Hotel Vila Mar

A relaxed, cozy spot.

It was okay.

The location was hard to beat: open the door and the beach is right there. The bed was comfortable, and there was always hot water in the shower. I had a really good stay and would come back, even though the beach itself didn't especially impress me. We stayed 15 days, and the promotional rate was very cheap, I think around $45 a night. The hotel gave us plenty for that price. Breakfast was decent, with fruit, pudding, cakes that varied by day, yogurt, cereal or granola, and fresh orange juice. There was enough to make ham and cheese toast, and on some days they also served pao de queijo, scrambled eggs, sausage, and tea in different flavors. The room had what I needed and was cleaned daily. They made the beds and changed the linens, but didn't sweep, so sand sometimes got under clothes. A broom in the apartment for quick cleanups would have helped. It isn't luxurious, but it's well equipped for a basic stay. My main gripe was the pillows. They felt about as comfortable as a brick, haha. The receptionists were friendly. One bearded guy was a little sarcastic and came off rude, though not outright; everyone else was lovely. I got sick in the last few days, and the tall guy in a cap who is often at the breakfast counter even gave me paracetamol. He was thoughtful and helpful.

In six days, they swept our room only once and never mopped the floor. They just straightened the tops of the beds. The place is basic, and the plastic toilet seat was broken while the sink faucet was loose. They charged extra for things like hot water and pool towels. There were no lounge chairs or umbrellas, despite what Booking.com says. The owner was so unfriendly, giving us dirty looks throughout breakfast that it felt like he didn't even want us eating there. I'd rate the hotel 5/10.