Vila Branca by Águahotels

Swimming pool, air conditioning, kitchen units and size of rooms were a plus. Free shuttle into town although doesn't operate on weekends. Great shop across the road for food supplies. Great walk into city along the coastline. Some good restaurants short walk away with value prices. Bus runs past location. Some staff very helpful with directions and advice (some more confident with their English perhaps a reason). Overall a pleasant stay. Rooms kept tidy everyday with towels changed. People in the neighbourhood were very friendly and helpful. Very relaxed place.

When we checked in we were only given limited information. When I went back to make enquiries another young lady with good English was on and she was very helpful in providing the info we didn't get at check in. May have been a language thing at check in?. Annoying having to go and get the pool towels. If reception was full meant you had to wait sometime to get a simple thing like a pool towel. Surely there is a better way by just leaving the pool towels by the restaurant and trusting people to return these. The shuttle only went to one location and that was it. We had an issue (stolen phone and bankcard while in the town one night) and needed to go to the Police Station next day. We caught the shuttle on checkout. The driver would only take us to a designated spot. As a consequence we had to haul our bags some way to the Police Station to report the theft. Given the circumstances you would have thought he/Villa Branca could have been more helpful on a hot day. Also needed a dish scrubbing brush and dish detergent for the kitchen. Seemed strange everything is there but nothing to clean up with. Reception said just leave it for the cleaners however breakfast dishes could sit there until evening.