Escape to Paradise: Your Dream Stay at Pousada Anexo, Niteroi!
Escape to Paradise: Your Dream Stay at Pousada Anexo, Niteroi!
Escape to Paradise? …Maybe. A Brutally Honest Review of Pousada Anexo, Niteroi
Okay, buckle up, because this isn't your typical, polished hotel review. We're diving headfirst into the (potentially turquoise) waters of Pousada Anexo in Niteroi, Brazil, and I'm gonna tell you the truth – the good, the bad, and the "wait, did that really happen?"
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Arrival & First Impressions (The "Whoa" Moment…or the "Oh, Really?"):
First off, finding Pousada Anexo was an adventure in itself. Google Maps, you beautiful liar, sometimes you lead me astray. But! The entrance did look promising. Palm trees, a glimpse of blue… yeah, the "paradise" marketing spiel had me almost sold.
The lobby? Airy. Good start. And the check-in? Contactless, which I appreciated given the… you know… gestures vaguely at the world. Staff were friendly enough, but not exactly overflowing with warmth. Think polite smiles versus genuine, heartfelt bem-vindos (welcome).
Accessibility: Navigating the Dream (or the Nightmare?):
Alright, this is important. Accessibility is… patchy. There's an elevator, that's a HUGE plus. But navigating the grounds in a wheelchair? Hmm. I think some of the pool areas would be tricky, and the pathways weren't exactly pristine and smooth. I didn't see any dedicated accessible ramps everywhere – more investigating is needed. (Rating: 3/5 for effort, potential for improvement).
Rooms: My Fortress of Solitude (or Mild Disappointment?):
My room? Air-conditioned. Hallelujah. And, yes, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! (Okay, the "!" is justified here). Okay, so I should have gone for a room with a view and a balcony, and the room service was… okay. I'm not sure that counts as a pro or a con, but at least the Mini bar was well-stocked.
But… and there's always a but, right? The decor was… bland. Clean, yes. Comfortable, mostly. Memorable? Nope. The Blackout curtains were a godsend for sleeping in (thank you, heaven). The shower pressure? Adequate. The towels? Definitely not plush.
Let's Talk Cleanliness and Safety (aka, the "Am I Gonna Get Eaten by a Germ?" Concern):
Okay, look. These days, cleanliness is everything. And Pousada Anexo tried. They said they use Anti-viral cleaning products, which made me happy. Daily disinfection in common areas, check. Staff trained in safety protocol – fingers crossed! I saw Hand sanitizers EVERYWHERE. That’s a gold star right there. They even offered a Room sanitization opt-out available. They do take this seriously, which is important. (Rating: 4.5/5 – peace of mind, mostly)
On-Site Fun & Games (The Activities Report):
Right, where to begin! First, the Swimming Pool (outdoor). Gorgeous. Truly. The Pool with a view was the view! Okay, my first thought was wow. My second thought was "This is what my Instagram feed has been waiting for!"
Then, they had all the Spa and Things to do. A Sauna, a Steamroom, and, best of all, a Massage. I definitely indulged in a massage. It was… heavenly. Seriously, I almost floated away. The Body scrub and Body wrap options beckoned, but the siren song of the pool was too strong that day. I was tempted by the Fitness center but, let's face it, I needed to relax and not engage in a battle with the treadmill. (Rating: 4/5 – Pool wins!)
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Gastronomic Journey (with a few potholes):
The Restaurants… They had several! Restaurants, Poolside Bar and a Snack bar. The breakfast was a Breakfast [buffet]. I was absolutely in love with the International cuisine in restaurant, the Asian cuisine in restaurant, the Western cuisine in restaurant, the Vegetarian restaurant, and any meals that had a Salad in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, and lots of Desserts in restaurant.
I had a truly amazing experience at the Poolside bar, that was a real treat.
The buffet in restaurant had a ton of options. I was actually really surprised!
Services and Conveniences: The Perks (and the Misses):
They had Air conditioning in public areas, which is crucial in Brazil. Daily housekeeping, thank goodness. Currency exchange. A Concierge, which was helpful for booking excursions (though sometimes a bit slow). Now, I wasn't there for a business trip but they had Business facilities – perfect for those needing to work. Now, as for the downsides…
For the Kids and the Families:
I saw other families, and the kids seemed happy. The Babysitting service, the Kids meal, etc.
The Big Picture: Escape or Entrapment?
Pousada Anexo is… complicated. It's not a flawless paradise. It's not always mind-blowing. But it is a solid option. And if you’re willing to embrace the imperfections, you can find yourself having an enjoyable retreat. It's a place where you can definitely relax.
Would I go back? Maybe. If they improved the accessibility and maybe upgraded the room decor… and if I could guarantee that massage again. (Overall Rating: 3.8/5 – Room for improvement, but worth considering)
Luxury Novosibirsk Apartment: 150m to Oktyabrskaya Metro!Alright, buckle up, because this isn't your sanitized, brochure-perfect itinerary. This is the raw, unfiltered, "I-probably-shouldn't-have-eaten-that-street-meat" guide to Pousada Anexo Niteroi, Brazil. Prepare for chaos, wonder, and a whole lotta "what was I thinking?"
Day 1: Arrival, Anxiety, and the Unexpected Charm of a Broken Showerhead
10:00 AM (ish) - Arrival & Initial Panic: Landing in Rio. The airport is a swirling vortex of delayed flights, stressed families, and what I swear was a mime aggressively selling churros. Finding a cab that actually knows where the Pousada is took a solid 45 minutes and a lot of frantic pointing. Honestly, my Portuguese is about as useful as a chocolate teapot right now.
11:30 AM - Check-in & Room Reality: Finally, Pousada Anexo! It's…quaint. By "quaint," I mean "tiny but charmingly so." The receptionist, a woman whose smile could melt polar ice caps, is impossibly cheerful. My room? Smaller than my walk-in closet. But the view! Breathtaking views of the bay. Ok, deep breath. It's fine. This is going to be fine.
- Anecdote:* The first thing I did was try to take a shower. And then I discovered the showerhead. It may or may not have been…detached. Like, completely off the wall. Cue my first, silent, "Oh, crap" moment. But, and this is the beauty of travel, I also found that the water pressure was a miracle and actually great to take a shower!
1:00 PM - Lunch & the Language Barrier Tango: Found a little "pastelaria" down the street. Ordered what I thought was a chicken pastel. Ended up with…something. I'm pretty sure it involved cheese and a mystery meat component. Delicious? Not super. Humorous? Absolutely Yes. I somehow successfully communicate through hand gestures and a lot of eyebrow wiggling that I'm a clueless tourist. The waitress laughs, I laugh, we bond over the universal language of food-related confusion.
3:00 PM - Wandering & Wonder: Niteroi itself is…well, it's not Rio. Which is a good thing. It's calmer. Less touristy. More…real. I wandered along the waterfront, got completely lost, and ended up stumbling upon a local market. The colors, the smells, the energy! It's sensory overload in the best possible way.
6:00 PM - Sunset at the MAC (Museu de Arte Contemporânea): Ah, Oscar Niemeyer's architectural masterpiece. The MAC. Absolutely ridiculous and amazing all at once! The building itself looks like a spaceship that landed on a giant flower. But the view! Oh. My. God. Sunset over Guanabara Bay, Christ the Redeemer silhouetted against the orange sky…I may have teared up a little. Don't judge. It was beautiful, and a lot.
8:00 PM - Dinner & Cultural Immersion (or Lack Thereof): Tried to find a restaurant, ended up in a hole-in-the-wall place. Order: Steak. Result: Undercooked. Solution: Eat it anyway. Learn: Not everyone in Brazil is a master chef.
- Quirky Observation:* The music in the restaurant was playing a constant stream of what I think were Brazilian love songs, which, combined with the lingering feeling of a slightly undercooked steak, created a very specific and memorable experience.
9:30 PM - Bedtime & Shower Struggles: Back at the Pousada. Time to finally shower. Time to accept the broken showerhead as a part of a long trip. Time to sleep.
Day 2: Beach, Booze, and Brave Attempts at Sunbathing
8:00 AM - Hangover? What Hangover? (Breakfast & Beach Ambitions): Breakfast at the pousada is pretty standard, but oh so good. I had my usual, but by the time I finished eating the entire staff went, "Aaaahhh, the tourist-girl wants more!" I'm starting to fit in.
- Emotional Reaction:* I'm not sure if the breakfast was that good or if I was just incredibly happy to have found something familiar at the start of the day. Maybe it's the coffee, the fresh juice, or the fact that I was finally seeing all the things that made me happy.
9:00 AM - Beach Bliss (and Burning): Playa IcaraÃ. Gorgeous. The water is inviting. The sun is relentless. Apply sunscreen, people! (I may or may not have forgotten to reapply and am now the color of a lobster). The sand felt perfect.
11:00 AM - Caipirinhas & Conversations: Found a beachside bar. Ordered a caipirinha. Ordered another. And another. Maybe I should pace myself. Started chatting with a local. Turns out, he actually speaks English! Amazing! He told me about his family, his life, his love for Niteroi. This is what travel is all about. Meeting people, hearing their stories, feeling connected to a place beyond just the tourist spots.
1:00 PM - Lunch (and the Beach): More time at the beach! I found a "barraca" (beachside food stall) and feasted on fresh seafood. Fried Fish… Oh, oh my goodness… The fish! The sea flavor.
3:00 PM - The Art of Staying Still, and then Walking: Maybe I will take a quiet moment and practice staying still, like a local… Nope. Within 10 minutes I was walking and had the urge to see more. So I walked, and walked, and walked, and walked.
6:00 PM - Post-Beach Relaxation (and Pre-Dinner Regret): Back at the Pousada, slathered in aloe vera. Now regretting my lobster-like appearance. Time to rest and think about my dinner destination.
8:00 PM - Dinner (and the Night Air): Got dressed. Realized it's a Sunday night, and all the restaurants are closed! Panic ensues. Find a pizza place. Pizza is always a good plan.
Day 3: Christ the Redeemer, City Views, and Goodbye (For Now)
7:00 AM - Early Start, Early Regret: Up early to get to Christ the Redeemer before the crowds descend. It's beautiful, awe-inspiring, a total bucket-list item…
- Stronger Emotional Reaction: But honestly? The crowds! It's like a mosh pit of tourists. I get it. It's iconic. But it's also a bit…overpowering. The lines! The selfies! The sheer volume of people trying to get a photo with Jesus! Maybe the view is the best part.
9:00 AM - Sugarloaf Mountain: Took a cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain. Another incredible view. This is the best part of seeing the city!
11:00 AM - Wandering & Coffee Break: I wandered some more! I found a nice cafe! I ordered a coffee!
1:00 PM - Lunch & Last-Minute Shopping: Lunch at a very busy place. Got my stuff, and realized I don't have much to get.
3:00 PM - Back to the Pousada, Packing, and Sadness: Back at Pousada Anexo. Last time looking at the awesome views. Packing. Feeling surprisingly sad to leave. Pousada's staff comes in, and we shared a quick conversation.
5:00 PM - Departure: Off to the airport. Goodbye, Niteroi. Goodbye, Brazil. I'll be back.
Post-Trip Ramblings
- The showerhead? Still broken. But I kinda miss it.
- The language barrier? Still present, but my hand gestures are improving.
- The food? Hit or miss. But that's the beauty of it, isn't it?
- The experience? Unforgettable. Messy. Wonderful. I will remember this trip always.
- Will I come back? Absolutely.
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