La Barca Suítes

The one good thing was being close to the beach. Everything else made the rate feel exorbitant for what we got. There was a strong sewage smell in the bathroom all the time, yellow water came from the tap and toilet flush, and there was no daily cleaning, breakfast, or receptionist. Bars next door played loud live music every day until 11 p.m., and the smell of frying food reached the room. The bedside lamp didn't work, and the bedroom door only shut when locked because the handle was broken. I cancelled the remaining nights, but the suite manager refused to refund me, saying it had nothing to do with my cancellation and that she doesn't offer refunds.

Wouldn't recommend it. Water from the tap, toilet, and shower was yellow and smelled bad. The shower leaked over the top and gave electric shocks. There was no cleaning service or even fresh towel replacement. Bars downstairs played live music until 1 a.m., so sleeping through the noise was impossible. Parking cost extra, and once your car was in the garage you couldn't take it out. Air conditioning was another R$50,00 per day. There are other places to stay in town with better value.

For Suíte 2, the price was fair for what the booking offered, and we weren't misled: Booking.com clearly stated there was no breakfast or air conditioning. The owner was always willing to sort out any issue. The bed was good, and the ceiling fan, TV, minibar, and shower all worked. The location is excellent, right across from the sea, about a 10-minute walk from the center, with Anjos and Forno beaches nearby. It's also easy to reach the water taxis and the pier for boat trips around Arraial. One downside is that they don't take cards, though there's a 24-hour ATM about five minutes away if you only brought a card.

We got no room cleaning during our week there, and nobody changed the rubbish or sheets or brought fresh towels. There's no breakfast or air conditioning either, and the toilet was full of sand. The electric shower wouldn't heat up and sparked. The suites sit above a restaurant, up a flight of stairs, so there's a strong food smell all the time; the restaurant staff also argued loudly, making it noisy. They don't speak Spanish and weren't helpful with guests. The service was awful for such an expensive place. I don't recommend going.