Pousada 461

The woman who works there was very friendly, and breakfast was good. The room, though, was uncomfortable. The bedding clearly hadn’t been changed, the air conditioner was filthy and I had to wipe it with paper to make it a bit better, and the wardrobe was covered in dust. There were cobwebs on the ceiling, and the bathroom was extremely small. The bed and pillow were both hard. There was also a little window right in front of the bed with a very thin curtain, so you wake up with the sun right in your face :)

Marcos, the owner, was very helpful and willing to assist, and the bed was comfortable. The air conditioning worked very well too. But there’s a lot the hostel needs to improve, especially the cleaning and basic setup. When I arrived on Saturday, the toilet had fecal residue, there was hair and dust on the floor, hair in the shower drain, lots of debris on the floor, and heavy mildew on the shower walls. I asked the owner to arrange cleaning. The cleaner poured bleach into the toilet but didn’t use a brush, and the shower wasn’t cleaned. Sunday was the only cleaner’s day off, so rooms weren’t cleaned. On Monday she finished cleaning, but left dust in corners, on furniture, the bathroom sink, and under the bed. The shower still hadn’t been cleaned. The hostel was under construction, so dust was getting inside and called for extra care with cleaning. Dust on furniture, pictures, and floors can affect people’s health, especially those with respiratory conditions, babies, and children. I have asthma. There’s no outlet in the bathroom, so you can’t use a hair dryer, straightener, or electric shaver in there. Natural light is limited too, and the room windows and top-hinged windows could be larger. The private room’s minibar door was faulty and took force to open. The TV doesn’t have a paid TV plan, which wasn’t great. I tried watching films on YouTube, but they stopped after running for 1-2 minutes, so I didn’t watch TV. There’s no 24-hour reception, meaning you might have no support if something comes up late at night or in the early hours. Reception is a business’s calling card, and friendly, upbeat, helpful people at the front are an investment, not a cost. The facilities need to be better organized so the hostel works well for guests. I’d rate it 3.5/5.0, good, but in need of improvement.

A good fit for people who aren’t very demanding. The beds feel prehistoric, the electric shower didn’t work, bedding was being used as blankets, and the doors wouldn’t lock, among other issues. The facilities themselves are good, though, with a pool and a pool table.

The rooms are cozy, and room service and the general attention were handled so well. I loved the decor too, it captured the joyful mood I felt during the trip and made the place perfect for photos. My room had a minibar, air conditioning, and a Smart TV, and I felt like a goddess and could completely relax. The cook deserves praise for making such delicious food. I can’t wait to come back for another wonderful stay. This inn is perfect, five stars hardly seems enough.