Pousada D'Pillel

Think of it as something like a bed and breakfast: the garden is lovely for breakfast or relaxing, and the location is very good. Breakfasts were amazing, with lots of choices and fruit, and everything tasted great. The staff were friendly, shared plenty of tips for the island, helped book trips, and were flexible with check-in and check-out. They can also arrange transfers to and from Rio. There’s a common room with ping-pong, board games, books, and DVDs. Our room was clean and had everything we needed. I’d suggest paying a little more for a better room. We had one on the first level, where noise from the laundry room and kitchen was constant. Its balcony opened onto the inside of the pousada, so people were walking up and down the stairs nearby when you wanted to sit outside. Airflow in the room wasn’t great, though the fan was enough and we didn’t need AC. Also, be prepared for things to cost more on the island than in Rio, including restaurants and souvenir shops.

The place looks good, with nice heavy wooden furniture, and has welcoming staff. It’s well located in the center of Abraão, with common areas where coffee, ping-pong, and games are available all day. Breakfast was okay, though nothing special. We could hear a little city noise, but it wasn’t too bad, and mosquitoes somehow got into the room despite the nets. The main catch was room cleaning. We stayed three nights, and nobody came to clean, take out the trash, or change the sheets or towels. That’s not what I expect from a hotel. When I asked, reception said the policy had changed due to Covid, and they wouldn’t enter the room unless specifically asked. They would change sheets and towels only after a minimum of three days. There was also a nightly charge if you wanted to use the AC.

The garden is a lovely spot for breakfast, and the shared areas have coffee, cake, games and ping-pong. Our room had a balcony and hammock looking out onto the forest, with thoughtful decor throughout. The staff were friendly and helpful. Such a cosy, beautiful place. Highly recommend, and we'd come back.

The rooms were clean and the place felt friendly, but the power cuts on the island caused problems. When they switched on the generator, the air conditioning wouldn't run, and after one blackout ours stopped working altogether, even though it had been fine before. Paying extra for it and then struggling to sleep in the heat was frustrating. Breakfast was okay, though the juices were almost a health hazard.