Casa Bardot

Dona Lúcia was always attentive and helpful, and the location is excellent, about a five-minute walk from Centro and Rua das Pedras. The house worked well for seven adults and a baby. What weighed on our decision was having its own parking, since we worried we'd have to leave the car and look for a spot on the street when going out to the bars and restaurants at night.

The house smelled of mold throughout, and there was a gas smell in the kitchen. It really didn't feel ready to host guests and urgently needs work. Several things were in poor condition: bad door locks, a window latch that wouldn't close, warped cupboard doors, a broken fridge shelf, and a coffee maker that didn't work until the person in charge replaced it. The air conditioner was leaking and moldy, the kitchen sink had black slime in the corners, and there were cockroaches and centipedes on the living room sofa. A pipe showed through a hole beneath the upstairs double bed. The kitchen lacked necessary utensils, there were no towel hooks in the bathrooms, and one bathroom was missing a shower door. The living room had no curtain over its full glass windows, though there was one in the photo. The sofa was dirty and so soft it was hard to get up from. The cleaner refused to clean, saying she didn't have the needed supplies, and the bin was left without a bag. The TV had problems too.

It's a spacious house with big windows and a very good location, about two and a half blocks from the beach and one block from the pedestrian area. Be prepared to bring or buy nearly everything: it only has basic dishes, so you'll need cooking supplies and other essentials, even salt and water. Don't drink the tap water. There are lots of red ants too, though that's part of the place.

A very roomy, comfortable house for a family or a group of friends, close to the beach, the pedestrian area, and everything else. The service was excellent. It's well equipped, but bring your own water, food, and condiments.