Casa Del Mar Beach Resort, Oranjestad

Advantages: thousands
Disadvantages: it is a litlle (?!!!?) faraway

...Italy. In 1906 the inhabitants of a small settlement asked to the President of the Republic of Uruguay the creation of a town; the petition was accepted and rendered official with a Presidential decree on 5 July 1907. Punta del Este was born. I think I already said (in other reviews) that I'm not a beach lover and consequently all my visits to Punta del Este were based on the discovery of the historical, artistic and natural beauties of the resort area. Punta del Este is located at the antipodes of our continent (Europe) and the best time to visit her is between middle of December and middle of March when the average temperature is 28°C and the winds coming from the Atlantic are mild. Anyhow also during the other months of the year the average temperature never goes below 18/20°C and the rainfall are moderate. One of the main... Read review

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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

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Advantages: Beautiful Grounds
Disadvantages: Certain privately held condos

...Casa del Mar is a gorgeous small resort. The grounds are beautifully maintained. Our unit La Perle 304 which is privately owned and managed, was a disappointment. When we arrived, there were hundreds of ants on the kitchen counter. The apartment sized refrigerator was inadequate unless you plan to use it only for drinks. The freezer wasn't cold enough to make ice nor large enough for anything except 3 water bottles. The toilet was cracked and leaking resulting in a wet bathroom floor for the entire stay. The leak caused the water to run off and on all day and all night. Judging by the corrosion around the floor, it had been leaking for some time. The beds were very hard causing sore hips in the morning. The TV in the bedroom was nonfunctional. This is not a condo to enjoy a restful getaway. I assume that other condos in this resort... Read review

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