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 ...
Advantages: everything about the place is an advantage. Disadvantages: the non smoking policy (for some)
There is also a coach available from right outside the hotel which will take you on the coastal tour along the very impressive Costa del Sol front. Most of the attractions and coach tours can be booked from within the hotel but you can also just go to the bus stop spur of the moment and catch the coach and pay at the doors of all these attractions.
Back to the hotel itself and on to the cost. Obviously I booked this as most people would as a package holiday; it was booked through Thomas cook and cost £725 all inclusive per adult for a fortnight. That was the cost the last time I visited which was just over 2 years ago now, whilst not the cheapest holiday available it was no where near the most expensive and was worth every penny in my view.
Torremolinos is a beautiful place but I have heard many a nightmare story of accommodations ...
I stayed at the Parco dei Princip for the second time in July of this year - I had already been there for two nights in 2004 but was desperate to go back and stay again!
I sayed ina superior sea view room on the fourth floor, accessed by a decent elevator. I also requested an airport transfer. and even though my flight was delayed, the driver was still waiting at the airport for ,e. He drove the hour or so that it takes to get to Sorrento, pointing out Vesuvius and other attractions on the way.
On arrival the reception staff ere very professional - I checked in withou any problem as was taken to my room by both the bellbiy and the receptionist who was very happy to open the blinds to show me my personal balcony with an incredible view over the Bay of Naples.
I hada wonderfull time at Parco dei Principi.The food in the restaurant ...
