Pousada Residencia Balestra

It was okay.

The sunsets and sunrises at the pousada were unforgettable, with a lovely view and such a peaceful feeling. My daughter Aurora and I felt at home from the start, and her friendship with Bia made the stay even more special. Bia was sweet, patient, and affectionate with Aurora, who has a lot of energy and is very hyperactive. Tiago and his wife, the owners of Pousada Balestra, were wonderful too: helpful, attentive, and polite. You can feel how much care they put into the little things. We’re so grateful for the warm welcome, and we’ll definitely come back and recommend it wholeheartedly.

The breakfast was tasty, and the host was attentive. The room was spacious and the view was incredible. It’s a bit far from the centre, though, so getting there could be difficult without a car. Good value for the price.

We left after less than an hour, though we still paid for the night. The room was unbearably hot, with only a fan blowing warm air, and we were sweating enough to wet our clothes. We’d booked through Booking, and it was the only room type available. We always filter for parking, air conditioning, breakfast, and the lowest price, but when we arrived, we found there was no air conditioning. The property is 6 km from the city’s central square, up a hill on unpaved access roads. If you’re without a car, it’s tough, and it’s 500 metres from the highway. When we told the owner we were leaving, he just said it was hot everywhere and brushed off our concerns. We found another place right downtown with air conditioning, a very pleasant owner, and an excellent breakfast for the same price. We only took the car out again when it was time to leave.