Pico do Refúgio — Hotel in Ribeira Grande

Everything. Genuinely THE WORST experience I have ever had. Style over substance. Here's some headlines: Staff are awful - rude and only engage or reply when they feel like it (I have no doubt the manager will respond to this review with the usual sarcasm when they get any negative reviews, gaslighting their guests). We stayed during a 3 day 'local festival' that we weren't pre-warned about that turned into a rave with music so loud our walls were vibrating until 2.30am every night. Apparently the accommodation has no responsibility for this and describes local festivals as natural ambient noise and part of their Ts & Cs so you just have to suck it up. In addition, the property has no oven so you can't cook and so isn't really self-catering, has enough water to wash your feet only before it runs out and you have to wait two hours for it to warm up again. On top of all of this, a bird flew into our apartment on the first night which the hotel didn't deal with so we had an extra guest all night. They also failed to deal with it all of the next day so it flew around whilst we were out and dust from the beams and bird excrement was literally everywhere - all over our beds, surfaces and the floor (see photos). Each one of these issues were not dealt with with grace or any basic level of customer service. Instead you are made to smell the local tea and informed where the honey comes from and the local art. To be honest I'd take a quiet place to stay, that's clean and with hot water and pleasant staff over local tea. Next time I'll stay in a hostel for 50 euros a night. I tried to express my disappointment to the owner who was also very rude and informed me he was above having to deal with guest issues. I highly suspect all the positive reviews are from local artist friends or family as there is no way a normal guest would enjoy their stay here. AVOID AT ALL COSTS FOR THE REST...

We booked 2 apartments for a 5 night stay: the central apartment behind the chapel and one backing on to the road. ||First let me say that we had a wonderful stay. The first night here we were lucky enough to attend the inaugural “last supper” dinner held for a select 12 in the 17th Century chapel. A wonderful dinner and great way to meet fellow guests and some of the management team. As I understand these are going to be held once a month so if you’re lucky enough to be there I recommend attending. ||The apartments are generally clean, spacious, well equipped and a dehumidifier is provided - much appreciated in a humid environment. Our apartment did need some maintenance - specifically replacement of the fridge and repairs to the kitchen units. It’s on the list for the new management team. ||The grounds and views are lovely as is the pool. The reception area is really great with fantastic art reference books for those with an interest or just a place to sit and read - not withstanding the free coffee, cakes and cookies!||The location is a short drive from Riberia Grande (15mins) and maybe 30mins to Ponta Delgada but there are no local shops or restaurants. In that respect it is a little remote but peaceful. ||One piece of advice on the apartments. The ones backing on to the minor road do get some traffic noise through the walls which can be an issue at night. We also had a lot of festivals and the very loud bangers are a pain at 7am on a Sunday (nothing that the management can do about that of course). If you’re looking to book here consider the apartments in the main house adjacent to the reception - they have the best views and would be quieter. ||There is a laundry facility - washer and dryer - which seems to be unusual for many rental accommodations on the island. Much appreciated!||Many thanks to all for...

It is difficult to write a review for this place as it is just so wonderfully unique and cannot really be compared to a hotel. We stayed at Casa dos Coches which is one of the two units at the top of the hill and can’t say enough about how much we loved our unit. It is one of the smaller lofts but perfect for two people. I would say that if you have any mobility issues, you may want not want to stay here as there are stairs to the loft bedroom and the stairs do not have a railing. The loft is wonderfully private with its own little garden and patio (lots of birds and rabbits!). The drive to and from the top of the hill was always a joy as the views are so spectacular. The kitchen was great and had all the necessities that enabled us to cook a couple of nights. The building is converted with original walls so there is no centralized heating. However there is a wood fireplace in the unit for the cool nights and mornings and we were always quite cozy. Plenty of hot water. The daily cleaning service included washing our dishes and fresh towels. We had breakfast (plenty for two people) delivered a few times and really enjoyed the convenience especially while we were getting over the jetlag. The TV had lots of channels and even a great movie channel for the quiet evenings. Ricardo who manages the property was very friendly and helpful in giving tips and advice on what to do and see. Our stay was pretty much perfect and exceeded our expectations. I would say that this is special because it is NOT your typical hotel. We hope to return to this amazing...