Vivenda do Flamboyant

The inn has potential, but it felt neglected and needs better care, especially with cleaning. The pool was dirty and wasn't cleaned until almost the end of the week. Breakfast had very few choices, no butter or requeijão, dirty cups and cutlery, and bread that wasn't always fresh. The room also needed basic maintenance: paint, mold and cobweb removal, and a replacement for the badly peeling toilet. The bathroom curtain rested against the window and kept falling. The air conditioner smelled bad, so we didn't use it, and the TV only got two channels. There was no sheet to cover ourselves with. Our choices were the bedspread or a blue comforter that smelled moldy. When I asked the night receptionist for a sheet, she said they didn't provide one because the bedding was counted for each room and none were spare. We stayed Monday to Friday, and only three rooms were occupied. We were disappointed with the staff's courtesy, too. The inn is a few meters from Praia do Lázaro, which is a good location, but its street is full of potholes and it's 30 minutes from the center, far from places to have dinner. The manual gate was difficult to open on one side. When I went to ask for help, the receptionist sighed at having to come open it. We came and went without even a good morning or good night. The only friendly reception staff were a red-haired woman with long hair and an older woman who worked in the breakfast kitchen. Both were smiling and polite.

The beach is so close that it's just 50 steps to the sea. The grounds are peaceful and well kept, with lots of trees and a variety of beautiful birds. There's a clean, well-maintained pool, a TV room, and a games room. The rooms were large, with excellent beds and very clean linens. My wife and I stayed in room 9, while our friends and their son had room 10. Our bathroom was huge, one of the biggest I've seen in all the places I've stayed, and had a hair dryer, amenities, and hot gas-heated water for a relaxing shower. Breakfast felt like eating at the inn or at my grandmother's house, and it reminded me of my little grandmother from Minas Gerais. There were different breads and cakes, fresh cheese, cheese bread, chicken and Nutella croissants, and various fruits. Everything was fresh and good quality. The welcome was above average from our first WhatsApp contact through check-in and check-out. The staff were polite and courteous. We arrived on 17/10 and left on 20/10. Some people complain about the surrounding roads and the distance from central Ubatuba. For the road, that's a matter for the Ubatuba city government, not the inn. It is 30 minutes from the center, but if that's what you want, stay downtown. Then the first beaches will be less crowded for us, and we won't have to read the whining of a pampered generation. It rained all day on the 19th and 20th. Should I blame the inn because it rained for two days and I couldn't enjoy the beach? I visit Ubatuba, Ilha Bela, and São Sebastião regularly, and this inn won over both me and the people who came with me. From now on, when I visit the north coast, I know where to stay for good value and comfort. Thanks to everyone at Pousada Vivenda do Flamboyant for having us.

It was very poor and more expensive than it should have been. We booked three days but left after the first. The room was full of tiny insects, and when we went out for dinner, we found a cockroach inside one of our backpacks. That was the last straw, so we moved to Catalina Hotel, where the service, cleanliness, and comfort were much better. The bathroom was wet when we arrived, as if it had been washed but not dried, so even the toilet paper was damp. The minibar was badly worn. The TV was small and old, got no more than four channels, and only received over-the-air TV.

It's a simple but wonderful inn. The room was always clean, with a minibar that you can use for food and drinks, except fish, plus a ceiling fan and air conditioning. Marcela and Milena at reception are great, and Mario, who works nights, looks after security and the property and is great too. I also have to mention Sandra, who makes a divine breakfast. I'll keep coming back and recommend it.