White Exclusive Suites & Villas

We had the pleasure of staying in two different hotels during our trip to the Azores, both of which were excellent…and relatively affordable. To get a nice mix of ocean views and mountainous scenery, we split our stay between the Furnas Boutique Hotel in the village of Furnas and the White Exclusive Suites & Villas overlooking the water about 5 miles east of downtown Ponta Delgada. We would give the slight edge to the Furnas Boutique Hotel in terms of overall experience, mainly because it allowed for walkable access to the restaurants and sites in Furnas. But what the White Hotel lacked in nearby amenities, it made up for tenfold with the views…

white hotel azores — View from the infinity pool

The Terrace

The highlight of the hotel is without a doubt the ocean-facing terrace in the rear of the hotel. The views from the fire-pit and infinity pool were certainly not a bad way to begin or end a long day of exploring Sao Miguel Island. Since we visited in the winter, it was just a bit too cold to fully appreciate the pool, but we spent our fair share of time eating breakfast on the deck, enjoying poolside drinks, and sitting by the fire-pit at night.

The Suites

The hotel was recently renovated, and they did an impressive job with the 10 suites on the property. The color scheme, to no ones surprise, is heavy on the white, giving it the vibe of a Mediterranean resort despite being located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The building itself was originally built in the 18th century, and the owners managed to preserve some of the unique Azorean characteristics of the original structure, including the exposed wood beams and volcanic stone on the walls. We stayed in one of the suites on the first level that walked directly out onto the terrace. There are also second floor suites with balconies as well as larger villas with private hot tubs. In the offseason, nightly rates range start around $150 while they are closer to $300-350 in the peak summer season. This includes a full breakfast. Given that this is one of the two nicest hotels on the island, that is a bargain.

Dining

There isn’t a full “restaurant” per se, but there is a kitchen/bar with a few tables where guests can make dinner reservations or schedule a wine tasting. Despite being a small dining area, the local Azorean cuisine was delicious and the service did not disappoint. Breakfast is included and can be served in the dining area, although we would highly recommend eating breakfast on the terrace.

Location

The hotel is located about 1 mile west of Lagoa, a small village with a few eating establishments, but relatively few sights worth seeking out. Driving to Ponta Delgada only takes about 15 minutes, so if White is your home base, you won’t be too far from the best restaurants on the island. In terms of sights and activities, the hotel is a 20 minute drive from Lagoa do Fogo, 35 minutes to Furnas, and 40 minutes to Sete Cidades. It is fairly centrally located, and the fact that Sao Miguel Island is so small means nothing is more than an hour drive away.

If you’re looking for a hotel on Sao Miguel Island, White Exclusive Suites & Villas will not disappoint.

Disclaimer: We have no affiliation with White Exclusive Suites & Villas and received no compensation for writing this post. All opinions contained within are our own.

This Hotel Has Some of the Best Ocean Views in the Azores