TABAJUBA

The property itself was clean, well maintained, and in good condition. Security also seemed very good: there was a secure entrance and a staffed gate around the clock, which generally made us feel safe. But payment and communication seriously affected my stay. After I booked through Booking.com, someone named "Fabiano" contacted me without saying which accommodation it was. I was on a road trip and had to ask. The communication was only on WhatsApp. I asked three times to discuss sensitive things like payment through Booking.com’s official channel, but got no response to that request. A payment link sent through WhatsApp immediately worried me, since friends in Brazil had already been scammed in similar ways. I offered to pay by card at the property, but they refused and said it was cash only. I had to withdraw larger amounts than I wanted to carry in Brazil for security reasons. Since many ATMs only let you take out R$1,000 per transaction, I needed three withdrawals, and one ATM was empty afterward. When we arrived, we paid most of what was due and had R$300 left. I explained the ATM was empty. At first they seemed to understand, but then I was asked about the remaining amount several times every day, morning, noon, and evening. I again offered to pay the R$300 by card, and that was refused too. The whole process felt inflexible and very unpleasant for guests. I got the impression that money mattered more than hospitality. On departure day, when I paid the balance, nobody asked if everything was all right or how we’d enjoyed the stay. They took the cash with barely a word. In my two weeks in Brazil, I’d experienced a lot of warmth and flexibility elsewhere, but here it was the opposite. The pool couldn’t be used one day, and there was no explanation I could understand. Coffee was only from a capsule machine, not the good coffee often available in Brazil. Restaurant prices were exorbitant for what was offered, if you could even call it an offering. The inn is clean and secure, but the cash-only policy, pressure to pay, and WhatsApp communication despite my request to use Booking.com’s official channel took a lot away from the stay. I wouldn’t recommend it to travelers who expect card payments and professional communication.