Casa Del Alferez-Cali, Santiago De Cali

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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: A relatively gentle introduction to South America.
Disadvantages: For such a big city it lacks a little in visitor attractions.

...on a clear day. Access to the world renowned Chilean ski fields is easy with the best (Farrelones) only an hours drive from downtown. Its geography means that the climate can be cool and damp during the winter but summertime often brings sapping heat and lung clogging smog. The pacific is only 65 miles away so the nearby coastal towns of Valparaiso and Vina Del Mar often teem with weekenders during December and January. The impact of several historical figures can still be felt throughout the city. The civic centre is the Plaza De Armas and has a huge monument to the city's founder Pedro De Valdiva. The main thoroughfare Av. Liberator General O'Higgins (more commonly known as Alameda) is named after the first leader of the Chilean Republic in the early 19th century. Bernardo O'Higgins was half Irish and his indelible mark can be seen... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Cuba!
Disadvantages: Cuban admin & organisation (lack of).

...yards downstream…at least, their boats are hired or commandeered, Toni does the rowing. A few local girls had accompanied us on the last stretch of the walk, practising their English, and amusing themselves at our penchant for taking our boots off to walk through the water and putting them back on on dry land. Without the luxury of rowboats they simply walked back down to the sea, bowls of laundry held high, they ploughed on chest deep in the rising tide. NOT THE PARQUE NATIONALE DE HUMBOLDT Our second day in the southern quarter should have taken us to the Parque Nationale de Humboldt, part of the Cuchillas del Tao reserve, postponed from yesterday…but as it turns out we still don’t have permission to enter the park. Numbers are strictly limited. This kind of setback frets P&P (our SpencerScott reps). As Paula worries about... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful