Pousada Arboretum

Really great.

I went back to Penedo with my girlfriend for the second time. Our days were mostly breakfast around 8 or 9, an outing late morning, then resting from about 3:30 to 5:30 until 7:30, before going out to eat and returning around 11. For that kind of stay, the value was great, and I’d come back. Senhora Vanessa was very attentive at reception and during breakfast. The breakfast was excellent, with bread, cakes, fruit and juice that all felt homemade. We had a simple, cozy room up past the pool, with air conditioning and an electric shower. There are things that could be fixed in the room, and it smelled a little closed up and damp. That seemed understandable for somewhere near the mountains during summer rains. I have allergies, but didn’t feel unwell. I did keep the windows closed because of mosquitoes, since only the bathroom window had a screen, and I left that one open. The large pool was clean, though I didn’t use it. People mention the difficult access, but the dirt road had been improved with gravel and stones for better grip. It rained hard, yet driving out and back in my 2009 Corsa wasn’t difficult.

The rooms are cozy, with the pleasant sound of a stream running right beside them. Dona Vanessa was very friendly and attentive, and the breakfast was wonderful. It’s about 1 km from central Penedo, a very peaceful spot where you can really rest, and the value is good. Just don’t expect luxury. If that’s what you want, you’ll pay quite a bit more for a pousada in the center. I’d definitely return to this little pousada.

The location and breakfast were okay, but I can’t say we had a good stay. A trip that was meant to be relaxing turned stressful, and it felt far too expensive for what was offered. The room seemed as if it hadn’t been opened in months. The strong damp and mold smell got into the bedding. I’m extremely allergic, and I had to rest and take medication for days afterward. We could hear the guests upstairs making a lot of noise in the middle of the night, including someone walking around in high heels. I was exhausted and ended up shouting, begging them to stop. Getting up the road would also be very difficult in a low car, and even a higher car might struggle. I spent more time out on the street than at the pousada because I felt so unwell. I wouldn’t recommend it. Refunding our stay wouldn’t have been doing us any special favor.