Hotel A Ilha

For the price, this is probably the best option in Angra de Heroismo, but the breakfast was really poor: little choice, cheap items, and no quality food. The rest was agreeable, clean, central, comfortable, and easygoing. Room comfort varied a lot, too. My first night was in a large, airy, nicely renovated street-facing room with a fridge. The next night I got a small, shabby room facing an inner courtyard with no fresh air.

Our family room in this older building was roomy, with a pleasant sitting area and a small balcony. There are stairs. We were in a front room on the first floor, and I expected more street noise than we heard. Breakfast is included, simple but fine for a continental meal. The receptionist pointed us to free parking about a three- to four-minute walk away, where we always found a space. Paid parking is also available out front. It's a great location, and I'd recommend it to a friend.

Right in the heart of the old town, this is a modest hotel in an old building, with the hotel on the top floor and stairs only. The location is lovely, with cafes, restaurants, and other places all around, and everything easy to reach on foot. Our room was clean, had a private shower and toilet, and enough amenities to be comfortable. The staff were nice, though the doors were very noisy. Breakfast was below average, very basic, and there wasn't even coffee. Still, it works well for a short weekend break.

The location really is amazing, but the island is small enough that you can stay elsewhere. The bathroom felt stuck in the 1960s, and though an old bathroom can still be improved, ours had a rotten, filthy toilet brush and dirty shower curtains that stuck to us while showering. There was a sock under the bed, so the room hadn't been cleaned properly. In the middle of a humid summer, the broken air conditioner was miserable. The paper bathroom cups looked disgusting, even though I understand the environmental reason for them. Glass ones would be better. Breakfast was extremely poor: awful instant coffee, no fruit, and nothing suitable if you don't eat bread or sugary cereal. If camping is your thing, this place is perfect.