Here you will find personal experiences of hotels and restaurants that readers would highly recommend – mainly in Europe but with a few more far flung places added in:
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Le Marche, in the calf of Italy is beautiful in the spring with lovely wild flower meadows in the foothills of the Appenine Mountains and long sandy beaches too. Fly to Ancona with Ryan Air. Great scenery and a change from Tuscany and the tourists. Try Real Holidays
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Aleppo in northern Syria is like Marrakesh before all the tourists arrived and five hours flight away. The 16thC Mansouriya Palace is a fabulous exotic haven with great service and if you can tear yourself away from the luxury of the hotel there is much to see.
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Tennis Holidays Abroad with Tuscan Tennis Holidays offers an opportunity to learn tennis (and play golf too if you are feeling particularly energetic) amongst lovely Italian countryside.
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Soller in North Majorca is unspoilt, has lovely scenery, pretty villages, some great food and the flight is short. I would suggest Soller rather than the more well known Deia as it is bigger, and almost as pretty. It has a wider selection of restaurants and an attractive port. It is also better positioned for sightseeing, with a train link to Palma. The nearby village of Fornalutx is really pretty too. The area makes a good base if you enjoy walking.
Recommended hotels - well for a friendly modern agriturismo hotel stay at C’as Curial set amongst orange and lemon trees that look fabulous in the spring It’s within 5 mins walk of the town centre, train station etc. Somewhat more expensive is L’Avenida in the town centre. In Fornalutx Ca’n Reus is lovely too - good breakfasts, but smaller rooms than C’as Curial.
Eating in the area
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Petit Celler Cas Carreter, Avenida de la Gran Via, Soller - very good Mallorcan food. Tel +34 971 63 51 33
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Agapanto, at the far western corner of Port de Soller serves delicious modern Mallorcan food with a romantic outdoor candlelit setting at the western side of the bay. Tel +34 971 63 38 60
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Es Passeig, on the western side of Port Soller serves very good food and has a pretty setting on the bay Tel +34 971 63 02 17
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Las Palmeras, Deia is on the main street on the left up past La Residencia and has very good tapas
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Bens D’Avall, overlooking the bay above Soller. Expensive, but lovely food and fantastic ambience Tel +34 971 63 23 81
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Café Restaurant Ciprianis, Soller - great cakes and tapas
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Café Vamos Tapas, in corner of Soller main square to left of church - great tapas
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El Turo, on av Arbona Colom, the main road through Fornalutx serves delicious rustic food - with very generous portions. Tel +34 971 63 08 08