Party in the Azores!
We're celebrating getting hitched!
And we want you to join
Thanksgiving Party
Daytime at Termas da Ferraria.
Night time at Lava Jazz.
Food, drinks, music, hot springs, ocean. The only RSVP-necessary day.
We'll be in Ponta Delgada for 2 weeks!
If you can't miss family Thanksgiving, there'll be activities from November 23 till December 6. We'd just love to see you and help you to plan your trip.
Cheap Direct Flights
Sata Azores is the airline. Horrible website. Depart from JFK or Boston (Boston is best).
Lodging
Airb'snb's galore. This is the 'low season'. Hotels are cheap, too. Once again, we're here to help.
Why the Azores and Why Thanksgiving?
For the past few years we've been making the trek to Sao Miguel to celebrate Thanksgiving. It's like someone squished Hawaii, Old Portugal and Ireland onto one island.
But we've returned so many times because of the Azorean people. Our Thanksgiving Day party will be open to our new friends, neighbors, and the music community at large.
November is also the down season for tourism which means cheaper prices, mellow streets, and the opportunity to check out sites and experiences without big crowds.
This won't be your last trip here.
Getting Here
Cheap Flight Hack
DO NOT try to book from your home airport directly to PDL.
1 - Go to Sata Azores' horrible website (www.azoresairlines.pt/en) and search a flight to PDL from Boston (BOS) or JFK.
2 - Search a flight from your home airport to Boston or JFK, factoring at least 2-3 hours into the layover for customs and potential delays.
3 - Book that thang! For some reason, two separate bookings are less than half of the price.
*Call us for help. We do it all the time.
Rental Cars
You can take a 10 Euro ride into Ponta Delgada from the airport (a less than 10 min drive) and walk, bike, or scooter most places within the city, but if you're looking to explore the island's hot springs, beaches, and hiking we recommend renting a car. We also recommend renting from a local company (and can advise) so that the money stays on the island.
Lodging
Stay Your Way
Airbnbs
Search for Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, on Airbnb for tons of options in the city. Or, if you have a car and are looking to post up somewhere more secluded (make sure you feel ok driving on narrow streets!), we recommend searching around Ribiera Grande, Villa Franco do Campo, Capelas, or Caloura. A few of our favorite Airbnbs are:
Simple&Charming Guest Apt
Casa Vista Marina
Casa Da Quinta 1 & 2 (10 min drive)
Casa da Suta (15 min drive)
Hotels
There are several hotels to choose from - from full-service and fancy to intimate and boutique. Our address in Ponta Delgada is Rue Padre Serrao 18, Ponta Delgada (next do Mercado da Graca) which is walkable from basically all downtown options. Prices are cheaper in November so make sure to adjust your search accordingly. Here's a starting point:
Octant
Grand Acores Hotel Atlantico
Casa Hintze Ribiero
Nine Dots
Hostel
We have a hold on all 22 of the rooms at Sky PDL (google it), an awesome hostel by our house. It's basically a hotel with a shared kitchen, some bunk rooms, and a rooftop patio with panoramic views of the island. Held from November 23 to December 5 (but they have space on either end of those dates. Nightly bed rates range from $20 (bunks) to $50 (private room) a night. Let us know if you're interested.
Thanksgiving Party & RSVP Deets!
We'll start the day with lunch and a soak at Ponta Da Ferraria (google it) and the neighboring spa and restaurant, Termas da Ferraria. The spring and spa exist where hot spring water mixes with cool ocean water. It's one of the greatest places on Earth. Then off to Lava Jazz for a night of music, food, local wine, and dancing. We're keeping it casual so come as you are - but, for lunch, plan on bringing a dark swimsuit (the hot springs can stain lighter suits), coverup, and something cozy to change into. For the evening, wear whatever makes you feel festive (jeans, dresses, glitter, overalls) But! Remember that the weather changes quickly so be prepared for rain. Don't go anywhere without a rain jacket. Waterproof shoes.
Please RSVP for Thanksgiving Day party shenanigans by emailing, texting, or calling us directly. We will work to coordinate transportation based on headcount and share additional location details closer to time.
Unable to make Thanksgiving but still want to join us? We are SO excited to see you. Please reach to one of us with the dates / times of your arrival and we'll work to plan some fun group activities. This is a casual adventure so we encourage everyone to plan their own solo experiences as well - we'll have plenty of options for syncing as a crew.