Azores Vacation Rental house: Ginetes

I
chose "Casa Melanie" because it was on the side of the island I wanted
to stay on (the West side = sunset views), was less expensive than most
other properties and seemed to be the most spacious and attractive in
the online description. The actual house did not disappoint and
actually exceeded our expectations! The house was spotlessly clean and
modern, complete with tons of extra ammenities such as a washing
machine, a hammock outside, a large solarium (a separate building next
to the house, also lockable) that we used to hang our laundry to dry.
The solarium also contained a built-in barbecue and full sized table
and chairs for grilling and eating, which was nice to use when it was
too windy to eat outside some evenings. The kitchen was fully equipped
and included things like sugar, seasonings, and even things like a
garlic press, which made cooking easy. The free breakfast/snack fixings
that the hosts left in the fridge upon our arrival was also a huge
welcome bonus that other houses I looked at did not advertise. The view
from the house overlooking the village of Ginetes and the ocean was
breathtaking, and the surrounding garden including many typical island
plants (hydrangeas, bouganvillea, etc.) made for stunning sunset
photographs. The location of the house on a hillside loop with few
houses made it quiet and peaceful--I have recommended this house to
friends with children, as the large yard makes it very safe for
playing. The hosts (they live down the hill) were incredibly gracious
and shared the produce from their garden, including bananas. They even
invited us one night to chat over some local brandy. The only
forseeable drawback to a house in this location is that a rental car is
more or less necessary (although the bus does run hourly down on the
main street), however I think after some research that this is more or
less a must anywhere on the island except for the main city of Ponta
Delgada. And of course staying in the city means no quiet, no garden
and no territorial views of the west side of the island.
One of the best hikes we did while on the island was made directly from
our doorstep--the one and a half hour hike to the top of
the crater and down to the village of Sete Cidades. The paved road (our
path) continued up the street until it became a dirt road the farmers
use. We passed the black and while Holstein cows grazing in pastures
amid endless rows of wild hydrangea hedges. Our reward for our upward
climb, the view from "Vista do Rei" is probably the most photographed
on the island. The other awesome attraction on this side of the island,
only a 5 minute drive away, was the "Ferraria", a natural hotsprings in
the ocean which is a favorite of locals and tourists alike. We
consulted the tide table to find out the right time to go and soak,
which we did almost every day. The cafe in Ginetes near the main square
was a great place to go for a coffee with milk (um galao) and maybe a
local pastry after soaking in the Ferraria . The nearby village of
Mosteiros has a nice bathing beach, but it could be a little rough at
times. The pizzeria in Mosteiros was delicious and run by an Italian
immigrant.
I highly recommend "Casa Melanie" to anyone interested in a quiet
retreat in an immaculate, well-appointed and spacious house that is
near the airport yet far enough away from the city to feel "away from
it all".