3 Star Hotels in Sao Jorge Island

I stayed 3 nights in this hotel as part of a group. The location on the coast, opposite Pico, is good, the (unheated) pool set in gardens looks nice. The rooms are small but adequate. It seems that the hotel is divided into two parts: those that have views over the pool, with coffee/tea facilities and those which don't (have views of the back of the restaurant and a bit of garden with some building works on the wall)! You can tell I was in the latter! This hotel prides itself on its breakfasts, with lots of home-baked goods (cakes, pies, pastries, biscuits). Unfortunately that is not much good if you can't eat gluten. It does not offer dinner in the evening. Since our group trip involved full board, we were sent to a pretty basic cafe up the road with formica tables and a very limited menu (vegetable soup, then grilled tuna or meat, then desert - which included tinned fruit salad one night). We had the same offer for 3 nights! The fish/meat was cooked freshly and well, at least! One big downside was that I slept with my window open rather than using aircon and got many mosquito bites - the only place this happened in the Azores. Maybe to do with the garden. Two things really annoyed me/us. On the last morning we were leaving early, as was another larger party. Our guide negotiated at length to get us a partial breakfast (excluding cooked items) before we left. We were told this would be in reception. Again, since I can't eat baked goods there was further negotiation to get me an apple and an orange set aside, as a special favour. When we arrived at 6.30 that morning, there had been dry sliced bread, sliced cheese and ham and coffee. I say 'there had been' because the previous group had eaten most of it (see picture). There was about 1 cm of milk left a jug to go with the remains of the coffee for our group of 9 and, of course, no fruit for me. That was very poor given that both the ferry and the flight out of Sao Jorge leave early so guests must regularly need to leave before breakfast opens at 7.30 am. The final insult was that I went to take my extra supplies of cheese/ham (because I couldn't eat much of their food) out of the room fridge when I left, only to find that it was warm. The fridge had been unplugged and the plug tucked behind the bin. This is a hotel with notices, if you know what I mean. There was a notice on the fridge whose English section said ' This refrigerator is for your use and is empty. If you wish to fill with any of these items, please contact directly the reception or ask for the room-service.' 'These items', was not explained/specified. So why unplug it if it is for my use? My food was ruined.

When you stay at Casa d'Avó Guesthouse in Velas, you'll be near the beach and within a 5-minute drive of Santa Bárbara Church. This guesthouse is 6.4 mi (10.2 km) from Velas Marina and 7.1 mi (11.4 km) from Igreja de Sao Jorge.Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as bicycles to rent or take in the view from a terrace and a garden. Additional amenities at this guesthouse include complimentary wireless internet access, tour/ticket assistance, and a picnic area.Take advantage of the guesthouse's room service (during limited hours).Featured amenities include dry cleaning/laundry services, a 24-hour front desk, and luggage storage. Guests may use a roundtrip airport shuttle for a surcharge, and free self parking is available onsite.Stay in one of 7 guestrooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Rooms have private patios. Prepare your meals in the shared/communal kitchen. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms feature showers, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers.

Located in Velas, Casa do Zé - AL is by the ocean, a 1-minute drive from Santa Bárbara Church and 15 minutes from Igreja de Sao Jorge. This cottage is 8.4 mi (13.5 km) from Velas Marina and 11.5 mi (18.5 km) from Pico da Esperanca.Take in the views from a terrace and a garden and make use of amenities such as complimentary wireless internet access.Free self parking is available onsite.Make yourself at home in one of the 4 individually decorated guestrooms, featuring kitchens with full-sized refrigerators/freezers and ovens. Rooms have private patios. Flat-screen televisions with satellite programming provide entertainment, while complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected. Conveniences include microwaves and coffee/tea makers, and housekeeping is provided weekly.

Located in Velas, Cantinho das Buganvillias is within a 10-minute drive of Igreja de Sao Jorge and Velas Marina. This aparthotel is 8.9 mi (14.3 km) from Pico da Esperanca and 10.3 mi (16.6 km) from Ponta dos Rosais Lighthouse.Take advantage of recreational opportunities offered, including a health club, an outdoor pool, and an indoor pool. Additional features at this aparthotel include complimentary wireless internet access, wedding services, and tour/ticket assistance.Take advantage of the aparthotel's room service (during limited hours). Wrap up your day with a drink at the bar/lounge. Continental breakfasts are available daily from 8 AM to 10 AM for a fee.Featured amenities include a business center, express check-in, and luggage storage. A roundtrip airport shuttle is complimentary (available on request).Treat yourself to a stay in one of the 19 individually decorated guestrooms, featuring private plunge pools and LCD televisions. Kitchenettes are outfitted with full-sized refrigerators/freezers, stovetops, and microwaves. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms with separate bathtubs and showers feature deep soaking bathtubs and rainfall showerheads.