Profile page of reviews from sarahb1

A Colourful and Sleek Prison

Slovenia is a very cheap place to eat and drink but the price of accommodation is unexpectedly expensive. For this reason alone Celica is worth considering – it is much cheaper than the surrounding hotels and far more chic and interesting than any of them. Celica won ‘best hosel in the world’ last year and it is well deserved. The hostel is a converted prison with every ‘cell’ having a unique and exciting interior.

On the down-side, most of the rooms are twin-rooms and are shared bathroom. However, these ‘negatives’ are significantly lessened by the reality of clean, well-designed and spacious bathrooms and the charm of sleeping in a well-designed and ultra-modern prison cell.

The hostel has a range of useful information on Ljubljana and the rest of Slovenia. It also has several welcoming chill-out areas and an attractive outdoor courtyard, served by its very reasonably priced café.

Worth a visit but must be booked several weeks in advance.

Nothing Special at the Foot of Machu Picchu

This Bed and Breakfast was clean and contemporary yet it felt expensive (in relative terms) compared with other hostels/B&Bs around Aguas Calientes, and especially when compared with the typical price of accommodation in Peru. However, the price was not extortionate and our stay was pleasant enough.
Additionally, the location of Gringo Bill’s is good, set around the main square and at the foot of the rest of the village, which is mainly built on a steep hill leading to the thermal baths.
This is a safe option for those looking to stay somewhere clean and comfortable but without the time or inclination to look around for better value for money.

A Secret of the Ruta Puuc

An independent exploration of the Mayan World is likely to lead you through the Ruta Puuc and the sites of Uxmal et al. ‘Flycatcher Inn’ a small bed and breakfast conveniently located at the top of dirt-track on the edge of Santa Elena, a small village located between the scattering of Mayan sites just south of Merida.

We had intended to use ‘Flycatcher Inn’ only as a useful stop-over whilst exploring the wonders of the Ruta Puuc but were pleasantly surprised to discover a recently renovated property owner by an American lady and her Mexican husband. The en-suite rooms are spotlessly clean, spacious and decorated with locally made items (such as textiles and bags), all of which are for sale. All of the furniture is made out of black wrought-iron, due, apparently, to the owner’s insistence that her husband learn a new and practical skill! This, we were amused to discover, has resulted in his wrought-iron skills being on display through-out the village of Santa Elena, as almost all of the gates, fences, outdoor furniture and window frames in the area have been made by him.

We consider the ‘Flycatcher Inn’ to have been a real find, and it made our journey into the heart of the Yucatan Peninsula a pleasant and comfortable but inexpensive experience.

An Enchanting Labyrinth

Casa Mexilio epitomises the type of accommodation that encourages people to travel independently. For approximately £7.50 per room per night you are taken through a non-descript door that it almost invisible from the street into an enchanting colonial labyrinth, which sees dark wood and high ceilings intermingled with an indoor pond and lush, green plants. The en-suite rooms are compact but charming and decorated with products either made on-site or from the local artisan markets.
The simple breakfast is served upstairs in an elegant drawing room, which adds to the feeling that you have found somewhere special.