Hotel Gaivota Azores

I was traveling in Portugal and the Azores for about 20 days. Hotel Gaivota was our last lodging, and by far it was the best! The location is perfect as a base to explore Ponta Delgada, the capital of the Azores. Right on the harbor and in the center of the waterfront, it's a perfect base. The staff is truly exceptional, friendly, helpful and full of information. Don't hesitate to ask any questions about Sao Miguel! They have a very helpful 3-day itinerary for island exploration, so do ask! The room was excellent, spotless and comfortable. The included breakfast was good and very complete. This may just be the best small hotel in Ponto Delgada! Also... you really should visit the Jardim Botânico António Borges which is a spectacular botanic garden in the center of Ponto Delgada. It is over 150 years old and just amazing for its variety and unique design. You won't regret spending a couple of hours there. It's close to the capitol building as well.

The hotel is very well located, one step away from the main highlights at the historic district. The room had a good size and all amenities we needed. Breakfast was very good, with some optional free extras that we could ask the staff for and every day they had something different (eg: different eggs, different cakes, different fruits etc). All the Staff was very gentle and extremely polite and respectful.

We absolutely loved the hotel and ended up extending our stay for two more days. Everything was perfect — especially the front desk staff, who were incredibly helpful, kind, and professional. I really wish I had taken their names to thank them personally. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart! The only small note is that the breakfast could use more variety, but overall it was still fine. As an experience, I truly enjoyed it and would definitely consider coming back again.

Super friendly staff. Very clean. Room and buffet and common areas. Great breakfast. We had a "Junior Suite with Balcony and Sea View." The balcony looked out over the water. It had a huge bathroom with a giant tub. Short walk to the Portas da Cidade (city gates) of downtown. Water, Nespresso, and tea in the room, and they stock it every day. Pingo Doce convenience store next door. They have some parking passes for the underground garage. If you have a car, ask when you check in to see if one is available. It's €5/day, but it's much more convenient than dealing with street parking or paying for a different lot.

The hotel is well located by the waterfront in Ponta Delgada and easy walking distance to all city attractions. The staff were responsive before and during my stay. My room was adequate for my needs, but I would consider a larger room next visit. The breakfast was limited with both egg options being overcooked, but there are a la carte options that I only noticed the second day to make a fresh omelette, toastie or yogurt, fruit and granola. The coffee was great!!! Overall I enjoyed my stay.