Buganville Loft

This is a relaxed, nice family-run hostel, literally two minutes from the port. There’s a fan and a small kitchen, but no air conditioning.

The first night there was no electricity after heavy rain, and the heat and mosquitoes made it really hard to sleep. The next day there was no water because the pump had broken. When I asked the person in charge at the time, they said I’d have to wait while it was being repaired. I’d just come back from the beach and asked if there was another way to shower, but they gave me a bucket of water. The water was still off the following day, so I had to shower at the hostel next door, where it cost R$10 per person. I imagine the lack of water also affected cleanliness. The breakfast was reasonable, and the rooms and bedding were clean. That was my experience.

The air conditioning was far too strong, and there were no blankets for guests, so I ended up with a bad cold. The bathrooms were cleaned only once a day, which seems inadequate for a hostel with so many people. Three showers were broken, and the other two had only a little water because they were clogged. Breakfast was simple but good, though there weren’t enough seats for everyone, and some people had to stand. When I raised some of these issues, the staff kept passing them on to the next shift without fixing anything.

I only went in for breakfast, so I can’t comment on staying there. We saw a sign outside the hostel advertising breakfast for R$ 25,00, but I wouldn’t recommend it. You’re better off going to a bakery. The croissant was burnt, the papaya slice was so tiny I could barely taste it, and the juice filled only about a third of an American-style glass. The coffee pot didn’t work properly, almost as if it was meant to keep us from drinking much. The French bread was questionable quality, too. The place itself was pleasant, and the girls were attentive. I don’t like leaving a negative review, but it doesn’t seem fair for others to be misled by the breakfast sign the way we were.