La Marta's House

The owner was attentive and always ready to help. Great location too, with a little market and the beach both nearby.

Misleading listing. The house we arrived at looked nothing like the one I chose when booking. There was no real security: the front door was aluminum, the back door had holes and only a latch, no keyed lock, and there wasn't even a gate. The house is on a busy corner, so the supposed free parking was just the space in front of it, which left us feeling very exposed. The kitchen was unsanitary. The dish towel was grimy, glasses were dusty and had insects inside, and the utensils were dusty on a lower counter. The stove was old and rusty, and its oven couldn't be used. The bathrooms were awful, with cracks in the ceilings and walls. No towels or bathroom cleaning products were provided, despite appearing on the booking list. The bathroom attached to the bedroom had no door at all. The listing said a double bed, but the bedroom had a large single instead. There was air conditioning, but she charged extra to turn it on. We didn't even stay 24 hours before leaving and ending our time in Morro Branco. It also rained, and a leak made a loud noise as drops hit the ceiling lining. I have nothing positive to say about this place.

The location worked really well for me, about 5-10 minutes on foot from the beach and right in central Morro Branco, near bakeries, markets and a butcher. I stayed alone for 19 days and paid R$ 800,00 in weekly installments. Water, electricity, internet and gas were included. For 16 days I was in the smaller house, with a bedroom, bathroom, and a combined living room and kitchen. The larger one had two bathrooms and a big living room. Marta and her grandson treated me very well. She lived right across the street and usually sorted things out straight away when I asked, like bringing food containers, a stove lighter or some salt, and replacing a burned-out bulb. Near the end she even gave me a bowl of feijão verde, which I loved. The houses were clean, roomy and well equipped. The small one had a mini fridge, and the larger one a full fridge. There was a stove, counter, smart TV, table, chairs, cookware, plates, cups, cutlery, other kitchen things, a hygienic shower, linens and towels. The bed in the living room doubled as a sofa, and there was a double bed in the bedroom. The small house's living room and kitchen were a bit tight, though its bedroom was spacious. Internet was good. There were a few minor annoyances. Trucks and buggies made some street noise now and then, though nothing too bad. In the small house, the wall-mounted table made it hard to watch TV while eating. The big house had a large table, but it shared space with the TV, which was very close during meals. An outlet in the small house meant I had to run my laptop cord across the room. Sometimes a cat seemed to get into the ceiling and make noise. None of this had a major impact on my stay. Marta and Neto were always polite, attentive and willing to address the things I brought up.

The house has a good amount of space, an excellent double bed and a nice location close to the beach, on a paved, quiet street. I left my car out front and had no trouble, though there's no private parking, so you have to park on the street or pay at a nearby lot. The hosts are excellent and the nightly rate is affordable. It's basic, though: no hot water in the shower, and the only appliance is a minibar. The kitchen items cover the basics, but I missed having a thermos. The sofa bed's upholstery is badly worn, and it isn't suitable for sleeping. If you're particular about these things, check them first.