Casa do Campo, Algarve

Advantages: A five-star stay…
Disadvantages: …with just three-star facilities

...influences thrown in for kicks. For example: chicken stuffed with vegetables, Andean cheese and bacon, served with lemongrass risotto and fruit chutneys; or, trout poupiette and roasted Andean potatoes with greens in a teriyaki and aguaymanto vinaigrette. We had both of these and very good they were too. Most of the ingredients are said to be organic, incidentally. The wine list is limited and almost entirely South American, but it's easy to find something drinkable to go with the meal. Service is friendly and helpful. Unfortunately I've lost my itemised bill, but I do remember that the prices seemed very reasonable by local standards. Room service is also available. * Chain affiliation * Having talked at the outset of preferring independent hotels to chains, I'm slightly embarrassed to discover that the Casa San Blas... Read review

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

...in~ Mid December is probably the quietest time of the year to do anything of a touristic nature in Barclona and the Casa Batllo is a particularly good example of that. It's not actually a very big building and can easily get jam-packed with tourists. If you try to get into this attraction in summer the lines are long and the wait's interminable. But we strode straight up to the ticket booth without any delay. However, it might have been better to take some time to get over the shock of €16 entry fee. 'For goodness sake' I muttered under my breath 'I want to visit the house, not buy it!' The Entrance fee includes a very good and comprehensive audio tour. At some times in the year I think it's possible to buy a cut-down ticket that only includes the main floor of the building and excludes the attic and the chimney. However we weren... Read review

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Advantages: Plenty to see, (and eat!)
Disadvantages: Some knowledge of Spanish a distinct advantage.

...pay on board), we were told, “Hay problema con la gente”. There is a problem with the people. Whether this was an indication that the driver hadn’t turned up for work, or perhaps he’d joined the march, or whether the route was going to be blocked by the march is anyone’s guess. Anyway, we resigned ourselves to doing something else. At this point we were very near the Royal Palace and Gardens so we executed Plan B. The Palace is a very impressive sight, but nowhere near as daunting as a glimpse from outside would indicate. The reason being that you can’t see the large quadrangle from outside, around two sides of which is built the Palace. A third side gives magnificent westerly views across a valley towards the Casa De Campo district of the city. Don’t ask me about the fourth side – I’m “buildinged-out” As with any famous palace I... Read review

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