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[title]When you think of Portugal, where does your mind go? To the sunny capital of Lisbon? The uber-trendy second city of Porto? Or maybe to beachy holidays in the Algarve. But if you’ve been to any of these places, you’ll know that in summer, Portugal can get busy – and pricey too. But don’t count Portugal out for your next holiday completely. Parts of this beautiful country still fly under the radar – and you might just get to visit Portugal’s next hotspot before it completely blows up.
Enter: the Azores, an archipelago of nine islands off of mainland Portugal, which offer an unexpectedly exciting holiday – particularly if you’re the adventurous type. Think of this destination as a quieter, more nature-led alternative to the nearby spots, dotted with volcanic calderas, lava coastlines, geothermal hot springs and the odd trickling waterfall. Forget the city break – these islands are for hiking, cycling and enjoying the great outdoors.
The best part? You’ll save money, too – we all know how expensive travelling in school holidays can be, but while it stays off the radar of many travellers, flights to the Azores are much cheaper than most of the rest of Portugal. Our top tip? Head to Lloyds Travel Booking in their app once you know your dates. The Price Prediction tool suggests when to book or when to wait. Then, if you book your flights through the Lloyds app and the tool says you’ve got a great price, it will continue to track your flight booking after you’ve locked it in. Should the price drop below what you paid, you’ll automatically receive up to £50 in travel credits towards the difference. Also, if you find a better deal yourself within 24 hours of booking, let them know and you could get the difference back in travel credits, ready for your next trip.
Travelling to the Azores – and getting around the islands
The Azores may be made up of nine volcanic (and autonomous) islands, but the most visited are São Miguel, Terceira, Santa Maria and the central cluster of Pico, Faial and São Jorge. It goes without saying, though, that visiting the Azores leaves you with pretty endless possibilities – whether you fancy flying, driving or taking ferries to explore.
Most visitors fly into São Miguel, the largest airport on the islands. From there, you can stay put for the entirety of your trip or (even better) visit the nearby islands. For getting around, you’ve got options: inter-island flights are cheap and easy, and it’s less than an hour by plane to any of the other islands. In summer, you can opt to sail between islands by ferry, which is particularly good for seeing Pico, Faial and São Jorge as they’re so near each other. It’s a slower, more leisurely way of getting around – and you get to take in plenty of gorgeous and unique sites as you go.
Once you’ve settled on an island, getting out and about is simple. You might want to rent a car – it’s not necessary, but it will give you access to some fantastic natural wonders, from hot springs to the fabulous caldera lakes the area is known for, formed by volcanic eruptions and prime for a dip.
São Miguel – the gem of the Azores
The island the Azores are best known for, São Miguel, is bursting with things to see and do. Whether you see one island or five, every trip should start here to get a feel for the islands as a whole – we recommend staying at the delightful boutique hotel Nine Dots, just 30 minutes from the airport.
Discover one or more of its fantastic trails, like the Moinho do Felix for its flowing waterfall, or the 20-minute Boca do Inferno (Hell’s Mouth) for spectacular views of the Lake of the Seven Cities without the gruelling hike. Soak in the island’s geothermal spas, and for dinner, head to Louvre Michaelense, an old hat shop which dates back to 1904, now a bar and restaurant serving French-Portuguese dishes and excellent cocktails.
What to eat, drink and do in the Azores
Water sports
Azoreans practically live outdoors, so it’s no wonder so much of the brilliant things to do here involve submerging yourself in water. You’ll find guided snorkelling everywhere, and even diving, provided you’re here between June and September (don’t worry, plenty of classes are beginner-friendly).
Whale watching
Between April and August, there are plenty of opportunities for whale watching across the islands. Book tours in São Miguel, or head to Pico’s Lajes do Pico - where you’ll also find the charming Whalers Museum.
Local food
On any of the islands, treat yourself to a traditional Portuguese tavern lunch, tucking into local seafood and Azorean steaks with rice or potatoes. If you find yourself in Terceira, a non-negotiable is its signature dish alcatra, slow-cooked beef in a clay pot with with sweet Azorean bread for dipping. With a Club Lloyds, Silver, Platinum or Premier current account you can spend fee-free abroad on your debit card, and if you use the Request a Payment feature in the Lloyds app, you can take the hassle out of splitting the bill by letting you share a secure link or QR code with friends and family in a few clicks.
When you’re abroad, always choose to pay in the local currency. That way you avoid the overseas provider's currency conversion fees, and remember some ATM providers may charge a fee.
Wine tasting
The Azores islands are all big on wine, but the island of Pico is the very best to do it – try the vineyards at Criação Velha, a UNESCO World Heritage site reached via a beautiful trail, where you’ll taste local wines, surrounded by volcanic lava stone walls.
Plan, book and spend with Lloyds, your unexpected travel partner.
Small print:
Lloyds Travel Booking, powered by Hopper.
Fee-free debit card spending and cash withdrawals abroad are valid for Club Lloyds, Silver, Platinum and Premier accounts. Monthly account fees may apply. For Premier account, eligibility criteria also applies. UK residents, 18+. When you’re abroad, always choose to pay in the local currency. That way you avoid the overseas provider's currency conversion fees, and remember some ATM providers may charge a fee.
Best Price Guarantee is offered in connection with flight and hotel bookings made through Lloyds Travel Booking. If you find the same itinerary on another competing site at a lower price and claim within 24 hours of booking, you’ll get the difference back in Travel Credits, ready for your next trip. The price must be available to the general public. For example, this means that the rate doesn’t need you to log into a site or have a special membership or an available discount personal to you.
The Price Prediction tool is built into Lloyds Travel Booking within their app. It suggests when to book or when to wait. Then, if you book your flights through the Lloyds app and the tool says you’ve got a great price, it will continue to track your flight booking after you’ve locked it in. Should the price drop below what you paid, you’ll automatically receive up to £50 in travel credits towards the difference.
Order travel money in the Lloyds app by 3pm for next-working-day delivery. Free delivery on orders over £500. You need Internet Banking or Mobile Banking app access and a Lloyds current or savings account.
Request a Payment limits apply. Ask for up to £150 each time and get up to £500 a day.