Hotel Desiree

Really great.

Really great.

We picked this place for two nights because it was convenient for Mirabilandia, but a lot of things felt stuck in the past. The style and amenities seem about 20 years old and need refreshing. We knew when booking that air conditioning cost extra, but the fan in the middle of the room was a mystery: we couldn’t tell whether it was included or even working. The bathroom was tiny, and the shower needs rebuilding, with its drain in the middle of the bathroom. Breakfast was pretty ordinary, just croissants, cakes and biscuits with no labels. Cappuccino, coffee and juice came from dispensers. Milk, yogurt and butter were sitting at room temperature, which is worrying in 35°C heat when they should be kept cold. At evening check-in, we handed over our documents and didn’t get them back. We had to ask the next morning or we would have gone out without them. The receptionist tossed us a bundle of the guests’ papers and told us to find ours. They were left on a counter where anyone could take them, not even kept at the desk. No privacy at all.

Breakfast was good, but the staff were rude and the whole stay was disappointing. The owner switched off the air conditioning whenever he wanted, then charged us for the garage and air conditioning even though we hadn’t used them fully. He only accepted cash, refused card payment and gave no receipt. He also chose where our car had to be parked without offering us a choice. I really wouldn’t recommend this experience.