Pousada Vila do Mar

The breakfast experience was especially frustrating. Staff, including the man at reception, would sit and eat together for nearly an hour while nobody was in the kitchen to prepare tapioca. It felt like I was interrupting them by asking. Some appliances didn’t work, and I saw some food being served that was from previous days. The staff’s passivity and lack of care, along with the huge gap between reality and what I’d seen in the reviews, is why I’m writing this. I could have put up with most of the other problems, but I left disappointed. Find somewhere else, trust me. The room and bathroom weren’t clean. The shower screen leaked every time, flooding the floor, and we had to ask for extra towels so we could dry it ourselves. There was excrement in the toilet and dried food in the toilet sink. The hand towel had already been used, and the bathroom mat was practically see-through. The only clean towels were the shower towels, which came sealed in plastic straight from the laundry. The furniture was dirty, and there was dust and what looked like fluid marks on the glass covers over the bedside lights. The pillows were dusty and old under their cases, and things didn’t seem well maintained. The garden and pool furniture was dirty, mouldy and rusty. The facilities are old and don’t accommodate reduced mobility, with no ramps or adjustments. What’s sad is that I’m not exaggerating. I was shocked by all the photos and videos in glowing reviews, which looked nothing like what I saw. It made me wonder if so many customers really take such detailed pictures and videos for their reviews. It’s not at all like the pictures.

The beach is just a 60-second walk away, and the place feels very safe and clean. I loved how calm and relaxed everything was, and the team made the atmosphere so pleasant. The food was great too. I can’t say enough good things about the staff and the food. If you’re looking for a relaxing place with a great team, I’d definitely stay here.

A nice spot to unwind and get some rest.

It was okay!