Aqua By Sambass

Aqua by Sambass is a safe, convenient place for a short stay, but I found it very expensive for what's on offer. It cost more than Minha Louca Paixão, where the luxury and comfort felt much more convincing. The hotel advertises “LUXURY OCEANFRONT WITH PRIVATE POOL.” Morro is very hot, and at Minha Louca Paixão we were welcomed with a cold coconut in a nicely air-conditioned lobby. Aqua's lobby had no AC, and the water filter ornament at reception was always empty. The receptionist kindly brought me a lukewarm glass of water from the office. It wasn't an encouraging start. The pool is a large one shared across the rooms on that side of the floor, with dividers, so it isn't really private. I was okay with that, but the room itself was very bare. There was no cupboard, just an open rail and two plastic hangers, and staff struggled to find more. No coffee machine, kettle, iron, ironing board, or even rubbish bin. The fridge had beer and cola, but no food. I don't think there's a full kitchen on site, and most room service items come from the sister venue about 100 meters down the beach. Breakfast was quite good, with cold meats, fresh fruit, and omelettes, but it didn't start until 8am, despite the sun being up at 5am. That's also when staff seemed to arrive and start cleaning the lobby and dining area. Disinfectant and breakfast don't mix well. There aren't proper shared lounge areas, so you stay in your room or use the shared beach area outside. The WiFi was the slowest I had in Brazil, and didn't work at all for two of our days.

The location is perfect, between Morro's busy tourist strip and its quieter area. Staff were friendly and breakfast was great. The hotel is very nice, but much of it felt mid-range rather than luxury, so I'd give it five stars if it cost half as much. Bathroom ventilation goes into the internal corridor, which often smelled bad, and one night a drunk guest singing kept us awake for an hour. For laundry, you leave clothes with reception but have to WhatsApp the laundry company yourself to sort out payment and pickup or drop-off. There were a few similar hassles that hotel staff could easily handle. Go if the room price isn't too high, it's nice, just not luxurious.

The room was fantastic and the staff were lovely. The only problem was the poor WiFi.

We had four unforgettable days at hotel Aqua, staying in the Premium room with a private pool. The room was spotless and smelled lovely, and its size and layout made the stay more comfortable. The bed and pillows were extremely comfortable, and the tasteful decor was really pleasant. Breakfast was delicious, especially the fresh, tasty fruit. The team gave us impeccable service, and being able to reserve beach tables in the pousada Sambass area was an extra that made our time in Morro de São Paulo even better.