Hotel Gaivota Azores — Hotel in Ponta Delgada

A small hotel with none of the benefits of such. People who love small hotels always claim they offer warm, friendly service where the staff knows you and pampers you. This place's website mentions how you're family when you check in. Hah! You get none of that here. The desk staff are surley, unhelpful and don't know a thing about the local area. You can't even get a map from them (not that they know anything about the area to guide you). AND YOU CAN GET PRINTED MAPS FROM THE TOURIST BUREAU AND THE CAR RENTAL AGENCIES. They tried to book us reservations at two restaurants that had been out of business for months. No idea when restaurants even open (they told us 7pm and we'd arrive at 6:55 to find the place full of diners with their entres already in front of them)--and mind you these were restaurants on their recommended list! Totally clueless about local parking rules. Completely unhelpful with restaurant recommendations or directions (everything is a 5 minute walk to them even if it's really a half hour). And we never saw the same person twice at the desk so they had no clue who we were or wether we were even guests. So much for family service. You want early check-in or late check-out, forget about it (maybe tey give you 1/2 hour, otherwise you have to pay half the room rate). You have to pay 2 euros to "rent" a towel. No minibars or any kind of amenities in the room except for a complementary bottle of still water that they don't renew. No pool no health club. You can't even get a clothes iron!. The elevator is positively scary--supposedly fits 4 people but two Americans would have difficulty fitting (even if they were in love) and that's with no luggage--and no ventilation in it so it's stifling. If you're claustrophic you'd better be prepared to walk the stairs. Breakfast starts late at 7:30 and half the coffee machines are out of order at any given time. Only redeeming factor is the large bathroom with dual sinks (that is in the junior apartment we had--not sure what others get) but unless you're very athletic getting in and out of the 3 foot deep tub with no grab bars is difficult and dangerous--not sure how elderly or handicapped people can stay here. And the best part....read Management's tone deaf response (below). The ONLY good quality of this place is it's location--right in the middle of everything. ...

This was a fantastic place to stay if you want a hotel accommodations but space for family. They speak english very well. The bedrooms were large as were the bathrooms. The kitchen area was convenient for snacks,drinks and morning breakfast and heating up leftovers. The morning breakfast in the dinning area in the loby was peefect. Be sure to order off the menu too!! The balacony was nice to sit and people watch with a glass of wine or beer that you can buy at the grocery downstairs. Jason at the front desk was patient, helpful and very accommodating to your needs. He always had answers to your questions. Laura was funny, delightful and made the BEST recommendations for local places to eat dinner. The wait staff and cleaning staff were extremely kind and did a great job daily. The location is in the heart of the pier and at the center of local Punta Delgada life. Walk behind the hotel for shopping cafes and sightseeing traditional cobblestone streets. The hotel is only a short drive to numerous beautiful senic places and rural attractions. Get a taste of all that the Azores have to offer with the best choice of places to stay. Overall 5+ stars for a best experience at a hotel/apartment. Do not hesitate to stay...

This was a fantastic place to stay if you want a hotel accommodations but space for family. The bedrooms were large as were the bathrooms. The kitchen area was convenient for snacks,drinks and morning breakfast and heating up leftovers. The morning breakfast in the dinning area in the loby was peefect. Be sure to order off the menu too!! The balacony was nice to sit and people watch with a glass of wine or beer that you can buy at the grocery downstairs. Jason at the front desk was patient, helpful and very accommodating to your needs. He always had answers to your questions. Laura was funny, delightful and made the BEST recommendations for local places to eat dinner. The wait staff and cleaning staff were extremely kind and did a great job daily. The location is in the heart of the pier and at the center of local Punta Delgada life. Walk behind the hotel for shopping cafes and sightseeing traditional cobblestone streets. The hotel is only a short drive to numerous beautiful senic places and rural attractions. Get a taste of all that the Azores have to offer with the best choice of places to stay. Overall 5+ stars for a best experience at a hotel/apartment. Do not hesitate to stay...