LEIGHDAVID

We want to rent an apartment and would love a sea view. We want to be as close to the water as possible. Any ideas on the best island to stay on and would love recommendations on day trips, beaches, eating , wine you know all the vacationy stuff.
Thanks so much.

dmelo1

I'm partial to Faial since i was born there. There are houses in and around the city of Horta that you can rent. It's a small city, so walking through it has always been a favorite thing for me to do. You can stop at one of the many coffee shops and pick up a pastry or sit out at Peter's and enjoy a beer as you look at Pico. As for day trips, you can drive around the island stopping at all the small towns, visit the light house and have lunch at Vendaro, which has a nice man made swimming pool. Also work your way up to the Caldera, which is the main crater on the island and hike around it. Take food/water with you. Then you can also jump on the ferry and visit the two nearby islands, Pico and Sao Jorge.

Hope that helps

basingstoke2

I certainly wasn't born there but I am partial to Faial too. Horta and its marina are beautiful and it has a nice blend of what the other islands have to offer and just a touch of cosmopolitan atmosphere. Sao Jorge and IMO Pico make wonderful day trips. Driving around Pico is fascinating with its unusual plant life. If the right season be sure to go on a whale watching excursion from Pico. For a little bit longer trip a boat ride out to Terceira (about a half day ride)is well worthwhile.

basingstoke2

BTW, if you go out to Terceira, you will be there when they have the street bull fights in different villages during the week. That is a true Azorian experience. The bulls are not harmed and you may participate if you like.

makinghay

So glad to find this thread. Planning a trip to Azores in September and will have MANY questions once I get my act more together. Hang in there for awhile so I won't lose you! Plan is to visit most of the islands in a leisurely fashion, spending as long as it takes...about a month,I think. Transportation will be a big issue, as cars are expensive and don't want to go for broke, nor do we like to do a lot of driving. Specific questions to follow.

Another issue is lodging. I don't want to have reservation in most places, so we can decide as we go along. Do the Tourist Information places in each city have lists of available lodging possibilities? Do they make calls for you? I don't have a Blackberry or other such device. Is there a relatively inexpensive way I can communicate locally? Are public phones and phone cards the way to go?

bilboburgler

most of the islands are small enough to use a pedal bike

basingstoke2

To begin with, which will be your island of arrival? It makes a difference because of distances between the island groups.