Great hotel on the beach, good price (85€ per room and night), nice staff, great breakfast and very clean. can really recommend!

I had the privilege of staying two weeks (August 2008) in this “great little hotel”. Having managed hotels (large and small) for over 30 years I can offer a professional and personal opinion. Even though the furniture and fixtures were not the “newest available” none were found offensive and everything worked properly. The breakfast was more than adequate and offered a variety to include local cheeses and fruits. The European custom of no electricity in the room when you leave, took some adjusting but in reality it is a wise conservation effort.

Three important factors:
· The room was very clean
· The staff was not only friendly and efficient they were also helpful when planning my local activities.
· The location worked fine for me – even without a vehicle.

The view from my top floor balcony was the highlight of my trip. It was amazing how different a martini tasted there as compared to back home in Georgia (USA)! Relaxing and listening to the waves of the beach across the street – ah, the life of the rich and famous!

I would not hesitate to recommend this hotel. It offers comfortable accommodations and a true value for the dollar spent.

I would welcome inquiries from anyone anticipating a trip to Praia.

Bill Roberts
robertscha@cox.net .

The Hotel Varandas is located in Praia, the smaller of the two main towns on Terceira. The property is centrally located across the street from the waterfront. The staff was friendly and helpful, and the included breakfast buffet included typical Azorean fare.
The hotel has 30 rooms, which are clean & Euro-modern; while not huge, they are certainly adequate for a couple. Many have a water view, but the rate is 6€ higher for those rooms. Most of the other guests seemed to be business travelers, and it is worth noting that the wireless internet worked better here than at the other two hotels we stayed at on this trip.

Parking is a problem in most towns, and Praia is no exception. Varandas has four dedicated spaces which are supposed to be reserved for guests, but the local police didn't seem to be too vigilant about tagging violators.