pousada São José

A calm, comfortable place to unwind, with everything clean and nicely organized. The staff were polite and attentive from start to finish, and the service was excellent. I really enjoyed staying here. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a good place and will definitely return.

I chose this guesthouse because it seemed to offer the best value I could find at the time. The price difference between booking through booking.com and reserving directly caught my eye, with the online rate much cheaper. The room itself was simple but neat. The mattress wasn’t great, though that was understandable for the price, and the curtain wasn’t blackout, so light could disturb your sleep. I’d booked two nights in a room with a bathroom and two single beds, but I decided to leave after sleeping just one night. The walls are drywall/plaster, so I could hear everything happening around the guesthouse, from reception to the person snoring in the next room. The guesthouse is on a dead-end street, which makes unloading bags awkward. If you come by car, you can either pay 20 reais for overnight parking in the lot across the street or leave the car on the main road. There’s no breakfast. You can buy things from the machines in the dining room, but there isn’t much variety. Eating in the rooms isn’t allowed and can result in a fine. There’s also a rule requiring reception to stay closed overnight, with a possible fine of R$200,00. Several other rules are only posted behind the door once you’re in the room. The TV has to be off by 10 p.m., the first time I’ve seen that at a place I stayed. I wouldn’t return. I’d rather spend more on an Airbnb or another place for extra comfort. If you’re more easygoing or less demanding, it might work for you.

The place was peaceful and welcoming, and I’d recommend it. The only downside was the shower: about 10 seconds of hot water, then 20 seconds of cold.

After a long trip, I arrived in the early hours with my bags and documents, but they wouldn’t let me check in without paying upfront. It felt as though they assumed I wouldn’t pay in the morning.