Megan K
Google
Pousada Remora has certainly earned its #1 spot on TripAdvisor. We arrived in the evening after an all day drive through the Santa Catarina mountains and the climb up the (very rough & steep) road to the top of the hill upon which the pousada is perched. As soon as we were through the gates, we felt like we'd arrived in paradise. Every detail is perfectly thought out- the elegant, cozy dining/sitting area w/ statues, paintings, fireplace- all oriented towards the spectacular view of the sea, the broad glass doors that create a smooth transition to the deck, the beautiful and impeccibly clean infinity pool, the mix of shade and sun romantic sitting areas... glass covering over the walkway to the deck from the rooms so you don't notice them at all unless it's raining, glass rail on the deck so the spectacular view is unobstructed. ||||When we arrived, the chef greeted us, checked us into the hotel, and offered us dinner (we were the only one there). We had one of our best meals in the area and really of our trip to Brazil. He made a terrific first impression because he couldn't have been friendlier or more welcoming. He happily made us dinner on another night when we arrived just 5 minutes before the kitchen closed. These folks really make a hotel great. We immediately decided to change the rest of our trip (we were supposed to fly to Bahia for the last 4 days of our trip) so we could spend the rest of our vacation there. The gentleman who helped us extend our reservation in the morning (Marcos) went out of his way to help us. ||||The room was just lovely- again, well thought out, with wall to wall windows on the view-side, and a mirror on the other so you're always looking at the ocean. The room was incredibly clean and I noticed the staff also left unoccupied rooms open during the day to allow them the breeze to air them out. ||||If you're lounging on the deck, there is always someone around offering you drinks or snacks. Breakfast was very good- wide variety of breads and cakes, granola, yogurt, fruits, and eggs. During the week the chef made us special omelettes (the weekend was more crowded so eggs were available for self-service). They also told us that if we wanted any special breakfast item during our stay, they would try to get it. ||||The pousada has deliberately limited the number of rooms it offers and restricted children, to enhance the romance and relaxation of the experience- to make it feel exclusive. I really got lucky because we were there during the week on the off season so had the place to ourselves. They are building a spa area off the deck which should be great. ||||The location is ideal. I was not sure about picking a hotel on a hill far from the beach, but it's perfect, because it kind of feels like you're at the beach without the sand. You see the ocean all around you. It's a short trip down to the beach through the town in any case. Rosa Beach actually is not developed around the beach itself, which is part of this beach's charm. All the pousadas are tucked away cosily into the hillsides with views of the ocean or the mountains and lake to the west. ||||The staff who worked with us was amazing: Jeferson and Marcos were just fabulous, but special thanks also to Christiano, Mateus, Beto (the new guy), Daniela, Yani, and Jana and Paula. ||||Admittedly, this would be a tough spot if you don't speak Spanish or Portuguese. Most of the staff do not speak English or are nervous to practice the little they know. However, they were great at finding ways to communicate with my boyfriend, who is English-speaking only, and at the end of the stay, he said he felt like he was leaving his family behind. ||||The only thing I thought was a little weird was that the dining/sitting area had a couple of huge screens that were constantly, and often loudly, showing live concerts of English-speaking artists, mostly from the 80s (Depeche Mode, Simply Red...). I did not get that at all and found it a little disruptive to the mood. But it must be a cultural thing- I didn't see a single other American traveler in Santa Catarina so I'm obviously not their target demographic. Maybe the other guests love it. ||||Looking forward to going back soon.