Pousada Villa Toscana

The view is really beautiful, the price was well below what you'd find elsewhere in Buzios, and there is parking. It's also close to two beaches. But the negative things people say about this place are true. The pousada is the owner's home, and she and her older husband are the only ones working, with several rooms to prepare. Our room wasn't cleaned during our stay. There were lots of insects and little bug nests on the balcony, and it didn't seem like anyone checked that everything was in order before we arrived. The garden was poorly kept, there were many cats, and we found fur in the food while eating. We arrived two hours before check-in and weren't even allowed inside. We were told to go for a walk and come back later. We were also asked to turn off the lights when leaving. The host was hard to talk to, seemed to be arguing all the time, and pushed for a level of familiarity that felt uncomfortable. We had to put up with several inconveniences. If your budget is tight, it may not be all bad, but if you can choose somewhere else, that would be better.

The pousada is about a slow ten-minute walk from Ferradurinha and Geribá, but it's up a very steep hill. The area is dark and deserted at night, so having a car matters if you want to go out. The room and bathroom were okay, though the mattress gave me back pain. There was a lot of dust built up, as well as plenty of insects, possibly because the property has so much greenery. No one offered fresh towels, rubbish collection, or more toilet paper. Breakfast came in a set portion for each guest, though I don't know if that's always the arrangement. The owner communicates well over WhatsApp.

The owner was a sweetheart and very attentive, and they lent us a beach umbrella and chairs during our stay. The price was affordable, though the value for money was only reasonable. The breakfast was very basic, and there are some cats around. The pousada itself is quite simple and needs repairs. The pool wasn't working, and the mattress was uncomfortable, though I only noticed that after the stay was over. Getting around on foot is a bit difficult, especially at night.

The photos don't match what the place is really like. We arrived to a pile of rules, including being told we couldn't use the pool because it was dirty and the round section was empty. The owner doesn't know how to talk to guests. At night all the lights were switched off, so we had to use our phone flashlights to get down the stairs. The towels smelled awful, and there was no room cleaning. Breakfast had no variety, and you could only eat the amount they put on the table. I wouldn't recommend this pousada to anyone.