AH, A GROTTO, BUT WHERE'S SANTA?

Advantages: Unique. Friendly. Educational. Views. Value. Location
Disadvantages: Able Bodied Only. Very Crowded in Summer.

...places lacking road surface altogether, the Swiss passes are in a state of very good repair. They are however extremely tortuous in nature, having many very steep, first gear hairpin bends. If you are a keen driver, experienced with, rather than frightened by, challenging mountain roads, then I would thoroughly recommend doing as we did and driving up to Belvedere, site of the precariously located mountain-edge hotel, car park, shop and grotto entrance. Having traversed the extraordinary Grimsel Pass which summits at an altitude of 2165 metre (7103ft), we approached the Rhone Glacier from the little town of Gletsch, which was in 1602 situated immediately below the mouth of the glacier. Now the glacier is some distance and a big climb from Gletsch. The big climb takes place on the breathtaking Furka Pass, which has a summit of 2431...

RICHADA 14.12.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Rhone Glacier & Ice Grotto, Switzerland

Grotto Bay -Beach Resort Review

Advantages: proximity to Airport, Hamilton & St.George's
Disadvantages: expensive

...Grotto Bay in Bermuda is a cute little Beach Resort situated between St. George's and Hamilton (the capital of the country). It is locationed close to the International Airport in Bermuda. It provides nice and exotic holiday villas. Advantages of the resort is that it has a private beach, pool, hot-tub, bar, sailing, and caves - that the guests have access to. The pool-side is beautiful, and the bar has swim up access. The view is amazing, and the island of Bermuda is spectular itself. The public bus is convienant and stops at the resort, and it can take you anywhere on the entire island for approximately £1.25 per way. The service is good and friendly. The disadvantage to Grotto Bay and resorts in Bermuda is that they do not offer an 'all-inclusive' experience, therefore holidays can be expensive. Overall I would recommend Grotto Bay...

MaddSkillzMillz 12.09.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Grotto Bay Beach Resort, Hamilton

Margate and the shell grotto

Advantages: one good Cafe and the Shell Grotto
Disadvantages: Dirty, Run down, dog muck, junkies

...wasn't much else to do there. I decided to walk up to the shell Grotto but there was a couple of heroine addicts behind me so I decided to let them pass. The approach to Shell Grotto wasn't very nice but once inside it was amazing. The Grotto was discovered in Victorian times but no one is sure of it's exact date or purpose. The tour guide said 1142 AD and believed that the Knights templar used it. The grotto has over 4 million shells on the walls and various symbols from Greek mythology, pagan rituals, and has alot to do with the equinox. For me there was to much info to take in. But it is well worth a visit. After this I walked up Grotty hill, I mean Grotto Hill where I found a fantastic second hand junk shop that was an alladins cave, but when I walked down the other side there was a group of sheepish characters hanging around...

marietta1 03.02.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Margate (England)

The Not So Grotty Grotto, Margate

Advantages: An interesting an informative day out
Disadvantages: Far too far from Reading!!

...I took time out at the weekend to visit my nephew in Margate. What a long journey it is from Reading!! I travelled by train, so I had to change at Paddington, get the tube to Victoria, and change to take a train to Margate. So what do I think of Margate? Well you don’t have to travel far from the station to the beach! It is right on top of the beach! I waited to team up with my nephew, who was being dropped off for a day out with me. There he was, rearing to go as are all 12 year olds with free entertainment on the horizon. What should we do? Well I had already surfed the net and found references to a cave and a shell grotto. Well whoopee dee!! Since it was already midday, it was a bit hot, and we didn’t fancy going onto the beach, so the cave and grotto were chosen. The Caves These were interesting. Typical of Margate...

CarolB 15.08.2003 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Margate (England)

Smugglers' cave

Advantages: Good food in unusual surroundings
Disadvantages: Busy in the summer

......

danielalong 05.10.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Marsden Grotto

A LITTLE XMAS GROTTO

Advantages: Check availablity in store, via web and by telephone
Disadvantages: none that I could find

......

allyb2003 26.11.2003 (17.12.2003) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Argos (Shop)

You are never too old for Mircle on 34th Street

Advantages: Great Santa, Grotto and all
Disadvantages: All over too soon

...I felt like a child again. Whlist in New York I went to visit Macy's Santa. You may think that at 34 I was too old but believe me I was not the eldest to visit, on the Staurday that I paid my call. The Grotto is unlike anything we see today in England. Mrs Claus and a giant bear greeted you as you approached the grotto; a steam train and carriages. The elves encourage you in and as you pass through the carriages which appear to be moving, as a film of countryside and the snow scenes are shown, creating the illusion of movement. Eventually, you walk out of the train into a fantasy world of candy canes, sweets and snow. The elves guide you around the grotto and would you belive it, you can take photos and they will even take your photo for you. It brings back many happy childhood memories. Eventually you reach Santa's house. There...

wulise 07.12.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Macy´s (New York)

Tis the Season to Play Lego

Advantages: It's Lego!!
Disadvantages: Not Cheap!!

...Continuing on my quest to review all things Christmassy, here I am with Advent review number 2. So with my deepest apologies to all those bah humbuggers out there, may I invite you back to Beckie's grotto. Why don't you pull up a chair, help yourself to a glass of warm mulled wine, and a mince pie (Marks and Spencers with a dusting of icing sugar to make them look homemade). This year, as always, my children have been well and truly spoilt by their Grandparents. In a departure from traditional or even chocolate Advent calendars they have both been given rather posh Advent calendars. Shortie has a Playmobil one, and big brother "Small Fry" (aged 7 and a half!) has a Lego Advent calendar. When I was little I always had an Advent calendar to count down the days to Christmas, but mine were cardboard and had little pictures of robins...

ciaomeister1 23.11.2006 (05.12.2006) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Lego City Advent Calendar

When in rome..whatever, when in Naples.. go to Capri.

Advantages: Pure beauty in a tiny island
Disadvantages: VERY expensive

...as we sat and watched the world pass by. The espresso was the best I've tasted anywhere. The meal wasn't cheap - about Euro90 for the three of us, but it was worth every euro!! As I said I was inspired to visit Capri after reading, 'I Love Capri', in the book a lot of details were given to the Blue Grotto. Discovered in 1826, the Grotta Azurro is one of the best-known attractions of the island and boats take a large number of tourists during the summer, when there you go through a natural cavern that is filled with an eerie light reflecting on the (very blue) water. I had to make this journey as this could be the only time I visit Capri, I had been told it was a waste of money, but a least I could tick it off my 'to do list'. The cost of the boat ride to the Blue Grotto is 11 Euros per person, round trip. When we got...

oldchem 10.10.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Capri (Italy)

Dragon World

Advantages: Bizarre, Fun. Open daily.
Disadvantages: Garish

...One of the most interesting albeit bizarre tourist attractions in the Island Republic of Singapore is to be found at Pasir Panjang. It is called Haw Par Villa or sometimes known as Tiger Balm Gardens,after its founders the millionaire brothers Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par. There are elaborately carvelled murals,stone tableaux emphasising torture and death,a jovial sack Buddha, surrealistic tigers,hill sides carved into grottoes and scenes from ancient Chinese mythology. It emphasises the fact that Chinese heritage is a colourful tapestry of ancient myths and legends,woven from fascinating fables and folklore. At the Haw Par Villa the veil of mystery and magic that surrounds Chinese culture is lifted and presented to you in fun and bizarre ways. You can enjoy multimedia theatre shows, live performances,and all those age-old statues...

ashford 23.07.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Singapore - Haw Par Villa