Suítes São Francisco

A great show.

The location worked well for us, somewhere between the center and farther out. There’s a Soberano market near the inn, but it’s very expensive. I’d buy from street vendors or eat at the restaurants instead. Mamulengo pizzeria in the center is worth a mention: good prices and delicious food. There’s also an air-conditioned laundry nearby with reasonable prices, handy if you’re arriving from somewhere else and need to wash clothes. At the inn, the receptionist was lovely and helpful. Our room could have used more power outlets, and there was no shampoo or conditioner, though the soap was a decent size for the two days we stayed. The breakfast room could be better ventilated, and breakfast could start earlier for guests with early tours. The pool wasn’t very clean, and little bugs were flying around. It also smelled off. I think that may have been because construction was underway at the nearby square, apparently involving the sewer system. We enjoyed swimming at the central beach. A large can of beer cost 9 reais, and vendors came by with oysters, broth, corn, and other treats. One thing felt unfair: they say the umbrella and chairs are free if you order certain platters, but those platters are overpriced. A minimum spend that also counted drinks would be fairer and would probably leave tourists happier. Watching the sunset at Coquerais de Maracaípe with a beer and a little bowl of broth was lovely. Bring repellent, though, because the mosquitoes get bad after dark.

The location and reception staff were both great. The room, though, really let us down. The bathroom’s sliding glass door kept sticking, and with no handle it was hard to open and close. One day, a lot of water leaked from the bathroom and soaked the room. The shower control came loose in my hand, and the water was either scalding or cold, with no comfortable setting even on summer mode. The breakfast was very basic. Tapioca and scrambled eggs only came out after 7:30, so we couldn’t try them before our early tours. They changed the towels every day, but many were stained and seemed dirty and damp. We’re not demanding guests, and I try to notice the good points, but this room was a disappointment. Another room might be different, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

I booked through an Azul package and regretted it. The bathroom window was broken, which left the room full of mosquitoes, and the bathroom door only had an inside latch, no lock. The shower control was loose too. The bed linen was stained and covered in little pills, and the blanket was just like a sofa throw. The bath towels were badly stained, and I wasn’t sure they’d been washed, so I used my own. At breakfast we had to ask for more cheese, and the coffee ran out just as it was our turn. My booking was from 22/02 to 26/02. We stayed one night, then moved to another hotel. I don’t recommend it.