Hotel Refazenda

Top-notch.

The natural area is spacious and pleasant, and the location makes it easy to drive to the restaurants in central Maringá. The chalets and pool area need upkeep and modernization. Simple surroundings still need to be clean, maintained, and cared for visually. Breakfast is very good, though it starts late. At 9:00, not everything was ready yet. The natural yogurt with jams on the side and the pão de queijo were the highlights. The website mentions a trail to the swimming hole, but it looked abandoned. With no signs along the way, we couldn't find the destination.

The hotel has lovely grounds, a peaceful feel, a large pleasant pool, and a comfortable chalet. The bonfire they set up at night, with benches around it, made the stay feel special. Breakfast is a real highlight, with fresh fruit and bread, pão de queijo, and a famous bolo de chuva that was fantastic. The downside is the timing: it is meant to start at 9, but in practice it was closer to 9:15. That caused trouble on two days when I had early outings planned, since I'd have had to miss them to eat first. The general maintenance needs urgent attention. The chalet doors had peeling wood, some balcony lights weren't working properly, and the heated pool had patched tiles on the bottom. At the pool during Carnival, service was also lacking. I only saw one person occasionally offering beer or snacks, though that's just my impression.

We planned on staying four days and ended up extending it to a week. My husband, our one-year-old, a couple of cousins, and their one-year-old had such a lovely time. The place was cozy, clean, and quiet, and everyone working there was so friendly. The owners, who are sisters, were especially kind. Breakfast was wonderful, with lots to choose from, fresh warm cakes, delicious pão de queijo, juices, and more. It's a calm place to relax, and we absolutely loved it. We'd come back for sure.