Hotel Mara Express

Great.

Average.

The staff were very nice and the service was really good. I arrived at 9 pm, dropped off my bags and went to a dinner, got back at 12:30 am, then checked out at 7 the next morning. I was on a tight schedule and didn't report the freezer issue right away, but I'm sure the staff would have been willing to sort it out. It's a shame a hotel with so much potential and such a friendly team has so many problems. The location of Hotel Mara Express is definitely as good as it gets, which makes it good value for money. It could be an excellent place to stay, maybe even the best hotel in Vassouras, but right now it only covers the basics for an overnight stop. I didn't have a good experience overall. The building is old and needs maintenance and renovations, both in the common areas and the rooms. The reception and lobby furniture, corridor lighting, carpet, wooden stairs, wood wall trim, furniture, air conditioning, minibar, beds and bedding all need attention. The bathrooms need shower enclosures, ceiling repairs and better showers. The air conditioner is as old as the building and very noisy, making it hard to sleep. I could even hear the guest in the next room using the bathroom. Cleanliness also fell short. The room floor was spotless, but the bathroom floor wasn't. When I went to put a bottle of water in the minibar, I found a lot of hair frozen into the freezer ice, which was spilling out around the edges. The shower was bad. The sheets were stained, though they smelled nice and seemed clean, so I think they were just old.

The hotel has an old manor-house feel. My room cost R$100 and was very simple, with air conditioning and a TV that didn't get many channels, but it was all quite clean. I’ll start with the downsides to explain the five stars. The location and service made the difference: the hotel is a few minutes' walk from the main square, and the staff were great. It was excellent value for money. The town is pleasant both day and night, quiet, with a few good restaurants and snack bars, plus a large market. It seems like a nice place for a weekend. I didn't visit the farms, but want to come back to see them because they look interesting. The little train ride was just okay, not that fun, though for the price it was worth trying. The experience itself doesn't make a huge difference.