Hostel Recanto da Iara

The hostess and the man who looks after the pool were friendly, but my wife and I left disappointed. One house rule says not to leave the bathroom wet, yet the shower has no door. The shower control was wrapped in electrical tape, and I still got a shock. The air conditioning rules were another dealbreaker: it could only be turned on during certain hours, and nobody told us there was a breaker outside the house that we had to switch ourselves. Guests deserve at least basic comfort, even if that means charging a little more. Breakfast was meager too, so the stay wasn't a good experience. Maybe things are different in high season, but we definitely won't return. The air conditioning situation made the decision for us.

The biggest problem came on checkout day. A large group was expected at 8:00 a.m., and from 7:00 there was constant noise. It felt like the guests already there were being pushed to leave early. The owner came into the room repeatedly to see whether I had gone. At 8:00, a young girl came in, used my space, and left her belongings beside my bed. While I was still there, someone told her that the bed would be hers once I left. Checkout was at 10:00, but after 7:00 it was impossible to rest. The whole situation was deeply uncomfortable for me and everyone else there. I felt pressured to leave and treated without consideration. I understand the owners may mean well, but they need to be more careful. I can't recommend the place, and I don't think it should be called a hostel. The family that runs the property also lives there. The staff are friendly, but having the family constantly in the common areas made it uncomfortable to use the kitchen or sit down to eat. It felt as though we were in their way or ought to leave, and another guest I spoke with felt the same. The pool stayed visibly green during my stay. They only put in chlorine and cleaned it after announcing that a large group was coming, which gave me the impression that upkeep happened for groups rather than regularly for guests. The rooms are very uncomfortable, with triple bunks and 12 beds packed together with everyone's belongings. Even when the room wasn't full, it felt cramped. Cleanliness was poor, especially in the rooms. Bathrooms were barely acceptable, with no ventilation and sauna-like heat. My room was visibly dirty: under my bed were old papers, rubbish, and a musty towel, as if nobody had cleaned there for a long time. They swept the floor but didn't clean under the beds or the beds themselves. There are no lockers or door keys, and nobody asked me for identification when I arrived. That made me feel unsafe, since it seemed anyone could come in and everyone's belongings were exposed. The air conditioning is switched off at 7 a.m., and breakfast is only served from 8 to 9, a very narrow window. The place advertises itself as a hostel, but it lacks the basic amenities and services I expect from one.

If you're looking for somewhere dirty, smelly, and greasy, this is the place for you. The shower water doesn't drain, so dirty water just sits there, and the beds looked used when I arrived. They felt completely greasy. The air conditioning has set hours. I got back from the beach in the afternoon and couldn't turn it on. One guy was feeling unwell and asked for it, but the owner was very rude and wouldn't let the poor guy cool off and recover. Later that afternoon the power went out. The people with me suspected the owner had switched it off, since she knew where the house breaker was and didn't want anyone turning it back on.

My family loved the stay. It was a wonderful place to wake up feeling peaceful, with a generous breakfast, clean bathrooms, and air conditioning in every room. The pool was always warm and clean. The barbecue area was great, the beer stayed cold, and there was a freezer nearby so we could make ourselves at home. Thanks so much, Regina, Tati, Elói, Michele and Charles.