AL Novavista by A5P

The terrace view across to Fajal Island and the vineyards was the one real highlight. The hotel was only our holiday agency's fallback because everything else on the island was full, and it turned out to be a bad choice. Our room in the main building had no view and was small. Some rooms have balconies, but there aren't many, so the odds of getting one are low. It felt like being in a bunker. The mattress was awful and the pillows were among the worst I've had in ages. Reception was never staffed. The only people we saw working during our stay were two young women, handling cleaning, breakfast, check-in and check-out, and everything else. Those two deserve a medal for working so hard. Breakfast was just okay. Like at most places in the Azores, the coffee came from a machine and was powdered. The AC worked, there was always hot water, and towels were replaced daily. The bins were emptied and the room cleaned only once during our four-day stay. There was a pool, but the water looked odd and smelled strongly of chlorine, so I didn't go in. Parking was spacious enough and free. A small fridge in the bedroom would be handy. If that's not possible, at least a minibar on the terrace would let guests enjoy a drink while watching the sunset.

The terrace is open around the clock, and with the vineyards and ocean behind them, it's a lovely place to sit with some local cheese, olives, and other treats from a decent grocery store. There really isn't anything nearby, no shops, restaurants, or bars. The view from the terrace is superb and breakfast is solid. Comfort seems to depend a lot on which room you happen to get. Ours was miserable, in a separate building rather than the one connected to the terrace.

The rooms had fantastic views, and from some of them you can see both Mount Pico and the sea. They were quite spacious too. There's a nice pool and the staff are friendly, though the Christmas lights and other odd decorations were a bit much. Breakfast was okay, nothing special.

The balcony has a nice view, and the room was clean. Most rooms, though, have windows at ground level right by the parking area or street. The staff were unfriendly, so it didn't feel welcoming. Breakfast was just cheap supermarket food, as others have mentioned.