Pousada Villa das Pedras

The pools were great, and the staff were 10/10, really polite and kind. The pousada has a big area with pools and activities, so you can stay there without going out. I didn't see water in the lakes, and the trails were hard to follow. They could take a cue from the trails at Vagafogo and add clearer signs, bridges, and things like that. The rooms could use better lighting too. I also missed having a guide. Exploring with one would have been more fun, even if there turned out to be no water. Instead of charging so much for every little thing, like a tiny coffee that cost $$$, they could put that money into making the place more appealing. I expected more from the hotel itself.

The restaurant food was pretty good, and the sprawling grounds were nice. The chalet itself was in rough shape, though: both bathrooms had ants, the couches were stained and disgusting, and parts of the walls were crumbling. The rooms also felt dark, dingy, and worn out.

The surroundings are peaceful, the food is good, and the sheets and towels were clean. Beyond that, I had a bad stay. Only one person spoke English, so you'll likely have trouble if you don't speak Portuguese. The management was terrible, slow to deal with problems on the bill, and I had money issues right up until I was leaving. Check every extra charge carefully. They use tricks and ask for too much, and I got so fed up waiting that I paid what they wanted just to get out and catch my plane. It gave me the impression this was deliberate. Some rooms have no hot water. The stairs are very narrow, making it extremely hard to carry luggage upstairs. The bathroom only had toilet paper, a towel, and soap. There was no electronic key, just one key for a shared room, which can cause problems. I also found ants in the room and inside the plugs. I would never recommend staying there.

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