Estalagem do Guadiana, Alcoutim

Advantages: Like being in a moving 5 star hotel
Disadvantages: Can be rough at sea!

...purchased the VistaDouro, then two years later, the company purchased Douro Azul Sociedade Marítima Turístida Lda. and the Princesa do Douro, a ship with a capacity for 200 passengers. They keep expanding and now own several ships and organise different types of holidays. In 2004 they ordered two more boats and one was to create a new "adventure" - exploring the coast of the Algarve and the Rivers Arade and Guadiana with week-long cruises. Like the other hotel boat cruises, this includes land excursions and visits to places of historic, scenic and/or cultural interest. Vital Statistics! **************** This was important to me as I didn't fancy going on a large cruise ship. The Algarve Cruiser is 78m in length and 11.40m width, and can travel at a speed of 12 knots for people who understand such things. There is a sun deck which has an area... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

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

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: The hotel is in a beautiful peaceful area of Spain
Disadvantages: Rooms probably need refurbished

...We stayed at the 4* Riu Canella hotel for two weeks in June this year (2005) and thoroughly enjoyed our visit, it was one of the most relaxing holidays we have had for many years. The Riu Canela hotel has 347 rooms all en suite and most with a balcony or terrace. As the hotel has been open for about twenty years some of the rooms have a rather 'tired' air about them and probably would benefit from refurbishment. However having said that, the room we occupied was well appointed and spotlessly clean. *********************************** SITUATION The hotel is located at Canela Beach on the Isla Canela, Costa de la Luz, Spain. It faces the Atlantic Ocean. Isla Canela is a very small island connected by a road bridge to the town of Ayamonte, which sits on the River Guadiana that is the border between Spain and Portugal in this area... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful