Pousada La Mansion Joao Fernandes

I think it’s important to be honest with future guests about our stay at the Pousada. We booked through booking, made our plans, and a few days later were told there had been an overbooking and our reservation needed to be cancelled. They told us very close to the trip, so we asked about other dates. They managed Tuesday to Thursday, but said they couldn’t book it on our card through booking and that we had to pay upfront. In all the confusion, the staff member promised us the best room. The day before we arrived, we asked if we could come a little early because we had to check out of our other accommodation. The staff member said a room would be available at noon. But when we got there, another staff member said check-in only starts at 2 pm. The people clearly hadn’t communicated. We had to leave our bags exposed at reception and go find something to eat. When we came back, we were greeted by the receptionist’s little dogs, possibly one of the owners. We love little dogs, but they had beds under the reception sofa and had peed in the corners. The door right opposite the entrance was open onto a storage room full of disorganized things. The service corridor, where breakfast is prepared and cleaning supplies are stored, was also a mess. The receptionist was very kind and made a real effort, showed us to the room, and gave us the information we needed. It did seem to be the best room there, since we’d seen the others and they didn’t look as good. She made us feel comfortable. Breakfast was extremely basic and served at the same reception where the dogs sleep and do their business. We’d seen lots of praise, so it’s important to say that our stay didn’t feel nearly as wonderful as described. The place felt run-down, sad, and stuck in time. We saw that the current owners were putting it up for sale, and they may be tired of running it.

The pool is small, but it’s excellent for relaxing, and the breakfast was better than at many bigger guesthouses since a lot of it is made fresh. Sometimes they also offer a simple afternoon coffee, which is a nice extra. The guesthouse itself is small but very welcoming, and the manager is around all the time. She even sometimes has medicine if you need help. The beach isn’t very close, but a good walk or a quick drive will get you there. I recommend it for the value.

The place looks like it could be interesting, and the team serving breakfast were attentive. The owner also tried to look after us. But the guesthouse wasn’t ready to host people during the social distancing/new normal period. It was completely full, and the breakfast tables weren’t spaced apart. The small parking area filled up quickly too. The pool was dirty, with lots of leaves and body oil in it. The parking gate kept failing, even after they replaced the remote three times.

We had a very peaceful stay, and everyone at the guesthouse was so caring, especially d.Neuza, who manages the place. Such a sweetheart! The rooms are simple but very clean, and the bathroom is great, with a hair dryer available. Breakfast is simple and they keep replenishing it well. Parking is limited, so some cars end up on the sidewalk, but a security service monitors the area all the time. It took us 10-15 minutes to walk to the Bardot waterfront.