While I understand the hotel’s policies, my experience as a solo traveler was quite difficult due to a major lack of communication. The staff does not speak English, which left me feeling isolated—especially considering the amount I spent to stay here. No one greeted me upon arrival, no one said good morning or hello during my stay, and overall, the hospitality felt lacking because of the language barrier. While I don’t speak Portuguese fluently, being the only guest in my section of the hotel with no one making an effort to communicate was quite sad.
A major issue occurred right before my departure when the hotel, without my permission or any communication, placed my belongings in a shuttle and sent them away. As a result, I had to wait 30 minutes to retrieve them. This level of miscommunication made an already isolating experience even more frustrating. Additionally, while the hotel does offer shuttle options, if you don’t speak Portuguese, you’ll likely miss the entire introduction to the hotel upon arrival, leaving you confused about many aspects of your stay.
The island itself is very remote, and while that can be a beautiful experience, I would not recommend staying here alone as an American unless you are fluent in Portuguese. That said, the food was amazing, and the staff was kind despite the challenges in communication. If you do decide to visit, be sure to bring lots and lots of mosquito repellent.
