Pousada Estrela Azul

The breakfast was good, but the dining area is so small you might have nowhere to sit, or have to come back later and hope a spot opens up. Beyond that, there were problems everywhere. The bathroom had no shower enclosure, so water soaked the room and made the door swell until it stuck. There was no proper comforter, and the air conditioner couldn't be adjusted with its remote, leaving the room freezing at night without a decent blanket. I had to ask for a floor cloth, and there was only one outlet for the TV and minibar, so we needed an extension cord. The TV only got channels for one day. Getting to the back rooms meant walking down a corridor past laundry areas and makeshift bathrooms, with a sewage smell in one section. The people helping us seemed inexperienced and unprofessional. The man was brusque, and the woman did help but also complained about the inn along with us. When we checked out, nobody was there to take payment, and they wanted us to pay without giving a receipt. Parking was on the sidewalk in front, with cars lined up behind each other, so you had to find the owners if you wanted to get out. The listing should give guests a more realistic idea of the inn and rooms, and the service needs to improve.

We arrived at the agreed check-in time and paid, then were shown rooms that didn't match the reservation photos. They had no TV, sheets, or towels, and the shower was broken. We spent the first night wrapped in towels we'd brought from home, which was lucky, but first the owner, Sr. Flávio, tried every way he could to fool us. He took us to two other places, trying to persuade us to stay and not get our money back. One was filthy and in a terrible state, and when we refused, he even wanted us to sleep at his house with him there, all to avoid returning the money. The worst part was the humiliation I went through with my friends. In the end we called the police. They made him refund the nights for one couple of friends and arrange a better room for me and my other friends. We returned to his guesthouse, but the room still had no electric shower, towels, or sheets. It was the worst lodging experience of my life. A zero rating isn't low enough.

Getting out early was a mess: nobody was there to open the parking gate, so we were stuck and nearly missed our boat trip. The garage was dark and very cramped. To reach the room, we had to use a corridor and a wet staircase where it was easy to slip. The room had one dirty towel, no TV remote, no toilet paper, and a strong sewage odor. There was no receptionist to handle our requests. I wouldn't recommend it. I'd rather pay a little more for decent quality than deal with this frustration.

I had no trouble with there being no one around for check-in or checkout, and despite a few drawbacks, I'd stay here again. The bathrooms were clean, and breakfast was generous. If you're only there for two days, it's fine, though the choices don't change much from one day to the next. The hostel rooms are at the back, reached through a corridor that stays wet because it gets water from the air conditioners. They could put that water to good use by collecting it. There also aren't many power outlets in the rooms, so charging your phone can turn into a search.