Villa Coração

The shower was great, and breakfast was excellent. There are a few things that could be improved, as with any place, but it worked very well for me overall. The hosts were also really kind and helpful. The driveway ramp is steep and can be intimidating at first, though you get used to it. I’d recommend checking your brakes.

We had an amazing stay at Villa Coração Guest House. Sr. Claudinei and his wife Zélia welcomed us with such warmth and treated us like family. We’ve been to around 60% of Brazil’s states and dozens of cities, and nowhere else have we felt so well received as guests. The place is welcoming and well cared for. The entrance is steep, but any car can get up without trouble. We wholeheartedly recommend it for a memorable stay.

We loved the accommodation itself. It was beautiful, cozy, comfortable, and extremely well cared for. Breakfast was wonderful, tasty, and clearly made with care. The room and facilities were great, and although the initial driveway is steep, we had no trouble getting in. Unfortunately, the problem at arrival badly affected our stay. When I booked on Booking, I selected that I’d be traveling with a dog, so only pet-friendly accommodations were shown. The listing said pets were accepted but gave no weight limit or extra fee, and the confirmation message had no further pet instructions. At arrival, we were told pets could only weigh up to 15 kg and that there would be an extra R$120 fee. I politely asked why this hadn’t been mentioned beforehand. I was told, literally, that they didn’t have a “crystal ball” to know I’d bring a pet and that it was my fault for not telling them, even though nowhere did it say advance notice was required. We spent about an hour discussing it, and they offered no solution. We were blamed the whole time, and the situation was compared to “comorbidities,” which made no sense. I asked to cancel because the information hadn’t been provided correctly, but they refused because the booking was nonrefundable. We had no alternative and had to pay. After pushing, they gave us a “discount,” so we paid R$80, which I still consider unfair. Afterward, I read several Google reviews and saw what looked like a troubling pattern. In almost every negative review, the accommodation takes no responsibility. The guest or the platform, Booking, Airbnb, and so on, always gets blamed, with replies along the lines of “if the guest had done something differently, this wouldn’t have happened.” Owning a mistake and providing good customer service, which is basic for keeping customers, clearly doesn’t seem to be part of their approach. They also often blame the platforms, as if the issue has nothing to do with them. The accommodation chooses to advertise on Booking or Airbnb. If there are communication or setup problems, those should be resolved with the platform, not pushed onto the guest at arrival. There’s little respect for customers or business partners. If they don’t respect their commercial relationships, it’s hard to believe they’ll respect customers. Again, we loved the accommodation, but the way we were treated was extremely unpleasant and showed no empathy or customer service. We were blamed for an information failure that clearly wasn’t ours, and that left a very negative mark on the experience.

The family who owns the guesthouse are the ones who welcome you, and they’re warm, polite, and very attentive. Breakfast was wonderful every day, the rooms were excellent, and the view was perfect. There’s also a charming little church, and the guesthouse’s decor is beautiful. One of the best stays I’ve had!