As tourists, my husband and I found the restaurant schedule for meals ridiculous. North Americans like to eat dinner early like 17:00 to 18:00 hrs and a lot of restaurants were closed until 19h30 or 20:00hrs. Also restaurants close after 14:00hrs and reopen for dinner so good luck finding a restaurant open when you are hungry.
That's unusually early, internationally. Everywhere is different I suppose. Try Spain, where the chef arrives at about 8pm to start prepping the evening meals and warming the ovens. Almost nobody arrives to eat before 9.30pm. This is the other end of the spectrum, I admit. Eat more at lunch time ☺
Seriously?? One of the main reasons people travel is to experience how other cultures do things differently! Embracing those differences is what makes travel fun & interesting. Complaining about something like this illustrates your lack of research. Practically no one around the world eats dinner at 1700-1800! I've had beautiful dinners at midnight in Madrid with children from all the outdoor restaurants playing together in a small central park...amazing! Was I hungry waiting? Of course not, lunch was at 1400 & tapas/drinks at 2000. When in Rome....
Weird, I guess in Europe we eat dinner much later I usually eat at around 9pm to 10pm, since 5pm to 6pm is usually when we get out of work, that's way too early to have dinner, especially because we tend to have a small meal between lunch and dinner, after work we relax for an hour maybe two and only then we start cooking, at least that's my own experience. Also most restaurants do close between 2pm and 3pm because that's their lunch break, but there's usually some restaurants that stay open, and most bakeries will stay open all day and offer full meals, snack bars sometimes two. Also I highly recommend doing BBQ's, most islands will have many BBQ spots dotted all around the island, for example in parks and on the side of the road with beautiful views, they will generally also have free firewood stored under the grill for you to use.
I've been to the Azores and I can honestly say the worst thing about them is having to leave! I was so mesmerized by their breathtaking scenery and welcoming locals that my stay seemed so short!
I agree. The one part about leaving that really sucks is that the flights back to the East coast of US arrive fairly late in the day and if there are ANY delays for ANY reason you will miss your connecting flight and be stuck there overnight.
My husband and I always go to Madeira, the weather is great there during summer and during winter it’s still ok. A lot better than our native Dutch weather. He proposed to me on Porto Santo so Madeira and Porto Santo have a lot of meaning to us. We now want to visit the Azores too on our next holiday. I’ve always wanted to see manta rays in real life in the ocean so maybe that’s also possible to do and dive at the Azores. Thank you for the informative video!
Hi Sarah! I have never been to Madeira, I would love to visit it one day! I am curious to know your opinion on the Azores, once you visit it! Wishing you a great day and thanks for stopping by and sharing your story! Greetings!
this is not truth don't be stupid ridiculous what say , just don't be there people don't need you there , Azores is the best Archipelego of the world clean safety and good people living there i know sobecause i am from there
There is plenty of diving schools here that will also take tourists to see all kind of things, fish like manta rays, sharks, there's also Blue marlin, that you may be able to see, and also underwater caves if you're brave enough. This is at least the Information I have from the Island I live on, Faial Island in the central group of the Azores and just beside that you have the highest mountain of Portugal, Pico Island, that can be scaled with a guide.
The ferrys only on work in the central group of islands in the archipelago because the island are closer together. the flights are expensive for foreigners, for locals is actually not that bad ( i pay 100 euros from sao jorge to Lisbon). I suggest you to visit Sao Jorge if you havent yet, its such a stunning place.
@@Dacoldest23 no, that only works for Azorean residents (at least for the last 3 years) and you pay 60€ round trip for any island and 130€ to the mainland also round trip. TBF if you book in advance the flights arent that much more than 130€ at least for são Miguel or terceira. From são Miguel you can go to Santa Maria and from terceira you can easily catch the ferry for another island and it's fairly cheap
The worst thing with all paradise islands is the lack of housing. The number of available rental units has dropped as remote workers have moved in. At the same time, the prices have gone up angering also the locals.
It's surprising how much the humidity, insects and lizards sounds just like Florida. We have those exact same things in Florida, but we do have heating and air conditioning here in Florida. The Azores are way more beautiful than Florida though. It's just flat here.
@Noemi Mikleová well, for one, we don't have rock in Florida. We do have panthers, alligators, some type of crocodile, wild boars (that are really aggressive), multiple types of poisonous snakes, etc. We have so many amazing bird species here, and many species of butterflies. We have American Bald Eagles, deer, and lots of raccoons, rabbits, opossums, black bears, and more. We used to have great fishing, until that massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Lots of sharks in the ocean surrounding Florida too, includibg great white sharks. These days, the summers are just too hot, but the winters are great as it doesn't snow here. 😊
If you’re looking for a great holidays, relaxing , having good food as a regular person, you’re welcome. I’ve been in there. Remember, perfection doesn’t exist but let’s not ruin paradise….
Yes. You just take them as a part of life and learn to live with them haha, after a while you don’t really care and eventually, they are not that scary haha
After listening to the worst things as you say, l feel that you're a very negative person because l lived there for 15 years and there's public transportation anywhere in the island you just need to adjust and l can see you'd never be able to , also the inconveniences you described can and does happen right here in the US. To me l'll take all the bad because the good outweighs the 10 times.
I think she is trying to offer a realistic point of view. No place on Earth is perfect and some little points may be improved. Small problems you see in a single island are not everywhere.
Why so many tourists are complaining about insects?! You are in the middle of Nature! And they were here first! So many people leave their food open and outside the refrigerator or containers... and then are shocked to find ants in their sugar or cockroaches in their not properly closed bag with bread... guys, please remember that you are not in the middle of an big city!!!
My family is from Sao Jorge and I’ve been there many times but I’ve never seen cockroaches but we also properly contain any foods or containers which is probably why the only thing we’ve had an abundance of is lizards but they don’t even cause problems 🤣
I spent 2 weeks in Horta, Faial in November. I loved it there. The food was amazing and the people were so lovely. It was, however, painfully difficult to get there from UK. I had to fly from Manchester to Porto, Porto to Ponta Delgada, Ponta Delgada to Terceira and Terceira to Horta. All told, including the waiting at airports, it took more than 24 hours of travelling. Fortunately, in Porto, there were chairs in the Departure lounge that it was possible to catch a little sleep on and the Portuguese airport authorities are not at all phased about travellers doing this. My main problem was getting back to UK food after the 2 weeks was up. I can no longer eat English bread unless it was from an artisan bakery and it took me a while to find a cheese that was remotely any where near as good as the Azorean cheeses.
Hi Rob, thanks for sharing! I am happy you had a lovely experience. Yes, it can be a bit more complicated to get to Horta, especially in winter season. During summer, as far as I know, there are direct flights from Manchester/London to Ponta Delgada !:) Have a great day! Noemi
And you didn't know this before you traveled? If you knew this before then why the complaining? Remote destinations that hard to get to are often the most rewarding and the least stomped on by the hoards of tourists.
Hi im andrei from faial i can understand the problems but the wort thing is the beer and other drinks and the people you can easily crash a car at night because of the druken state of people it might seem lovely on the surface but it isent there are horrible horrible people like school directors.
Excellent video. Well spoken full of wisdom and easily understood. Tourists are often very demanding if they go somewhere without doing adequate research. I llve place that gets many thousands of tourists from around the world. Many are understanding that things are different from where they come from, but there are others who are demanding, and upset to find things are not the same as where they come from. That's just the way it always is just about anywhere. It's like they expect you to change your culture and ways of doing things to satisfy their expectations. From my extensive travels in the world I have found other places like this - usually it is a specific area where tourists can live in a bubble that is very similar to where the majority of them have come from. Where things are done to cater to the manner of doing things back home. One place that comes to mind is Hawaii. Many tourists like to stay in the area called Waikiki. It is surrounded by the Alawai Canal. It is full of stores selling cheap souvenirs and seriously overpriced convenience stores and restaurants serving overpriced and mediocre food. It was also a place where people will get loud, rude, stupid, and drunk. Very often. Locals rarely went into this area unless they worked there. Most never saw the Hawaiian way of life, and probably weren't interested anyhow. My point is life in a place from a tourists perspective versus one who lives there are quite different. Disappointment in travel often is the result of poor planning and preparation. Don't just believe the glossy tourist brochures. Dig a little deeper.
I agree totally, if you want it the same as home, stay home. The best way to travel is to go where the locals are, not some man made fantasy place . When I travel, I want to learn something . It’s true, they never learn about different cultures or the wonderful hidden gems, love your comment. When I travel I see a lot of exactly what you are saying, they miss the whole idea of exploration.
Exactly. And, generally speaking, the lower the I.Q. the higher the expectations and demands for the place they're visiting to be "just like home. Let's hope the Azores will never go down that rabbit hole!
I am so so glad you did receive a very positive reaction to this video. I made one very similar to yours and I got so much hate I had to put it down when I received mails from people threating my life about it 😅 (and no, I was not rude, I just talked about the mold and the flight connections and how on Pico it can be really hard to get certain things including fresh vegetables). So I am glad your comment sections seems to be rather nice! Greetings from Pico!
São Miguel is so beautiful. I will be coming back and look around again. Sete cidades is amazing and all the beaches. For a person who lives there it is hard, most of my young cousins work and go to school in europe. Força dos Açores!!!
Excellent informative video! I was on Ponta Delgada last Nov, what a stunningly beautiful Island! The first day , i had no car, and used the public buses.. I have to say,, you absolutely need a car. once I got mine, I was able to explore so many different spots.. I plan on going back in the future to visit a couple of other Islands. thanks for the great video!
Hello Carol Ann King, thank you for stopping by! In this you are right - there are mamy spots where you can get only with a car (or it would take too long by bus)
Usefull video!I am bulgarian who living in Czech Republic and i want to change my homeplace,maybe Azores will be good choice.I was on Martinique island before 4 years and from this moment i start thinking about some general change of my life.Thanks for video! 🇧🇬🇨🇿 🏝
Hi! Why do you have this feeling, that people from Eastern Europe are making videos against Portugal? I did not notice this so I would be very interested in knowing your opinion, if you find some time! Have a great day!
Hello, I'm from Lisbon but I live in the Azores since 1997. Let me just add some information. If you want to visit Corvo, you can fly (with some stops, not directly) or you can take the big ferry to Flores and then a small boat to Corvo (I did this once, they even stopped so we could swim with the dolphins). The large ferry (Atlanticoline) only operates during spring and summer, due to rough sea conditions. Cockroaches are a pest, especially in summer. However, if your BNB has been pulverized, they will usually appear almost dead and upside down. Expect to find them on the streets after sunset. Avoid sitting in public places (such as walls or doorsteps). On the terraces, keep your eyes open. They can climb up your legs. They fly too. About the weather: a good summer is not a certainty, bad weather in other months of the year is the most likely outcome. It rains a lot, with several strong storms throughout the year. Now, about the natives of São Miguel (“Micaelenses”): if you are planning to move to this particular island, most of your new friends will probably be foreigners or Portuguese from the mainland. The “Micaelenses”, despite seeming warm people, are very reserved. Furthermore, if we move a little away from the big cities, like Ponta Delgada or Ribeira Grande, the culture and average education of the natives decreases exponentially and we can expect many drug addicts. Moving around: forget public transports or hitchiking. Rent a car or use taxis. To conclude, the restoration in the Azores has always been terrible. Many restaurant and bar owners still think they are doing their customers a favor. However, due to the huge growth in tourism in recent years, they are improving a little.
Many, many generations ago, some of my ancestors came from this island. I have not come across any documentation that they ever went back to visit, but then again, 3 centuries ago it was not an easy thing. Thanks for this nice video
There are 9 islands there, not just one. And the food can be quite correct, although not very cheap. Now 2 hours in an aircraft (économy class) is probably the maximum I can endure, so no chance for Thailand.
I lived there for 15 months on Teciera Island near Lajes. I loved the people and its festivals. Only disadvantage is a small island not much choice for shopping. Yes the weather can be crappy but I lived northern Greenland , the Middle East and now San Antonio Texas. Great life experience.
I was stationed there in the Air Force MANY years ago. It was well known as NOT a favorable place to be stationed at. Not all people didn't like it, there were some who got out of the Air Force, bought land and a house and stayed there. Personally I couldn't STAND the weather there. One minute, the sun is shining, the next minute it's raining HARD and the wind..... OH THE FREAKING WIND!!! It's REALLY hilly, so when it rains and you're walking next to a hill that's a drop off, the wind pushes the rain UP the hill and it rains UP! So now you're getting drenched from ALL directions. No one is going to melt, it's just that it's cold water when it rains and it's MISERABLE!!! Dental services are almost NON-existent there. Mold grows INSIDE your house like CRAZY because the humidity is SOOOO high all the time! The food off base was really good and the scenery was AMAZING when it wasn't raining. Yes, the roads are SOOOOO narrow!!! Lots of cows and other animals all over the place. A lot of their streets are made out of small square rocks, so the roads are very bumpy. No worries about people speeding there! There was a small bar JUST outside the base. We would sit outside and tourists would come by asking for directions. I would tell them to just stay on this road until you come to the railroad tracks, then make a left and you'll see it (whatever they were asking for...). They would say THANKS and take off .... There are NO railroads there, it's a small island! .... AND that road goes all the way around the island. so in a little over an hour, we'd see the SAME tourists fly by..... then again ....
I was a kid of active duty while there. Didn't live on base, I loved it. No guard rails on anything so learned real quick not to bounce around too much near cliff areas xD. I do plan on visiting again.
In 1985, I was in the Navy Seabees flying to Europe for an 8 month deployment. We landed in the Azores for fuel. It was the middle of the night, couldn't see anything. Ate sandwiches while refueling and away we went to Sigonella, Sicily. My bucket list is to visit the Azores properly.
ok it does feel cold in the winter time. wet cold is colder than dry cold. it is semi.... semi semi tropical not tropical so do not expect Hawaii.... hmmmmmm that is why i moved to Hawaii . now that is pleasantly tropical not cold not hot just pleasant. but i spent 2 years on Terceira and it was magical. but you are on a island and many people cannot deal with island life. yes humidity leads to mold and cold is cold in the day time in winter it is not Alaska but it is not Hawaii.
Interesting information, and thanks for sharing. We´re visiting the Azores this summer, and literally none of these things are what I would consider a problem, more just facts of life literally everywhere.
You said car rentals can be difficult. Are scooters available? Sometimes a scooter can be more convenient than a car. Also, way less expensive. Especially the fuel costs.
Coming from Scotland, some of the reasons I like visiting the Azores are the relative lack of bitey insects and the rather good weather. However getting through Lisbon Airport is a bit of a horror show and Terceira flights seem to have a luggage issue. Don't you just love the bus ride to the far side from the terminal to get the SATA planes. Car hire is very awkward. Best tip don't think of it as one place and just concentrate on a couple of islands. We usually go to Flores and spend some time in another group on the way there and way back. Lots of flights though - once needed 5 to get back to Edinburgh.
Hi there!! What’s your recommendation on seeing San Miguel? We are cruising into Porto Delgado in May. We’d like to see all the highlights but we don’t know if we should go w a 4 wheel drive tour or just hire a taxi. What’s your advice?
Hi! Me personally, I am very much against 4 wheelers, it has became a trend in the last couple of years and they are allowing them on some of the tourist trails, which leads to destroying the tourist trails (for example, like in Sete Cidades). So in case they will not do anything about it, in 2-3 years they will have to close some of the trails, because the quads are destroying them. I think this is something really sad to see. It is only my opinion though. So me personally, I would hire a taxi.
Great video, know Azores well specially Pico island. In the winter the mountain top, highest mountain from whole Portugal, can be covered with snow, can climb the mountain . Only negative issue I find is healthcare, if you have a certain serious issue, you might need to go to mainland Portugal. Further enjoy the clean air, spectacular views, food (great wine from Pico), watching whales, dolphins and a lot of swimming in the clearest water one has ever seen.
I watched your video months ago, on Terceira. And I just re-watched it. You are exactly right on everything that you mentioned. Thank you very much for your insights. Nothing was a surprise for me, and actually helped me make my decision in buying the house.
Hi - you mentioned some parts of the Island have less humidity in the winter - which ones? I had a feeling from touring around last week that Nordeste/Algarvia looks as though it might be drier and less humid?
My parents were born in st Michael I've been there like 10 times it's really nice there but it's boring only thing I enjoy there now is the rally races and 1 weird thing about that island that I don't like is my own cousins try to flirt with me like im.not their family it's very unsettling and makes me uncomfortable
Hello! Yes! I think people are really friendly, I have never had any issues nor I know anyone who had .. A lot of people speak English, many people have family members in the USA/Canada; and also, I feel like with the rising tourism, more and more people speak it.
And now for the good news : there is (a little) more place for your legs in SATA aircrafts that in the TAP ones, and more : they give you a (very tiny) snack during the flight, while on TAP the only thing you can get for free is 'um copo de agua' (a cup of plain water). One (local) beer costs 7,10€ on a TAP flight. You'd better know it earlier.
Lately I have been flying a lot with both of them (a lot I mean several times per week), so I am able to compare - as for me, I prefer SATA, but it is just my opinion.
I love when people complain about my Azores. Hopefully they will share their opinion with others. You may ask yourself why I feel this way? Well let me explain. Respectfully we don’t want you. We find many tourists to be ignorant, rude, classless and so on. So thank you for this video it really puts a smile on all our faces. 😊
Never was on Azores, but I love them :) Thats because I hate cold frosty winters and too hot and wet summers, like we have here in Czechia. That's why I think Azores are perfect place from a climate point of view. Winter humidity can be solved with a dehumidifier, as the lady mentioned in video. In the case of a small house, I wouldn't be afraid to use thermal insulation as well, as is common in mainland Europe.
I like the first sentence :) Hopefully it will work out soon and you will be able to visit the islands! This season they even opened direct fligths from Prague
North Americans depends probably were you live . In Montreal Canada restaurants are empty at 5 or 6PM . People like to go and eat after 7PM wich is the most popular hours when they fill up with customers. As for restaurants closing at 14h00 you are correct but you also have to understand they do this because there are not enough clients to keep these restaurants busy .
yes, I'd say it is a cultural thing, and each country has to adjust this:-) like for example, what works in Spain, does not work in Slovakia :) Have an amazing day!
- Mold is the only real problem for me but there is little you can do about it. ... Minor nuisances: - Irresponsible parking. You are supposed to never be in a hurry so don't get mad when someone has parked sideways of a narrow main road. - Stray cats. Lots of them. - Spartan waiting rooms in airports other than Ponta Delgada. But it makes part of the charm. These airports were made before mass tourism was an issue. - Perhaps local diet is not so healthy in the small islands if you are concerned about this point. (And boredom leads many islanders to smoking and drinking). Preventive medicine has a long way to improve here. Mortality rates are worst than in continental Portugal. If you have some kind of handicap or long-term illness only São Miguel, Terceira and Faial may be suitable for you. I usually visit the islands twice a year and these small things are not preventing me of loving the place.
Hi, Nice video! We are visiting Azores soon. We want to do the hike in Sao Jorge accross the island, but there are not enough camping sites or hotels on that hike. I know it is not allowed to wild camp, but do you know if there might be another solution? Ask people to camp in their garden or so? Would that be doable? And is there any public transportation there? Also, is renting a scooter as difficult as renting a car? Should we book a scooter beforehand as well? Thanks a lot!
Hi! Sorry, I do not know about any other solution. I would not recommend wild camping. There are several camping sites on Sao Jorge! You can ask people, sure, I mean if they are okay with you camping in their garden, then there is no problem. You should definitely book everything in advance! Wishing you a great vacation
@@markve5352 Yes it does snow on the other islands. Search "neve Serra de Santa Bárbara Terceira" or "neve Ilha das Flores", or other places in the Azores with "neve". And no, that's not hail. 🤦♂️ And no, this is not "muh, they don't know because they're from some tropical islands..." lol 🤦♂️🤦♂️; better to just be quiet about what you don't know next time pal.
@@totrigo6834the second highest mountain in the Azores after Pico mountain is Pico da Vara on the island of São Miguel and in winter there is also snowfall . Faial and São Jorge Also have snowfall on their highest peaks!
Loved the video! How accepting and welcoming are locals of people moving there from other countries? Plus, would the climate be difficult for someone moving there from the tropics? (which has 30 degree weather year round and a distinct dry and wet season)
Thank you for stopping by! Regarding locals - I love people here. I have never had a problem and any time I needed help, someone came (or they sent someone who knew how to fix it). Here it never gets too hot or too cold - however, in summer, when the sun is out, it might feel hot. In summer the weather is more stable - more sun, less rain and wind; while in winter, the weather changes a lot, it rains more and it is more windy and quite humid. (in winter, I wear a light winter jacket here)
@@noemimikleova Electric bikes will blunt the hills - which to my cyclists eyes are frankly terrifying. Worth remembering that Madeira is a mountain bike hotspot now - and that certainly is a hilly place.
@@noemimikleova VF and suroundings are my favorite area of Sao Miguel and it is the most warm and sunny part of the island. We are also thinking about buy some house in the Azores but it is still not finally decided which island.
Rent a car turned into a way to get easy money so there's no cars, prices go up. It's more ridiculous when the parking lot is full of cars, they just lie. In the winter, companies have to sell some of the cars and store most of then, so they do what they can to profit in the summer. Small companies or private rent a cars usually have half the prices but are hard to find online. If you visit an island very often is better to buy a car. This year I visited the last island I missed and the thing that most annoyed me is still humidity, mostly after a week. Rain isnt ok for some but bcz of the ok temperature its ok, just dont forget the umbrella. Residents have some discounts in flights, in some ferry trips you can take the car but if the sea isnt calm, the trips between islands are hard to do, most get sea sickness. There's some positive points about locals, sometime they can help with the bad things.
Hi Bruno, thanks for the input. Do you think they will/should address the issue with parking, so the locals will be able to use, e.g. paid parking spots for free?
@@noemimikleova I'm not sure but in most cities in the mainland with parking problems that is being implemented with mixed parking use or only residents. Transport is one of the major areas that needs improvements.
As tourists, my husband and I found the restaurant schedule for meals ridiculous. North Americans like to eat dinner early like 17:00 to 18:00 hrs and a lot of restaurants were closed until 19h30 or 20:00hrs. Also restaurants close after 14:00hrs and reopen for dinner so good luck finding a restaurant open when you are hungry.
Hi Lucy! Thank you for taking the time to write your observations!
That's unusually early, internationally. Everywhere is different I suppose. Try Spain, where the chef arrives at about 8pm to start prepping the evening meals and warming the ovens. Almost nobody arrives to eat before 9.30pm. This is the other end of the spectrum, I admit. Eat more at lunch time ☺
Seriously?? One of the main reasons people travel is to experience how other cultures do things differently! Embracing those differences is what makes travel fun & interesting. Complaining about something like this illustrates your lack of research. Practically no one around the world eats dinner at 1700-1800! I've had beautiful dinners at midnight in Madrid with children from all the outdoor restaurants playing together in a small central park...amazing! Was I hungry waiting? Of course not, lunch was at 1400 & tapas/drinks at 2000. When in Rome....
Weird, I guess in Europe we eat dinner much later I usually eat at around 9pm to 10pm, since 5pm to 6pm is usually when we get out of work, that's way too early to have dinner, especially because we tend to have a small meal between lunch and dinner, after work we relax for an hour maybe two and only then we start cooking, at least that's my own experience.
Also most restaurants do close between 2pm and 3pm because that's their lunch break, but there's usually some restaurants that stay open, and most bakeries will stay open all day and offer full meals, snack bars sometimes two.
Also I highly recommend doing BBQ's, most islands will have many BBQ spots dotted all around the island, for example in parks and on the side of the road with beautiful views, they will generally also have free firewood stored under the grill for you to use.
Thanks for the warning, I'm off the Vermont next summer, so will bear this in mind.
I've been to the Azores and I can honestly say the worst thing about them is having to leave! I was so mesmerized by their breathtaking scenery and welcoming locals that my stay seemed so short!
I agree.
The one part about leaving that really sucks is that the flights back to the East coast of US arrive fairly late in the day and if there are ANY delays for ANY reason you will miss your connecting flight and be stuck there overnight.
It's always raining there
My husband and I always go to Madeira, the weather is great there during summer and during winter it’s still ok. A lot better than our native Dutch weather. He proposed to me on Porto Santo so Madeira and Porto Santo have a lot of meaning to us. We now want to visit the Azores too on our next holiday. I’ve always wanted to see manta rays in real life in the ocean so maybe that’s also possible to do and dive at the Azores. Thank you for the informative video!
Hi Sarah! I have never been to Madeira, I would love to visit it one day! I am curious to know your opinion on the Azores, once you visit it! Wishing you a great day and thanks for stopping by and sharing your story! Greetings!
this is not truth don't be stupid ridiculous what say , just don't be there people don't need you there , Azores is the best Archipelego of the world clean safety and good people living there i know sobecause i am from there
There is plenty of diving schools here that will also take tourists to see all kind of things, fish like manta rays, sharks, there's also Blue marlin, that you may be able to see, and also underwater caves if you're brave enough. This is at least the Information I have from the Island I live on, Faial Island in the central group of the Azores and just beside that you have the highest mountain of Portugal, Pico Island, that can be scaled with a guide.
The ferrys only on work in the central group of islands in the archipelago because the island are closer together. the flights are expensive for foreigners, for locals is actually not that bad ( i pay 100 euros from sao jorge to Lisbon). I suggest you to visit Sao Jorge if you havent yet, its such a stunning place.
I visited Sao Jorge last summer and I absolutely LOVED IT. I hope to go back one day!!
Can you explain the process of getting local pricing? Is it just as simple as having a Portuguese passport? Thanks in advance
@@Dacoldest23 no, that only works for Azorean residents (at least for the last 3 years) and you pay 60€ round trip for any island and 130€ to the mainland also round trip. TBF if you book in advance the flights arent that much more than 130€ at least for são Miguel or terceira. From são Miguel you can go to Santa Maria and from terceira you can easily catch the ferry for another island and it's fairly cheap
@@pedrobelo0454 Thank you so much! Wish nothing but health and wealth for you and your family!
Noemi, Love the accent, the energy, your delivery and your charisma on camera.
Hi Tom, thanks for stopping by and wishing you a fantastic day
The worst thing with all paradise islands is the lack of housing. The number of available rental units has dropped as remote workers have moved in. At the same time, the prices have gone up angering also the locals.
I feel like this is a problem everywhere, all over Europe, especially the last years.
It's surprising how much the humidity, insects and lizards sounds just like Florida. We have those exact same things in Florida, but we do have heating and air conditioning here in Florida. The Azores are way more beautiful than Florida though. It's just flat here.
Hello! Florida is amazing as well, but I think it’s very different when it comes to nature :)
@Noemi Mikleová well, for one, we don't have rock in Florida. We do have panthers, alligators, some type of crocodile, wild boars (that are really aggressive), multiple types of poisonous snakes, etc. We have so many amazing bird species here, and many species of butterflies. We have American Bald Eagles, deer, and lots of raccoons, rabbits, opossums, black bears, and more. We used to have great fishing, until that massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Lots of sharks in the ocean surrounding Florida too, includibg great white sharks. These days, the summers are just too hot, but the winters are great as it doesn't snow here. 😊
If you’re looking for a great holidays, relaxing , having good food as a regular person, you’re welcome. I’ve been in there. Remember, perfection doesn’t exist but let’s not ruin paradise….
i agree with you, there is no perfect place.
shouldn't you book the car BEFORE you book the plane tickets? The former is cancellable, the latter maybe not.
Any tropical place has cockroaches. I lived on Maui. They were all over.
Yes. You just take them as a part of life and learn to live with them haha, after a while you don’t really care and eventually, they are not that scary haha
Nice video
Have a wonderful day!
After listening to the worst things as you say, l feel that you're a very negative person because l lived there for 15 years and there's public transportation anywhere in the island you just need to adjust and l can see you'd never be able to , also the inconveniences you described can and does happen right here in the US. To me l'll take all the bad because the good outweighs the 10 times.
Thank you for judging without knowing 😂 have a wonderful day!
I think she is trying to offer a realistic point of view. No place on Earth is perfect and some little points may be improved. Small problems you see in a single island are not everywhere.
It's bored😅
Why so many tourists are complaining about insects?! You are in the middle of Nature! And they were here first!
So many people leave their food open and outside the refrigerator or containers... and then are shocked to find ants in their sugar or cockroaches in their not properly closed bag with bread... guys, please remember that you are not in the middle of an big city!!!
I lived there for about 3 years in the 90s. The roaches can fly and would just sneak into our house. I had one fly up the back of my shirt once.
Exactly , I’m tired for some of comments.
I love reptiles and lizards, so this is a perk!
My family is from Sao Jorge and I’ve been there many times but I’ve never seen cockroaches but we also properly contain any foods or containers which is probably why the only thing we’ve had an abundance of is lizards but they don’t even cause problems 🤣
i was in treceria and it was hell
I spent 2 weeks in Horta, Faial in November. I loved it there. The food was amazing and the people were so lovely. It was, however, painfully difficult to get there from UK. I had to fly from Manchester to Porto, Porto to Ponta Delgada, Ponta Delgada to Terceira and Terceira to Horta. All told, including the waiting at airports, it took more than 24 hours of travelling. Fortunately, in Porto, there were chairs in the Departure lounge that it was possible to catch a little sleep on and the Portuguese airport authorities are not at all phased about travellers doing this. My main problem was getting back to UK food after the 2 weeks was up. I can no longer eat English bread unless it was from an artisan bakery and it took me a while to find a cheese that was remotely any where near as good as the Azorean cheeses.
Hi Rob, thanks for sharing! I am happy you had a lovely experience. Yes, it can be a bit more complicated to get to Horta, especially in winter season. During summer, as far as I know, there are direct flights from Manchester/London to Ponta Delgada !:) Have a great day! Noemi
And you didn't know this before you traveled? If you knew this before then why the complaining? Remote destinations that hard to get to are often the most rewarding and the least stomped on by the hoards of tourists.
You have spent 2week
I have spent my entire life
It feels like a prison like Alcatraz
Hi im andrei from faial i can understand the problems but the wort thing is the beer and other drinks and the people you can easily crash a car at night because of the druken state of people it might seem lovely on the surface but it isent there are horrible horrible people like school directors.
@@the_lasthour2007… completamente !!
Azores is the beautiful islands clean and the food are great I don't like when someone say is not good
Excellent video. Well spoken full of wisdom and easily understood. Tourists are often very demanding if they go somewhere without doing adequate research. I llve place that gets many thousands of tourists from around the world. Many are understanding that things are different from where they come from, but there are others who are demanding, and upset to find things are not the same as where they come from. That's just the way it always is just about anywhere. It's like they expect you to change your culture and ways of doing things to satisfy their expectations. From my extensive travels in the world I have found other places like this - usually it is a specific area where tourists can live in a bubble that is very similar to where the majority of them have come from. Where things are done to cater to the manner of doing things back home. One place that comes to mind is Hawaii. Many tourists like to stay in the area called Waikiki. It is surrounded by the Alawai Canal. It is full of stores selling cheap souvenirs and seriously overpriced convenience stores and restaurants serving overpriced and mediocre food. It was also a place where people will get loud, rude, stupid, and drunk. Very often. Locals rarely went into this area unless they worked there. Most never saw the Hawaiian way of life, and probably weren't interested anyhow. My point is life in a place from a tourists perspective versus one who lives there are quite different. Disappointment in travel often is the result of poor planning and preparation. Don't just believe the glossy tourist brochures. Dig a little deeper.
Thank you! Have a great day!
I agree totally, if you want it the same as home, stay home. The best way to travel is to go where the locals are, not some man made fantasy place . When I travel, I want to learn something . It’s true, they never learn about different cultures or the wonderful hidden gems, love your comment. When I travel I see a lot of exactly what you are saying, they miss the whole idea of exploration.
Exactly. And, generally speaking, the lower the I.Q. the higher the expectations and demands for the place they're visiting to be "just like home. Let's hope the Azores will never go down that rabbit hole!
I am so so glad you did receive a very positive reaction to this video. I made one very similar to yours and I got so much hate I had to put it down when I received mails from people threating my life about it 😅 (and no, I was not rude, I just talked about the mold and the flight connections and how on Pico it can be really hard to get certain things including fresh vegetables). So I am glad your comment sections seems to be rather nice! Greetings from Pico!
Greetings to Pico! :-)
São Miguel is so beautiful. I will be coming back and look around again. Sete cidades is amazing and all the beaches. For a person who lives there it is hard, most of my young cousins work and go to school in europe. Força dos Açores!!!
Hope you’ll come back soon!
If you work remotely. You can do it! It's inspirational, a mental reset, and beautiful!
Excellent informative video! I was on Ponta Delgada last Nov, what a stunningly beautiful Island! The first day , i had no car, and used the public buses.. I have to say,, you absolutely need a car. once I got mine, I was able to explore so many different spots.. I plan on going back in the future to visit a couple of other Islands. thanks for the great video!
Hello Carol Ann King, thank you for stopping by! In this you are right - there are mamy spots where you can get only with a car (or it would take too long by bus)
The worst things? Ex-pats. I am one, so I should know.
Hear, hear.
I've never heard anybody (particularly a European) pronounce the Azores that way in English? AYzores? Most people pronounce it AzORES.
Usefull video!I am bulgarian who living in Czech Republic and i want to change my homeplace,maybe Azores will be good choice.I was on Martinique island before 4 years and from this moment i start thinking about some general change of my life.Thanks for video! 🇧🇬🇨🇿 🏝
Hello! Thanks for stopping by! Fingers crossed for you!!! Have a great day! :)
My Dreamland 😔😌😌😌😌
Honey people got to improvise they need to go to Hertz-Rent-a-Donkey much more less expensive and guess what its always a convertible
😂😂😂 and besides of all the advantages you mentioned, it will also be an unforgettable adventure.
@@noemimikleova absolutely you can even take it off road
Ahahahah
People from the East Europe are making videos against Portugal, who are paying you? Just go home!
Hi! Why do you have this feeling, that people from Eastern Europe are making videos against Portugal? I did not notice this so I would be very interested in knowing your opinion, if you find some time! Have a great day!
Hello, I'm from Lisbon but I live in the Azores since 1997.
Let me just add some information.
If you want to visit Corvo, you can fly (with some stops, not directly) or you can take the big ferry to Flores and then a small boat to Corvo (I did this once, they even stopped so we could swim with the dolphins).
The large ferry (Atlanticoline) only operates during spring and summer, due to rough sea conditions.
Cockroaches are a pest, especially in summer. However, if your BNB has been pulverized, they will usually appear almost dead and upside down. Expect to find them on the streets after sunset. Avoid sitting in public places (such as walls or doorsteps). On the terraces, keep your eyes open. They can climb up your legs. They fly too.
About the weather: a good summer is not a certainty, bad weather in other months of the year is the most likely outcome. It rains a lot, with several strong storms throughout the year.
Now, about the natives of São Miguel (“Micaelenses”): if you are planning to move to this particular island, most of your new friends will probably be foreigners or Portuguese from the mainland. The “Micaelenses”, despite seeming warm people, are very reserved. Furthermore, if we move a little away from the big cities, like Ponta Delgada or Ribeira Grande, the culture and average education of the natives decreases exponentially and we can expect many drug addicts.
Moving around: forget public transports or hitchiking. Rent a car or use taxis.
To conclude, the restoration in the Azores has always been terrible. Many restaurant and bar owners still think they are doing their customers a favor. However, due to the huge growth in tourism in recent years, they are improving a little.
Many, many generations ago, some of my ancestors came from this island. I have not come across any documentation that they ever went back to visit, but then again, 3 centuries ago it was not an easy thing. Thanks for this nice video
thanks for sharing!
It is a fairly poor island and the food is low class. If u want Portuguese , go to the mainland, or, go to Thailand🎉
There are 9 islands there, not just one. And the food can be quite correct, although not very cheap. Now 2 hours in an aircraft (économy class) is probably the maximum I can endure, so no chance for Thailand.
I think the food (especially fish and seafood) is super good on the islands.
The restaurant schedule is a bit challenging, and you better like meat because that's about all they serve!
I lived there for 15 months on Teciera Island near Lajes. I loved the people and its festivals. Only disadvantage is a small island not much choice for shopping. Yes the weather can be crappy but I lived northern Greenland , the Middle East and now San Antonio Texas. Great life experience.
Glad you had a great experience! :))
Nice video, thank you. May I say, (i don’t believe you are a native English speaker), that your English is incredibly good. Very well done.
Thank you for the feedback! Yes, haha, you are correct, I am not a native English speaker. I am from Slovakia :). Have a wonderful day!
I was stationed there in the Air Force MANY years ago. It was well known as NOT a favorable place to be stationed at. Not all people didn't like it, there were some who got out of the Air Force, bought land and a house and stayed there. Personally I couldn't STAND the weather there. One minute, the sun is shining, the next minute it's raining HARD and the wind..... OH THE FREAKING WIND!!! It's REALLY hilly, so when it rains and you're walking next to a hill that's a drop off, the wind pushes the rain UP the hill and it rains UP! So now you're getting drenched from ALL directions. No one is going to melt, it's just that it's cold water when it rains and it's MISERABLE!!! Dental services are almost NON-existent there. Mold grows INSIDE your house like CRAZY because the humidity is SOOOO high all the time! The food off base was really good and the scenery was AMAZING when it wasn't raining. Yes, the roads are SOOOOO narrow!!! Lots of cows and other animals all over the place. A lot of their streets are made out of small square rocks, so the roads are very bumpy. No worries about people speeding there!
There was a small bar JUST outside the base. We would sit outside and tourists would come by asking for directions. I would tell them to just stay on this road until you come to the railroad tracks, then make a left and you'll see it (whatever they were asking for...). They would say THANKS and take off .... There are NO railroads there, it's a small island! .... AND that road goes all the way around the island. so in a little over an hour, we'd see the SAME tourists fly by..... then again ....
Terceira can get really quiet especially in the winter months. I was there for a couple of days in January, and wow, it was really really quiet.
I was a kid of active duty while there. Didn't live on base, I loved it. No guard rails on anything so learned real quick not to bounce around too much near cliff areas xD.
I do plan on visiting again.
In 1985, I was in the Navy Seabees flying to Europe for an 8 month deployment. We landed in the Azores for fuel. It was the middle of the night, couldn't see anything. Ate sandwiches while refueling and away we went to Sigonella, Sicily. My bucket list is to visit the Azores properly.
ok it does feel cold in the winter time. wet cold is colder than dry cold. it is semi.... semi semi tropical not tropical so do not expect Hawaii....
hmmmmmm that is why i moved to Hawaii . now that is pleasantly tropical not cold not hot just pleasant.
but i spent 2 years on Terceira and it was magical. but you are on a island and many people cannot deal with island life.
yes humidity leads to mold and cold is cold in the day time in winter it is not Alaska but it is not Hawaii.
Interesting information, and thanks for sharing. We´re visiting the Azores this summer, and literally none of these things are what I would consider a problem, more just facts of life literally everywhere.
Thanks for stopping by and wishing you a great day!
This is SO helpful for me and bringing my idealised view of living in the Azores down to earth.
Cathy, I am SO happy you found it helpful!!!
Portuguese have a meal around 17 and 18h called lanche. If you are hungry, you can follow the Portuguese way and go to a cafe to have lanche.
My family and I moved to the Azores two years ago... Send me a private message if you have any questions!
WORST things about the AZORES??? britons and germans tourist 😂
You said car rentals can be difficult. Are scooters available? Sometimes a scooter can be more convenient than a car. Also, way less expensive. Especially the fuel costs.
Hello! Yes you can rent scooters as well!
@@noemimikleova What about scooter sales? if someone wants to buy one?
"But it you like cockroaches"... Lol... That had me laughing... 🙂
Coming from Scotland, some of the reasons I like visiting the Azores are the relative lack of bitey insects and the rather good weather. However getting through Lisbon Airport is a bit of a horror show and Terceira flights seem to have a luggage issue. Don't you just love the bus ride to the far side from the terminal to get the SATA planes. Car hire is very awkward. Best tip don't think of it as one place and just concentrate on a couple of islands. We usually go to Flores and spend some time in another group on the way there and way back. Lots of flights though - once needed 5 to get back to Edinburgh.
Terceira has an international airport
Hi there!! What’s your recommendation on seeing San Miguel? We are cruising into Porto Delgado in May. We’d like to see all the highlights but we don’t know if we should go w a 4 wheel drive tour or just hire a taxi. What’s your advice?
Hi! Me personally, I am very much against 4 wheelers, it has became a trend in the last couple of years and they are allowing them on some of the tourist trails, which leads to destroying the tourist trails (for example, like in Sete Cidades). So in case they will not do anything about it, in 2-3 years they will have to close some of the trails, because the quads are destroying them. I think this is something really sad to see. It is only my opinion though. So me personally, I would hire a taxi.
I lived there for 11 years and my brother was born there as military brats. It’s the closest thing to where I came from I can claim.
How are you not on the azores groups with more views
unfortunately flying from Canada only arrives from Toronto, so a flight from Vancouver to Toronto then off to Azores makes for a long day.
It’s true, we only have flight to Toronto.. and Canada is huge
Great video, know Azores well specially Pico island. In the winter the mountain top, highest mountain from whole Portugal, can be covered with snow, can climb the mountain .
Only negative issue I find is healthcare, if you have a certain serious issue, you might
need to go to mainland Portugal. Further enjoy the clean air, spectacular views, food
(great wine from Pico), watching whales, dolphins and a lot of swimming in the clearest water one has ever seen.
Thanks for the feedback! Wishing you a great day!
Same to you have a nice day , going this summer to Pico have a house there, greatings from Holland@@noemimikleova
i was in treceria and i didnt like it.
the wether is hot wet sauna
I watched your video months ago, on Terceira. And I just re-watched it. You are exactly right on everything that you mentioned. Thank you very much for your insights. Nothing was a surprise for me, and actually helped me make my decision in buying the house.
Hey Sam! Thanks for the feedback and I am extremely happy it helped you in any way! Wishing you a great day!
Hi - you mentioned some parts of the Island have less humidity in the winter - which ones? I had a feeling from touring around last week that Nordeste/Algarvia looks as though it might be drier and less humid?
Hi! Vila Franca area - especially Caloura is known for having one of the best microclimates on the island! It gets more sun and it’s less humid!
You forgot ants
YOU ARE COMPLETELY RIGHT
No ants in the Azores that I've seen.
Hi please can you tel me the place where you are on the beginning of this you tube movie i like the houses behind you thank you tamara
Hi Tamara! The place is in Vila Franca, if you go down the street ‘Estrada Real’ you will arrive to the area!
My parents were born in st Michael I've been there like 10 times it's really nice there but it's boring only thing I enjoy there now is the rally races and 1 weird thing about that island that I don't like is my own cousins try to flirt with me like im.not their family it's very unsettling and makes me uncomfortable
Not all families are the same!😂
🍀.
Hi. Do you find the people friendly? Do they know how to speak English? Btw, in São Miguel which are some good places go eat? Thanks for the upload!
Hello! Yes! I think people are really friendly, I have never had any issues nor I know anyone who had .. A lot of people speak English, many people have family members in the USA/Canada; and also, I feel like with the rising tourism, more and more people speak it.
@@noemimikleova thank you for sharing. I actually moved to São Miguel today so all the advice is super welcome! Thanks ✨
Really good video. THe information was honest and helpful. Thank you.
Thank you!
The Azores are perfect. Period. Whereas Madeira is way over commercialised and quite frankly boring
How is healthcare system? I'm paralyzed but not bedridden I get around. I would love to live out the rest of my days in this solitary paradise
Mount Pico sometimes get snow in winter.
You can fly from Terceira Island to all the others island as well
How widely is English spoken?
I think quite widely, maybe less in small villages, but in bigger cities, bars, restaurants, most of the employees do speak English
Sounds too isolated and boring......
Depends what is the definition of “boring” to you
Lizards are no insects! I protest.
TRUE :D
And now for the good news : there is (a little) more place for your legs in SATA aircrafts that in the TAP ones, and more : they give you a (very tiny) snack during the flight, while on TAP the only thing you can get for free is 'um copo de agua' (a cup of plain water). One (local) beer costs 7,10€ on a TAP flight. You'd better know it earlier.
Lately I have been flying a lot with both of them (a lot I mean several times per week), so I am able to compare - as for me, I prefer SATA, but it is just my opinion.
Thank you very much! We are considering to move there...
Fingers crossed!!! It is an amazing place to live
My family and I moved to the Azores two years ago... Send me a private message if you have any questions!
The restaurants are on a weird schedule, and you better like meat! that's pretty much all they serve!
I love when people complain about my Azores. Hopefully they will share their opinion with others. You may ask yourself why I feel this way? Well let me explain. Respectfully we don’t want you. We find many tourists to be ignorant, rude, classless and so on. So thank you for this video it really puts a smile on all our faces. 😊
Not sure why you feel I was complaining but at least it put a smile on your face! You are welcome :)
Never was on Azores, but I love them :) Thats because I hate cold frosty winters and too hot and wet summers, like we have here in Czechia. That's why I think Azores are perfect place from a climate point of view. Winter humidity can be solved with a dehumidifier, as the lady mentioned in video. In the case of a small house, I wouldn't be afraid to use thermal insulation as well, as is common in mainland Europe.
I like the first sentence :) Hopefully it will work out soon and you will be able to visit the islands! This season they even opened direct fligths from Prague
Loved the Azores was there for my 50th 8 year ago.
North Americans depends probably were you live . In Montreal Canada restaurants are empty at 5 or 6PM . People like to go and eat after 7PM wich is the most popular hours when they fill up with customers. As for restaurants closing at 14h00 you are correct but you also have to understand they do this because there are not enough clients to keep these restaurants busy .
yes, I'd say it is a cultural thing, and each country has to adjust this:-) like for example, what works in Spain, does not work in Slovakia :) Have an amazing day!
It takes a while to adapt to the open/close hours of restaurants and stores. I end up cooking a lot more and saving money.
It does, but it is just a cultural thing. Eventually, everything has pros and cons! :) Have a great day!
Great video 👍 I only have one thing to say: cockroaches lives matter! Stop picking on these poor creatures lol
Thank you for the feedback! (And you are right, cockroaches lives matter!
Inoing hands moving more than she walks
Are you from the Azores?
My wife and I are thinking of living part time in São Jorge.
Do you know anything about Lajes Field?
Hello, I am not from the Azores, I just live here.
@@noemimikleova Oh I see. Thanks for the video.
Love ur accent. Menina linda
Im acually planning on moving there im first generatiom canadian both my parwnts from Rabo de Peixe
Haha Central European accent in the game. The best of luck to you with your plans on moving to the Azores!!!
@@noemimikleova well i show up might need to share ur thunder and lightining . i am a cabral founders of things
Azores dosen t slay like dis is like dis Açores 😊
Thanks, I would only stay there for a month at the most. I appreciate your info, Thanks....
Have a wonderful day!
Heaven on earth does not exist yet whether you believe it or not. Now drawn your own conclusion.
Well nothing is ever perfect , everything has a “reality “
- Mold is the only real problem for me but there is little you can do about it.
...
Minor nuisances:
- Irresponsible parking. You are supposed to never be in a hurry so don't get mad when someone has parked sideways of a narrow main road.
- Stray cats. Lots of them.
- Spartan waiting rooms in airports other than Ponta Delgada. But it makes part of the charm. These airports were made before mass tourism was an issue.
- Perhaps local diet is not so healthy in the small islands if you are concerned about this point. (And boredom leads many islanders to smoking and drinking). Preventive medicine has a long way to improve here. Mortality rates are worst than in continental Portugal. If you have some kind of handicap or long-term illness only São Miguel, Terceira and Faial may be suitable for you.
I usually visit the islands twice a year and these small things are not preventing me of loving the place.
I agree with everything you say, it is all a part of the complex picture about the Azores haha.
Cats in the Azores are very tiny, nearly like rats! We fed some of them and they seemed rather happy about it. I'm sure they regret us.
Next time you go to the azores i have a house and automatic transmission car it's located in vila franca do campo only on summer
Haha, thanks, Bruno
Hi, Nice video! We are visiting Azores soon. We want to do the hike in Sao Jorge accross the island, but there are not enough camping sites or hotels on that hike. I know it is not allowed to wild camp, but do you know if there might be another solution? Ask people to camp in their garden or so? Would that be doable? And is there any public transportation there?
Also, is renting a scooter as difficult as renting a car? Should we book a scooter beforehand as well?
Thanks a lot!
Hi! Sorry, I do not know about any other solution. I would not recommend wild camping. There are several camping sites on Sao Jorge! You can ask people, sure, I mean if they are okay with you camping in their garden, then there is no problem. You should definitely book everything in advance! Wishing you a great vacation
Bicos im from Portugal
7:17 There is some snow ❄️ on the highlands occasionally, often times in Pico but other islands as well.
@@markve5352 Yes it does snow on the other islands.
Search "neve Serra de Santa Bárbara Terceira" or "neve Ilha das Flores", or other places in the Azores with "neve".
And no, that's not hail. 🤦♂️ And no, this is not "muh, they don't know because they're from some tropical islands..." lol 🤦♂️🤦♂️; better to just be quiet about what you don't know next time pal.
@@totrigo6834the second highest mountain in the Azores after Pico mountain is Pico da Vara on the island of São Miguel and in winter there is also snowfall . Faial and São Jorge Also have snowfall on their highest peaks!
Retiring to Sao Miguel from The Netherlands 2024 after many holidays past on the island. Very informative vid.
You will love it!
lizards eat roaches, right?
Thank you very much. These are very important things to know before taking decisions !
I am very happy you found it useful! :) Have an amazing day!
Just curious: from which country are you originally?
Slovakia :)
I love move there I have lots family there. Most left because lake of work.
Good luck to you! Have a great day
Lizards??? 😅😅😅😂😂😂
Looks like an adventure
IT IS
Always ask a bright honest local first. Thank you, love
Have a great day!
Loved the video!
How accepting and welcoming are locals of people moving there from other countries?
Plus, would the climate be difficult for someone moving there from the tropics? (which has 30 degree weather year round and a distinct dry and wet season)
Thank you for stopping by! Regarding locals - I love people here. I have never had a problem and any time I needed help, someone came (or they sent someone who knew how to fix it). Here it never gets too hot or too cold - however, in summer, when the sun is out, it might feel hot. In summer the weather is more stable - more sun, less rain and wind; while in winter, the weather changes a lot, it rains more and it is more windy and quite humid. (in winter, I wear a light winter jacket here)
@@noemimikleova amazing, thank you for the comment and I'll definitely be keeping up with your videos on the Azores!
Volcanos?
I like u ❤
Islands are small wonder about bicycles or electric or pedal assist bicycles. Wonder if they would work instead of a car or car rental?
Hello! if you are a professional biker, maybe. Otherwise I would not recommend. There are a lot of hills.
@@noemimikleova Electric bikes will blunt the hills - which to my cyclists eyes are frankly terrifying. Worth remembering that Madeira is a mountain bike hotspot now - and that certainly is a hilly place.
Looks like you are walking in Vila Franca. 😀 We just were there yesterday.
You are right that’s exactly Vila Franca! 😂
@@noemimikleova VF and suroundings are my favorite area of Sao Miguel and it is the most warm and sunny part of the island. We are also thinking about buy some house in the Azores but it is still not finally decided which island.
Hi
Where are the good surf spots on San Miguel? Thx
Hi Francisco, the most famous beach for surfing is Santa Barbara in Ribeira Grande; there is also Monte Verde, in the same area!
And the wetter, Some people complain about the wetter. 😭🤣
And when it's not about the wetter, it's about the dryer. Some people are never happy...
Rent a car turned into a way to get easy money so there's no cars, prices go up. It's more ridiculous when the parking lot is full of cars, they just lie. In the winter, companies have to sell some of the cars and store most of then, so they do what they can to profit in the summer. Small companies or private rent a cars usually have half the prices but are hard to find online. If you visit an island very often is better to buy a car. This year I visited the last island I missed and the thing that most annoyed me is still humidity, mostly after a week. Rain isnt ok for some but bcz of the ok temperature its ok, just dont forget the umbrella. Residents have some discounts in flights, in some ferry trips you can take the car but if the sea isnt calm, the trips between islands are hard to do, most get sea sickness. There's some positive points about locals, sometime they can help with the bad things.
Hi Bruno, thanks for the input. Do you think they will/should address the issue with parking, so the locals will be able to use, e.g. paid parking spots for free?
@@noemimikleova I'm not sure but in most cities in the mainland with parking problems that is being implemented with mixed parking use or only residents. Transport is one of the major areas that needs improvements.