Hotel Solar do Imperador

We'd seen a few negative reviews before arriving and were a little concerned, but they didn't match what we experienced. This is a good affordable base near Porto Segura and Arraeal D’Ajuda. Trancoso takes a bit longer to drive to, but we went there two days in a row. The standard rooms are very basic. The hotel wasn't too busy that week, so we paid a little extra for an upgrade to a deluxe room with a pool view. It was much better and clean, the air conditioning worked perfectly, and the fridge had soft drinks, água, and beer stocked inside. The main drawback was how dark the room felt. It had no windows, just shutters without fly nets, so no natural light came in. That threw off my circadian rhythm and made mornings hard. Once they changed the towel, the replacement smelled strongly like a wet dog, so we had to ask for another. The hotel has a very relaxed feel, and the staff around the pool were great. There isn't much shade, so if you burn easily like I do, put on plenty of cream. Breakfast was fine, with a good range of fruit, pão, juice, coffee, and tapioca. There are lizards around, but they're cute and leave people alone. It's also pet friendly, with cute dogs and cats about. A pleasant, relaxed, clean place with lots of plants to look at.

The grounds and pool are beautiful. Breakfast is delicious every day, and there's a fresh tapioca bar ❤️

The facilities are beautifully kept, and the hotel itself is lovely. The staff were always kind and helpful, and breakfast was delicious, with lots of variety and typical local food. It made for an incredible experience.

The airport transfer never showed up, and the room was awful: urine smell, damp sheets, stained mattresses, mosquitoes, and cockroaches. The windows wouldn't shut, so more mosquitoes kept getting in. Some staff smiled, while others wouldn't even look at me. When I complained, the guy said it was my fault for choosing a cheap room. Seriously, don't stay here. It's the worst place I've ever been, and I've stayed in some terrible places as a student.