Riu Palace Hotel, Madeira

Advantages: A fantastic holiday experience
Disadvantages: Location, in particular for those with mobility problems although the hotel is disability friendly.

...INTRODUCTION The Riu Palace in Madeira sits like a white-washed fairytale castle with terracotta turrets, corner towers and grand archways looking out over the sapphire-blue sea. The grounds house brightly coloured flowers and palm trees making you believe you are on a Caribbean island far away. The Riu Palace is located right on the seafront at Canico de Baixo, only 10 minutes drive from Funchal Airport and 20 minutes drive to the city of Funchal. On arrival at the airport everything ran smoothly and quickly apart from me not recognising my own suitcase!!! We were driven to the hotel in a small mini bus with 5 other people and half an hour later we were sunbathing by the pool. Now that's what I call service. CHECK IN From the moment you check in at the impressive, grand reception area with its polished marble flooring, elegant...

Helenofellon 01.04.2008 (02.04.2008) · Read review
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Review of Riu Palace Madeira, Madeira

Hotel Riu Palace Tres Islas - A Touch of Class

Advantages: Fantastic food, excellent location, great pool, gem of a hotel
Disadvantages: Not recommended for young travellers wanting nightlife

...We visited Riu Palace Tres Islas in Fuerteventura last August for a weeks break. The previous year we also went to Fuerteventura but stayed at a hotel called Bahia Real Atlatis Palace further into Corralejo's town. The resort is located 3 km from Corralejo, 35 km from airport and is situated in the middle of 10 sq m of sand dunes, with the beach on your doorstep. On our previous holiday in Fuerteventura, each day we walked to the Blue Flag beach which is where Hotel Riu Palace Tres Islas sits on and we decided that year that the following year we would stay at that hotel. We booked flights and the hotel ourselves and got a taxi from the airport to the hotel. The cost will be between 30 - 40 Euros for the journey each way. We could have got a bus as the bus stop was nearby. The taxi ride to the hotel can best be described as...

cookeec1 22.05.2007 · Read review
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Review of Hotel Riu Palace Tres Islas, Fuerteventura

The Hotel Royal Kenz, Tunisia

Advantages: Very Clean, Good Food
Disadvantages: A Fair Distance From The Main Resort

...The Hotel Royal Kenz in the Resort of Port El Kantaoui in Tunisia was recently my Home for 7 nights between the 2nd and 9th July 2006. The Holiday itself was a last minute booking but the Girl at the Travel Agent's said that She had stayed at this Hotel and that it was superb. The price for the total package, including Flights and transfers was incredibly cheap at just under £200 Half Board for 7 nights and so the booking was made. FIRST IMPRESSIONS I had seen a picture of the Hotel in the Brochure so I knew that this was one of the largest Hotels in the Resort with 405 Rooms. I also knew that it had only three Floors and that it was therefore spread out over quite a wide area within its own Grounds. On arriving in the Resort the first point to note was that the Hotel was quite a distance from the main hub of the Resort...

micksheff 25.07.2006 · Read review
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Review of Royal Kenz Hotel, Port El Kantaoui

Sousse, Tunisia

Advantages: Good Bargains At The Medina
Disadvantages: Industrialised, Hassle From The Locals

...You could be forgiven for missing Sousse off the itinerary whilst visiting Tunisia. After all it is Tunisia's second largest City, but unlike Tunis the Capital, Sousse has a reputation of being a lot more industrialised. During my recent visit to the Country I stayed in a Holiday Resort called Port El Kantaoui, which is a purpose built Resort just 12 Kilometres from Sousse. FIRST IMPRESSIONS My first glimpse of Sousse was from the transfer Coach from the Airport at Monastir en route to Port El Kantaoui. Sousse seemed like a bustling, lively, place with plenty of traffic and People, but it did look rather run down and not the sort of place where one would spend a Holiday. THE LOCATION The City is located on the Coastline but sprawls inland for several Kilometres and the Coast is only a relatively short stretch of around 3...

micksheff 01.08.2006 · Read review
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Review of Sousse (Tunisia)

Loved the Riu Tropical Bay

Advantages: beach, food, people
Disadvantages: none

...I stayed at the Riu Tropical Bay in April 2008 for two weeks with my boyfriend. I absolutely adored the hotel and can hardly fault it at all. It had everything I would want from a holiday; gorgeous weather, wide sandy beaches, delicious food, yummy cocktails and much more! The staff and entertainment were exceptional. The staff were unbelievably energetic and lively, despite the ridiculously long hours that they worked. They would always try and get you to join in with the shows and dancing afterwards, but understood if you didn't want to. They did the vast majority of the evening entertainment, and you could sometimes find them practicing during the days to perfect that evenings show. It was probably some of the best entertainment I've ever seen at a hotel and I have been staying at 4 or 5 star all inclusive hotels at least twice...

HS202 20.11.2008 · Read review
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Review of Riu Tropical Bay, Negril

DREAMS BEACH HOTEL, SOUSSE, TUNISIA

Advantages: Clean, Right on the Beach
Disadvantages: Need transport to get to Sousse or Port El Kantoei

...We stayed at the Dreams Beach Hotel in May 2007 for 1 week half board and we (family 2 adults and 3 children ages 14, 12, 11) had a great time. ROOMS Our rooms were spotless, A really friendly girl came in everyday and cleaned the rooms (she changed the bed linen 4 times in the week we were there which is pretty good compared to some hotels In Tunisia Im told) A really nice touch was that she folded our nightwear into lovely butterfly shapes ( a bit like origami but with clothes) A couple staying in the hotel did complain about thier rooms (they were on another floor from us) but we couldnt fault ours. The shower was hot at all times of the day and the toilet was clean.. Facilities are sparse (no internet access in rooms, no drink making facilities etc but there are electric sockets and plenty of cupboard and wardrobe space...

auja 22.08.2007 (24.08.2007) · Read review
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Review of Dreams Beach Hotel, Sousse

Mexico's Party Paradise Hotel!

Advantages: Great hotel, service and location
Disadvantages: Some people can be quite loud

...Paradise in Mexico! The Riu Cancun is an amazing hotel, the location is great, the service is great & the people/staff are great. ------------ Location ------------ The Riu Cancun is in Cancun, Mexico. It is situated about 20 minutes from Cancun Airport. This is great as transfers are easy and not too long, especially after a 10 and a half hour flight. The airport is a reasonable size and very modern. The Riu Cancun is located in the heart of the resort of Cancun in the 'hotel zone', but not too close that all you can hear is constant music/noise/drunks from the hotel. The main club/bar strip is only a 5 minute walk from the front door of the Riu. ---------------- The Resort ---------------- Cancun is known for its party atmosphere, spring break and that general 18-30's atmosphere. If this is what you think, you are...

Absy_Baby 28.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of Riu Cancun, Cancun

  Tunisia - I Came Home For A Rest!

Advantages: Great Spring weather. Loads to see and not a mozzie in sight
Disadvantages: Local dishes a bit thin on the ground and insipid international cuisine

...?Bin ?ere before? We luv it, it?s our fiff time?, said the guest next in to queue to register at the hotel we had just arrived at, adding ?the staff are luvly, and the beer?s real cheap?. I was tempted to see if they knew which country they were actually in, but held back. Tunisia?s like that, operating on two levels, one as a ?holiday destination? for the ?sun, sand and cheap booze? set, and secondly as a North African country with one foot in the past and enough sights to keep even the itchiest-arsed amongst us occupied. It really all depends on whether you can actually be bothered to move away from the pool. Anyway, if it?s a tan and cheap beer your after, why not see if the British Legion can rent you a room to install a sun lamp? There?s no denying that the sun and sand are superb. I?ve just got back from a week there...

BNibbles 13.04.2004 (14.04.2004) · Read review
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Review of Tunisia - Tunisia in general....

Eat and drink till you drop in **** style

Advantages: Good location, excellent food and friendly staff
Disadvantages: pool closed due to maintenance

.... The main town has a Medina. The Medina dates back to around 1500.The streets are narrow and wind around blind corners with a new surprise at each turn. Carpets, trinkets, pottery and spices now mingle with the holiday tat shops. Riu Hotels ************* Riu hotels was founded by Mr Juan Riu in 1953 on the Island of Mallorca with the Riu San Francisco, which is a 4 star hotel located in Playa de Palma and has now grown to 103 hotels in 18 countries. Riu are trying to build hotels that blend into the natural environment and be Eco-friendly. Recycling and waste management are a top priority. Thompson Package *********************** Booked the holiday with Thompson. Did it all online which gave us an extra 10% discount. Also managed to find a £100 discount voucher at http://savemoney.name/vouchers.html check it out you can make huge...

oldwasp 12.01.2007 (28.03.2007) · Read review
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Review of Hotel Riu Park El Kebir, Hammamet

HAMMAMET (tunisia)

Advantages: great weather. amazing beach.
Disadvantages: some areas need modernising.

...We went to Tunisia in June 2004 and stayed at the Sheraton in Moncef Bay, Hammamet Plage. i have written a seperate review on the hotel. Moncef bay has many bars and restaurants. There is the London pub. English music, very lively, good if you are feeling home sick ! Latino bar was one of our favourites. Great food, great music, a pool table, and friendly staff. There was a club called Manhatten, which looked quite dodgy, so we didn?t risk it. Maybe if there had been more than 2 of us we would have given this a try?possibly. It is possible to walk from Hammamet Plage to the Medina in Hammamet town center. It took us just under an hour. Its not an amazing walk, you go through some run areas, and there?s not much to see on the way. We suggest you take a taxi ? its very cheap ! However, walking allows you to pop in to some...

randhawa 01.11.2004 (03.11.2004) · Read review
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Review of General: Tunisia