Pousada Imperador do Espelho

The room was basic for the price, though the bed was comfortable and the shower was good. It had air conditioning and a minibar. This pousada is worth considering if you’re trying to save money, since the Praia do Espelho area costs more than Trancoso. We ended up with a simpler room for the same amount we’d paid there. Service was a bit disappointing. My boyfriend and I were trekking from Trancoso, and while we were on the way I kept getting messages asking when we’d arrive because the employee only stayed until 16h and the owner wasn’t there. We got there around 15h, and the employee was still there. But after 18km of walking, there wasn’t any beer to buy, and there wasn’t even cold water in the minibar. We’d been told breakfast started at 7h, but when we went down there was nothing ready and nobody at the pousada. I tried calling several reception numbers. Only the employee answered, apologizing and saying someone was supposed to come in overnight but hadn’t. They could have let us know. Around 8h we were served a very simple breakfast: bread, butter, ham, cheese, egg, carrot cake, mango, melon, and cocoa juice. They didn’t charge us for the water we drank, as a courtesy and compensation for the mix-up. Still, it delayed the start of our trek by over an hour.

Praia do Espelho is gorgeous and well worth visiting if you’re in the area. You can even make it a day trip from arraial d´ajuda or Porto Seguro.

Our experience was awful. We booked through booking, but when we arrived there was no room for us. We had to sleep in a single bed in a friend’s room, yet were charged the same amount as our booking reservation. The moldy rooms wrecked my nose, and I left really upset, feeling like the hotel owner had pulled a scam with the double bookings.

Alessandro was an incredible host and made us feel at home. He was also a great guide to the best things to see at the beach. Our room had everything we needed, with a very comfortable bed and mosquito net. The veranda was a highlight, with a magical view of the starry sky at night. The sunset from up at the pousada was beautiful too, and the pool looked charming after dark, perfect for winding down after a beach day. Breakfast was generous and made fresh to suit our preferences. A premium stay at an accessible price. I recommend it to everyone.