Senses Praia Hotel - Guarujá

We stayed from 04 to 09/02, and the experience fell far short of what the daily rate would suggest. The hotel and its facilities weren't worth the very high price, and the photos online didn't match reality. The only real plus was the very good location. Our room was large, but dated and poorly maintained, with moldy, cracked walls and a strong musty smell. We chose a balcony facing the sea, but pigeons kept it dirty and even slept there, so we could hardly use it. The bathroom also had mold, a leaking shower enclosure, and an abandoned feel. The pool area was spacious, but the bar there wasn't staffed any day during our stay. Of the four umbrellas, only one was usable; the others were cordoned off with striped tape because they were damaged. The poolside bathrooms were deplorable, nowhere near usable. The basement parking was chaotic, with a cement and mud floor that stayed wet and kept the car dirty. Breakfast was very poor for the price, with slow refills and disappointing quality.

The location is excellent, right in front of the beach. The pool is nice, breakfast tastes good despite the limited choices, and the room was spacious and had air conditioning, though the unit in mine was poorly placed. If you're after something simple and cheaper than most Guarujá hotels, this place might suit you. There are some real drawbacks. The parking is cramped and poorly maintained, and you have to plead with reception to notice you and open the gate. There's no elevator, so depending on your room you may have to carry your bags up four or five flights of stairs. The hotel restaurant isn't included in the rate. We ate there once and liked the food, but it took almost an hour to arrive even though only my wife and I were there. Most of the receptionists seemed unfriendly. When we were leaving, we needed to stop the car out front to load our bags, but they didn't acknowledge us or try to help. The shared areas are neglected. The gym is in very bad shape, and there's nowhere to sit, play games, or hang out besides the restaurant. The route from the rooms to the parking goes around the pool and is often flooded, which makes it hard to get through.

The location is incredible, which makes it a shame that the hotel is such a letdown. The staff were very friendly and attentive, and tried to make the stay pleasant, but the old structure and makeshift fixes got in the way. We left as quickly as we could, and I hope I never have to come back. We were first sent to ground-floor apartment 17. The phone didn't work, neither did the air conditioning, and the mold smell was really strong. We switched to 107 after seeing a family from Paraguay refuse to stay when they saw their room. The new room had the same musty smell and looked dirty. The bedding was stained or dirty. When we raised it, a staff member said it wasn't dirt, just a stain. We still asked for a change, but there was no housekeeper, so we made the bed ourselves. The air conditioner in 107 made a loud, strange noise. Reception said they knew it had a problem and had already told maintenance. If they knew it was broken, why put a guest in that room before fixing it? The balcony was filthy and some wires were exposed. It felt like the owner wasn't taking proper care of the place, even though staff clearly tried to keep things going. We didn't dare eat the included breakfast or go in the pool, and we didn't try the restaurant either.

The playground was good, and the restaurant staff were polite and attentive. The pool was freezing, though, and the reception staff weren't helpful or attentive. I can't recommend staying here. The hotel needs urgent renovation throughout, along with much better cleaning and hygiene. The rooms felt old, with visibly worn blankets and sheets. The walls were dirty and moldy, and the bathrooms were unclean. The restaurant was extremely hot, with food left uncovered and flies and other insects around. Tables and tablecloths were dirty and in poor condition too. The pantry was dirty and needs renovation as well.