Old Moaner Travel
I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list
Europe Lodgings
Clearly, this is, by no means, a comprehensive guide to accommodation in Europe. Instead it's some of the places I've stayed in the past few years.
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There are clearly more comprehensive guides available elsewhere on the internet, however this guide may give some suggestions of places to stay or, more importantly, avoid if you are considering visiting a particular location.
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Hotels have been given a subjective rating out of five.
In some instances the establishment has replied to my comments, where this has happened I have include, for fairness, their response.
Listings are alphabetical listing by country.
Belgium
Ghent
Holiday Inn, Ghent Expo 3½/5
The biggest gripe is this is one of those hotels you can see from the main road but actually getting to it was a nightmare - even with sat-nav, not helped by nearby building works.
The hotel is out of town but there is a tram stop nearby - albeit the other side of a building site.
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We had an outward facing room which was clean and spacious and the bedding was comfortable and the room quiet.
We didn't eat at the hotel so cannot comment on the food.
All in all OK for an overnight stopover, not sure I would want to stay any longer.
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Hotel response:
Thank you for taking the time to write a review about your recent stay in Holiday Inn Gent Expo.
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We are aware that is not that easy to find our hotel, that’s why we have placed as much of signage as we could to help our guests to find their way to the hotel.
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The hotel is located in the suburbs of Ghent but with easy access by tram to the city center. The whole journey from the hotel to the center will take you 20 minutes. And tickets can be purchased at the reception desk of the hotel.
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I’m glad to read that you liked your clean, spacious and comfortable room.
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Thank you again for your review and I hope to welcome you again in the near future in our hotel and restaurant.
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Kortrijk
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Blomenweelde 5/5
If you're a lover of beautiful gardens this is the place for you. Delightful garden planting, a lawn so smooth you could play billiards on it and some quirky features.
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That on its own would be good enough but add in a well appointed room, friendly hosts and a breakfast which will keep you going all day you have the perfect place to stay.
Set in a quiet residential street it may be hard to find without a Sat Nav and if you want to be in the hustle and bustle of a town centre this is not the place for you.
If you want somewhere quiet within walking distance of the river book your room now.
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Did I mention a really brilliant breakfast, oh yes I did but it’s worth mentioning again.
Namur
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New Hotel de Lives 4/5
I have to say the first impressions on pulling up in the car park was "what have we booked" as the exterior looked somewhat aged.
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How wrong we were, inside the old manor house has been fully renovated and it is a lovely modern hotel.
We had a room in the main building with a view overlooking the river. The furniture was modern and contemporary yet the room was reasonably spacious as well. The bathroom only had a shower (plus the basin and WC of course) but unusually for a hotel it was a nice powerful one.
There is a small bar and the hotel has a restaurant, which we did not use but seemed very popular.
Breakfast was served in a separate room, very light and airy and although it was a "continental" breakfast there was a much wider choice than you get in many other hotels.
The staff were, friendly and courteous and this is a hotel we would use again if in the area.
Cyprus
Larnaca
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Flamingo Beach Hotel 3½/5
This is an incredibly difficult hotel to score as some aspects of the hotel would rate a zero score, whilst other aspects rate a five - so I've compromised with an almost half way score.
We stayed in the McKenzie apartments which are an adjunct to the hotel, supposedly self-catering units.
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The lady on check-in was absolutely superb, indeed if it wasn't for her we would probably have walked out soon after arriving.
We were shown to our initial apartment which was basic but OK. However when my wife checked the bed, the bedding smelled of sweat from the previous occupants. Clearly the sheets had not been replaced since the previous occupants.
We went to reception to complain and the receptionist agreed to change our room. The second room was even worse - when we turned back the duvet, how can I put this delicately, the sheets were stained from the previous occupants who had clearly had a very enjoyable night.
The third room did have clean sheets and a sea view balcony.
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However the kitchenette in this self catering apartment only had a fridge, nothing for heating food, no kettle, crockery or cutlery.
I went to ask about a kettle and was told they are only supplied on request and one would arrive next day, which it did, but without any cups or mugs.
The sea view room was good although noisy - the hotel is about half a mile from the end of the runway at the airport. That may be bad news for some people, especially if the planes are taking off in the direction of the hotel and there are flights throughout the night.
On the plus side the staff cannot be faulted. The food is pretty good - the Sunday carvery is excellent. Meals are buffet style, the only criticism food wise is it's repetitive - the breakfast choice is limited and exactly the same every day so it soon becomes boring and a couple of days we had breakfast elsewhere.
On a minor point the bottled water served with the carvery on the Sunday had a use by date of two months earlier, but as it was in a glass bottle it was still OK but it shouldn't happen.
The hotel has a rooftop pool but was closed during our visit.
The hotel is on McKenzie beach but if you don't have a car you could be stuck as there doesn't seem to be a bus service - at least not in winter.
There is limited street parking opposite the hotel otherwise a field a few doors away.
Paphos
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Panareti Paphos Resort 3½/5
Basically a self-catering apart-hotel although there are a handful of "traditional" hotel rooms.
It's fair to say the building may have seen better days but this is reflected in the price.
The apartments are large, airy and well equipped.
There is a restaurant onsite.
The town of Paphos is a pleasant 15 minute stroll either along the main roar or, much better, along the beach.
If you just want to chill there is a pleasant swimming pool.
Czechia
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Prague
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Cloister Inn Hotel 4/5
A converted convent, the hotel is anything but sparse with spacious air conditioned rooms which come with the added bonus of a welcoming complimentary beer and water in your room ..... indeed stay here New Year and you'll find a free bottle of bubbly in your room.
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Located on a relatively quite side street on the edge of the Old Town with nearly all the major sites in east walking distance.
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There is complimentary tea and coffee available in reception. There is a good security feature in you need a key fob to pass from the reception area to the rooms.
There is a breakfast room on the fourth floor, not the largest and it can get busy at time. The breakfast is reasonably good, mainly cold but a few limited hot items.
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There is no restaurant but there is an agreement with a nearby restaurant where a discount is available for hotel guests, however even with the discount there are many better value options in the area.
France
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Bergholtz, Alsace
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Les 3 Ceps 5/5
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What a wonderful place to stay.
Located in a quiet village, although the church clock chiming every 15 mins 24 hours a day, took a couple of days to get used to.
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A delightful, well maintained quirky property which is ideal for two people who want a quiet break.
Well located to explore Alsace.
We arrived during the hottest week in the area for over 60 years but a ceiling fan in the bedroom and using the shutters made it bearable.
There is a small, private patio with a small barbecue.
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The owners said we could also use their pool to cool down.
Talking of the owners you couldn't wish to meed a lovelier couple.
They were friendly and helpful without being in your face.
If we are ever in the area again we would not bother looking for anywhere else to stay.
Granville
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Mercure 4/5
A sprawling hotel which you need a sat-nav to navigate if you aren't careful, having said that it's a more than adequate hotel, located on the sea front, it even has it's own "secret" entrance from the promenade.
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Car parking is under cover, if not a little tight.
The staff are friendly and welcoming and the rooms spacious and clean.
Breakfast was very good with a wide choice.
The hotel is in walking distance of the town centre and, all in all, a good place to stay.
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Paris
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Hotel Du Chateau, Vincennes 3½/5
A typical Parisian hotel, the room was not particularly large but being on my own it was not a big issue, although the dark red decor probably made the room look smaller.
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By contrast the bathroom was a very decent size and bright and airy. Water pressure was not that high and the water could have been hotter.
The view from the room, overlooking the Chateau was excellent.
I like to sleep with a window open but the busy main road outside made it impossible and having the window shut made the room warm, so sleeping was disturbed.
The big negative is the hotel has no lift and the spiral staircase is tricky to negotiate when carrying a case.
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As has already been mentioned the staff, without exception, were all friendly and helpful. Breakfast was a delight - typical French breakfast, but absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Wi-Fi free and very fast
Location wise it is excellent - a very short walk from the Metro which is on Line 1 with a direct link to City centre in 25 - 30 minutes.
Close to the Bois De Vincennes, a nice place to walk in the day with the Zoo and Floral Gardens but known for its "extra curricular" activity at night.
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St Malo
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Ibis Styles Port 4/5
A pleasant but basic hotel conveniently located for the car ferry and old city.
A typical Ibis hotel, albeit with marginally larger rooms than usual.
Well lit and comfortable bed.
Parking is in an underground car park - 9 Euros a night.
Breakfast is included and is adequate with a reasonable choice.
The big plus point is the hotel offers reasonably priced accommodation - no accommodation is cheap in St Malo - only a five minute drive from the ferry port and a pleasant 15 minute walk from the old, walled, city.
The only minor complaint is the staff at check-in were not particularly friendly and welcoming.
St Omer
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Hotel Les Frangins 3/5
The hotel and rooms are a bit dated and the shower is a hand one and there are no shower curtains so the whole thing becomes rather messy.
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There is a relatively busy road outside the hotel and it was a bit noisy with partying youngsters until after midnight then the dustmen at around 05:00.
Breakfast (€8.50) was basic but adequate.
There is a rather good restaurant / bistro in the hotel (not open every night - including Friday which seems odd) - the food is good quality and the price was reasonable.
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I wouldn't want to spend too many nights there because of the noise / shower issues but for a stopover on the way home the hotel is fine.
Germany
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Koblenz
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Mercure 4/5
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A standard chain hotel no frills but functional, clean and comfortable.
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Located slightly outside the city centre it was ideally located for the Rhine Cruise we were going on, although access to the hotel on foot isn't ideal, especially at night as it involves underpasses.
The restaurant menu was limited but the breakfast selection excellent.
Wiesbaden
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Am Schloss Biebrich 3½/5
To start off it was impossible to park anywhere near the hotel, we had to park over half a mile away. There is a very small hotel car park which they charge to use and having watched cars attempting to manoeuvre around the car park with varying degrees of success I'm glad I didn't risk my car.
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The guy who checked us in seemed to be going through the motions, by contrast the lady on the desk in the morning was very friendly.
The room was adequate without being anything special and the bed was comfortable.
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No lift, as has already been mentioned, and the stairs had this odd lip on each step which was a trip hazard if you have size nine feet like myself.
Breakfast was good.
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The castle next door is sublime and serves some of the best food we've eaten in a long time.
Greece
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Athens
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Vitruvius Smart Hotel 4/5
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A modern, quirky hotel with large, spacious rooms and comfortable beds.
The staff were exceptional, we were impressed with them from the start but they came into their own after our passports were stolen whilst out in the city - they were so helpful, sorting out visits to the police, offering advice - they couldn't do any more for us in what was a very stressful situation.
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Although not a problem for us as we have no hang-ups, I imagine the semi-opaque glass walls of the bathroom could be awkward for some people, especially if it's just friends who are sharing a room.
The bathroom is effectively a wet room and a greater slope of the floor tiles would be useful as the room floods and drains slowly. It does vary beween room as we stayed in two different rooms at the hotel and one (304) drained better than the other (304)
However the biggest negative, and it is a big one, is the location of the hotel, in a run down part of the city, surrounded by brothels which did result in noise throughout the night, especially bad on Friday and Saturday nights. I would not recommend this hotel for a lone female traveller.
I am wondering if the owners have built this hotel as an investment, hoping the area will improve - if the hotel was situated anywhere else I would have no hesitation in giving it 5 stars.
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Hotel Response
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Thank you very much for taking the time to write about your experience.
It has been amazing for us to welcome you and we are delighted to read that you had a beautiful experience with us. Your comment will be shared with our team as they will be happy to read that they made the difference.
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Looking forward to the pleasure of welcoming you back soon!
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Ireland
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Killarney
Gleann Fia Country House 1/5
It is interesting to read the various comments about the "friendliness" of the owner. At the end of the day one persons friendly is another’s intrusive.
I must confess I found the friendliness more intrusive than helpful. I also wonder how much the approach is governed by fiscal desire? When we stated we may be interested in booking a day trip later in our stay he was really enthusiastic, eager to help, nothing too much trouble.
When we later decided not to book a trip the attitude changed and became frosty. My wife described his approach as being almost creepy.
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After we decided not to book the day trip the radio alarm in our room mysteriously went off at 03:00 the next morning – yet neither of us had touched it .... one does wonder who set it?
The rooms themselves are pleasant and the communal lounge and conservatory are both great areas to relax in. The honour bar is a good idea but the prices very expensive.
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The property is lovely with plenty of free parking – the only downside is it is too far from town to walk and the approach road is unlit so even if inclined to walk it would not be good after dark.
The hotel advertises having a “full gourmet Irish breakfast” – this actually translates to bacon and eggs and the eggs were swimming in so much grease we did not bother subsequent days.
If you don’t mind intrusive hosts then the hotel is perfect – personally not my cup of tea.
When back in the area there are other hotels better situated and offering better value for money.
Hotel Response
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Thank you for your review regarding your stay with us.
Intrusive or helpful - well I was only trying to be helpful letting you know of all the wonderful and exciting places to see and visit in Killarney and Kerry, if this is intrusive - I apologise.
Your alarm clock sounding at 3am - well the only explanation I can offer, is that the previous guests had an early morning flight from perhaps Shannon or Cork Airports and Killarney would be one and a half to two hours from these Airports. Housekeeping should have checked that radio alarm clocks were turned off when servicing the room.
Thank you for your kind words regarding our guest lounges and conservatory. As you know now our guest honor bar is a help yourself and if you found it expensive, thats your opinion and we value it.
You are correct we are 2km from Town centre, a 15 minute walk and we always advise guests to get a taxi home especially after dark.
Your comment regarding your cooked breakfast, please let me assure you, for the past 25 years I have only been using extra virgin olive oil when cooking, baking, on breads and salads.
Thank you again for your review.
Italy
Genoa
Grand Hotel Savoia 5/5
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Some so called five star hotels fail to live up to expectations - this hotel is an exception.
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Elegant, classic welcoming staff, good rooms.
I'm quite picky but could not find anything to fault with the hotel.
The bed was very comfortable the bathroom well stocked with toiletries.
Breakfast catered for all tastes - the made to order omelettes are well recommended.
The hotel is conveniently situated very close to both the main station and the cruise terminal.
We arrived from a cruise ship so we reached the hotel around 09:45 in the morning and were able to store our luggage prior to checking in. They even said they could have our room available within half an hour if we wanted to wait but with them holding the baggage we decided to set off and tour the city.
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If we're ever back in Genoa there is absolutely no doubt we would stay here again.
Venice
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Duedo Palace 5/5
We had a deluxe room which was spacious, with a separate dressing area and canal view.
The hotel was a little tricky to find ...... Google maps tried to send us to the canal-side entrance but local, nearby signage helped s find the hotel.
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Once found though the hotel is well located for the major sights with both St Mark's Square and the Rialto Bridge being within a short walking distance.
The staff were friendly and helpful ..... there was a lift and our bags were taken to our room by a porter. There is also baggage storage if you arrive / leave Venice before or after check in / out times.
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The breakfast room wasn't huge but there was a reasonable spread.
The hotel has plenty of character and I would certainly book a deluxe room there again.
Being slightly picky it would be nice if there were tea / coffee making facilities in the room
Hotel response:-
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I appreciate the time that you dedicated us on writing a review in regards to your most recent stay at our property.
I am pleased that you appreciated our prime location and the service that our Staff has provided you.
Our Bar and Housekeeping Staff is always available to deliver a kettle to our Guests. The kettle is delivered with no cost. Only if you wish to have a tea or coffee delivered to the room, you will be charged for the price for the items ordered plus a small room service fee.
I sincerely hope we will have another opportunity to welcome you at Duodo Palace Hotel.
Luxembourg
Remich
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Hostellerie des Pecheurs 4/5
Four out of five may possibly be a bit harsh but having to carry bags up tight staircases to the second floor loses a mark.
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The room itself was good and it had air conditioning - important when the temperatures are edging 40 degrees Celsius.
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Situated outside the town it faces the river and it's a delightful 20 minute stroll into town where you will find a reasonable selection of restaurants if you don't fancy Chinese. Nothing wrong with Chinese but when on holiday I prefer to eat local cuisine.
The staff were friendly and breakfast was adequate. There is free off street parking behind the hotel.
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For me it's the sort of hotel best suited to a one night stopover.
Malta
Qawra
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Park Lane Aparthotel 4/5
A great hotel with excellent staff for whom nothing is too much trouble.
We had a problem with a noisy extractor fan in the room and the staff did everything possible to sort out the problem, even offering an alternative room if required, however we liked the room (well suite) too much to move.
We had a superior studio apartment with a balcony overlooking St Paul’s Bay. The apartment was well equipped and would be perfectly sufficient if you wanted to self cater. There are plenty of supermarkets nearby if you prefer to self-cater. Having said that, local options for eating out are many and varied and extremely good value, including the hotels own restaurant.
Housekeeping is available if required.
Free parking is available in a public car park about 50 yards away and there were usually spaces, the only problem was Saturday night where parking was a nightmare and it took a good half hour to find a space. Having said that the bus station is 100 yards away in the other direction and buses are a better means of getting around the Island, and very cheap. There is also an excursion office next door and very good value excursions can be found, with pick-up and drop-off at the hotel.
There is a lovely roof pool.
The big negative, and this is nothing to do with the hotel at all, is the number of time-share touts who can be found near the hotel – they are a proverbial pain in the posterior. However I suspect this will be a problem wherever you stay.
All in all an excellent, exceptionally good value hotel and one we will stay in again next time we come to Malta.
Ramla Bay
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Ramla Bay Resort 4½/5
As the name implies this is a resort hotel, with many of the guests staying on an all inclusive basis although bed and breakfast, which we went for, is available, Going B&B gives you more flexibility but if you decide you want to eat in the hotel that's not a problem.
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The main restaurant, where breakfast is served as well, is buffet style but it's a better than average buffet with a wide choice of good food and a different theme each day. There are a few other, more formal, a la carte restaurants available at a supplement for all inclusive guests or at an expensive cost for other guests.
The resort has a swimming pool and its own private beach, in the main season various water sports are available.
The resort is handy for the Gozo ferry.
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Going to the rooms there is an offering of either sea or land view rooms and for a supplement there are rooms in a new extension. The rooms have nice size balconies.
There hotel is about a ten minute walk from bust stops but it's the sort of place you really need a car.
Netherlands
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Den Hague
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Mercure, Den Hague Centre 1/5
We were booked here by Accor hotels after our original hotel went bankrupt.
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We stayed an hour before we left.
The room was OK although I thought the glass wall to the shower opening into the main bedroom was a bit odd - I wasn't aware showering had become a spectator sport.
However it was the "extras" that annoyed us.
21 euros for a buffet breakfast is extortionate and 30 euros a day for parking is ridiculous.
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The icing on the cake though was the reaction of the hotel manager when we complained - firstly he said we should "consider ourselves lucky" we were transferred when the other hotel went bankrupt.
Regarding the prices his comment was "what do you expect in a city centre hotel?" - as I pointed out to him, we weren't originally booked in a city centre hotel and we were given no choice.
He was obviously someone who got thrown out of charm school.
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Limburg
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Center Parcs Limburgse Peel 2/5
The woodland setting was OK and the Supermarket is well stocked.
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The "cottages" were, stark "cold" concrete blocks as welcoming as a prison cell, indeed the "third" bedroom in our "cottage" looked and felt just like a prison cell with a whitewashed breeze block look.
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They operate on the Ryanair principle and it was only on looking at their website we found out we would have to supply our own bed linen or pay to hire it, likewise with towels.
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Even taking our own bed linen it didn't fit the continental beds.
There was a complicated oven in the kitchen with no instruction book.
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This was our first, and last, Center Parcs Experience
Valkenburg
Grand Hotel Monopole 4½/5
The hotel has an old fashioned feel too it, which is not a criticism as it's an antidote to some modern hotels.
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Check-in was friendly and efficient, one quirk is the hotel like you to pay the day before you plan to depart.
There is a lift and the room was a reasonable size.
There was an automatic sensor operating the bathroom light which was energy efficient but if you sit still too long on the toilet or linger in the shower there is a danger of being plunged into darkness if you're not careful.
The comfort of the beds is somewhat subjective - although obviously new I found the mattress far too soft for my liking, whereas my wife found it comfortable.
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There is a cafe bar outside which serves light snacks and the breakfast offering was comprehensive.
There is a free private car park to the rear and the hotel is in close walking distance to the railway station and the town centre.
The town centre has a disproportionate number of restaurants for the size of the town and the problem is not finding somewhere to eat but actually deciding where to eat.
Wassenaar
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Hotel Wassenaar 4/5
This was a last minute booking after we were unhappy with our original hotel in The Hague and it's hard to fault the hotel.
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The location is outside the town but that suits us fine. There is some noise from traffic but certainly not enough to be annoying.
The rooms were large, spacious and clean. There wasn't a kettle in the room when we arrived but they were more than happy to provide one.
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There is a restaurant at the hotel which is a little bit on the pricey side but the food is of good quality and worth the money.
Breakfast is a traditional buffet continental type and enough to set you up for the day.
However the hotel came into their own on the final morning when our car broke down - although we had breakdown cover we had to wait for a recovery vehicle and they were happy to supply us with hot drinks whilst we waited and also hold the room if we needed it any longer. They were also willing to find us a local garage - indeed they could not have been more helpful. All the staff were friendly and helpful.
Spain
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Mainland
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Almuñécar
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Apartmentos Chinasol 1/5
The location was good. Check-in was efficient - although we were lucky in that we arrived during the rare period when reception was open.
The place had a dark, dingy feel and it didn't feel inviting. The room was very dull and tired and needed some TLC.
The room was supposed to be a self catering apartment - technically correct but it was no bigger than an average hotel room - the fridge was next to one of the beds.
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Whilst the kitchen equipment was clean the room had a horrible musty smell which got into all our clothes.
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The apartment boasted a sea view - again technically correct but you only had a limited view from one side of the small balcony so only one of you could appreciate the sea view at any one time and the balcony was in shade most of the day.
However the final straw and the reason we left early is the neighbouring "apartment" was occupied over the weekend and you could hear everything, and I mean everything happening in that apartment and the thing is the neighbours were not particularly noisy it's the soundproofing was non-existent.
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Cheap but not at all cheerful
(Dismissive) Hotel Response:
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Thank you for your opinion, best regards
Hotel Helios 4½/5
After our appalling experience at Apartmentos Chinasol (see above) we moved to this hotel and what a contrast, it was like moving from a slum to a palace.
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Bright, spacious clean rooms with no trace of mustiness. A lovely balcony with sublime sea views.
There is a restaurant in the hotel and it is buffet style, however the quality is good and the price reasonable.
The hotel does seem to cater for groups but it's big enough for it not to be an inconvenience.
There is no car park but there is plenty of on-street parking and "off season" it's free. During the season when on-street parking is not practical there is a nearby, modestly priced, underground car park.
Marbella
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Ona Alanda Club, Elviria 5/5
A huge complex and we stayed in Cadiz 38, which was a really spacious apartment, a real home from home and of a size you could, almost, live in permanently.
The rooms were spacious the kitchen was amazingly well equipped and the terrace, which was huge, was south facing so caught the sun most of the day.
We stayed in November so temperatures were not that high and we had a bit of a problem reconfiguring the air conditioning to heat rather than cool but once I reprogrammed the controller it was lovely and comfortable.
Check-in was easy and all the reception staff were friendly.
I made the mistake of pre-paying breakfast before seeing the apartment, had I seen the apartment first I would probably have opted for self-catering breakfast rather than the buffet. Having said that the buffet breakfast had a wide range of choices, although the choices didn’t change throughout the week so it was a bit repetitive towards the end of the week.
The restaurant offers good quality evening means at a competitive price.
If you don’t fancy cooking for yourself or using the complex restaurant, there are loads of eating options within walking distance, as well as two supermarkets, one of which is open until 01:00 in the morning.
The beach is a short five minute walk from the resort.
Situated six miles east of Marbella it is in a nice, quiet location and is an ideal base for exploring the area or just chillaxing.
If I ever visit the area again I will stay there without hesitation.
Malaga
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Hilton Garden Inn 4/5
Lovely hotel large, airy, clean spacious rooms.
Adequate breakfast Very friendly staff and efficient check-in and check-out.
Handy for the airport
The location isn't exactly exotic by a busy road and not much in walking distance
Segovia
Hotel Puerta de Segovia 4/5
The hotel was in the middle of being refurbished and we were in one of the refurbished rooms.
The rooms were light and spacious - I say rooms because there was a problem with the shower screen in the first room and we were moved to another room.
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It is about two miles from the centre of Segovia - a good 20 minute walk.
The No 4 bus stops nearby. Every 20 mins Monday to Friday and every 36 minutes (don't ask) on Saturdays.
The hotel has a good, if expensive, restaurant. Beware of the "roast lamb" it cost €20 but was a breast with very little meat on it. On the other hand the roast cod was very good.
Breakfast is good, buffet style with both hot and cold options - just over €8 a head.
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The big advantage is the parking. Parking in Segovia itself is poor. There is plenty of outside parking (free) or garage parking (€5.30 a night).
There are a couple of supermarkets across the road if you want water or snacks.
This hotel is also a good base if you want to explore Madrid - the bus from the town centre runs at least half hourly, quarter hourly at peak times and takes 1 1/4 hours - but saves all the pain of driving / parking in Madrid. Return fare €12.25
Islands
La Palma, Canary Islands
Apartamentos Mayoysa Breña Baja 3½/5
Lovely apartments, once you manage find them, which was tricky, even with a Sat Nav.
The apartments are set back from the road, which also happens to be a one way street.
To reach the apartments take the main road to Santa Cruz.(LP-5)
Leave at junction 2B s/p Los Llanos. Carry on to the roundabout and take the second exit LP-2 s/p Los Canarios. Pass through the traffic lights and continue along the LP-2 until you reach the 5km marker, you will now be at the start of a series of S bends. Take the second left into Calle Cuesta de San José - it's almost a blind turn so easy to miss.
The road is a very steep downhill descent. You will see a road to your left and after that the road bends sharp left - before you reach the bend you will see a concrete driveway on your right and this leads to the apartments.
As stated there is garage parking but be warned it is quite tight.
The apartments are a good size and well appointed.
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The roof area is good for relaxing. the pool is a bit Heath Robertson but adequate for cooling down,
The owner is friendly and welcoming although her English is not that good, having said that my Spanish is very poor, so I'm not really in a position to complain.
There is free wi-fi which is a reasonable speed. The TV has only Spanish channels but who goes on holiday to watch TV?
There were a couple of niggles though.
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Firstly the issues in finding the place. Secondly there is a kitchen which has a twin hob and microwave, but no conventional oven plus a small range of cooling utensils.
The plumbing is typically Spanish, you cannot flush toilet paper down the toilet, the hot water wasn't that hot - one day it was cold by the second shower and the boiler makes some very odd sounds, usually in the middle of the night.
Finally we had to share the bathroom with a colony of ants.
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