Hotel Recanto Maria Bonita

Just average.

This was our fourth weekend at Hotel Recanto Maria Bonita, a place my family had always enjoyed, but this last visit was a disappointment. My daughter picked it for her eighth birthday because she loves the heated pool, which had always met her expectations. As soon as we arrived, she changed so she could swim, but the pool was cold. When I asked on WhatsApp, they said it was now only covered and no longer heated. The sauna, in the same area as the indoor pool, wasn’t working either. Spending two nights without those amenities was really disappointing. The room smelled musty, though we let that go. The food choices during the day had also changed. They used to sell snack portions for guests, but those were gone from the menu. The only daytime option was a serving of fried snacks, which we decided not to try. The TV channels didn’t work; we were told a technician would fix them the next day, but they still weren’t working. Wi-Fi worked during the day and kept cutting out at night. We left feeling that the hotel’s management had changed, and that things had gone downhill. At the end of the stay, my daughter said she didn’t want to return because the trip hadn’t lived up to her expectations. I hope they address these issues so future guests have a better experience.

The rooms were wonderful and very clean, and we really enjoyed our stay. The owner and his daughter Giovana treated us so well. Breakfast was delicious, and the pools were spotless. They make pizza at the hotel in the evening and bring it to your room, and it was really tasty. We were there over the last holiday and plan to come back. I recommend it.

For me, the price just wasn’t worth it. The place is peaceful and pleasant, but the bathroom was very basic, and there wasn’t much privacy since the window opened onto a walkway. The room itself was large, though the space wasn’t used very well. Its lights were harsh, with only a lampshade for softer lighting, so a more adjustable light would have made it cozier. There was no blackout curtain either, and daylight streamed through the gaps around the window in the morning. Breakfast felt very basic too. No scrambled eggs, and the cold cuts selection had just two options. If the nightly rate were lower, I could overlook all of that.