Hotel Matriz

The bed was queen-size with crisp white linens that smelled freshly cleaned, and I slept very comfortably. My room was clean and well maintained, with a good-sized bathroom and a spacious shower with sliding glass doors. It had the usual soap and shampoo, a closet with an extra pillow, blanket and hangers, plus a large desk with drawers, a chair and a 32-inch flat-screen TV. I was on the third floor, where the rooms have balconies. The view wasn't special, but the fresh air on a summer evening was nice, even with the air conditioning. The included continental breakfast had a good range of above-average products: breads, croissants, sliced meats, cheeses, butter, cereals, hard-boiled eggs, milk, tea and coffee from an automatic machine. There were plenty of seats in the dining room, and two patio tables next door for eating outside. There's also a lounge and a separate bar for wine or cocktails. The hotel has two elevators, one serving the parking garage and another inside. The staff were helpful and friendly. After I parked on the right side of the street, they even stopped traffic so I could back into the underground entrance and avoid having to circle back after checking in. Getting there can be tricky because of the one-way streets, but Google Maps helps. If there isn't street parking on the right when you turn onto the hotel street, pull into the underground garage entrance and find a spot that won't block it while you check in. Otherwise, if you don't know Ponta Delgada, you could drive a long way to loop back. It's a small hotel in the heart of Ponta Delgada, an easy walk to downtown, many sights and just about anything you might need. The price was reasonable, and I'd book here again.