Advantages: Having a spa treatment included in the price
Disadvantages: The waves and undertow on the beach

...I have been to this resort twice, the first to get married and the second just to see if our recollection of the place lived up to the memories of the first time. Both times I have to say were excellent. The staff are very helpful and attentive but not in a pushy way. The rooms vary according to the grade you have booked, the first time we had a garden view Jacuzzi room which was fabulous the second time we had an ocean view room which was great except we missed the Jacuzzi. The beach is down some steps and across a small road and is Ok! It is a sandy beach but sometimes the waves and undertow can be a bit strong. The daily spa treatment is amazing. On arrival you are given a timetable of you included treatments, if for some reason a time or treatment is not suitable they will try and change it but sometimes due to the other bookings may... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: very helpful, get personal opinions
Disadvantages: none yet

...www.holidaywatchdog.com is a website where people leave reviews on hotels/holidays that they have been on. The website is clearly laid out and easy to read. Across the top of the page are tabs: Home Forum UK Med Beach Caribbean Ski Cruise Euro Cities USA Holiday Parks Indian Ocean HOME +++++ On the Home page, there is a search facility so that you can enter a hotel name or a holiday resort and it will bring up the details for you. There is also a login area and a signup area. If you signup then you can enter the forums. There is a section for popular holiday reviews, groupled into countries. You can add your own review here, more of that later. FORUM +++++++ From this page you can enter Holiday Watchdog Forum Med Beach Resorts Other Destinations Each one has several other forums included under that heading, for example Med... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Everything you would expect from a luxury hotel.
Disadvantages: Distance from the clubbing scene

...The Columbus Hotel is an amazing, modern choice amongst the older options for accomodation in the world's trendiest principality. The first point to be noted is the exceptional location of the hotel: it is nested near the Monte Carlo port and within walking distance of charming waterfront restaurants. There is easy access to any point of the city from this luxurious hotel and at the same time, it is located in an area which escapes the rush of tourists which usually occupate the Place de Casino or the Monte Carlo Beach. The ocean front rooms provide a wonderful view of the radiant waters of the Med ! The service in the hotel is destinguishable. It is definately worth every one of the four luxury stars (max. available to French resorts) ! The staff was completely polylingual and demonstrated an enviable competence in English, French... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Location
Disadvantages: Too quiet for some

...We stayed at this hotel for 2 weeks in July 2007. We had previously spent a week here in 1997 and remembered it as a comfortable, quiet and well-positioned hotel. Our memories were correct and in the intervening years the place had been improved with a new pool, better access to the beach, as well as a general freshening up (it is probably 30 years old). On our latest visit we booked half-board, land view room. The rooms are very acceptable. Most of the rooms are linked by walkways around a 6-floor high inside atrium which give a great feeling of openness when seated in public areas. We actually got a very good deal through Travel Republic so we were already feeling good about the place. We are not sports minded and as this hotel is marketed as a sports resort I think anyone looking for modern. high-tech facilities would... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Friendly people, very relaxing
Disadvantages: Long flight

...with the sharks excursion. They take you out on a beautiful boat give you all the correc tgear you need and you are in the middle of the ocean with around 20 sharks bobbng beside you. The beaches were amazing, clear sands loads of watersports, again free with th all-inclusive package. I very rarely left the resort because there was so much to do. Beach bar for drinks and a market grill for daytime snacks. Excellant for both adults and children. The wedding day was amazing. HIghly recommend a wedding package at this resort. Beautiful scenery, a saxaphone player, flowers and amazing photographs, a serious day to remember. All in all the holiday was amazing, impressive accomodation, impressively friendly people, good value for money, lovely weather. The hotel itself had a shopping mall, casino, gym and tennis courts and also a nursey club... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great hotel, great location
Disadvantages: Not that cheap...

..., and drinks, and can arrange for massages and beauty treatments (at additional cost). This "resort fee" is a bit of a rip off, I think, but did seem to be the norm in the several Florida hotels we stayed in. If it's mandatory, then it should be included in the quoted rate, rather than a "sneaky" addition for using towels, beach chairs etc that you kind-of have to... There was a computer in the fantastic lobby offering free internet access (to book our next stop) for guests,.and wired internet was available in the rooms too, although I'd not brought my laptop so didn't use. The's no car park at this hotel, but they do offer valet parking for about $20 per day. This is pretty quick, but as usual, it's best to give them 20 minutes notice or so when you do need your car. Eating at The National is great, but as it's only a five minute walk to Ocean...