Pousada Penhasco

The pools were easily the highlight for us: they were really well looked after. The views are amazing, the staff are friendly, and there’s plenty for kids to enjoy, so it’s a lovely place to unwind. The mini golf was good too. Our room, 402, could use some repairs and updating. The AC was missing its diffuser, so there was no way to direct the airflow. The fridge also rocked around, and its door banged against the shelving whenever we shut it. These seem like small fixes, especially for the price at Pousada Penhasco. Other chalets had interior glass doors, but ours only had the metal doors with built-in blinds that open and close. I’m not sure why. Service was mostly good, and the bar staff were glad to help. Still, each of the five times we ordered drinks with food, the drinks were forgotten. On four occasions we explained and they brought them over. The last time, I tried to explain in Portuguese that a drink was missing, but the staff member never returned. It was late and we’d ordered room service, so I didn’t want to walk to the bar myself. When we brought it up at checkout the next day, the response didn’t feel very understanding. They couldn’t confirm that we hadn’t received the can of Coke, so the staff member who hadn’t brought it back offered us a bottle of water instead. Fair enough, but after five days there and a bill of around Rs.1400, the annoyed reaction over one Rs.8 can of Coke left us with a worse impression of Pousada Penhasco. There are lots of activities for children, which is great, though much of the equipment looks ready for refurbishment. The table tennis gear is old and damaged, the air hockey tables barely work, and the younger kids’ play area and obstacle course could use some attention too. The food was decent, but after two or three days the choices started to feel limited. Since they stopped serving dinner in the evening, the options are bar food until 10pm or going into Chapada dos Guimarães. The room also had a few other annoyances: the shower and the door banging against the shelves, and no inner glass doors like the neighboring chalets.