Has anyone been to The Azores,

[GeidiPrimes]

...and is it amazing?

I imagine it to be somewhere I could rent a holiday cottage for maybe a month, (preferably with my dog). Does anyone know which bits are more remote? (Googling doesn't help much)

Yeah once, accidentally, only for an hour or so though

My friend bought a cheapo flight to Barbados, at some point on the way there we stopped to refuel in the Azores. No idea whether it was planned or not as I'd had nothing to do with the booking but it was unexpected as far as I was concerned. It was hot, looked nice out of the window but I think I was both hungover and possibly drunk and it wasn't Barbados

Ooh, I bet an archipelago looks really weird from above Congealed The landscape's mental!

Santa Maria is pretty remote. It's a while since I was there, but I remember there being only 2 restaurants & one hotel where we stayed. So plan to self cater!

Spent a few days on Sao Miguel, hired a car and explored. Pretty, volcanic but lush, interesting volcanic lakes and hot bathing springs, good roads, Decathlon and McDonalds! Hydrangeas everywhere (national flower).
A few days was enough but it was lovely.

Santa Maria's the island that most appeals to me greying. Without knowing anything about it at all.

I just discovered that there's a theory that it's the remains of Atlantis

You're planning on taking your dog to The Azores? Sorry but that's mad, and probably impractical.

Not planning exactly Barbara - I'd prefer to take him, but wouldn't if I thought it might stress him out. Do you think it's mad going on holiday with a pet full stop, or are The Azores particularly tricky?

Well seeing as it's likely to be at least two flights and possibly a boat ride, it's likely to be really expensive and quite stressful for him.

Obviously taking a dog on holiday in the UK is fine, and probably driving to France or Ireland with one, but multiple international flights is a bit different.

Plus what would happen if he got sick or injured over there? You're talking about going somewhere remote, so where will the nearest vet be? Will your insurance cover the bills?

A colleague has family there and would fly via mainland Portugal as that was cheaper. There used to be direct flights but either way a long flight for a dog for a week?

We've been to São Miguel, around this time of year. We flew direct with Ryanair. Outside of Ponta Delgada it all felt quite remote as it was before the main tourist season so fairly deserted. I'm not sure taking a dog is realistic but no idea really.

I loved it. Warmer than here in November but not hot. Self Cater absolutely. There's not a lot there tbf but that's what I wanted- remote pretty and bathing in volcanic waters. I have no dog but probably would not take one if I did. The flights not short if you stay on any smaller island there is a second flight and I have no idea how to access a vet if necessary. Everything is quite steep and rocky- not sandy beaches iyswim. Loved sitting on the rocks with the tide coming in spray everywhere as its quite rough!

I’ve not been but it’s right at the top of my bucket list to go whale watching and diving in The Azores.

@GeidiPrimes

Santa Maria's the island that most appeals to me greying. Without knowing anything about it at all.

I just discovered that there's a theory that it's the remains of Atlantis

The say that about Akrotiri on Santorini as well.

The Azores were on A Place in the Sun last weekend - it looked bleak bleak bleak.

Loved it, some years ago now but amazing whale watching and beautiful scenery. Restaurants served some very weird Atlantic fish that I’d never heard of and everything came with boiled potatoes and carrots. So excited when we found pizza!! Really nice holiday but not touristy

Really nice holiday but not touristy

This is what I was hoping!

Clearly not practical for a dog though - he'll have to stay at home for this one.

The Azores were on A Place in the Sun last weekend - it looked bleak bleak bleak

Oh no! It looks really lush to me, with all the forests and lakes.

I went in 2019, it’s very beautiful and you can find loads of places on the main island that will be empty and feel remote. Even the capital Ponta Delgado is not what you’d class as busy at all.
Agree with pp, you can get a direct flight from London.
Closer to home the Scilly Isles are a good bet, the off islands feel very remote, people and weather beautiful. Will remove the quarantine issues for your dog.

Some pictures.

It’s definitely not bleak! Very green, very lush.

It's very green, but if it's windy (and it often is) and grey it can feel bleak. The flip side to the weather not being great is it makes hot pools far more enjoyable.

The only negative for us was it was unseasonably cold, not an issue when out and about but the heating in the place we were staying wasn't up to much and if I went back I'd check out heating options of accommodation more carefully.

If your idea is to stay somewhere and eat out a lot I'd reconsider too, depending on time of year. The meals we had were good, but a lot of restaurants weren't open so choices fairly limited, and we were a drive from anywhere.

Those photos Jjjjjj! It's funny, I'm not usually arsed about travelling abroad but there's just something about the place that intrigues me. I read Clive Barkers Abbarat when I was younger, about a magical land that is an archipelago and think that must have stuck in my psyche.

Yes it’s amazing! DH, DS and I went for 2 weeks in 2017. We flew direct from Stansted to Ponta Delgada, and spent time on Sao Miguel, Faial and Pico. We took an internal flight between PD and Faial, ferry between Faial and Pico.
It’s not bleak at all, but the weather in August is more like British summer than anything, so you’d need a jumper for the evening, and waterproofs. Sunny enough for T shirt in the day, but often windy.
The vegetation on Sao Miguel is really lush and tropical, and the volcanic landscapes are gorgeous. The blue hydrangeas are something to behold! We went swimming with wild dolphins, and whale watching.

The restaurants mostly serve fish, but we ate quite a lot of takeaway pizza (DS only 7yrs old stars the time, so largely self-catered), and there was plenty of fresh bread, cheese and salad for making lunches.
I said to DH that it would be amazing to rent a place for the summer, I can imagine writing a novel/ painting there.
Enjoy!

I went three times last year (4 in total). It’s one of my favourite places on the planet (and I travel a lot). I’ve only been to S. Miguel as I booked the night/few days before. Each time, I discovered something new. I go mainly for the thermal springs but loved the remoteness and lack of tourists. I’m surprised someone has described it as bleak - it’s so far from bleak. There is a FB group called expats in the Azores - you could get advice there. I know people have travelled there with their dogs. Best of luck - I’d love to live there for a few weeks.

DH is from Portugal so we’ve been quite a few times to different islands and I think it’s lovely! We tend to go outside of peak summer (March or October) and the weather is still, it is quite remote/relaxing but that sounds up your street!

I think people are saying bleak because it’s quite rocky generally (rocky beaches, volcanic, etc.) and the weather can be windy and get very misty/foggy but it’s a really beautiful natural place.