Pousada Sorocaba

The pool is the only thing I thought was worth it. Everything else was a mess. The worst hotel I’ve stayed at so far: what they say when you book turns out to be different once you arrive, and the details are left vague. I booked a room that had no TV, towels, or breakfast, none of which was made clear during booking. Everything costs extra. There’s a set time to return, and after that they won’t open the gate. I needed to warm some milk for my son, but they said it wasn’t possible because the kitchen was closed. The staff seemed completely unwilling to help. It was absurd.

We were woken at 7 in the morning by a woman vacuuming, which was completely disrespectful. There’s also a curfew: after 11:30 p.m. on Saturday you can’t get in, and on Sunday it’s 10 p.m. The mattress was hard, the air conditioning didn’t cool, and we found a cockroach in the room. We arrived to an argument between staff, and breakfast was just sliced bread, cheese, presented, and Tang juice. The sandwich maker we asked for was dirty, gave electric shocks, and only toasted on one side. The strangest place I’ve ever seen. If you hear “pousada Sorocaba,” run, it’s a trap.

The meal cost me $44, and the can of Coke was extra, even though the beef dish I got was awful and nothing like the stroganoff I ordered. The meat looked like sarapatel, and the rice was greasy with beef broth. I couldn't eat it, but they still charged me. Breakfast was another $18. When I first arrived, the place seemed excellent, but the owner's prejudiced jokes and the terrible service made this the worst experience of my life. Never staying there again. Cheap really can end up costing you.

The friendly location and decent value earn it a little credit, and it can do in a pinch. But the place is run-down and poorly cared for. There was mold in the room, brown spiders wandering on the bed, and they charge 10 reais for a towel. That price feels out of touch for somewhere this neglected.