Azores family budget accommodation
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
We encourage all our guests to be environmentally aware and re-cycle glass, plastic and cardboard, etc. which is especially important on our island, due to the limited space for landfill. We, ourselves, re-cycle and re-use and buy re-cycled products wherever possible. I provide a “welcome pack” of local produce, to introduce the idea of eating locally during their stay. I give information and recommendations regarding culture and customs of the local people.
We actively promote tours with the whale watching company who does research for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. They are committed to protecting the whales, dolphins and other ocean dwellers from interference by man, this includes refraining from swimming with dolphins as it is possible that swimming with them in their habitat is causing changes in their behaviour. I recommend local guides for hiking and tours.
We employ local people and businesses, for maintenance, gardening, building, laundry and cleaning. We buy local products and food wherever possible. We support the local environmental department on their “clean-up” days, which involve getting out into the countryside and collecting litter.
Travel always has an impact on the country you are visiting, we aim to lessen the negative impact and always encourage respect for the environment.
Community
We currently employ four members of our neighbour's family, for laundry, cleaning, maintenance and building, giving them a good wage, above the national minimum. This family are basically farmers, with cows, pigs, chickens and ducks. They grow all their own fodder for the animals and a lot of their own food. By employing the farmer’s wife to do my laundry I am giving her a wage that she would not normally have. Her son and son-in-law now work for my husband doing building jobs. Her daughter-in-law cleans various houses for me. They are all paid a good wage, above the national minimum wage. I also employ a local gardening company to keep the gardens tidy – including our own!
I buy as many things as possible from local people, from the municipal market, local butchers, hardware store and shops selling goods from the islands – bread, cheese, wine, butter, vegetables etc, instead of just relying on the supermarket.
I supply information for my guests on the local attractions, including the museums, theatre and artisans shops. I recommend locally owned restaurants and cafés, many of whom provide excellent value in the “Prato do dia” – plate of the day.
I explain that local people are very friendly, but will not generally speak first, as they do not expect a foreigner to speak their language. Offer a friendly “Bom dia” and you will be rewarded by a smile and a returned greeting!
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