Pousada Paraíso Almada

Michele and Priscila were warm and very helpful throughout our stay. I got sick in the middle of the night, and they promptly found medicine for me and kept checking on me. The room, bathroom, and outdoor area were always clean, and Praia da Almada is very close, peaceful, and beautiful. My only suggestion for the owner is to hire more staff. The women are capable, but it’s clear they’re overloaded with so many duties.

We traveled as eight friends and booked two rooms listed for four people each. The reception was a bit chaotic when we arrived, but the bigger issue was the rooms: they barely fit two people, let alone four adults, and there wasn’t room for four suitcases. The pousada is pretty, but that was about it for us. Our room beside the kitchen smelled of rubbish stored outside, and in the other room we found three cockroaches. Cleaning and general organization fell short. There were only two lovely employees handling everything, from the pool and breakfast and afternoon coffee to food orders, rooms, leaves, and reception. It’s no surprise some work was left undone. With heavy rain and nowhere to dry things, our bathroom was used by four people, but only the bin was emptied, the sheets weren’t changed, and we didn’t get fresh towels until the second day. The place needs more staff to manage all those jobs.

We stayed in the Quarto fazenda, which was lovely, clean, and had everything working. The Pousada Paraíso Almada is practically right on the sand, and the sea there is calm and pleasant. There are bars, restaurants, and several kiosks on the beach, plus showers and bathrooms we used without any trouble. Prices around there are steep, though that’s normal, and the beach service was disappointing. At the pousada, lunch was great, and we ordered pizza for dinner. There are two barbecues guests can use, so I’d suggest bringing something to grill. There’s also a heated outdoor pool, a whirlpool by the pool, and a steam sauna. I did miss having eucalyptus essence in the sauna. Breakfast was okay, but it was meant to start at 7:30 and we couldn’t begin until nearly 8:00. The guests were a bit lost, and Hugo, who I think was the owner or manager, was trying to speed things up and serve everyone. It felt like they needed more staff. Someone could focus on guests in the dining area while the others prepare the food. A large coffee maker would help, and it would be good to have both hot and cold milk, sugar on the tables, sweetener, and enough cutlery for cheese and cake. Those items came only after many people were already annoyed. These were details that could be fixed, and they didn’t spoil what was an incredible experience. I highly recommend visiting, and I’ll definitely return.

The rooms were clean and tidy, with air conditioning, a TV, and a minibar. The pousada also has a heated pool and a large ofurô, plus a filling breakfast and fresh cake with coffee in the afternoon. The staff were kind and polite, from the booking through our stay. It’s a two-minute walk to Praia da Almada and the restaurants there, and five minutes to Praia do Engenho. Almada is peaceful, with clean water, calm seas, and plenty of kiosks and restaurants. There’s also a restaurant at the pousada. I recommend staying here!