, one of Barcelona's key boulevards where you can find my favourite of the buildings designed by Antonio Gaudi - the almost impossible to pronounce, Casa Batllo. Earlier in the year I had attended a big industry conference in Barcelona and we'd had the conference 'gala' dinner in the Casa...

koshkha 27.10.2006 · Read review
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Review of Casa Batlló (Barcelona)

Mi Casa Su Casa - terribly managed guesthouse in Meville, JNB

Advantages: good location, nice asthetics
Disadvantages: terrible management

...home at midnight only to find our parking spot had been given to another guest because of which we were made to schlep our belongings and selves to another guesthouse location (no less, at 1 AM!). And four, we were promised a better rate for our troubles but were fully charged in advance of our actual stay and then perpetually evaded by the owner when asked about this. We are avid travelers, and for the most part have had delightful expereinces in South Africa. Our expereince with MiCasaSuCasa, however, urges me to warn other travelers from staying at this 'establishment'. There are numerous charming hotels and B&B's in the Melville area, any one of which will undoubtedly provide a better experience....

travellingafrica 01.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Mi Casa Su Casa On 9Th, Johannesburg

CASA FRANCI BED BREAKFAST IN ROME

Advantages: LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION
Disadvantages: Not Hotel for the softies out there.

...We Quatro Fontanas (or the Fountain Travel Club) stayed at the casa Franci last October. The first thing to stress is that this is Bed & Breakfast not a Hotel. The owner and his Family used to live in this Flat (Apartment) they have made it into a Bed & Breakfast and have another Apartment nearby. We booked through VENERE.COM which we find is quite a good site for Italian Destinations, one advantage of this site is that you do not have to pay up front when you book. You pay the Hotel on arrival, so if you need to cancel there is no cancellation charges given the correct notice. The Apartment is located in a Steet to the left of St Peters about 200 yards from St Peters. When you arrive you need to be in the end of the street furthest from St Peters Just past a Large Church. You enter through a locked gate...

poshtroika 27.08.2007 · Read review
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Review of Casa Franci B&B, Rome, Italy

Casa Tapas, Didsbury...Tapas Heaven

Advantages: Great choice of food, brilliant prices, lovely atmosphere
Disadvantages: Service not too great

...aren't too generous. Well, not Casa Tapas - the garlic bread was enormous and we were both served one of our dishes in a giant cast iron frying pan! We almost had to move to a bigger table there was so much food! We got: -garlic bread with cheese - garlic mushrooms - tortilla espanol - patatas bravas - pasta in a creamy mushroom sauce - chorizo - chicken in garlic sauce - meatballs I would highly recommend the pasta in mushroom sauce - that was my dish served in the cast iron pan and it was wonderful - I cannot get it out of my head and can't wait to go there to eat it again. The garlic bread was amazing too - three huge chunks of sesame baguette with melt in the mouth garlic butter and cheese. The tortilla portion was small but lovely and my meateating partner seemed very happy with his dishes. By the end of the meal...

amy_pea 23.05.2006 · Read review
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Review of Casa Tapas, Didsbury

Casa del Balam Hotel, Merida

Advantages: A unique and quaint hotel...
Disadvantages: Lacking a few mod-cons...

...We stayed in this hotel for a few days while on a little tour of the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico, including visits to Cancun (don't bother), Playa del Carmen & Cozumel (much better) and the amazing ancient Mayan ruins at Uxmal, Chitzen Itza and Tulum. (I'll try and get round to reviewing all these later...) We arrived by taxi from Merida airport (a short journey), having flown in from Cancun, where we had arrived in Mexico the day before, and were delighed with what we found, a massive improvement of the brash touristy-ness of Cancun ! The Casa del Balam Hotel was formerly the family home of Fernando Barbachano Peon, pioneer of Mexican tourism. A blend of Mexican tiles, terracotta and wrought iron, it has a small pool in a walled courtyand, complete with a stone carved fountain and tropical plants, a restaurant and bar, along...

matt_fantastic 13.04.2006 · Read review
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Review of Casa del Balam Hotel, Merida

Pas de la casa

Advantages: Fantastic Ski and snowboard school
Disadvantages: Not great Apres ski

...We stayed in Pas de la casa which is a 2 and a half hour transfer from Tolouse. It is not a pretty town, but has a lovely backdrop of the mountains. We stayed in self catering accomodation which was clean and basic. Food and drink in restaurants was not as cheap as advertised online (although drink in supermarkets is cheap, 1 litre of smirnoff vodka 7.40 euros which is £4!) The service was friendly and it helped we spoke french and spanish, but food was pretty poor and food came out at different times which is not good for a big group. I really enjoyed my two snowboarding lessons which are excellent and a must for all learners that go there. I went for the one on one lesson, you learn so much quicker that in a big group.Overall a great place to learn and go tax free shoppping, but definately a budget holiday resort....

annie81 31.01.2008 · Read review
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Review of Pas de la Casa/Grau Roig

My Casa Laguna experience

Advantages: on the beach, very clean, nice staff
Disadvantages: busy road cuts the hotel into two

......

wendy155 09.03.2005 · Read review
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Review of Tropical Casa Laguna Beach Resort, Cabarete

My opinion of Pas de la Casa

Advantages: Wide range of skiing
Disadvantages: Long transfere time

...Pas de la Casa, known to most as 'Pas', situated in Andorra a principality on the French/Spanish border. With no airport all holiday makers must fly to Toulouse and then endure a 3 hour coach ride to Andorra, but it's well worth it. Pas is the first resort you arrive at, being just 100 yards from the border crossing. The main town itself, consisting of shops, bars and some hotels, is situated at the bottom of the main slope, other hotels spread out either side of the valley, where skiing to your front door is easily possible. Skiing. Buying a lift pass for Pas will also allow you to ski in the neighbouring resort of Grau Roig, all chair lifts and drag lifts close at 5:30 pm so ensure you are not in Grau Roig when they close as it will be an expensive taxi ride back to Pas. The two resorts spread over 3 valleys, with plenty...

freestone 06.01.2001 (08.02.2001) · Read review
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Review of Pas de la Casa/Grau Roig

Xmas at Pas de la Casa

Advantages: Cheap, Good fun, Good skiing area, Good drinking, Friendly locals
Disadvantages: 3 1/2 hour coach transfer to toulouse airport

...We have just spent the Xmas break in Pas de la Casa and it was our first visit to Andorra. Yes - we would go again. Although it was early in the season there was enough snow to make the holiday a good one. Skiing is quite extensive and the lift system is good with few queues. The lifts in the main are chair lifts which can be a bit unnerving for first timers but you soon get the hang of them. The nursery slopes are very crowded and its good that you only spend a day or so there before moving on to the blue runs where the greater space allows easier instuction. Ski instruction is very good with most if not all of the instructors speaking good english. This was our second ski holiday and probably our best to date. The town itself is lively and caters for a younger age group, but that doesnt mean if you are over 21 then you are past...

groomoid 12.02.2001 · Read review
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Review of Pas de la Casa/Grau Roig