Pousada Vila Mato Verde

I booked for January 2024 with free cancellation, but they charged the full amount upfront. I asked to cancel two months ago, and the reservation still hasn't been canceled or my money returned. This feels like a scam.

Great!

Bárbara, the manager, is wonderful, and the place itself is beautiful, peaceful, and tucked into nature. It’s a lovely spot to spend time, and I’d recommend it to anyone who doesn’t mind the distance from the center of Morro de São Paulo. Without your own transport, it’s either a 4 km walk along the Praia shoreline or a taxi. The walk is enjoyable if you want to take in the scenery, or you’ll need to be able to pay for a taxi both ways.

We were shocked when Sandra refused to refund us through Airbnb after we asked for our money back. It wasn’t a cheap stay, and she argued that we had spent every night in her inn. We left feeling frightened and appalled, especially for our children. A knife fight broke out by the pool between staff and their guests, after the staff had invited friends over to drink beer. The drinking and boredom made them aggressive, and there was no supervision because Sandra doesn’t visit the property and has abandoned it. The inn itself was in terrible shape: green, disgusting pool water, mold on the walls, a leaking roof, dripping faucets, beds made from wooden crates with fabric and 5 cm of foam, and worn out, toxic pots. The services are a scam, and this was by far the most dangerous experience we’ve had on any trip to Brazil with children. The reviews are good, probably because employees and friends were asked to write them. Maybe it was a good inn once, but the owner has left it without control over the staff. When the cat’s away, the mice will play.