Soli Hillel review 13 May 2013
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Hearing the whales breath
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Have a wet suit.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Good
Richard Burgess-Gamble review 18 Jun 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Really hard to choose due to so many memorable and exciting moments. We saw whales and dolphins everyday and every sighting was special in its own way. Seeing a Sei Whale was particularly impressive due to its size and rarity of sightings at that time of year. The people we met (both staff and other people on the trip) also left us with amazing memories as they were all such nice people. The captains and guides seemed to really love their work and were as excited by what we saw as everyone else. They were so friendly and extremely knowledgeable.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It is worth spending a bit of time deciding when to go depending on what you want to see. Certain animals seem to be more prevalent at certain times during the summer season.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. The guides focused on providing a lot of information about the animals and their environments and how we can help them. A lot of the staff were local Azoreans and the holiday seemed to allow them to make a living doing what they love. We also took a guided trip around the island which gave us great insight into the Azorean way of life. This focused our minds on what is important in life; simple sustainable living can clearly provide a happy way of life.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Holiday of a lifetime. Everything about it was excellent and I wouldn't want to change a thing.
Lindsay Adams review 26 Jul 2012
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing a female whale with 3 babies on the surface and having the privilege to see babies feeding from their mothers. Although the first day that we went out on the water was amazing skipping over a 4 metre swell. This was exhilarating and exciting! Seeing Risso's dolphins the day after an informative talk about them was wonderful.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It is not possible to get around the islands by bus as the times don't really fit in with the water activities, so be prepared to hire taxis or a car. And don't forget a plastic bag for the camera as it's a bit wet on the boat!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
As local people were employed in the restaurant and in supplying food etc, it must benefit the local economy, although most of the boat crews, guides were not locals. The revival of the lookout job, passed from father to son as I understand, being utilised for more peaceful purposes can only be good. Effort is made to use locally sourced produce and not bring too much across the Atlantic. The efforts to clean up the sea as we went along were admirable as was the turtle tagging programme.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
This was an amazing holiday. I have quite a stressful job and I often resort to thinking back to sitting on the boat watching the whales and dolphins and remembering the utter peace and quiet. The trip was wonderfully organised to get me from Faial to Pico. The boat crews and guides were superb and it was obvious that they have a deep love and interest in the wildlife and the islands. This was not just a job to them. I can't wait to go back.
Rebecca Bower review 21 Jun 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Having dolphins swimming along with the boat, seeing a sperm whale breach and holding a loggerhead turtle.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared for variable weather.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, it was a locally run business which actually run the whale watching trips and the hotel we stayed in which seemed well involved in the local community. Yes they were very sensitive to the welfare of the marine life. They took part in a tree planting scheme on mainland Portugal to help offset their emissions for the boat trips.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent - very enjoyable.
Catherine Barnes review 21 Jun 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Watching young Sperm whales swimming with adult whales and then breaching in the water.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
We went at the beginning of June - you do need clothes for all weathers - extremely warm one day and then raining the next - best to take cut off trousers for the boat trips but you need a warmish top to wear under the oilskin waterproofs they provide.
We flew from London to Lisbon and then Lisbon to Horta and the same on the return - on our return our flight out of Horta was cancelled due to the weather - this also happened to a friend of mine several years ago so it may be a common problem - you can get easyjet flights from London to Lisbon but I think it is worth people booking all the way with Tap Portugal because at least then they have to get you straight through to London if there are any problems.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes - it was apparent that the company in the Azores put the animals’ welfare first.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic and would definitely go again, and book using responsibletravel.com.
Linda Fleet-Martin review 19 Sep 2010
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
A three hour trip out with three whole hours with a pod of Bottle Nose dolphins. The BEST THREE HOURS OF MY LIFE!!!!!!! Fantastic!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, the local people benefited from us being there, using their facilities etc. The skippers were very good at recognising if the Dolphins preferred us not to be there with them and consequently would find another pod.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
An excellent holiday that was well organised, friendly and informative.
Vivien Ryder review 11 May 2010
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Simply being in the boat with just sea and sky, waiting for a whale to surface is a memory in my top drawer. It was at those times I felt closest to my late husband. The highlight of the week, for me and my children, was seeing orcas. Magical. (My three-year-old is called Cora – an anagram of orca!)
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Keep your camera in your hand luggage! Our luggage didn’t arrive until two days before we went home. We missed out on some good photographs but this made me realize just how little we actually needed to enjoy this experience. In fact the whole holiday made me realize how little we all need to enjoy life.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. I loved the fact that all the drinks were in glass bottles. Pulling large pieces of plastic out of the sea while out on the trips was a surprisingly powerful experience. There are so many environmental issues to consider. We have been organic, vegetarian recyclers for many years now. This holiday helped take us one step further. We avoid buying plastic whenever possible, buy locally and don’t shop at supermarkets if we can help it. I think the benefits of such a holiday far outway the flying involved. What I have experienced has struck at the heart of the matter. ‘First heal thy self…’
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
5. *****
Antonia Cornaro review 3 Jun 2010
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The open unspoilt volcanic landscapes, being in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, seeing whales for the first time, learning more about volcanoes and whales and the ocean.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
To also go inland and see the volcanoes and interesting vegetation. we loved Faial for that matter.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Partially yes. However, how local is the owner of Espaco thalasso (a French, grantedly who has been there for a long time.) We were also recommended to stay in a private house for the 2nd week, only there did we find out the owner is English (his wife comes from the Azores I think). But I felt we could have benefited the local community more by staying in a different accommodation.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent, away from the crowds, beautiful nature, and the most refreshing air I've breathed in years.
Read the operator's response here:
Thank you for your comments in this review and we are glad you enjoyed the Whales, the ocean and islands so much! In response to your comments about the owner of the private House. The owners have been married for many years, he is English and she a local Azorean woman whose family all live on the island. They employed local people to build the house and family members are employed to look after the guests and the house, so actually there are some considerable benefits to local people. We send guests to other local hotels who all employ local staff and we try everything we can to ensure that tourism really gives more and more back to enhance the local economy. We appreciate that you value this ethos and want to encourage this kind of tourism.
Martin Drake review 17 Jul 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Close encounters with the marine life.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Give yourself time to visit some of the other islands of the Azores - it is a tranquil and beautiful part of the world well worth exploring.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes - the accommodation, expeditions and tours were all organised locally. I found the Azoreans without exception to be friendly and helpful.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
The holiday was good value for money and gave a great opportunity to see the marine life at close quarters as well as a fascinating snapshot of the beautiful island of Pico. My one regret is that I didn't give myself enough time to explore more of the rest of the Azores.
Julia Williams review 30 Jun 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Leaving the operator.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't bother with operator use someone else. A much more professional team at no extra cost.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Not totally. The whale operator used by the operator was French. His staff were mostly foreign although very good. He also owned the hotel which I felt was below standard. One guide used for jeep tours was local and was excellent.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very poor.
Read the operator's response here:
We are sorry that you did not enjoy the holiday as much as everyone else. Maybe this kind of holiday was not really what you were looking for and I sincerely hope you find holidays in the future that are more suitable. 80% of the team who work for our boat company are actually local and the French owner has lived in the Azores for over 20 years and has an Azorean wife and family. They are committed to developing a sustainable tourism that gives something back to the Islanders. I am glad you found the boat team very good, they are very experienced, professional and dedicated to the wildlife. Also that you found the local jeep tour guide excellent.
Tuula Huotari review 10 Jun 2008
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The trips to the sea to see what kind of new species of whales or dolphins we might spot today! And actually being on these remote islands in the middle of Atlantic.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared for different kinds of weather, cheap prices, nice island community life with very few tourists...
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
At least the village where we stayed did not seem touristic at all so the local people must still like us. Whale watching is done according to strict ethic code, which is good.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very good.
Catherine Lack review 1 Jun 2008
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Going up Pico. Having whales near the boat. The gymnastic displays from the dolphins.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It's a great experience! Pico is just an amazing place, and deserves to be better known. The dolphins and whales are just stunning. If I'm honest, I do feel the "added value" from the tour operator was limited - if I go again (which I would like to) I will book directly with the place. I have told them this.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Not sure really. I hope so. We used local people for some things, but maybe a local guide would have been better.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was great - thanks to the whales, the dolphins and the mountain.
Read the operator's response here:
We are sorry to read that the traveller in this instance thought it unnecessary to have a guide. The continued success of these holidays and the excellent reviews they receive are hugely dependent on a high quality guide. Perhaps it is a testament to the quality that this traveller missed the organisation that went on and the constant attention to details and changes that the guide took care of. The guide also offered a lot of information and was constantly available for anything they needed. He also arranged a lot of extra activities that the group requested, they used all their time very well, 7 trips on the water and climbing the mountain on top of other activities all in 7 days! Unheard of previously even in 9 day trips, they could do so much because everything was taken care of for them. The same guide got a 5***** review last year. I have also heard from another guest on the same trip who appreciated the guide in her feedback form to us and gave the holiday a 4**** review!
The holiday was an astounding success and if this client had tried to go independently it would most certainly have taken a lot of time and frustration to organise. How would she know who were the best operators? Where is the best place for the incredible sightings? We have researched the best on offer and have built good relationships with our suppliers. We know the best way to arrange everything, lots of excellent local contacts. She chose an escorted group and everything worked seamlessly apart from a small detail which related to her meeting the group (she arrived earlier than the rest of the group and this took a few minutes for them all to find each other at the port, but they did!) The guide responded to all requests arranged additional activities that the clients wanted to do. I think she overlooked all that was provided and is very naive to think she could have done her own independent trip with as much ease as she had on our group. She would have spent her holiday organising rather than relaxing into the experience.
Julie Mclay review 4 Jun 2007
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Our holiday was a wonderful experience. Our trips to see the whales was exciting and at times breathtaking. Malcolm, our expert, helped make the trip an enjoyable and well informed holiday, with organised trips. All our needs were taken care of and if you'd like to see whales and dolphins it is an ideal part of the world to choose.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Book as early as you can - don't miss out.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
All the local people are involved - it is part of their past and present history.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic experience - one not to be missed.
