The Sipyard — Hotel in Angra do Heroísmo

Honestly, if you're looking where to stay, just pick this one. I'm convinced it's the best place to stay without paying an exorbitant amount. You should definitely stay at this marvelous hotel as it combines culture, class, charm and character. We booked a 10 day stay in a room with a beautiful view. If you don't get a room with a view the hotel courtyard gives you the same views and is wonderful.||Aside from the beauty and charm, the hospitality is above all THE BEST. We were so impressed with the front staff! They gave us a way to message (text) them at any time. We asked them for food recommendations, extra towels/pillows, where to get medicine, call for a taxi... they helped so much and always with kindness. I really can't say enough about how happy we were with our stay. This hotel is not a cookie cutter hotel, you will get so much from staying here! ||Also, we stayed during the San Joaninas celebration and the hotel is so perfectly located. It is a walking distance away from Angra, the main city where the festival is and is just far enough that the sounds of the festival are not heard from the hotel (the celebration goes well passed 3AM). ||We had to check out in the early morning to catch our flight (5AM checkout). We mentioned this the night prior and in the morning when we checked out, they had a breakfast box for us! Also, speaking of breakfast, it's free and actually quite good! ||I will say the rooms are not large, but they are still relaxing. In the Azores though you won't be staying in your room too much anyway and just hang out in the courtyard, lounge or pool-- they're all available 24 hrs. Bring your own pillows though... we didn't like them so much. ||Anyway, stay here please!...

Stunningly beautiful hotel with an idyllic view from the pool and terrace above of the verdant hills and sun over the water. The breakfast buffet had yogurt, granola and muesli, plentiful fresh fruit and eggs, cheeses, meats and pastries — it was a very good selection for us as vegetarians. At night it’s very peaceful and quiet. The reception staff is helpful and provided beach towels on request; they also converted our twin beds to a double (I called in requesting this on the night of arrival and housekeeping adjusted the beds the next morning). Touches like the bottled water and delicious cookies at reception available whenever you walk in/out are also lovely. The hotel is about a 17min walk from sights in downtown Angra. We had a rental car starting on our second day on the island and the hotel’s free parking was really helpful.

My only critical comment would be on climate control inside the guest rooms. At least in our (first floor, poolside) room the humidity was very high, despite running AC on the “dry” mode. (Functionally, this meant our clothes and towels couldn’t dry indoors.) There was a mildewy odor that I think the smell of cleaning products slightly covered - no visible mold or mildew, but still should be addressed systematically (possibly by putting dedicated dehumidifiers inside bathrooms?) I’m guessing that high indoor humidity may be an island-wide part of life and not just an issue at this property. Finally, it would be a helpful plus if the hotel had some electronic charging ports (whether wireless for iphones, or plugins for usb/usb-c) built into the room, but not a must. Overall, this was a beautiful stay and I was glad to have spent our time in...

One word: WOW! Fun fact: the pope slept there. Just opened 3 months ago, and for the price, it doesn’t get better than this. The palace is stunning and fully renovated. When you arrive, you are taken in charge by the most lovely staff which will make you visit the location. The pool is gorgeous with a breathtaking view. The rooms are comfortable and modern. The mattress was so comfortable. Air conditioning works well and is not noisy. The shower water flow is strong. The included breakfast buffet was out of this world: everything was good and so much choice. Location is great very near the city center. Only negative details i noticed were a slight humidity smell in the corridors (the building is old, the smell was great in the rooms) and the fact that key card is required to activate electricity in the bedroom (and only 1 card given meaning we could not charge our electronic devices while away). It is rated a 4 star hotel, but it truly feels...