Pousada Riviera

The standard room was simple but a good size, and I slept well. The air conditioning worked perfectly. I only wished there were a closet or somewhere to organize clothes. Breakfast was generous enough, with enough variety to get the day started and satisfy our hunger. We had a peaceful stay overall and were welcomed warmly. The staff were friendly and made us feel comfortable right away. The common areas were clean, and the outdoor pool was pleasant. Some leaves and other bits from the trees fell into the water, but it didn't really affect our stay. The entrance gate was sometimes hard to open, and the intercom was having problems. Nothing serious, but those details could be fixed. The price was about $170, with early access for $30.00 per person, letting us check in at 12 pm instead of 5 pm, subject to availability. I recommend contacting them on WhatsApp to arrange it. All in all, it's a good place to stay if you want basic comfort, a quiet setting, and attentive service.

The pest problem was the worst part. All three rooms had trails and nests of ants, with cockroaches everywhere. The rooms also showed serious maintenance issues: the TVs didn't work, there was mold and cobwebs on the ceilings, and the air conditioners smelled strongly from lack of upkeep. After we complained, management moved us out of one especially bad room. But in the replacement, a bed was soaked because it sat under a leaking air conditioner. We had three rooms for nine guests, and we all came away feeling the same way about the poor maintenance and our stay. It was an unpleasant experience.

The breakfast had a good variety and was well prepared, though it was exactly the same every day. The room air conditioner also worked very well. Those were the only parts I really liked. The rooms don't follow any consistent standard. I paid extra for a “sea view,” but in practice it looked out onto vegetation. Some bathrooms are tiny, some rooms have nowhere to hang clothes, the bedding smelled like it had been used and hadn't dried properly, and in some rooms the shower faces the wall, making it nearly impossible to bathe. The advertised photos don't fully match what you find. You can't borrow a hair dryer, and all the room outlets are 220V with no transformer available. Towels are rationed, so you have to keep asking for them. You also have to pay for tokens to use the game room, whose equipment is in very poor shape. The beach in front of the inn wasn't good either, with streams running through it.

The place itself was quiet, the accommodation simple but very cozy, and the staff were polite and attentive. But I stayed for a business trip from the 12th to the 13th of November and left early, and the inn still hasn't sent the invoice I need for my company expenses. I asked for it, contacted Pousada again, and they said they'd send it but never did. The expense claim deadline passed, so I had to pay out of pocket. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone traveling for work who needs an invoice.