Villa Alto Boutique Hotel

Victor was especially helpful when our rental car got a flat tire. He went out of his way to arrange someone to fix it, and we’re very grateful. The staff were wonderful throughout our stay at Villa Alto Boutique Hotel. The hotel has gorgeous views, is well placed for hikes, and is a quick drive from downtown Ponta Do Sol. We had an incredible time and would absolutely recommend this beautiful hotel, 10/10.

The staff were kind, and the building has an authentic feel, but comfort and cleanliness were lacking. We stayed in the Junior Suite, and the other rooms may be worse. The place is unusual, but quite run down. Breakfast was a bit cold, stale, and soggy, and there was no wifi in the rooms. In January, the shared areas were very cold, around 17C. The beds creaked and had old spring mattresses, the bedding seemed questionable, and there were ants. We’d suggest staying elsewhere unless a unique experience matters more to you than comfort and practicality.

Our main concern was the room security. The door code was simply the room number, so anyone who knew it could get in. We felt very unsafe, especially with our belongings left in the room while we spent most of the day hiking. When I brought this up, I was told I could leave if I didn’t like it. No reassurance or attempt to find a solution was offered, and that response made things worse. The comfortable bed and okay breakfast were the only good parts of our stay. Evening service was disappointing too, and the young woman working at night was rude and unprofessional. The poor service and serious security concern overshadowed everything else. I wouldn’t recommend staying here unless these problems are addressed.

The building and setting are really pretty, the value for money is good, and the house cats are cute. I’d definitely recommend staying here, with two things to keep in mind. We spent one night in a standard room and also stayed in a superior room. The standard rooms, 11-13, were much lower quality, so spending extra on a superior room is really worth it. Standard plus rooms might have nicer views, though. Also, you’ll need to drive some distance to find great food in the evening.