Countries Visited ... So Far ... 41 And Counting!

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 List (Alphabetical)

 Bahrain – Kingdom of Bahrain

 Belgium – Kingdom of Belgium

 Bosnia and Herzegovina

 Bulgaria – Republic of Bulgaria

 Canada

 Croatia – Republic of Croatia

 Czech Republic

 Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat/Grønland)

 France – French Republic

 Germany – Federal Republic of Germany

 Greece – Hellenic Republic
 Holy See

 Hungary

 India – Republic of India

 Ireland
 Israel

 Italy – Italian Republic

 Jamaica

 Japan

 Korea, South – Republic of Korea

 Luxembourg – Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

 Macedonia – Republic of Macedonia

 Malta – Republic of Malta

 Mexico – United Mexican States

 Micronesia – Federated States of Micronesia

 Monaco – Principality of Monaco

 Montenegro

 Netherlands

 Palau – Republic of Palau

 Palestine - State of Palestine
 Portugal – Portuguese Republic

 San Marino – Republic of San Marino

 Saudi Arabia – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

 Slovenia – Republic of Slovenia

 Spain – Kingdom of Spain

 Switzerland – Swiss Confederation

 Tunisia – Republic of Tunisia

 Turkey – Republic of Turkey

 United Arab Emirates

 United Kingdom – United Kingdom of Great Britain    and Northern Ireland

 United States – United States of America

 - Guam

 - Puerto Rico

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Title: Countries Visited ... So Far ... 41 And Counting!

Key Words: countries, country, nation, capitol, Google Maps, Google, map, maps, city, state, world, earth, visit, visited, traveler, 44, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, Yelp

Why Should You Read My Reviews And Subscribe To TravelValue?

I served my country in the United States Air Force for over 20 years and have visited 44 countries over the last 35 years, all without spending over $75 per night for a nice hotel room and dining in excellent restaurants for well under $25 per person. How do I do it? Through diligent research, exploration, trial and error, and tapping local knowledge.

Would you like to stay in a central, 3-star hotel in a major city for under $20 per night? How about a room with a balcony and view of the Himalayas while attending teachings with the Dalai Lama for just $5 per night? Or a beachfront hotel for $13 per night? Maybe a meal prepared by a 5-star chef for less than $20? Well, you have come to the right place ...

 CombatCritic's "TravelValue" 

Having several popular travel blogs CombatCritic.com and received numerous accolades from several of the top travel and restaurant websites/apps (Yelp, TripAvisor, Zomato, Tabelog, Booking.com), you can trust my opinions. 

Unlike many reviewers who are either afraid to tell the truth or have personal relationship with businesses and biased views, I reserve 5-stars (10 Bombs on my blog) for only the most flawless restaurants, accommodations, businesses, attractions and destinations, those where you absolutely and without a doubt get the most “bang-for-the-buck”. 

CombatCritic.com

I try to remain as objective as possible in all of my reviews, providing the pros and cons as I see them and a rating based on the overall “value” as compared to similar entities in similar locations. I accept no "freebies" and only identify myself as a critic after having been a customer and paid the bill, so you can trust my reviews.

Here is a breakdown of my ratings both on my blogs (where I use a ten point scale) and on travel and dining websites (that all use 5 point Likert-type scales) ...

If I hate a place, they get 1-2 Bombs (1-star)

If so-so with numerous”issues", they get 3-4 Bombs (2-stars)

If average (the vast majority of businesses fall into this category if you look at the distribution of my ratings), they get 5-6 Bombs (3-stars)

If above average, they get 7-8 Bombs (4-stars)

If they are one of the very rare “best of the best” values in my experience, they get 9-10 Bombs (5-stars – I always round up from bombs to stars because I use a 10 point Likert-type scale in order to be more discernible). 

Now that you understand my philosophy and ratings, on to my reviews …

CombatCritic

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Key Words: combatcritic, travelvalue, travel, value, combat, critic, review, reviews, objective, restaurant, hotel, attraction, destination, Italy, USA, India, Asia, Europe

El Puerto da Santa Maria, Spain: Very nice room for the price, but the bed could have been more comfortable

Hostal Costaluz

Calle Nino del Matadero 2, 

11500, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain

+34956054701

HostalCostaLuz.com

Prices: €€€€

PROS

• The man who received us was very nice and helpful.
• We were given a very nice room with kitchenette adjacent to the hostal with its own entrance.
• There was a microwave, a kettle, and small refrigerator.
• The room was a very good value.

CONS

• The bed was uncomfortable, my hips were sore and I tossed and turned all night.
• The view of the street and parked cars was disappointing, but we were very happy with the room for the price.

CombatCritic Gives Hostal Costa Luz 8 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Eight Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "What-The-Fuck ... Over!"

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Title: El Puerto da Santa Maria, Spain: Very nice room for the price, but the bed could have been more comfortable

Key Words: El Puerto da Santa Maria, Spain, Hostal Costa Luz, hostal, hostel, hotel, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, hotel, accommodation, business, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook

Copyright 2023 - 3rd Wave Media Group And CombatCritic ™ - All Rights Reserved

Olhão, Portugal: Worst Meal We Have Had In Portugal

Sabores da Ria

Pça. Patrão Joaquim Lopes, 10/12 e 14 

8700-353 Olhão Portugal

Facebook: SsaboresDaRiaOlhao

Prices: €€€€

Easily, the worst meal we have had in Portugal ... nuff said.

The server had an attitude and was not concerned about service. The food was substandard and the portions small, especially for the prices.

My wife order the Bitoque, a slice of meat that was not even 1 quarter-of-an-inch thick, but they still managed to serve it rare, bloody in the center and inedible for my wife.  I slice that thick must have been cooked less than 30 seconds on each side to be that rare. The smattering of fries were cold, a serving they should be ashamed of.

Bitoque

I had the Pork and Clams (€16.50), my favorite dish, with no more than 10 small clams, a few chunks of chewy pork, and the same very small side of fries, what a disappointment!

Ameijoas com Carne de Porco (€16.50) Pork and Clams

The four of us paid over €100 for a less than mediocre meal (lobster goes for €110 per kilo) and bad service, . They prey on tourists to seperate them from their money, but these locals will never return again.

CombatCritic Gives Sabores da Ria 2 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Two Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Tits Up" 

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Title: Olhão, Portugal: Worst Meal We Have Had In Portugal

Key Words: Olhão, Portugal, Sabores da Ria, sabores, ria, Portuguese, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, business, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook

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Camas, WA: Close, But No Cigar ... Good Food, But Price And Corner-Cutting Failed To Impress

Salud Wine Bar & Italian Dining

224 NE 3rd Avenue

Camas, WA 98607

(360) 787-2583

www.Salud.com

Prices: $$$$

Our server, Cooper, was very nice and efficient and the staff were all friendly.

We ordered a bottle of Merlot ($33), which was quite nice as well as the Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms ($15). The shrooms were delicious, but there were only four of them, coming in at $3.75 a pop. Six mushrooms would have made me feel like I was not getting ripped-off.

I had the Italian Osso Buco ($27), a large shank sat atop a smattering of mashed potatoes, barely enough to make an impression. The osso buco was excellent, literally falling off the bone, with quite a bit of meat, but the lack of potatoes was disheartening. How much would another scoop or two cut into their bottom-line? It came with a nice garden salad. 

My son got the Veal Marsala ($28), a good size piece of meat served on top of a bed of fettuccine. The portion was nice and the veal tasty, but the meat was unlike any veal I have ever had, grey, not white as it should be, and slightly gristley, making me believe that it was cow, not veal. It also came with a nice garden salad. 

We finished with an order of Cannoli ($8), four small tubes instead of two big ones, which were creamy and delicious, likely the best value on the menu, but still not cheap.

This place could be a TravelValue if they lowered their prices a bit, were more generous with the mashed potatoes, and used veal instead of cow. The wine list is quite pricey as well with our Merlot being one of the cheapest options available.

CombatCritic Gives Salud 6 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Six Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Good To Go"

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Booking.com - Frequent Traveler "Genius"

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MENU

Title: Camas, WA: Close, But No Cigar ... Good Food, But Price And Corner-Cutting Failed To Impress

Key Words: Camas, WA, Salud Wine Bar & Italian Dining, Salud, Italian, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, business, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook

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Washougal, WA: Victoricos - Not Bad, But Not Good, For The Price, Either

Victoricos Washougal

103 C Street

Washougal, WA 98671

(360) 954-5892

Victoricos.com

Prices: $$$$

The food is not bad, but the prices are a bit absurd for the quality/quantity.

We ordered online, so, of course, it was more expensive than going to the restaurant and ordering in-person. I understand that, but I had no idea they jack-up the prices AND charge a fee AND you pay a tip, not to mention tax, again, of course. Food delivery in Portugal, where we live, is much different, paying the in-store menu price, but adding a small fee and tip.

I ordered 3 Rolled Tacos ($6.49 / $4.99), a Two Enchilada Combo ($12.50 / $11.50), a Shredded Beef Taco ($5.29 / $4.29), a Fajitas Plate Combo ($17.99 / $15.49) and a small side of Rice and Beans ($4.99 / $3.99) for my son and me.

The taquitos were very good, crispy with lots of shredded beef and topped with guac and cheddar cheese.

I was actually shocked when I saw the shredded beef taco. It was small, a little bigger than the palm of my hand, coming with a fair amount of shredded beef, lettuce, and cheese. It was more than a tad greasy, but it tasted good, however, for $5.29 I expected something a little special ... bigger? guac? pico de gallo? tomato? 24 carat gold sprinkles? ... Olé! It is the most expensive taco I have ever eaten and I have chowed-down a shitload of tacos.

The enchiladas were decent enough, but the container was too narrow, so there was zero sauce between the first inch and the last. Tjere was little cheese as well. They were difficult to cut into bite-size pieces because the dry beef was clinging together. SNAFU!

At $5, the side of rice and beans was a joke. I kept looking for the other container because I expected that only the rice OR the beans was in the one I found, but, when I opened it up, the rice AND beans were both crammed-in. Surprise! The beans were okay, but the rice was tasteless.

A 15% markup, $7, on a $40.26 bill, a total of $47.26 for everything we ordered, so with tip and service fee, it brought the total to $56.08. Not unheard of I guess, but I was very surprised when I found out the difference in the pricing.

CombatCritic Gives Victoricos Washougal 4 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Four Bombs Equates To:

BOHICA

Translation for Civilians: "Bend Over, Here It Comes Again"

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Read Chris S.'s review of Victoricos Washougal on Yelp

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Title: Washougal, WA: Victoricos - Not Bad, But Not Good, For The Price, Either

Key Words: Washougal, WA, Victoricos, Mexican, tacos, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, business, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook

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