Pousada ilha Bella

The two nights were completely quiet, just the sound of the sea, even though we worried about noise from other guests because our room was the first one. The inn seems very new, with about five rooms, and my room had a new air conditioner, mini fridge, and TV. The internet and TV channels were good too. There’s a small pool downstairs and a nice stairway down to the sea, but different couples had the pool to themselves all day on both days, so we couldn’t use it. The neighborhood is beautiful, with boat trips available. Getting there takes some planning. The road after Guaratiba beach is intense and only wide enough for one car at a time. We had to reverse twice on the way in, though it’s manageable if you’re a confident driver. The parking area is above the inn, which is downstairs via a staircase, so access could be difficult for anyone with limited mobility. It’s worth asking whether that has changed. The inn is far from shops, but they sell drinks at good prices, offer a few things to eat, and gave us several delivery contacts. We paid 600 reais for two days, including a cleaning fee, which felt expensive for what was offered, especially for an operation that seems to be just getting started. The room was very new, but it had no window except a small one in the bathroom. There was a slight mold smell and a few small mold spots on the ceiling, probably due to the stone and the sea. After the shower had been off for a long time, there was also a sewage smell, which went away after bathing. The back of the room has glass facing a rock. It’s a nice idea, but since the kitchen can access that area, a curtain would make sense. There were two very thin towels. We asked for another the next day and were also given the face towel they hadn’t provided earlier. The bathroom was new but tiny, and I can’t say whether the other rooms are the same. Someone older or with obesity would likely have trouble using it. There were no holders for shower items, towels, or toilet paper, so we had to put things on the floor. A table would also help, since there’s room at the back of the bedroom. There were two beach style chairs and a small coffee table occupied by the modem, plus a shelf and a tiny ledge above the mini fridge. We weren’t used to a cleaning fee and being told to collect our own trash. I think cleaning should be part of the lodging fee and the property should handle the garbage. Breakfast was okay with plenty of fruit, bread, and cakes. On the first day the cake was fresh; on the second, the fresh item was French bread. Nothing extraordinary, but I think a few details get missed if you’re used to staying at hotels and pousadas. I understand they may still be starting out, and some things might improve over time. It could be worth visiting.

We arrived and couldn’t get anyone to answer the phone. Like other travelers, we’d been drawn in by the scenery in the photos, but the closer we got, the more worried we became. The road only fits one car, and it kept taking us farther from town and the beach. Without a car, you’d be stuck because there’s nothing nearby. When we got there, we were stunned. The published pictures looked either old or unreal. The property seemed destroyed and neglected, with no entrance and nobody to welcome us. We even asked some construction workers if we had the wrong place, but we hadn’t. We left and filed a complaint with @despegar, hoping for a refund. After reading other travelers’ accounts from that same week, we felt we’d made the right call. Check the real photos if you’re unsure.

A wonderful place, with clean rooms and great service. I plan to come back again.

The view was the only good part of our stay. We were celebrating my pregnancy and honeymoon, so this was really upsetting. We paid for a night like any other guest, but I left feeling frustrated and angry. I won’t return or recommend the place. It has a beautiful view and everything it needs to succeed, but it’s very badly managed. There was hardly any communication. They never sent the correct address, and we couldn’t find the place through the app. It’s far from everything, including local shops. If we’d known, we would have brought water and something easy to eat, but nobody told us. When we arrived in the rain, there was no one to greet us, just a key left out for us to pick up. The pool looked like it hadn’t been cleaned for days, with bottles and cans scattered around, and the property felt abandoned. Our TV remote didn’t work, so watching TV was all we could do in the room. Breakfast was scheduled for 8:30 a.m., and since it only lasted an hour and check out was at 10, we got up early. At 8:20, the owner messaged to say breakfast would be delayed until 9. Why not tell us earlier? The food looked nicely presented, but a lot of it tasted sour. The ham smelled awful and the fruit was old. The oil for frying the pastels seemed to be in a pan that hadn’t been washed in ages. I’ve never seen such a lack of hygiene and care at a pousada. If I could go back, I’d have left as soon as we arrived and found somewhere else to enjoy our trip. I didn’t want to be difficult, so I gave it a chance. In the end, we felt like idiots and just lost money. That was my experience.