Island of São Miguel, Azores
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Dates:
30 September - 5 October 2024.
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Subject:
Medical and Surgical Emergencies in the Dog and Cat.
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Type of Course:
5-day 'Learn & Travel' course.
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What is included in the ticket?
- 5 nights at a 4 star Boutique Villa (view here), rate 5/5 on google, 9.7/10 on booking.com
- 24h access to cool and heated pools
- 17h of lectures
- CPD certificate
- activities (swims at waterfalls, hot springs and in the ocean; hikes around the lagoons and natural parks; visit of a tea factory; visit of breathtaking viewpoints)
- breakfasts, lunches, coffee breaks (vegan)
- airport transfers
- transport during the activities.
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What is not included in the ticket?
- Dinners (to give you the opportunity to dine wherever you like with your friends).
- Flight to Ponta Delgada.
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Flight tips:
On skyscanner, check flights from your city to Lisbon, then check flights from Lisbon to Ponta Delgada; the cheapest flights to the Azores (Ryanair, Sata, TAP) are not showing unless you split like this. If you are struggling to find flights, email us and we will find them for you!). Direct flights to Ponta Delgada:
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Course aims:
- To reduce the stray population. We work pro-bono and the profit from this course will be donated to treat and neuter stray cats and dogs. In partnership with Animais de Rua, MoveOnVet and UniVets Global.
- To teach you everything you need to know about emergencies!
- To improve wellbeing within the vet community, through creating a safe space where you can talk, make new friends, travel the world together, and have fun!
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What is the program?
30th of Sep: meet us at the boutique hotel from 5pm or text us to request a pickup from the airport.
1st Oct: activities
2nd of Oct: lectures from 10am until 7pm.
3rd of Oct: activities.
4th of Oct: lectures from 10am until 7pm.
5th of Oct: lectures from 9am until 12pm. From 12pm we can drive you to the airport.
The days of the activities may change depending on the weather.
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What are the room options?
As confusing as it may be, the villa has many room options (each room with its own bathroom):
A) room for 6 people (single beds)
B) rooms for 4 people (single beds)
C) sold out
D) sold out
E) sold out
F) private room: since all other options have sold out, the options we can now offer are:
If you are 2 people, you can stay in a ‘’room for 4’’ and make it private for 1899 each (nurses & students) or 1999 (vets).
If you are 1 person, you can stay in a ‘’room for 4’’and make it private for 2899 (nurse & student) or 2999 (vet).
If you want to lower the cost, invite friends or family to share the room with you! When they join you in your room later, we will refund you the difference.
Don't be scared of sharing a room, our courses are limited to a small number of participants and designed in a way that we're all friends soon after the course starts :) You will also spend little time in the room, you will spend the days in lectures, in the pools, and travelling!
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I am not a vet, vet nurse, tech or student, can I join? Can I bring my partner, family or friends?
Yes! Non-vet professionals can pay as a student and enjoy the cool and heated pools, the activities, the delicious food etc ;) Remember that all money received will be used to treat and neuter stray animals.
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Do I need to organise anything?
Only your flight. Ohana organises everything else.
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What happens to the money people pay to attend a course?
This money will cover your expenses and 100% of the profit (amount paid minus expenses) is then donated to local charities and used towards improving animal welfare. None of the organisers or lecturers are paid for their work. The organisers (trustees) are self-funding the project and paying own travel expenses.
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Where will we meet?
We will meet at the boutique-hotel on the 30th of September from 5pm, or at the airport when you arrive. It's a 7min drive from the airport to the boutique-hotel.
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Should I extend my stay to the weekends before and after?
Absolutely!! The Azores are formed of 9 beautiful islands. We will be staying in the island of S. Miguel, which is one of the prettiest. There is plenty to explore on this island and we won't be able to see it all in 5 days. Whale watching, surfing, diving, Furnas hot springs, some of the most beautiful hikes in the world, unforgettable dining experiences, etc etc. If you wish to visit a second island, I would advise you to visit Flores (search this island on google images to find out why).
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How do you travel between the islands?
You can fly or take a ferry. Ferries are infrequent and take many hours to reach the other islands, you would be wasting your precious time in paradise. We advise you to fly between the islands with Sata Azores (https://www.azoresairlines.pt/en)
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Which transport do you advise me to use in the Azores?
The islands are best explored with a car rental. There is no Uber or Bolt in the Azores. You do not need a car during the course or to explore the town of Ponta Delgada (S. Miguel), as you can walk everywhere within the small town, or take a taxi which are very cheap. Taxi drivers will not speak English, but you can use google translator and google maps to communicate where you want to go.
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Are there supermarkets, restaurants, pharmacies etc near the Boutique Villa?
Yes, the Villa is located in the centre of the main town (Ponta Delgada) of the island of S. Miguel.
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Can you recommend places of interest, restaurants and hotels in the Azores?
Of course, we will email every participant a list of recommendations.
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Are the tickets or deposit refundable?
They are not, as we had to pay expenses in advance and these are not refundable to us. But you can transfer the ticket to a friend, so your money won't be lost! And remember that all money received will be used to treat and neuter strays.
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What are the payment options?
Google pay, debit card or bank transfer. A transfer would result in more money for the animals (because there are no online charges - email us for our bank details). We can reserve a room when you pay a 50% deposit (the remainder 50% can be paid until 1 August).
Welcome to our Ohana Family!
Carolina Albuquerque,
DVM MSc MRCVS CertAVP DipECVIM-CA EBVS European Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine
Proud co-founder of Ohana Animal Charity
Nurses, techs and students not living in the Azores
Room for 6 people (single beds): 995
Room for 4 people: (single beds): 1045
Room with double bed: sold out
Large Superior room for 2-3 people: sold out
Large Superior room for 1 person: sold out
Early-bird prices per person. More about the rooms and having a *private room*. If you have questions, request a call from Carolina (DipECVIM Specialist in Internal Medicine, Ohana cofounder).
Vets not living in the Azores
Room for 6 people (single beds): 1099
Room for 4 people: (single beds): 1145
Room with double bed: sold out
Large Superior room for 2-3 people: sold out
Large Superior room for 1 person: sold out
Early-bird prices per person. More about the rooms having a *private room*. If you have questions, request a call from Carolina (DipECVIM Specialist in Internal Medicine, Ohana cofounder).
Vets, nurses and students from the Azores or living here
You can buy the full package or day-passes. Day-passes will be available for sale 6 weeks before the course, you can email us to register your interest.