Pousada dos Contos de Carrancas

The room matched the photos and was roomy, with a minibar, ceiling fan, and even hangers. The TV has streaming packages but no regular broadcast channels. I liked that the sink was outside the bathroom, and the shower was properly hot with a strong flow. A short story on the table identifies each room. Ours was “A Missa do Galo,” by Machado de Assis. The other rooms at Pousada dos Contos are named for stories by Machado de Assis, Clarice Lispector, Monteiro Lobato and Guimarães Rosa. Breakfast had plenty of variety and met our expectations. Natália was lovely, greeting us with a smile and always ready to help.

The current administrator, Moreno, was helpful, breakfast was excellent, and the place was clean. The kitchen staff also took great care of us. The bedding didn’t fit a double bed shared by a couple. We had to use a blanket for one person and a comforter for the other. The towels were tiny, and both pillows were really poor. The main reason for my lower rating was the conflicting information between the previous administration, which may be coming back, and the current one. During the pandemic I got no help at all. They didn’t answer my messages, and the phone wasn’t working. I found it very disrespectful. I only received proper assistance near the rescheduled date. Nobody told me at any point that there was a new administrator.

The staff were very pleasant, and the rooms are simple but clean. Breakfast was fine. It’s a little far from the center, and since it’s up a small hill, some people might not feel like walking.

Iracema was especially attentive and deserves a big thank you for all the care she showed. She handled cleaning, reception, and breakfast service with real organization and care, and made delicious cakes and cheese breads herself. Breakfast was excellent. The location is good, about a five-minute walk to the center. The rooms are large and airy, everything felt new, and they had a ceiling fan, TV, and Wi-Fi. We really enjoyed our stay.