FAQs

Question

How do we get there?

Answer

There are direct flights from Boston, Newark, NY JFK, Toronto We had great success driving to Toronto and flying directly to Ponta Delgada for much cheaper than having a connection on the East Coast. There are also great options for stopping over in a European hub (Paris, London etc.) and you can make a European tour out of it! Azores Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Binter Canarias, Air Canada, United, Brussels Airlines and Austrian Airlines all fly non-stop to Ponta Delgada. Azores Airlines and TAP Air Portugal are usually the most cost effective. Note that carry on sizes and luggage parameters usually vary on European airlines.

Question

Why did you pick the Azores?

Answer

Our friends and family are spread out all over the US and parts of Europe. We knew many people would have to travel, no matter where we chose to celebrate. So, we decided to choose a special and meaningful destination! For our legal ceremony in October, we chose the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where we have taken several trips, and where we got engaged! We stood on a raft over a spring surrounded by beautiful nature and fall colors. For our larger celebration in 2025, we chose São Miguel, where Mary Catherine's mom and family are from. It's a beautiful island unlike any other, and we can't wait to share it with you!

Question

Do I need a car to get around?

Answer

We loved exploring the island by car! Sao Miguel is only 9.7 x 39.5 miles, so you can drive the whole thing in a day or two, depending on often you stop. Highly recommend exploring all the way around if you can! ~ The roads are *very* narrow, hilly and twisty, but we got used to it pretty quickly! ~ If you know how to drive a stick shift, manual transmission cars are much cheaper and more common. Be sure to specify manual vs automatic when making your car reservation. ~ If you decide to get a car, it's recommend to have some change for paying for parking - it's cheap, though! ~ When parking in town, yellow on the sidewalk or street means no parking! Any text under any sign usually also means no parking. ~ Otherwise, we found that most road signs rely on info graphics vs. Portuguese, so it was easy to navigate as English speakers. ~ Look out for signs that say 'Miradouro' which means a gorgeous lookout point is coming up!

Question

Any cultural notes or tips?

Answer

Some tips and tricks we learned along the way... ~ Many restaurants open later, 6pm or later and close early. Reservations are recommended, when possible. Many have online booking platforms that are very user friendly. ~ Bring some binoculars for whale and dolphin watching and checking out the beautiful views. ~ We found that most restaurants and shops don't take American Express - most accept Visa and Mastercard, though. ~ When driving around the island, look out for signs that say 'Miradouro' which means a gorgeous lookout point is coming up! ~ A lot of the beaches are more rocky, so water shoes are recommended. There are sandy beaches, too, but do research ahead of time. ~ In restaurants, tipping 5-10% in cash/coins is typical and appreciated. Many places don't allow tipping if paying via credit card. ~ Your hotel will likely ask for ID's/Passports for all adults in the party, as a heads up!

Question

Portuguese 101

Answer

Bom dia: Means "good morning" and is used from sunrise until noon or after lunch Boa tarde: Means "good afternoon" and is used until sundown Boa noite: Means "good evening" and is used after sundown De nada: Means "you're welcome" and can be used in formal or informal situations Por favor: Means "please" and is used to ask someone for something or a favor Obrigado (m), Obrigada (f): Thank you Com licença: Literally translates to "with license" but means "excuse me" and is used to get off a crowded bus or metro Saúde!: Cheers! Sim/não – Yes/no Você fala inglês? – Do you speak English? Eu não entendo – I do not understand Não falo português – I don’t speak Portuguese Não sei – I don’t know