La Libertad (El Salvador)

Advantages: Great location in a safe area of Old Havana, Great food & music
Disadvantages: noise from the bar and restaurant downstairs

...El Meson de la Flota: Mercaderes b/ Amargura and Teniente Rey. Old Havana, Ciudad de La Habana, situated a few steps from the Old Square. La Meson de la Flota is found in a safe and renovated area of Old Havana. It is in fact more like a restaurant with rooms rather than a hotel per se, but has the advantage of excellent food at reasonable prices (for tourist eating places - £10 for a lobster brochette, rice and salad - very filling and delicious) and live music every night with Cubano-Flamenco concerts. The drinks, especially Mojitos were great too and won't break the bank (£3-£4 each). The rooms have very high ceilings and are clean and newly painted, although the state of the bathroom lets the place down a bit, with a bit more wear and tear than I would expect in a hotel. However there was a fridge in the room which... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Scenery, people
Disadvantages: Heat

...El Salvador was not the first place that sprung to mind when i was deciding on my holiday for this year. Indeed, were it not for the fact that my brother is marrying a girl from there, i doubt that i would ever have visited the area Thank God i did though! The place is superb. San Salvador, the capital, is set in the hills. The people of this city are very, very poor, but they are also very welcoming and friendly The heat was impossible. i dont know if it is normally that hot but i think thaqt i must have sweated out at least three tonnes of liquid that i was there Everywhere i went were warnings that tourists should be careful at all times. Apparently crime is a major problem with shootings, muggings and theft a common problem throughout the year... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Nicely restored tourist friendly old town
Disadvantages: The ladies hunt in packs

...Salvador, in the state of Bahia, north east Brazil (or São Salvador da Baía de Todos os Santos as it was named in the past) was the first colonial capital city of Brazil and, although power shifted to Rio de Janeiro in the late eighteenth century, then to Brasilia in 1960, it retains much of it's past grandeur and colonial architecture. One of the main reasons to come here, however, is the wonderful mix of cultural influences that make the cuisine, music and lifestyle here so different even to other parts of Brazil. The population of over three million, consists mainly of people with African origins descended from slaves, although there have been many other strong influences through Salvador's history. Salvador is also famous for it's carnival and street parties. The final stop on my extensive two-week tour of Brazil was to Salvador... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful