Organize your stay The Azores
Money The Azores
The currency used is the euro, as in mainland Portugal. Life is relatively cheap compared to France, but the rates charged in hotels in the Azores are not always so attractive, especially when compared to the same services in Madeira. The most common credit cards are generally well accepted in tourist establishments, but you are not immune to an exception: it is therefore better to be far-sighted and always keep some cash on hand!
Budget & Tips The Azores
The seasonality of the tourist market, confined to the months of May to September, is quite marked and has a considerable influence on prices: out of season, they fall sharply. Unlike Madeira, there's no real winter tourism on the islands, and hotels are virtually all empty from October to April, if they're not closed at all!
Small budget. From €35 to €60 for a double room, or just a few euros for camping. Another good low-cost option: youth hostels, from €10 to €17 a night in a dormitory. Between €5 and €10 for a meal.
Intermediate budget. From €60 to €100 for a double room. From €10 to €25 per meal (with drinks).
Big budget. Over €100 for a double room. Between €25 and €35 per meal (including drinks and wine).
Transportation. From €20 to €40 per day for category A car rental with unlimited mileage, depending on the season and company. Bus fares vary between €1 and €5, depending on the islands and distance traveled.
Passport and visas The Azores
An autonomous region of Portugal, the Azores are part of the European Union and the Schengen area. Consequently, any European citizen can enter and stay there without any time limit with an identity card.
Driver's license The Azores
Your driver's license will be sufficient to rent a car on site.
Health The Azores
Tap water is spring water, collected from wells on the summits of volcanoes. So don't worry about drinking it - it's delicious! In restaurants, you'll never be served a carafe, so be sure to include water in your final bill. You'll find good mineral waters, notably in the Lombadas valley on São Miguel, where the water is naturally sparkling, as well as sulphurous waters gushing hot from the volcano, for example at Furnas or Carapacho on the island of Graciosa, in which you can bathe to get rid of all your little aches and pains.
Mandatory vaccination The Azores
No vaccinations are required to travel to the Azores.
Security The Azores
There is hardly any crime in the Azores, apart from a few marginal, very scattered phenomena linked to alcohol or drugs. So there is nothing to fear. For the latest information on local security, consult the "Conseils aux voyageurs" section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/voyageurs). However, be aware that the site provides an exhaustive list of potential dangers and that this sometimes gives a somewhat alarmist picture of the actual situation in the country.
Time difference The Azores
The Azores are in time zone GMT -1. All year round, when it is noon in Paris, it is 10am in the Azores; when it is 8pm in Ponta Delgada, it is 9pm in Lisbon and 10pm in France. As in the whole of the European Union, at the time of the changeover to summer time, the last Sunday in March is advanced by one hour and the last Sunday in October is set back by one hour to switch to winter time.
Spoken languages The Azores
Portuguese, of course, with different pronunciations on different islands (especially São Miguel) and English, with a strong American accent due to the emigration tradition. It is spoken fluently almost everywhere. French and German are rarer. French was compulsory in high school until 1980, and is spoken by the middle-class generation over 40.
Communication The Azores
The 4G (and failing that 3G) network is very well developed on all the islands and practically everywhere, in spite of the sometimes vertiginous reliefs, it is possible to get connected. More often than in France, wifi is accessible free of charge in many public areas. The marinas are the best in terms of connectivity, and it is neither the one in Ponta Delgada (Portas do Mar), nor the one in Horta, that will contradict us. In hotels, Internet is usually available free of charge from the rooms (the code is provided upon arrival), or at worst at the reception desk.
Electricity and measurements The Azores
220 volts as in France. Sockets are European, so there's no need to bring adapters unless you're coming from Canada.
Luggage The Azores
Although it never gets very cold in the Azores, a good sweater or fleece is still essential, even in summer, especially if you plan to hike at altitude. On the coasts, a little wool will suffice. You'll also need a windbreaker and light rain gear. Don't forget a hat, cap or sunglasses. Good shoes and a backpack are also advisable: the Azores are a constant invitation to walk. Of course, a swimsuit is a must, all year round! Even in winter, you can take advantage of the hot springs and, if the sea is calm and you're not too chilly, swim in the natural pools formed in the rocks along the coastline.
That said, if there's anything you need, you're sure to find it here.
