Estalagem do Mar

We had dinner here today. The food was fine, though nothing special compared with local restaurants, and the service was fine too. But the waiter selected payment in PLN with currency conversion without asking me. That choice should be up to the customer. The exchange rate cost me around 5% more than my bank would have. Please train the team on this for future customers.

The staff were good, parking was free, and the location close to the sea was a plus. Breakfast was okay, and the sauna was nice. The pool and whirlpool were at a decent temperature. Our five-day stay was fine, but we won’t return unless the maintenance problems are fixed. The room looked all right at first, but furniture and doors were damaged, there was moisture damage on the bathroom floor and door, and the windows didn’t seem to get cleaned often. Noise was another problem. We could hear our neighbors talking and people having dinner one floor below through the thin front door. The building felt very old and, in places, as if it could start falling apart any day. The pool area ceiling leaked in several places. After heavy rain, water was coming through the roof and into the pool, and mold had formed there. Poor insulation also let in a constant cold breeze, which made it unpleasant to relax in the pool area.

The one upside was the view from the window. I wish I’d read the reviews before booking, because I don’t understand the high rating at all. The room had an overwhelming damp smell, and I could barely breathe comfortably. There was mold on the air conditioning and in the bathroom, and the furniture smelled strongly of age. The sheets were yellowed, very old and torn in places. Breakfast was poor: salty sausages, cold fried eggs, fruit that was acceptable, and coffee that didn’t really taste like coffee. The facilities seemed badly maintained too. I saw rainwater leaking through the ventilation into the pool, where there was more mold. And then there were insects, cockroaches and spiders. I was afraid I’d accidentally take them home. They were common domestic cockroaches, not tropical ones.

The breakfast was generous, fresh and varied, and the staff were kind and attentive. After we finished a long 20 km hike and couldn’t find a taxi, they arranged one for us. Staying right on the ocean in São Vicente was unforgettable. We fell asleep and woke to the waves and fresh sea air, with breathtaking scenery all around. Dramatic mountain walls rise behind the hotel and make both the view and the sound of the sea even more striking. It felt truly magical, with a rare mix of simplicity, authenticity and genuine hospitality.