Alojamento Bela Vista

Our room was simple, but very clean and had what we needed. The person at the front desk welcomed us warmly and explained everything clearly. There was some noise until around 11:30 pm, as I’ve found in most hostels. It wasn’t too loud, just irritating when I was trying to get to sleep.

The best part was the location in the main town, with restaurants, shops and the marina a short walk away. A boat trip to the islands is a must. Parking out front is free if you get lucky, otherwise you’ll need to walk a little. Our very basic room had two single beds, bunk beds and a wardrobe, with little space for anything else. The balcony was a bonus, and there was air conditioning and an en-suite.

The room was dark, and both the Wi-Fi and mobile signal were weak. Still, the staff were friendly, the air conditioning worked fine, and the kitchen was spacious and clean. The cleaning was adequate and the linen was clean.

Parking can be awkward so close to the centre, but the staff were right on top of it. They’d wait for a space to open up and park the car for you. The place is clean, good value and has a lovely Portuguese feel, with very helpful staff. There’s also a gorgeous little parrot keeping an eye on everyone coming and going, plus some interesting plants.