Jake’s family holiday to the Azores

It’s fifteen years since our island specialist Jake first visited the Azores and he’s been back every year since that first memorable trip…

‘Each visit to the islands fills me with the same sense of excitement I experienced on my first trip, and it feels more and more like returning to my second home. My visits usually involve quite a lot of moving around, from island to island in a short space of time – catching up with old friends, visiting new and amazing places to stay, and trying to find new experiences for people who like to travel with us. This year I was joined by my wife Fay and our nine-month-old daughter Hetty, for a more relaxed trip exploring the main island of Sao Miguel.

‘Going on holiday for the first time with a small child can be quite daunting, but having travelled extensively around the Azores I felt the islands would be a good choice for our first family trip abroad. The Azores was the perfect choice for us: relaxed, safe and easy-going. And as many people who travel with Archipelago say, it was one of the best holidays we’ve ever had’.

Jake’s Seven Night Sao Miguel Family Holiday

‘The island of Sao Miguel is the perfect choice for a family adventure.  There are direct flights from the UK which take less than four hours, there are plenty of charming family-friendly places to stay and getting around is pretty easy too. Our accommodation for the week was a lovely self-catering farmhouse on the north coast called Casa Lareira, with plenty of space for everyone and a good base to explore from. We visited in July and the weather was amazing, with temperatures in the mid-twenties everyday, and so the swimming pool in the grounds of the house was put to good use!

‘It was amazing to be there with my family – to share many of the experiences I’ve enjoyed over the years and to be their personal tour guide. We did many of the things I usually suggest to people when creating Sao Miguel holidays – enjoying the views of the vast Sete Cidades crater, driving to Furnas Lake to visit the cooking holes, spending the day at Praia de Agua d’Alto beach, whale and dolphin watching (we were treated to a sperm whale breaching; something I’ve never seen before!), and wandering the streets of friendly Ponta Delgada. My father-in-law and I even managed to fit in a round of golf at Batalha and a day out bird watching with our good friend Gerby!

‘Having a car for the week makes perfect sense on Sao Miguel – driving is really easy and it’s impossible to get lost. Around every corner, you’ll stumble across another stunning viewpoint or interesting village where you can stop for a wander. This trip felt much more like a holiday, experiencing things from the ‘other side’ as it were, and Hetty had a great time too. Even though she didn’t have a clue where she was, she still enjoyed our the summer holiday must-dos of swimming and eating ice cream!  Who knows, hopefully we’ll have created some happy memories which will be triggered next time she’s on Sao Miguel’.

Archipelago Choice Azores specialists

We specialise in tailor-made holidays to the nine islands of the Azores. Our experienced team of specialists are ready to put together your personalised trip; just give them a call on 017687 721020.