13 independent reviews for Blue Whale Discovery Holiday, Azores
Reviews for Blue Whale Discovery Holiday, Azores
Terry Williams review 5 Jun 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The rib boat trips.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take lightweight waterproof jackets, it was too hot on some days to wear the thicker jackets supplied by the operators.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, in both employment for their staff and sale at other shops and restaurants. Made you realise (even more than normal) the environmental issues.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
10/10 both for friendly and helpful staff and for the hotel accommodation.Richard Buckingham review 30 May 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The marine life encounters.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Check to establish if there are any public holidays or Religious festivals occurring during the period of the holiday.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Benefitted the local people…hotel / restaurants etc…. Not sure it reduced environmental impacts… air travel / travelling around in older vehicles / 4 wheel trip. I don’t remember conservation being spoken about but any encounters with marine life was appropriately handled..4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very good…well organised. Wonderful people on the Island.Richard Buckingham review 24 May 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The marine life encounters.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Check to establish if there are any public holidays or Religious festivals occurring during the period of the holiday.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Benefitted the local people…hotel / restaurants etc. Not sure it reduced environmental impacts…air travel / travelling around in older vehicles / 4 wheel trip. I don’t remember conservation being spoken about but any encounters with marine life was appropriately handled...4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very good…well organised. Wonderful people on the Island.Martha Davies review 18 May 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Having orcas swim under our rib!2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
We probably booked vegetarian restaurants as we are vegetarians! Which was great as they were very popular. Ate with our group a lot too which was lovely. The hotel Marina Atlantica was great for getting to the boat base too and easy to get everywhere.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. The operator were very strict about following the rules regarding whales and dolphins. We were pleased to see how much people in the azores respect the environment and seem to care about environmental issues.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent! Transfers guides on the boats and everyone was super helpful and friendly.The meal on the first night, as in food quality, was pretty poor compared to everywhere else we ate.Katherine Brown review 13 May 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing whales and dolphins in their natural habitat. Also visiting the island and volcanic craters was surreal.. such a beautiful place....2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
An absolute must!! Fulfilled a dream but surpassed my expectations - was awesome inspiring and humbling at the same time. Definitely book minimum of 3-4 trips - we had 4 booked but arranged an additional half day at sea as we were so totally hooked on seeing these majestic creatures.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The marine biologists on board every trip were always respectful and never outstayed our welcome during a sighting, they always gave informative talks during the trip.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Out of this world!!Liz Greengrass review 7 May 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Watching hundreds of dolphin hunt fish and watching humpbacks and Risso dolphins2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring warm clothes for the boat (I wore my winter trail running gear). Be prepared for the weather to turn and trips being cancelled: for example, I added a trip one afternoon, as I knew the weather later in the week was going to be bad3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
This is a genuine eco-tourism experience where the welfare of the animals are put first and on which the local community is dependent (eco-tourism has replaced whaling). The richness of the ocean in terms of its biodiversity is well demonstrated, augmented by the talks given by the marine biologist, inciting a greater awareness of the importance of protecting the world's oceans4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I highly recommend the Azores as a great destination to see cetaceans. However, the culture and the history of the islands are unique and worth visiting in their own rightSue O'Hara review 3 May 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing the wildlife (whales and dolphins) was the main objective of the holiday and we considered it an objective acheived well. The trip operators team in Ponta Delgada who run the boat trips were very very knowledgable friendly and well organised. They were very respectful of the animals and made sure the boats didnt out stay their welcome.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
We had 3 x boat trips booked as part of the package, but we decided to pay for 2 additional trips when we were in Ponta Delgada and they were the most succesful in terms of whale sightings. Top tip, buy as many trips as you can afford.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Supports conservartion definitely. The trip operators team were very ethically minded and gave a strong, sensible message in this area.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was fantastic, the trip operators team were amazing and the holiday couldn't have been planned or run better. Top marks.David Brierley review 1 May 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing Whales and Dolphins2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take your Camera and Binoculars3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Definitely the ground agent was excellent in every way and environmentaly aware4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent from start to finishTina Yarrow review 10 Jun 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing Whales and Dolphins in their natural habitat was an absolute privilege.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Do as many trips to sea as you can because you see different things on different days. We’d also recommend going on the zodiac rib boat as you get a closer encounter but you do need to be sea-faring!3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We feel that tourism is of benefit for the locals. There were many restaurants, bars, ice-cream parlours etc.that rely on tourists and provides jobs for the islanders. The Portuguese are very proud of their home and strive to maintain its beauty. Everyone at the whale watching operator benefit and are reliant on tourism and the trips out to sea. Marine biologists accompany every boat and collect data which is shared internationally to other Biologists - tourism enables the crew to earn a salary and continue their studies.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We had the most amazing time and the organisation led by Rosey Responsible was perfect. The staff at Sao Miguel Park Hotel were friendly, helpful and courteous. Our room was spacious, clean and comfortable and close to all amenities - if you’re willing to take a 10 minute walk! Such a wonderful experience.Sheila Weber review 15 May 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing a blue Whale in all its glory2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't expect everything to be perfect. Nature can be unreliable. The weather can stop boats going out and, even when they do, sightings are not guaranteed. The animals are not there for our benefit. So be prepared for disappointments.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?
Very good. Organisation was excellent and the team on the ground couldn't have been better. The only negatives came from nature itself! Well done everybody.Pamala Wilkie review 28 Jun 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
By far the most memorable part of our holiday was seeing the whales, dolphins and other sea life in their natural habitat, accompanied by expert marine biologists who were always on hand to tell us what we were seeing. They really made you feel part of the expeditionary team. All the trips were very well run and the staff were extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Fortunately we were in luck, and on our 9 hours of excursions we had sightings of sperm whales, hump back whales, bottlenose, risos and common dolphins as well as flying fish. A wonderful, wonderful week.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Make sure you are prepared for all weather conditions, including warm clothing as it is always cooler at sea. Also, take a good supply of sea sick tablets as you are often sitting waiting in a stationery, wallowing catamaran or rig for some time before or during sightings. Make sure you are well prepared for this as it is a real shame to miss such a marvellous event because you do not feel well once you are on the boats. Also, have good walking shoes as there are lots of lovely walks and places to explore.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Definitely - as the Azores is a small island complex and any monetary input from abroad would be of benefit to the local population. I think that tourists coming to the islands should be respectful of the conservation and biodiversity put in place there, as it is evident that the islands and the surrounding seas benefit from the care given to them by the local population.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
This was an excellent week away. The tour operator could not have been more obliging or helpful from start to finish, especially as this was originally booked for a special birthday in 2020. The accommodation was excellent and very central to all the restaurants and facilities of the town. The rooms were comfortable and the hotel was well decorated. It was great to have the benefit of a heated indoor pool and jacuzzi, and multi lounges to relax in, the staff were friendly and helpful, and the food was very good quality. The trips organised by the tour operator were excellent; we were only in small groups of people which allowed for an intimate, friendly feel to the whole week. I cannot thank everyone enough at the tour operator for a really memorable holiday.Teresa Fullilove review 5 Jun 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Whales and dolphins2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take a good rain coat and trousers. Lol.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, all places were doing their bit.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
SuperbRob Curtis review 14 Oct 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The whole experience of seeing and hearing cetaceans including Blue Whales!2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Book as many additional day or half day trips to take in the terrestrial beauty of Sao Miguel. Ponta Delgada is quite a densely populated town with an air pollution to match. It was good to get out once in a while!3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes - it supported the monitoring and advocacy work of the local operator as well as the local economy.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A great holiday with welcoming locals, wonderful wildlife and local experiences. The scenery was shrouded in Atlantic fog with occasional rain but that didn't dampen my spiritsHoliday Reviews
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