Pousada Canoa da Praia

The quiet setting was lovely, and the breakfast was good, though not outstanding. The staff were kind when we arrived and at breakfast, and given the island’s prices, the value was decent. We stayed two nights, but I’m not sure I’d book again. The biggest problem came when we were leaving. We needed help getting our luggage to the port on time, since the path is difficult with heavy suitcases and a cart is practically necessary. The receptionist quoted 40 to 60 BRL total for two people, depending on the weight. The next day, the man collecting the bags demanded 100 BRL, claiming it was 50 BRL per person. He threatened to take our luggage back if we didn’t pay. We argued at the port in front of everyone, and I refused to pay twice as much; our travel agency confirmed we shouldn’t pay more than 50 BRL. It’s sad to leave a beautiful island feeling taken advantage of, especially when people exploit visitors’ language difficulties. The pousada should work with reliable providers. I hope this helps management improve and gives other travellers a clearer idea of what to expect. I also had trouble with the booking and refund. I chose a free-cancellation rate, but the full amount was charged right after booking without any notice. After I changed the dates, I waited almost two months for the refund and sent several messages through Booking.com because the pousada didn’t respond promptly. Nobody on site speaks English, which is understandable, and we got by with translators, though it was inconvenient at times. Some of the facilities need attention too. A couple of electrical sockets didn’t work, the sink drain was always close to getting blocked, and the shower temperature couldn’t be adjusted by mixing hot and cold water. We knew we weren’t booking a 5-star hotel, but those details still need improvement.