VELINN Pousada Canoa Ilhabela

The staff were welcoming, but it was clear they were worn down by being understaffed, and my stay wasn’t completely satisfactory. Pousada Canoa, part of the Vellin group near Praia da Feiticeira, seems to have structural problems. If you want your room cleaned, you have to leave the key at reception, since the same people who serve breakfast then have to rush off to clean rooms. That leads to unnecessary awkwardness between staff and guests. The inn also doesn’t seem equipped for heavy rain. On the day we checked in, the power went out at 6:30 pm and only came back the next day. We could still use the TV and mini fridge in the room partly. Sometimes a sewer smell came into the room late at night, and we couldn’t tell whether it was from our bathroom or another guest’s.

The location is great, near both the beach and a little market. The inn is lovely, with good pools and a hot tub that’s perfect for a quiet moment for two. Breakfast was really good too. Our room was very pretty and comfortable, though on the small side, and the standard bathroom was tiny. Thank you!

The outdoor area looks nice, but the photos gave me the wrong impression. Breakfast was only okay, and the room and bathroom need more care. I left the key at reception and agreed when they asked if I wanted the room cleaned. They didn’t clean it. The bathroom wasn’t washed, the towels weren’t changed, and they only made the beds, very carelessly. We found a cockroach in the room and false eyelashes left by a previous guest.

The location was convenient, the staff were polite and attentive, and the breakfast ladies were especially kind and thoughtful with guests. Breakfast was simple but tasty. The room was the letdown. It smelled bad and looked like the dirt had built up over time, with rusty spots, mold on the ceiling, and dirty walls. The bed was very hard, and the parking area was so tight around the columns that maneuvering was difficult. I enjoyed the stay overall, but with those issues, I’m not sure I’d return.