Ocean Views by Azores Villas

After long days of hiking, all we wanted was a decent shower, but the bathrooms were the biggest letdown. They're tiny, with a standing shower about 2 by 2 feet, no tub, and water got across the whole floor. Even my very skinny family struggled to shower. The kitchen was also so small it wasn't usable. On the plus side, the property is modern and fairly new, with amazing sea views, a great location, and plenty of parking right outside. The host was extremely helpful, and Paula gave us detailed suggestions for places to visit.

We were there with kids in chilly December, and the hot water problem was incredibly frustrating. We called reception several times, but the showers stayed cold. They told us to keep showers under five minutes; even when we did, we sometimes waited hours for hot water. It wasn't fair to blame us for supposedly going over the limit. Hot water is a basic amenity that guests should be able to rely on. I hope management takes this seriously and improves things for future stays.

The hot water wasn't working well, though they did leave beach towels and a nice basket of local treats. The villa itself felt very worn, with torn chairs and moldy bathrooms, and the rental photos looked outdated, as if they were taken when the place was new. Parking was a nightmare after a new shack-like structure was built, as shown in my updated photo. The area felt a little dodgy and didn't seem like a tourist area.

There's a lovely bakery and a small convenience shop just a two-minute walk away, and the apartment has cracking views of the Atlantic from the middle-floor kitchen balcony. It's spread over three floors, with no lift. One bedroom has an ensuite, while the other bathroom, with toilet, shower and bath, is on the ground floor. The front door uses a keypad, so there's no key to lose, just remember the code. Ponta Delgada town centre is about a 50-minute walk along lovely seaside paths, which felt very safe; taxis are good too.