If you have ever wanted to travel to Europe but were not interested in the crowded cities and ever-confusing ways to get around, consider going to the Azores. Specifically, Sao Miguel Island. With its volcanic geography and temperate climate, the Azores make a perfect holiday destination to escape cold winter weather or the hustle and bustle of traditional Europe. Ponta Delgada, the capital, offers a wide variety of accommodations to suit everyone, but one hotel stands out as an excellent option for the budget-conscious traveler. In this article, I will review the NEAT Hotel Avenida and explain why it makes a perfect option for a place to stay in Ponta Delgada.
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Why travel to Sao Miguel?
Although part of Portugal, Sao Miguel is an island like no other. Sao Miguel is the largest of the nine Portuguese islands that comprise the Azores archipelago. Sao Miguel was discovered in 1427 by Gonçalo Velho Cabral as part of an expedition that included colonists from Continental Portugal. Drawn to the island out of necessity due to its strategic position in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the settlers soon discovered many reasons to stay.
If the dramatic coastlines and plentiful fish and whale supplies were not enough, then the green hills and the intrigue and mystery of the volcanic mountains, hot springs, and boiling mud pools would surely attract them to stay.
Today, Sao Miguel is known as “the Green Island” and has touted itself as a nature lovers’ paradise. Hiking, canoeing, and biking are some of the more popular activities, and Whale and dolphin watching is also an increasingly popular activity among tourists.
As a green’ island, many businesses are also on the environmentally conscious bandwagon. They are trying to renovate and promote eco-friendly practices to ensure a less obtrusive tourist experience. In Ponta Delgada, many hotels offer eco-friendly options, including the NEAT Hotel Avenida.
Where is the NEAT Hotel Avenida located?
The NEAT hotel Avenida is located within a short 3km from the airport. Depending on your arrival time, the local bus (with a ticket booth inside the airport terminal) is an excellent option for transport to the hotel. The cost is €8 and takes about 10 minutes.
This is the best location if you want to be right in the middle of the action. According to TripAdvisor, this hotel has a walking rating of 93, which is central to all the historical sites, gardens, restaurants, and bars. With a score like this, it could be considered one of the best places to stay in Ponta Delgada.
If keeping busy is in your game plan, this hotel is off the main street, Av. Infante Dom Henrique has easy access to the tour office meeting points and kiosks. From the east-facing windows and the harbor at the end of the street, you will surely appreciate some fantastic early-morning views!
About the NEAT Hotel Avenida
Reception Area
The hotel’s well-lit reception area is bright, modern, and welcoming. From the street, the automatic sliding glass doors make it easy to carry your baggage into the hotel. The reception staff are courteous and ensure you feel welcome in their hotel.
Booking a stay at the NEAT Hotel Avenida can be done directly through the hotels’ website or several third-party booking sites, including Booking.com, Agoda.com, and Trip.com. Many package tour companies, such as Azores Getaways, also offer this hotel as an option with their packages.
The reception desk is staffed 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week, thus providing an excellent service regardless of when you arrive or leave.
Rooms
The rooms at this centrally located hotel are of adequate size and comfort. Slight variations and inclusions are available, but all provide some city view. There is plenty of storage space, and an in-room safe is available.
Bathrooms are well-equipped with toilet, sink, bidet, and tub/shower combination. A hairdryer is installed on the wall, and shower gel/shampoo is installed on the bath wall. There is no fan in the room, so the mirror tended to fog up after showers.
The bed was quite comfortable, and the room temperature could be adjusted to your liking. It should be noted that there is some traffic noise from the street, especially on Saturday night, but overall, a good night’s sleep.
Breakfast
A hot and cold buffet breakfast is available but read the fine print on your hotel bookings as not all packages have it included. You are welcome to partake, but there may be an additional fee of € 10.
Breakfast consists of a selection of cold cereals, bread, yogurt, fruit, scrambled eggs, ham, and sausage. Coffee, juice, mild, and water are available for beverages.
The breakfast area is a bright corner of the NEAT Hotel Avenida, not far from reception. Tables are plentiful and are also available during the day for business use.
Amenities
Amenities at this hotel could be more plentiful as it is more of a business-oriented hotel. Meeting rooms are available on the lower level, along with a gym. If you are traveling with a family, there are better choices than this as it does not have a pool or any recreational facilities suitable for children.
This hotel has neither a bar nor a restaurant. Generally, this is not an issue due to its location close to the city center, but sometimes you want a bite without going for a walk.
As is luggage storage facilities, early and late check-in/out is available.
A drink and snack machine is available in the lobby area.
Tour Desk
The NEAT Hotel Avenida does offer tour desk services. If you still need to book your tours, the reception area can assist you with selecting some great options. Go and chat with them, and they will provide you with some brochures of the most popular tours in the area. Once you have selected, there is no need to call direct as the reception desk can make the booking for you.
Some of the most common tours are SETE Cidades / Lagoa do Fogo, Furnas, and Nordeste / Povoacao, all offered through Sao Miguel Tours. Although many companies operate the same excursions, it is more beneficial to book through the hotel as they can call and verify that your tour operates on the day you wish.
Futurismo offers a fantastic whale and dolphin-watching tour, which can also be booked from the hotel.
Picos de Aventuras offers more adventurous options such as canyoning, mountain biking, scuba diving, and sport fishing. Be sure to check dates, as some adventures only operate year-round.
Please note that the tours booked through the hotel must be paid directly with the tour operator rather than through your hotel account. Some will take credit cards, while others will accept cash, and you can have the front desk verify the forms of payment.
Eco-Friendly and Sustainability
The NEAT Hotel Avenida is a member of the Bensaude Hotels collection, which has achieved a Travelife Gold level certification. The Travelife GOLD certificate is awarded to organizations that demonstrate their performance in several areas: – Minimizing environmental impacts, improving economic and social implications on the Community, respecting and protecting human rights and working conditions, and Biodiversity protection.
At the hotel, this is evident in the rooms where you can elect whether you need a new towel or require new sheets. Daily cleaning includes making the bed but only changing it if necessary.
In the lobby/breakfast area, a moss wall is used as a decoration feature, but it also adds to the environmentally friendly nature of the building.
You might be interested in a Destination overview for Sao Miguel.
Sao Miguel Destination Guide
Sao Miguel in the Azores is a fantastic destination to explore. With its stunning natural beauty, delicious food, and unique culture, there are plenty of things to see and do. This 5 page destination overview guide will give you a great insight into what to expect and where to start your adventure!
Final Thoughts on the NEAT Hotel Avenida
If you are looking for a great place to stay in Ponta Delgada that is budget-friendly, close to the airport, perfect for solo female travelers, and close to all the Ponta Delgada restaurants, then the Neat Hotel Avenida is the place to go. Whether you come to Sao Miguel Island in the Azores for business or pleasure, your stay at the NEAT Hotel Avenida will be remembered.
You May Also Like these posts from Sao Miguel:
- Sete Cidades, Sao Miguel: How To Visit the Spectacular Twin Lakes
- Exploring Ponta Delgada – Discover Some of the Best Things to See
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I love a good hotel recommendation. When traveling somewhere new you always have the slight worry in the back of your mind. Keeping this in mind for a future trip!
Yes, it very was a nice hotel. Staff were very friendly as well.
We loved our visit to the Azores last year and were impressed by so many businesses focusing on eco-tourism. We didn’t stay in the NEAT hotel but it looks like a good option. It’s very convenient that they are able to arrange tours to the lovely attractions on Sao Miguel.
Yes, it was very convenient. I had a Viatour get cancelled and they were able to find a tour last minute with 30 minutes notice.