Pestana Grand Hotel - Funchal, Madeira.

Advantages: Good rooms, helpful staff, free bus into town
Disadvantages: Its a bus ride from town.

...with plenty of space for sun loungers. Inside the hotel was a very good pool, sauna and hot tub. Drinks and lunchtime food were good and reasonably priced and service was good. The walk into Funchal along the promenade is a pleasant one although you wouldnt want to do it every day. The hotel has a regular free bus service to funchal and the bus was always there on time when we wanted to return. Things to do in Funchal include the botanical gardens with a sledge ride down the hill afterwards. The sledge is a wicker basket which just slides down the steep road and is pushed and guided by two men in 'traditional' costume. This apparently was the idea of a Brit who couldnt face the walk back into town at the end of each day. They take a photo of you on the way down and stop halfway so you are faced with a long walk or an overly priced taxi...

zoetna 23.11.2007 (24.11.2007) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Pestana Grand Hotel, Funchal

Dorisol Mimosa Hotel, Funchal

Advantages: Comfortable, clean hotel with lots of facilities close to Funchal Lido
Disadvantages: A pull uphill to the door - but it is Madeira - everything is uphill!

...Bearing in mind the price of this hotel, we were agreeably surprised by the quality. The room was clean and of a reasonable size with a lovely sea view and overlooking the swimming pool. The staff were friendly, especially the chambermaids! The breakfast was good, with a good selection of food,although being self-service it was a bit of a scramble if you arrived at around 9am, when we all seem to want to eat our breakfasts! The only problem is that the hotel is a sharp pull up from the road (as is most of Madeira) although those with cars or using taxis will have no problem arriving at the door. The walk into Funchal is very manageable by us two 69 year olds but we are fitter than some and enjoy levada walking. The levada near the hotel has 150 steps up to it!...

Cebolas 03.03.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Dorisol Mimosa, Funchal

Pestana Bay Hotel in Funchal, Madeira

Advantages: Informal, clean, decent food, right near the beach
Disadvantages: Hideously expensive bar and wines

...We stayed at the Pestana Bay "Aparthotel" four-star hotel in Funchal (the capital of Madeira) in August 2005 and I'm happy to recommend it to anyone reading this. It was clean, conveniently placed (i.e right near the beach and with a nearby bus stop for trips into town), not too formal or "stiff upper lip" and the breakfasts were pretty good. COSTS: We paid just over £500 each including flights, for a 2-week stay in August, which we thought was pretty good value given that it's not the cheapest of locations. This included buffet breakfast each morning. The bar is expensive and probably best avoided if you need to watch the euros- we paid something like 10 euros for a Southern Comfort and coke, and a small bottle of beer. There are plenty of bars in Funchal where you can get the same drinks for under four euros, so I would advise...

bagoproverbial 22.12.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Pestana Bay Ocean Aparthotel, Funchal

Old Ship Hotel is Really Very OLD!

Advantages: Service at breakfast and breakfast itself
Disadvantages: shabby rooms, noisy doors, no sound-proofing

...As part of a hen weekend package we were upgraded to the apparently 4 star Old Ship Hotel in Brighton which is Brighton's oldest hotel. I hadn't heard anything about it prior to hearing we would be staying here but having asked a few friends who'd visited Brighton quite often I didn't hear anything positive - those who had stayed there said it was pretty shabby and those who hadn't stayed said it looked pretty shabby just from the outside. Not a good start but as if was part of the hen weekend package and because we'd been upgraded for free from a 3 star hotel to the Old Ship Hotel I had to assume it couldn't be all bad - maybe it had been refurbished since my friends had seen it/stayed there. There are apparently 50 car parking spaces for use by hotel guests which you have to pay about £15 a day and £5 overnight to use these. There...

anonymili 18.08.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Barceló Brighton Old Ship Hotel, Brighton & Hove

Christmas In The Old Town

Advantages: Beautiful Xmas Market, Great Personal Memories
Disadvantages: Crowded

...When I was booking a weekend away for my girlfriend and myself to Prague, I have to admit to not knowing a lot about the city and what it had to offer. I had heard of the Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square but one place that will always hold great memories for me is the Old Town Square. Situated on the Eastern banks of the river Vltava, the area of Stare Mestro is the traditional heart of Prague and at its middle is this wonderful town square. Now, had I visited at another time of year then I think that my review would be quite short and of little interest as the square, based on what I have read, for the majority of the year is a pleasant but large expanse of empty space. On its sides you will find the fascinating Astronomical clock that is sure to draw a crowd, particularly on the hour, the Tyn Church that among other things is...

StereoMike1983 11.12.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Old Town Square, Prague

Bikers and car lovers head for Old Town.

Advantages: Free parking and no entrance fee.
Disadvantages: You have to pay for each ride.

...Everyone does Disney, SeaWorld, and Universal, when they go to the Orlando area. This can be very costly, especially for a family. Fancy a cheap few hours out, then go to Old Town in Kissimmee. You can't miss it. It has the Ferris wheel at the entrance, and that's how we would give directions. Not only can you see this on U.S.192 but it now has the 'Sling Shot' too. Two brightly illuminated towers stretching up in the air 365 feet. If you are brave enough to do this ride it will cost you $25 (13 pounds 85 pence). However, just look in any of the coupon books, dozens around in shops, restaurants, etc, and you will get either $5 off or a free T-Shirt . Recently they have put two more scary rides at the front of Old Town to entice people in If you are into crazy rides of a lifetime there is also 'Skycoaster'. This is advertised as...

Susie-34668 08.02.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Old-Town, Kissimmee

Madeira hotel with character

Advantages: Appearance, character, central location
Disadvantages: up a steep hill

...We had an enjoyable stay at this hotel. What sold the hotel to us was its look. It has a traditional colonial appearance; a Madeira building that guests must have stayed at a 100 years ago. It has its own unique character and is such a contrast to all the big modern concrete blocks of hotels set along the coast. It may not be luxurious but it more than makes up with charm and grace of a bygone era. Location The hotel is situated in Funchal, the main town of the Portuguese island of Madeira. The airport is located in the outskirts of the town so the transfer time here is short. The hotel is situated close to the centre of Funchal. However, it is positioned up a steep hill without public transport. As such it offers magnificent views over the town, the sea and the mountains. If you have children or you are not very mobile, however...

imogen49 13.09.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Monte Carlo Hotel, Funchal

Luxury hotel close to the Old Town Square

Advantages: Excellent location, high quality hotel
Disadvantages: Quite expensive but worth every penny!

...For those of you who have already been to Prague and want to go back, this is the place to go. In April, six of us including my boyfriend and I went to Prague for 6 nights. It cost around £400 per couple for the hotel, staying in a luxurious, top quality hotel - worth every penny. Hotel transfers from the airport were around £20 for four (about £15 for two people though) and we learnt the first time to go to the information desk at the airport to get the cost of the journey before we got a taxi outside. Our first impressions were WOW!!!!! It is located just a two minute walk from the old town square and the Charles Bridge. The hotel was so lovely - from outside looking in all we could see was the glass front doors and a big fresh, white lobby. On walking in, there was a bar, sofa, the reception desk and a glass spiral...

barbie21 12.08.2005 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Hotel Josef, Prague

Regency Club Hotel Funchal

Advantages: Lovely big spacious rooms and balconies
Disadvantages: Location

...We have stayed recently at this hotel and I found it exremely good! The room we stayed in had this fantastic balcony (room 601). It overlooked the marina where the ferry and the cruise liners came in. The hotel itself is very small, but the rooms are excellant with every thing and more to make the stay pleasant. Thye kitchen was fully equipped which is just as well considering the price of eating out. The price included breakfast which was beautifuly presented and was top quality food with plenty choice but I found that the hot foods were not particularly hot. However the hotel was very enjoyable in itself but we did not really like Madeira as a holiday destination. Overall the hotel was good but Madeira was not as we expected....

lesleyburden 18.07.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Madeira Regency Club, Funchal

Embodiment of old-time elegance and luxury

Advantages: Opulent environment and decor, fresh haut cuisine dishes, excellent location, friendly and helpful staff
Disadvantages: Expensive

...cordially accepted, and will be welcomed upon arrival with a basket, blankets, bowl, and 'gourmet dinner'. Guaranteed secure reservations can be made online at www.oldparsonage-hotel.co.uk Alternatively call 01865 310210 or email reservations@oldparsonage-hotel.co.uk RESTAURANT The Old Parsonage pride themselves on using local suppliers where possible: fish and shellfish from Jersey, meat and vegetables from the Old Parsonage's private farm in Oxfordshire and cheese from a local supplier. The emphasis is on fresh local ingredients and modernistic interpretations of classic haut cuisine. There is simply no need to venture into town after dark in search of an alternative restaurant. During my parents' stay, we enjoyed a robust meal of sheer decadence on the veranda and I hesitate to say I've had a better restaurant meal since. The Old...

bellahuang86 15.06.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Old Parsonage Hotel, Oxford