Roca Mar, Madeira

Advantages: Fantastic in every way
Disadvantages: None as far as I'm concerned

...- there is a small local restaurant called Restaurante do Mar (simply the Restaurant by the sea) which offers simple but tasty local food at very cheap prices. And wherever you go here, you can get orange juice which is ACTUALLY FRESH- not this "fresh" juice peddled by supermarkets, which has actually been generated in a factory somewhere and then driven hundreds of miles in a lorry. And proper fresh orange juice is fantastic. The whole eating and drinking experience of Madeira just served to remind us what filth we are forever being served up in the UK. My only word of warning would be that when you venture into the Old Town area in the east of Funchal, there are a cluster of tourist-oriented restaurants where you WILL be approached by waietsr desperate to grab some new customers. You don't even need to pause your walking by for them... Read review

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Advantages: Beautiful picturesque island, not too hot in summer
Disadvantages: Hilly, poor restaurants, no sandy beaches

...This review has been languishing in my draft box since October last year so it is a little overdue in getting finished. This is my final inane writings on Madeira so sit back and enjoy the read! ~Introduction~ Madeira is an island located in the Atlantic Ocean off the West coast of Africa, it was a Portuguese colony from the 15th Century onwards and is still run by the Portuguese government. Today the island of Madeira relies heavily on the tourist trade and in selling it's aptly named 'Madeira Cake'. Numerous cruises around the world use Madeira as a stopping off point and it has a good climate all year round. It's capital is Funchal (pronounced 'Foon-shall' by the locals)and is located in a bay on the southern part of the island. As Madeira is a granite mass of rocks, it is hilly and has no sandy beaches. ~Getting there~ By... Read review

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Advantages: Tommy, Tommy and more Tommy
Disadvantages: Cockroaches, too many pay boxes, slippery floors, bad weather.

... Mar Ola Park Hotels /Apartments ( I and II) Playa de Las Americas Tenerife Website links: I cannot find a direct web address or site to this hotel but the links below should help if you decide to book there. http://www.otbeach.com/cheap-holidays/canaries/tenerife/hbhotel/marola- park-i-&-ii--207918565.html http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g 562820-d502302-r8679718-MarOlaApartments-PlayadelasAmericasTenerifeC anaryIslands.html In August 2007, we booked a package holiday through Thompson online for an all inclusive 3*/4 in Tenerife, staying at the Mar Ola 1. We have never been to the Canary Islands before and wasn't quite sure what to expect. Of course the website over exaggerates the pictures and they never tell you the full story, so I hope my warts and all review will help in your... Read review

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