Villagio Embu

The staff were friendly, the food was good, and the facilities were great.

The recreation team deserves a special shout-out. I was tired and weighed down by everyday worries when I arrived, but their energy, care, and dedication left me cheerful and refreshed. Higodé, and all the recreation staff, did an extraordinary job. Everyone else was welcoming too, from the employees to the managers. They were attentive, helpful, and made us feel at home. The food was another highlight. There was plenty of variety and everything was very good, with a different menu each day, salads, starters, meat, fish, sides, and an amazing dessert table, all prepared with care. Villagio Embu Eco Resort is surrounded by beautiful nature and has a peaceful feel from the moment you arrive. There’s a lot to do around the resort, including pleasant pools, a heated pool, soccer field, mini-golf, beach tennis, games room, gym, hammock area, and spaces for relaxing. The trail through the woods was especially refreshing and helped us disconnect from the daily rush. We also got to see several saguis along the way, which made it even more special. Our room was cozy and comfortable, just right for resting. After a day of activities, the shower felt like a treat and left me relaxed and renewed. If you’re looking for a comfortable place to rest and enjoy nature, with plenty of facilities, I’d recommend Villagio Embu Eco Resort without hesitation. Congratulations to the whole team. I’ll definitely return, and I’ll take some unforgettable memories with me.

The restaurant was a bright spot, with lots of food choices and polite staff. The resort’s location near São Paulo was convenient too. Still, would we return under these conditions? No, not unless they do a proper renovation. We stayed for two days in May/26, two of us. The trouble began while booking on the website: it added the pet supplement to the nightly rate even though we weren’t bringing a pet. I called for help and was told the person in charge of reservations had resigned, so nobody could resolve it at the time. I first called in the morning, but it took a lot of insistence and wasn’t sorted out until late afternoon, with a staff member finally helping near the end of the day. After check-in, we went to the accommodation listed as Superior, though it seemed more like Inferior. The bathroom light wasn’t working. Reception asked us to wait, and maintenance came by but couldn’t fix it. Reception then offered another room while the maintenance worker checked the other rooms on the spot, before we moved. We thought the new room would be fine, but its intercom didn’t work and the bathroom sink was leaking. We went all the way back to Reception, which was far from the room, and reported it. They said they’d look into it, but we didn’t continue with the process. At that rate, we felt we could spend a whole day changing rooms, only to find another problem in the next one. I suggest they don’t make rooms in such poor repair available for booking. At the heated pool, we noticed a strong gas smell. Staff told us it came from the heating system, that it was “normal,” and that they were arranging replacements to stop the smell.

I stayed at Villagio for nine days and had a really good experience. The hotel changes quite a bit depending on how busy it is, so think about what kind of stay you want. Weekends, holidays, and peak season are livelier, with the recreation team in full swing and activities for kids and adults. The pool bar is open then, and meals are buffet style. During the week it’s much quieter. Rick, a really great guy, is still there as the regular recreation staff member. Activities aren’t set in advance, but you can ask for workshops, games, trails, or whatever you’d like to do. Just ask him for balls and rackets too. Mini-golf equipment is at reception. The bars close during the week, and you order through the restaurant. For those weekday meals, it’s an à la carte setup with “all you can eat,” so you can order more than one dish or dessert. If you spot something you liked from a previous buffet or meal, it’s worth asking if they still have some. There’s often something left in the kitchen. The food is generally good. I preferred the buffet selection, which included things like moqueca, paella, different pastas and sauces, plus salad and dessert tables. On à la carte days, they usually offer a salad, meat, chicken, fish, a pasta, and some dessert options. One day there was soup too. Breakfast was generous and very good on buffet days. On à la carte days, I missed having a list of what I could order. Unlike the other meals, they bring a basket of bread and other things, and you have to ask for cold cuts, fruit, scrambled eggs, omelets, rap 10, or tapioca. There’s no menu to tell you what’s available. The pão de queijo is delicious and well worth having. It goes quickly at the buffet, and the next batch takes a while, so keep an eye out if you like it. I had a renovated Premier Vista room in Vila Rouxinol. It was clean and comfortable, with a lovely view, a decent-sized TV, good internet, and a nice shower. The sink was double, with heated water, and I had no trouble with the shower temperature. The hotel wasn’t very full while I was there, though. I think it makes a difference to contact the hotel and ask for a renovated room. The blackout curtain was great for sleeping in, since no morning light came into the room. The leisure areas are excellent. The pools, both heated and outdoor, were clean. The beach tennis courts are new, and staff were always mowing the grass and cleaning the trails. The mini-golf looks older, and the bowling alley is out of service. The pool area with the changing rooms and saunas could use renovation too. It’s very clean, but feels dated. What stood out most to me was the staff. Everyone was polite, attentive, and provided great service. The recreation crew, Rick, Morango, and Chocolate, were exceptional. So were the restaurant team, Djalma, Vitória, Willian, Cricia, Manager Marcelo, and others whose names I didn’t catch. General Manager Marcus was attentive too. The other big plus is that the place really is pet friendly, not just in name. They’re set up for pets. At check-in they ask what you need for yours, like a food bowl or mat. There are carabiners by the restaurant and pool where you can clip a leash if you want to sit more freely. You can ask for a water bowl too. When it’s quiet and the dogs are well behaved, they can enjoy the lawns, chase a ball, run around, or go on the trails off leash. It was very quiet when I visited, and my two dogs were completely at ease. They felt like they were in paradise!