Hotel Ilha Branca Inn

The room was spotless and had a nice view, and the hotel itself has good infrastructure. But the reception was extremely unwelcoming, with the receptionist mostly telling me what I wasn’t allowed to do. When I asked for a glass of water on arrival, they didn’t have one. The bigger issue was a fee I’d never been told about. I was asked for my credit card details, including the security code, and 300 BRL as a guarantee, or I couldn’t stay. The receptionist seemed unconcerned that I might have nowhere else to go, despite having booked Ilha Branca Inn in advance. With so much competition nearby, I’m sure there are better places at a reasonable price.

The pool has a bar and a lovely sea view, and the rooms and bathrooms were clean. The hotel is built on different levels, so expect plenty of stairs. Breakfast was nothing special, mostly eggs and some meat, though there’s a toaster if you want toast. The internet was decent enough to watch Netflix. A nice Buzios hotel for the price, with good service.

There were no vegan breakfast choices beyond fruit and one kind of bread. It’s also a family-friendly place, so kids are often around the pool, including the heated pool. The location is quiet and the place is nice, though street noise carried into our room and the sauna wasn’t working.

It’s in a very good location, but the staff seemed a bit unprofessional. Nobody showed us around the inn, so we had to figure out for ourselves where the advertised amenities were.