Casa Conforto

The window looked out onto a dirty, moldy inner courtyard, nothing like what I expected from the online photos with their curtains conveniently shut. The hotel had a musty smell throughout, though my room was clean and seemed fine at first. There was a strong bleach odor in the room when I arrived. I assume it had just been cleaned, but with no proper ventilation it lingered for a couple of days and gave me a headache. I asked the staff about changing rooms or getting help, and they offered neither a solution nor an apology. When I said I was uncomfortable and wanted to cancel the rest of my stay, they told me I could leave but wouldn't get a refund. The hair dryer and air conditioning didn't work either.

The team was really nice, and the hotel was clean and in a good location. But the sheets are so worn they’re almost see-through, and the walls and doors need soundproofing. The owner is probably very cheap. Other guests ignored quiet hours, so I could hear snoring next door and drunk people coming back in the middle of the night.

The location was great, but the listing on Expedia said there was free parking and laundry, and neither was available. Customer service wasn't great either, since staff were only at the hotel for an hour each day. Our flight was cancelled, so we arrived late at night, and no one was there to tell us our room number. We couldn't get hold of them easily and were locked out for a couple of hours. The walls also let through a lot of sound. At night we could hear returning guests, cars, and people walking outside the window, which kept us awake. I'm sure there are better places unless location is a very high priority.

You can cook in the well stocked shared kitchen, and the rainfall shower and fluffy towels were lovely touches. The rooms were spotless, with very comfortable beds. Right in downtown Ponta Delgada, the guest house is close to shops, restaurants, and historic buildings. Thanks to all the staff for everything.