crosscheck

Planning a last-minute getaway for mid June and are looking for relaxation, great hiking, scenery and culture not too far from NYC, where we have to be before the trip.

Thinking about Ireland (where we would start at a friend's event in Dublin, then head to Galway, the Burren and the Connemara) or the Azores (9 nights in two locations on Sao Miguel and include day trips to other islands). We've spent a great deal of time in Wales and Scotland, but have never been to Ireland, though we are great fans of the people and the music. The Azores seem to be more of a travel adventure and more off the beaten path (and we love hot springs). We both love driving trips, but we need to relax before starting huge projects and don't want to move around too much.

Would love to hear opinions from travelers who have been to both.

bilboburgler

Weather is always an issue in the Atlantic and that will hit both places. I'd prefer the Azores, far less crime, far more unspoiled.

Bedar

For the Azores you'll have to go via Boston or via Lisbon. We're not into hiking so can't comment on that, but the Azores is a lovely, unspoiled place, and the flowers will be spectacular then.

Tony2phones

Never been to the Azores so can't comment. Of course living here in the crime capital of bilbo's universe I daren't go far from my unlocked door. Of course there is crime and yes there are areas spoiled by new developments, pop up housing and the like, But. Galway/Mayo and Clare have some excellent unspoilt hiking options as does the rest of Ireland.

To be honest the Azores would be too hot for me to be hiking in summer.

Bette

I have never been to the Azores so I really cannot compare the two.

I can say that on various trips to Ireland we have done parts of the Wild Atlantic Way. It is stunning.
http://www.wildatlanticway.com/thing...ing-and-hiking

You could also do some cycling in Mayo:
http://www.greenway.ie/

While you are in Mayo you could climb Croagh Patrick:
http://www.croagh-patrick.com/visito.../holy-mountain

Dogeared

I'm confused by your title, 'hiking vacation'.

While you can hike in parts of either location you mention, you seem to be looking for somewhere you could base yourself and do day hikes from. As an avid hiker, I would not consider either location best suited for that.

If I take your, "looking for relaxation, great hiking, scenery and culture" and "we need to relax before starting huge projects and don't want to move around too much.", then I would say there are far better places for that than either of the two locations you mention.

There are a lot of places that could fit that bill but if I had to choose only one, I might suggest you go to Switzerland and hike in the Alps.

Specifically, I might suggest you fly to Zurich(direct flights from NYC) with a morning arrival and then take a train to Davos-Klosters. In the immediate area of Davos-Klosters there are 700 kilometres of hiking trails. See here just to get an idea of how many there are.
http://www.davos.ch/fileadmin/user_u...ers_rechts.pdf

You can literally walk out the door of your hotel and start to hike in any direction you want.

What's more, most hotels will give you a 'Guest Card' which literally gets you free transportation anywhere you want to go on the train, bus, cable cars, etc. in the area. That can save you a lot of money. As you will see it also offers other savings as well depending on your interests.

http://www.davos.ch/en/davos-kloster...al/guest-card/

So a typical day might be to leave your hotel; hop on a bus down the valley; take a cable car up into the mountains; hike across the mountains; take another cable car back down into the valley; take the train or bus back to your starting point. All at no cost to you whatsoever. It can save you $100s.

There is enough to see and do in the area in terms of hiking, museums, restaurants and other activities to keep you busy for as long as you stay.
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ca/davos.html

That to me is a place to go if you want a 'hiking vacation'.

Sassafrass

Only had a few hours in the Azores, but what I saw of the landscape was beautiful! Stunning really. The food was unique, wonderful and memorable. In June, the highs are mid to high 60s to very, very low 70s. Is that too hot for hiking?

Though I have been to Ireland several times, it was, unfortunately, never in June, which would probably be the best time to get a better impression. The Coast is dramatic. Yes, the people are lovely, but I would never choose to return. There are just too many dreary things there.

The Azores, I would love to go back and explore. Just look at some images of the Azores and you can see how magnificent the landscape is.

Sassafrass

I should have added that I am not a hiker. I want to look at flowers, water, gardens and ruins, not climb anything much, so take my views as those of a meandering walker, short walks at that.

mnag

Been to both. We spent 10 days in Ireland a few years ago and 5 nights in Azores (Sao Miguel) last year. Both are amazing destinations. Based on your description I would recommend the Azores. I think you would have a ton of opportunities to hike in the Azores. We primarily drove around the island because of limited time. The highlights for us was Sete Cedades (blue green lake), Lago do fogo, and Furnas including the hot springs and the botanical gardens in Terra Nostra. We travelled to the Azores with 3 families and we all have done our fair share of traveling. I have to say the beauty of the Azores simply blew us away - the blue of the ocean and lakes, green mountains and the island dotted with wildflowers just about everywhere.

As mentioned we love Ireland as well. We travelled throughout the country including N Ireland, Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, and Kerry counties. There is no shortage of dramatic scenery in Ireland as well but I would say it requires more driving and travel to get to the most spectacular spots. Ireland in my opinion would give you more culture and better food/hotels as compared to Azores. Its a bigger destination. While Connemara/Burren are nice (they do not compare in raw beauty to what we experienced in the Azores) if you plan on limiting yourself to area in/around Galway then I don't think you would do justice to all that Ireland has to offer.

bilboburgler

Tony, while I enjoy visiting Ireland, I have had two businesses there, on the Azores I found no one locked their doors, in fact one guy said, "we only have a lock on the door to keep the wind out...." Just about every place we stayed told us "look under the flower pot to find the key" etc

What I would say is both places have some very friendly people.

Hiking is wonderful on the Azores, we walked with a bull and its minder down a track for miles, such a friendly couple.

crosscheck

Wow, thanks for all the prompt and comprehensive responses! Impressed that so many of you have been to both. Will decide for sure tonight but it's looking like it's the Azores for the win. I'm a little disappointed that we won't experience the awesome Irish music and food this time, but I was struggling to come up an itinerary there that wouldn't exhaust us.

BEAUTY
Appreciate all the vivid descriptions. Although we're comparing two extraordinary places, reading between the lines it seems that the vistas of the Azores might be more breathtaking.

CRIME
We're from LA so crime in Ireland doesn't seem too daunting, but we're looking forward to no keys...and walking with bulls.

WEATHER
a high in the low 70s will be fine for hiking

SWITZERLAND
Thanks for the suggestion, but Mr. Crosscheck is acrophobic and allergic to cable cars.

FLIGHT/HOTEL
We will have to fly to Boston from EWR before the 4.5 hour journey, but that flight on JetBlue is super short. Azores Airlines (previously SATA) gets terrible reviews - and there is a strike looming - but we'll be flying business (coach is sold out) so it shouldn't be that awful. Now deciding whether to stay on Terceira on the way back from Sao Miguel - there is a nonstop to BOS from there as well.

julies

We spent two weeks in western Ireland in May a couple years ago, and it was the first trip to Europe ever where we did not visit one museum or one church because we were concentrating on enjoying the marvelous scenery. While it was not exclusively a hiking vacation, we did lots of gorgeous half to 3/4 day hikes. I particularly recommend the Beara peninsula for this.

Skellig Michael off the Dingle peninsula was a particularly memorable boat trip and then a walk/hike to the top. We were not particularly impressed with the Burren area, but we did enjoy the authentic Irish music in the very small town of Doolin. If you decide against the Azores (I haven't been there) I can give you some more suggestions.

From your post, I didn't get the impression that all you are looking for is a heavy duty, non-stop hiking vacation.

crosscheck

<From your post, I didn't get the impression that all you are looking for is a heavy duty, non-stop hiking vacation.>

Correct - just some gorgeous, moderate hikes every day. Your plug for Ireland is giving me remorse. But I have already booked the Azores flight...

Sassafrass

Ireland will be there for another trip.
Look forward to some special foods in the Azores.

crosscheck

Just wanted to let everyone know that we landed in the Azores this morning and so far it does not disappoint. Absolutely spectacular scenery - lakes, sea, rocky coves, jungly forests and emerald farmland - with wild vivid blue and violet hydrangea everywhere. Spent the day sampling our hotel's hot spring baths (and excellent tapas) and are about to take a walk into the charming town of Furnas.

Planning on a trip report, but let's hope not too many people read it and this place remains unspoiled. Could be one of the most gorgeous - and chill - places we've been.

gertie3751

Just back from a week in Sao Miguel. Stunning scenery, easy to get about (used public buses, didint drive) geysers galore, very green and pleasant. We are not hikers either, enjoyed strolling around, sampling the pasteis de nata and the Portuguese G&Ts at the yacht club in Ponta Delgada. There is a very helpful tourist office in PD, plenty of organised tours if you want, inexpensive taxis, whale and dolphin watching tours. Only slight hiccup from my point of view was Atlantic weather.... it was coolish and sometimes wet with low cloud. Plenty of Americans there as there seem to be direct flights from Boston. For the very adventurous, Ryanair fly from London Stansted.