Casa da Pergola, Cascais

Advantages: One of the best examples of Catalan Modernism
Disadvantages: Very expensive

...My husband has a job, which more often than not requires him to work on Christmas day and through most of the Christmas period. Whilst this is the perfect reason to turn down all invitations to spend Christmas with family, it's not the greatest way to celebrate the big day with a 14 hour shift. So last Christmas I decided that we'd have our very own Christmas but just a few days before the rest of the world. And so I booked a long weekend in Barcelona. Our hotel - The Gallery (review already posted many moons ago) was just off the Passeig de Gracia, one of Barcelona's key boulevards where you can find my favourite of the buildings designed by Antonio Gaudi - the almost impossible to pronounce, Casa Batllo. Earlier in the year I had attended a big industry conference in Barcelona and we'd had the conference 'gala' dinner in the Casa... Read review

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Advantages: Relaxing, friendly, not over developed
Disadvantages: Cooler weather than the Algarve

...incorporated. It was designed by a Bavarian and as such looks very much look like the fairytale Germanic castles. There is a display of jewelry, pottery and other effects that the Royal family left when they went into exile in 1910. Outside the Place is Pena Park with formal gardens as well as more wild areas. A haven for anyone with an interest in gardening. As I mentioned before there is the coast railway line to Lisbon which only takes about 20minutes so Lisbon is within easy reach for exploring. SPORT There are many sporting facilities in the are for the keen sportsman including horse-riding, watersports, tennis and golf. There are four main golf courses in the area and many hotels have special green fees arranged with them. 3 are 18 hole and 1 is 9 hole. The most popular is probably Quinta da Marinha Cascais 2750 which... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent service, nice quite location
Disadvantages: No lifts or ramp for those with walking difficulties

...~Introduction~ During our holiday to Maderia recently we stayed at a very nice little hotel called Quinta da Casa Branca. It is part of the Estalagem hotel chain and is included on a list of small luxury hotels of the world. Our travel agent Expedia had this hotel down as four stars so we were surprised when we turned up to see that the hotel had five stars on the gate. So who was right Expedia or Estalagem? ~Location~ Madeira is off the coast of West Africa, it is an steep sided granite mass sat out in the Atlantic ocean. The capital of this small island is Funchal in a bay on the southern coast. Quinta da Casa Branca (QCB) is located in the relatively quiet holiday apartment area of Casa Branca. QCB is north of the main hotels along the cliffs and west of Funchal's city centre. The hotel is on a crescent shaped parcel of land... Read review

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