Advantages: Beaches, history, scenery, relaxation
Disadvantages: Little nightlife (if that's what you are looking for)

...and print some stuff on your ticket. Where you get off depends on where you are staying. The town itself has basically three sections, all of which the bus serves - the old town, the modern town, and Alghero Lido, which stretches out along the beautiful beaches, and which has many of the modern hotels. The only downside is that most of these are open only during the summer season, and Alghero is worth visiting at any time of the year. WHERE TO STAY For self-catering, check out www.algheroflat.com. We have stayed in two hotels, the Hotel La Margherita, just north of the old town, and the Hotel San Francesco, in the pedestrianised old town. Both are excellent value for money, with rates that included buffet breakfast. (Italians like very sweet brioche type pastries in the morning, but there are lots of other things on offer... Read review

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Advantages: Ferzan Ozpetek brings a sense of realism in observing Turkish sexuality.
Disadvantages: I personally hate the ending.

...Steam: The Turkish Bath Directed by Ferzan Ozpetek. Starring Alessandro Gassman and Francesca D'Aloja. Caution: This movie has subtitles. Reading required but the great acting pulls it through. Francesco is tired of his troubled marriage to Marta (Francesca d’Aloja), who is spending a lot of quality time with her male assistant Paolo (Alberto Molinari), and his career as a busy, successful interior designer in Rome. Then he learns that a recently deceased aunt has left him property in Istanbul. Francesco (Alessandro Gassman) arrives to Istanbul the Turkish city hoping that he can sell the property swiftly and return to Italy. He is surprised to discover that the property is actually one of the last traditional hamams (old-fashioned bath houses) in Turkey and in great need of repair. My immediate thought here was... Oh no! Interior... Read review

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Advantages: everything....beautiful scenery, gorgeous food + lovely people!
Disadvantages: not much...Assisi can get very busy especially during Easter and mid-july

...Umbria is the most beautiful and varied region of Italy and each town is crammed with treasures and historical backgrounds (eg. St Benedict and St. Francis). Hill-towns feature quite prominently in Umbria- pinky-stoned, fascinating Assisi, the dark medieval streets of Perugia and the steep, delightful towns of Gubbio, Spello and Urbino. The unspoilt, gentle, lush countryside of Umbria is part of its charm. For example, the Piano Grande - a vast upland plain stretching for 40sqkm! My review will be focused on the lovely medieval town of Assisi as this is my favourite Umbrian town and im constantly drawn back to it! Assisi: A series of earthquakes over the last few decades have severely damaged this medieval town and Assisi had to cope without its premiere sight - the Basilica di San Francesco! The Basilica's walls are covered... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap, full of character, welcoming
Disadvantages: Smoking is allowed (an advantage to some I suspect!), shared bathrooms

...I stayed here in November last year, and would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone. Accommodation in San Francisco is very expensive - apparently it is the second most expensive city in the US after New York. But the San Remo is very reasonable, clean, welcoming and full of character. We stayed here for about £40 a night, after negotiating with the manager (it was the off-peak season). The hotel is situated in a nice, quiet area of San Francisco, very near North Beach. We walked here every morning and ate breakfast on the pier whilst listening to the Sea Lions and overlooking Alcatraz - the pier is very quiet in the mornings. The rooms are very clean with comfortable beds and individual furniture. Each room is uniquely furnished. The hotel is decorated with antique art and furniture and Victorian touches - it really... Read review

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Advantages: Comfortable, Friendly, Good Facilities
Disadvantages: Parking at the front of the hotel is sometimes difficult

...We stayed at the Chancellor Hotel by accident! We had hotel vouchers for our visit to San Francisco but the hotel we stayed in on our first night was so awful (and in one of the more dangerous areas of the city - we heard that the street on which it was situated had the highest murder rate in San Francisco!) that we decided to ring San Francisco Reservations, a hotel broker mentioned in our guide book. Hotel brokers basically rent out hotel rooms at short notice at lower than advertised prices. That is how we were able to stay in the Chancellor, which is a 3 star hotel, for $50 per night! According to the hotel's website, special room rates start at $125 per night, so we definitely got a good deal by going through San Francisco Reservations! The Chancellor Hotel is right on Union Square in the centre of San Francisco and is convenient... Read review

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Advantages: Friendly, Cosmopolitan, Varied
Disadvantages: Can't think of any

...My wife to be and I were going to get married in Hawaii and decided to go to Los Angeles and Las Vegas beforehand. Our friends told us Los Angeles was not that nice and we should try San Francisco. We were so glad we followed their advice. San Francisco is a very warm and inviting city. You never seem to get that edgy feeling that can be felt in some big American cities. San Francisco is so cosmopolitan you could wear anything down the street and noone would look twice. The hotels all seem to be quite tidy and friendly. The pubs and clubs are superb and the eating is out of this world, especially if you like your seafood. The attractions are varied and on the whole very enjoyable. Alcatraz, or The Rock, as it's known, was interesting and awesome to see close up. Pier 39 was a normal touristy trap with the San Fran seals... Read review

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Advantages: Price, location
Disadvantages: No breakfast, slightly grubby

...The Grant Plaza Hotel in San Francisco is located at the gateway to the Chinatown area of the city, and is predominantly Chinese-run. It is a quiet, unassuming hotel, which is clean, basic and most importantly a cheap place to rest in a busy, expensive city! The rooms are accessed by elevator and a security door prevents any unwanted entry 24 hours. Many of the rooms face onto the street which can be very busy and therefore quite noisy. The rooms themselves are slightly grubby, but otherwise a good base for exploring the city. Most rooms are en-suite with colour TV with cable. The service and staff is faultless, as you will find across the area. The Plaza hotel offers only bed (no breakfast), although there are many cafes locally which offer cheap food (and plenty of it!). (while there, do explore the Chinatown area - it... Read review

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Advantages: Great Location, Clean, Nice Rooms, Half Board Hotel
Disadvantages: Expect Noise - 18-30 hotel

...The hotel is based right in the centre of san antonio the worlds 'Dance Capital'. It offers a wide range of attractions: from its large promenade and the main local beach (San Antonio beach), to the great variety of international restaurants, pubs and funfairs at the bay area, as well as the public transport and ferries that will whisk you off to the most beautiful beaches in Ibiza. San Antonio is where fun is... there is no excuse not to sunbathe at golden sand beaches and enjoy Ibiza's magical nights out. The hotel offers 142 comfortable rooms which can sleep up to 3 people, half of the rooms have balconies and all have facilities such as tv, toilet, shower, fridge, safe and cleaning equipment if needed. Hotel Tropical operates on a half board basis. You can enjoy their full English breakfast (buffet) and palate pleasing buffet... Read review

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Advantages: Peaceful resort
Disadvantages: Unsuitable for disabled and young children

...We booked with Direct Holidays for The Simar hotel in Cala San Vicente, Majorca, one week half board at less than 250 GBP. When we arrived in the resort there was nothing there except a couple of small supermarkets, three hotels, a few shops and three very nice sandy beaches. The Hotel Simar was very clean and the staff were helpful and polite and they spoke good English. Our allocated room was down several flights of steps with no lift so we asked if this could be changed. There was no problem and we were moved to a better room the following day, having asked at Reception as the Rep was not around. The hotel has its own swimming pool, a rooftop solarium overlooking the sea, a bar, restaurant, sun terraces and quiet lounge areas, there is also internet access. The food was served in a buffet and comprised of continental dishes... Read review

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Advantages: Shopping!
Disadvantages: Italian men on a major "charm" offensive & you will come back broke

...in 1450 by Francesco Sforza. It now houses various museums which we found to be of only average interest but the structure itself is very impressive. The medieval Basilica of St Ambrose, and the churches San Satiro and Santa Maria delle Grazie are also worth a visit. Shopping The most fantastic thing about Milan is of course the shopping! Quite unexpectedly there is plenty to buy in Milan that doesn’t break the bank. Shoe shops are quite literally everywhere. In fact we spent one whole day shoe shopping, with of course the necessary beverage and food stops! Corso Buenos Aires is a wide avenue with shops on each side that ran from our hotel all the way to Duomo. It is here that you find the more moderately prices shops including shoe shops with prices comparable to the British high street. The area all around the Cathedral Duomo provides... Read review

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