Florianopolis Paradise Found: Hotel Vila Mar Awaits!
Florianopolis Paradise Found: Hotel Vila Mar Awaits! - A Honestly Messy Review
Alright, here we go. Let's talk about Hotel Vila Mar in Florianopolis, shall we? I've just wrestled my suitcase through the door, and I'm ready to spill the beans, the caipirinhas, and whatever else I've got swirling around in my head after a week of sun, sand, and… well, you'll see. This isn't your polished, PR-approved review. Consider it a travel diary exploded onto your screen.
First Impressions (and My Slightly Disorganized Take):
The website painted a picture of pure, unadulterated paradise. And honestly? It's mostly true. Hotel Vila Mar is visually stunning. Think sleek lines, bright colors, and that breathtaking ocean view plastered on every single marketing brochure. The lobby? Air-conditioned bliss, which is a godsend after navigating the humid Florianopolis airport. Speaking of which…
Getting There & Around (The Practical Stuff):
- Airport Transfer: They offer it. USE IT. After that flight, the last thing you'll want is to wrangle a taxi. And the driver was lovely, regaling me with local folklore and pointing out hidden beaches. Definitely a plus.
- Car Park [Free of Charge] / Car Park [On-site]: Parking seemed plentiful, both free and on-site. I didn't drive (beach bum for life!), but I saw plenty of space. Good news for those of you who like freedom to roam.
- Taxi Service: Readily available.
- Bicycle parking: Available but unused by myself.
- Getting Around: The hotel seems well-located, but you'll probably want a mix of taxis, maybe even a rental car to truly explore the island.
Accessibility (Because Everyone Deserves Paradise):
This is important, folks. And while I'm not personally mobility-impaired, I always look for it.
- Elevator: Thankfully present, which is essential.
- Facilities for disabled guests: I spotted these upon initial research.
- The hotel seems to have put some thought into this, which is a huge win.
The Room (My Little Tropical Sanctuary, Kinda):
Okay, my room. This is where things got interesting, in the "slightly chaotic but charming" way.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Yes, they used them, which is comforting in the currently crazy climate.
- Air conditioning: Absolutely essential, and it worked flawlessly. Sweet, sweet relief.
- Air conditioning in public area: Also working like a charm.
- Alarm Clock: Yes, but I used my phone.
- Additional toilet: Not in my room, sadly.
- Bathrobes, Slippers: Yes! Luxury. And I wore those slippers everywhere. Don't judge.
- Bathroom phone: In case you need to call reception from the tub.
- Bathtub / Separate shower/bathtub: Depending on the room. My room had both. Good shower pressure, too.
- Blackout curtains: Bliss! Slept like a baby. Especially after a few too many caipirinhas…
- Closet: Pretty standard.
- Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea: A lifesaver in the mornings.
- Daily housekeeping: They did a good job, though I'm not sure if they really needed to make my bed.
- Desk: Yes, I worked a little bit from here.
- Extra long bed: Thank goodness. I'm tall.
- Free bottled water: Replenished daily. Hydration is key.
- Hair dryer: Check.
- High floor: I was on a high floor, which gave me an incredible view.
- In-room safe box: Yep, used it for the important stuff (passport, money, shame).
- Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!: Wi-fi worked well, but I sometimes had to restart my router, but it worked.
- Ironing facilities, Ironing service, Linens: Check.
- Laptop workspace: Fine.
- Mini bar: Stocked with tempting treats.
- Mirror: Yep.
- Non-smoking: Yes, fortunately.
- On-demand movies: Didn't try it.
- Private bathroom, Toiletries: Standard hotel fare, but perfectly serviceable.
- Reading light: Good for late-night novel binges.
- Refrigerator: Mini bar and more space available.
- Scale: Terrifyingly accurate.
- Seating area, Sofa: Nice to have.
- Shower: Good.
- Smoke detector: I hope its presence is the only thing of it I should know.
- Soundproofing: Actually pretty good. I didn't hear much from the hallway, which is saying something.
- Socket near the bed: Crucial for charging all those devices.
- Telephone: I didn't use it.
- Towels: Fresh and fluffy.
- Umbrella: I didn't use it.
- Visual alarm: Available.
- Wake-up service: Yep.
The Food & Drink Situation (My Main Concern):
Alright, listen up, foodies. This is where things get really good.
- Restaurants: They had a few. The main restaurant – gasp! – had an ocean view. I spent hours there. More on that later…
- Breakfast [buffet]: Glorious! HUGE selection. The fruit was unbelievably fresh, and the pastries… oh, the pastries. And yes, there's Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant, too. Options abound.
- A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Yes, they do it.
- Room service [24-hour]: Perfect for those late-night cravings.
- Poolside bar: Essential! The cocktails were strong, and the service was friendly.
- Bar, Coffee shop: They have them.
- Bottle of water - always available
- Desserts in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant - Yes.
- Happy hour - Definitely.
- Snack bar - I never used one but they have one.
The Ocean View Restaurant… My Love Story:
So, the main restaurant. Imagine this: soft lighting, the sound of waves crashing, and a menu that makes your mouth water. I spent an embarrassingly large chunk of my time here. One particular evening, I ordered the grilled fish, and… wow. The fish was cooked to perfection, with a simple sauce that let the fresh flavors shine. But here's the truly embarrassing part: I ordered it again the next night. And the night after that. It was that good. The staff, bless their hearts, probably knew my order before I even sat down. This restaurant could be called International cuisine in restaurant. I think it could be called just my little spot. This hotel truly knows food.
Ways to Relax (Or, How I Tried to Avoid Work):
- Pool with view, Swimming pool [outdoor]: The pool is stunning. Infinity edge, overlooking the ocean. I spent HOURS floating there, sipping cocktails, and pretending I had no responsibilities.
- Fitness center, Gym/fitness: I walked by it. Once. Looked well-equipped for the fitness-minded.
- Spa, Sauna, Steamroom: They have them. I didn't use it because I spent all my time by the pool. My loss.
- Massage, Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath: All available. Should have done it. Next time.
Cleanliness and Safety (The Slightly Stressful But Necessary Stuff):
In the current climate, this is paramount.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: They used them.
- Daily disinfection in common areas, Rooms sanitized between stays, Sterilizing equipment, Professional-grade sanitizing services: They were on top of their game. I felt safe.
- Hand sanitizer: Readily available.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Safe dining setup: Implemented effectively.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: They seemed well-informed, but I didn't spend tons of time around the staff.
- Individually-wrapped food options, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Safe dining setup: Yup.
- Cashless payment service: Available.
Services & Conveniences (The Little Things That Matter):
- Concierge: Extremely helpful in navigating the local area.
- Daily housekeeping: Nice.
- Doctor/nurse on call: Important peace of mind.
- Laundry service, Dry cleaning, Ironing service: Very convenient.
- Cash withdrawal: Available.
- Luggage storage, Luggage store: Convenient and useful.
Okay, buckle up buttercup, because we're not just going on a trip to Hotel Vila Mar in Florianopolis, Brazil. We're diving headfirst into the messy, glorious reality of it. This itinerary? Let's just call it a suggestion… more like a loose, heavily caffeinated whisper of a plan.
Hotel Vila Mar, Florianopolis: A Chaotic Symphony
(Day 1: Arrival and the "Holy Crap, It's Beautiful" Phase)
- 10:00 AM (ish): Touch down at Hercílio Luz International Airport (FLN). The first thought? "Wow, Brazilian airports… definitely have their own vibe." By which I mean: chaotic but with an underlying sense of "we'll get there eventually." Luggage retrieval? A thrilling game of "find your bag." (Mine eventually arrived, thankfully. My friend, bless her soul, is still searching.)
- 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Taxi to Hotel Vila Mar. The drive is… stunning. Seriously, I almost choked on a stray mosquito (ew) because the views of the coastline are just… chefs kiss. Turquoise water, lush green hills… I instantly regretted all the years I spent indoors.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Check-in. Okay, so the front desk staff at Vila Mar are… charmingly inefficient. Let's just say patience is a virtue I was forced to rediscover. Eventually, we got our room. (Pro-tip: Pack snacks. Waiting makes you HUNGRY.)
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Room Inspection and a mini-meltdown. The room? Lovely. The view? Spectacular. The tiny, pre-packaged soap that tasted suspiciously like fish? Not so much. Cue the mini-meltdown. I swear I'm not a diva, but a decent bar of soap is a basic human right! (I had to raid the tiny toiletries for a week after this).
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Beach Reconnaissance and Post-Travel Nap. Okay, after the soap situation, I needed to reset. I stumbled onto Praia do Santinho. Sand! Sun! Bliss! And then… the sand. It got EVERYWHERE. Even in places I didn't know sand could reach. So, naturally, a nap was in order. Sleep is also a human right.
- 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Trying to figure out the hotel's wifi, and it's a battle. It was a constant struggle, dropping connection. And it got worse: there was a group of kids in the lobby filming this really bad video with my laptop. That I never got back!
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner at the hotel restaurant. Honestly? The food was okay, but the caipirinhas? Divine. We had to try at least 5. Because… research. And the sunset over the ocean made up for any culinary shortcomings. The sky was on fire. Pure magic.
- 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: That old question (and I'm not ashamed to admit it) how do people in hotels watch tv with so many buttons? Why do they need so many buttons? Why can't I find anything in english??? Also, why do TVs in the hotel have a "secret" button in the remote, and why it's always at the worst location?
(Day 2: Beach Hopping, Bumbling Tourists, and the Power of Gelato)
- 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Breakfast. The buffet was a glorious, chaotic mess. So. Many. Options! I went for an all-out assault on the fruit – passionfruit, mango, pineapple… I swear, I could have sworn I saw the ghost of a sugar high already setting in.
- 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Beach Hopping! We rented a car (another adventure, involving a lot of Portuguese and frantic pointing). First stop: Praia Mole. Surf culture central! I tried to look cool, but mostly just tripped over my own feet. Second stop: Joaquina Beach. The sand dunes were epic. I am convinced I swallowed half of the sand in Floripa.
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch. We stopped at a tiny beachside shack. The fish was fresh, the beer was cold, and the conversation with the local fisherman was priceless. (He even managed to decipher my horrific Portuguese).
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Nap Time! I'm becoming a pro at this.
- 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Gelato Hunt. Because gelato is essential to life. We found a small, unassuming gelateria and it was HEAVEN. I had coconut and mango. My friend had a mysterious flavor with a neon-green hue. I was too scared to ask.
- 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Attempting to learn some basic Brazilian Portuguese. My pronunciation was atrocious, but the locals were endlessly patient and amused. (Mostly amused). I practiced the phrase “Onde é o banheiro?” about a thousand times. You know, just in case.
- 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Dinner at a restaurant on the beach. We had moqueca (Brazilian seafood stew) and it was SO. GOOD. The sunset views? Repeat of day one, but somehow even better.
- 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM The night was young, so we returned to the hotel for a long and relaxing shower. (For me, after the sand saga, this was a necessity).
(Day 3: A Day of Regret and Redemption)
- 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Breakfast, but with a side of slight regret from last night's caipirinhas. My head felt like a drum.
- 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Surfing lessons! I looked utterly ridiculous. I mostly spent my time swallowing seawater and getting sand in my ears. But… the feeling of catching a wave, even for a split second? Unforgettable. The instructor kindly offered me a towel to dry the tears.
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch After the surfing experience, lunch was a godsend. I wasn't sure if I was going to drown in the ocean, so I got some food to cheer up and forget about my fears, but also, I wanted to try the local Brazilian food.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: We went to the pool. Ah, the pool. The only place in the hotel I found peace. It was the best idea of my life.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Spa time! Okay, so I was a little sore after surfing. The hotel spa had a massage that was… heaven. All the regrets of the morning dissolved into a puddle of bliss.
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner, and feeling brand new. It's amazing how a massage can change your life. We decided to try Sushi, and it was delicious.
- 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM: A short walk while finding a nice place, and it happened. A beautiful bar with the ideal music, and the ideal drinks. In that moment, everything was perfect.
(Day 4: Departure and the lingering smell of sunscreen… and adventure.)
- 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Breakfast. One last attempt at the buffet. I loaded up on fruit, knowing I'd miss it.
- 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Last minute souvenir shopping. Panic set in. "Did I get enough for everyone?". Probably not. Queued up in a shop; the shop attendant was very nice, but got slightly annoyed when I didn't understand something and started laughing uncontrollably, I couldn't contain myself. I bought some of those weird little Havaianas flip-flops and tried on everything.
- 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Final dip in the pool. One last dose of sunshine and relaxation. It was a bittersweet moment.
- 12:00 PM: Check-out. The staff was still charmingly inefficient. But I didn't care.
- 1:00 PM: Flight to airport. I'd leave Brazil.
- 2:00 PM: Flight.
Final Thoughts:
Hotel Vila Mar was… a journey. It wasn't a perfectly polished, Instagram-ready experience. It was messy, imperfect, and sometimes frustrating. But it was also filled with beauty, laughter, unforgettable moments, and the kind of memories that make you smile years later. Would I go back? Absolutely. Would I pack extra soap? You bet your sweet bippy I would.
This is my truth about Vila Mar. Your experience will probably be
Escape to Arctic Paradise: Star Arctic Hotel Awaits in Inari, Finland
Florianopolis Paradise Found: Hotel Vila Mar Awaits! (Probably...) - Ask Away! (Or Don't, I Don't Care)
Okay, is this place *actually* paradise? Because, you know, marketing...
Alright, let's be real. Paradise? Depends on your definition. If your paradise involves lukewarm coffee, the occasional rogue ant, and a slightly wonky shower head that sprays water like a confused firefly, then YES. Absolutely. Vila Mar is your spot.
Seriously though, the location is breathtaking. You walk out the door and BAM – beach. Golden sand, turquoise water… you're practically tripping over waves. My first thought? "I hope I brought enough sunscreen and a therapist." Because that view... it's overwhelming. In a good way, usually. Sometimes it's just... a lot.
I will say, the "luxury" advertised? Temper your expectations. It's charming, yes. Rustic, perhaps. But think "cozy beach shack" rather than "Dubai penthouse." I mean, one time, I swear I saw a gecko eyeing my breakfast. He was judging my choice of guava juice, I think.
Beach access... is it, like, a short stroll or a mountaineering expedition?
Oh, the beach! My happy place. It's... ridiculously close. As in, you could roll out of bed (if you’re lucky enough to get a room with an ocean view, which you should absolutely fight for) and be face-first in the sand in seconds. Seriously. Seconds. It’s almost *too* easy.
Actually, thinking about it, that ease is probably why I ended up spending approximately 70% of my waking hours there. Sun, sea, sand… rinse, repeat. Don’t judge. You’ll do the same.
Side note: They have these beach chairs. They're comfy. But get there early, because everyone wants one. It's a beach chair Hunger Games situation. I saw one guy get into a full-blown argument over a particularly shady spot. Worth it, though.
The food! Tell me *everything*! Is it, you know, edible?
Okay, the food... this is where things get... interesting. The breakfast? Included. Basic. Good for soaking up caipirinhas from the night before, which is basically the whole point.
They had these little pastries... some were amazing, some were… I'm being polite, let’s say. The coffee? I'm a coffee snob, and it wasn't *great*, but it did the trick (see above: caipirinhas). The fruit was fresh, though! Always a win.
Dinner? There's a restaurant nearby, or you can venture out. Honestly, some of the best food I found was from a little hole-in-the-wall place a short walk away. Seriously, don't be afraid to explore! This is where the real food adventures lie. One night, I had this shrimp dish... OMG. I’m still dreaming about it. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but it was *damn* good.
I heard something about "rooms with a view?" Should I beg for one? Threaten to leave a bad review?
BEG. PLEAD. Offer your firstborn (kidding… mostly). A room with a view is EVERYTHING. Seriously. I had a room with a view (after a minor negotiation with the front desk involving puppy-dog eyes and a heartfelt plea about my mental health) and… whoa. Waking up to that ocean… it's soul-cleansing.
Without it? Well, you're still in Florianopolis, so it's not the end of the world. But you'll be jealous. Constantly. You'll hear the waves. You'll *feel* the sun, even if you can't see it. Trust me: get the view. It's the difference between a good vacation and a *life-altering* vacation.
And yes, I might have shed a tear or two when I had to leave. Don't judge me.
What's the Wi-Fi situation? Because, you know, social media addiction...
Ugh, Wi-Fi. It's… there. Sometimes. It's like a mischievous house cat. It shows up when it feels like it, and when it does, it might be unreliable, or just disappear completely, leaving you in an existential crisis.
So, download your Netflix shows beforehand, maybe invest in a Brazilian SIM card, and embrace the digital detox. Honestly? It's liberating. You'll actually talk to people. You might even read a book (I did! Shocking, I know).
But yeah, don't expect lightning-fast speeds. Unless the stars align, and the Wi-Fi gods are smiling upon you. Then, go wild. But also, prepare for disappointment.
Are there any… *ahem*… inconveniences I should know about?
Ah, the "inconveniences." Let's call them "charming quirks." The shower pressure, as I mentioned, is a bit... temperamental. Prepare for occasional cold spells. The air conditioning might decide to take a nap at the most inopportune moments. And, yes, there are bugs. They're part of the tropical experience, apparently. Embrace them, or bring a flamethrower (kidding... mostly).
Also, the walls? Thin. VERY thin. You'll get to know your neighbors' nocturnal habits intimately. Pack earplugs. Trust me, you’ll thank me. Or you won’t, and you'll be grumpy, which is also fine.
But honestly? These "inconveniences" just add to the character. They're part of the Vila Mar charm. They make you laugh, even when you're annoyed. And you *will* be annoyed sometimes. But you'll also be staring at the ocean and thinking, "Okay, maybe it's worth it." It usually is.
Anything *really* memorable happen? Come on, spill the tea!
Okay, buckle up. This is a story. A story of love, loss, and… a rogue beach umbrella.
So, picture this: Day three. I'm on the beach, basking in the golden sun, sipping a caipirinha (obviously). Life is good. *Too* good. I’m starting to suspect this is all a dream, and I’m about to wake up in my freezing apartment. Then, Disaster strikes.
This GIANT beach umbrella, the kind that looks like it belongs on a luxurious yacht, decides it no longer wants to stay in its designated spot. It gets up, and starts... *Hotels With Kitchen Near Me
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