Praia Mole Cabanas — Hotel in Região Geográfica Imediata de Florianópolis

This is probably the most difficult review I have posted as I always want to be fair and honest with my experience and property evaluation for future visitors. ||LOCATION & ATTRACTIONS NEARBY * Location is absolutely perfect for Praia Mole and Praia da Galheta and this was the reason I have chosen this specific location and property. Finding it is another thing… I have booked through booking.com and they call this property ‘Cabanas Praia Mole’ and here we have ‘Praia Mole Hotel’, google maps shows something else… Confusing enough. ||I arrived probably around 9pm there, so it was all dark (later than estimated arrival due to being stuck in a traffic for 3h) and it took me probably another 20 min driving around the property trying to find any place to check-in. ||||HOTEL OVERVIEW * The property itself looks lovely and location is perfect. But that’s all positives I can say. I did not expect any luxurious accommodation as I was not paying for such type. I wanted decent, clean, safe accommodation in a location suitable for me. This would be perfect place for me, but it turned that this was the 1st hotel (out of probably 400 I stayed in my life) which I actually left and booked something else. ||Looking at some photos, it looks that I made a mistake booking the chalet type I received as it desperately needed serious renovation (probably completely rebuild). ||||PURPOSE OF THIS TRIP * Leisure||||RESERVATION * Through booking.com. Reservation accessible on their mobile app. After the booking, I have changed my card details probably 4-5 times as hotel for some reason were unable to charge the deposit (I have checked this several times with my bank and all cards were OK for payments). At the end, they did not manage to charge any of my cards. ||||LENGTH OF MY STAY * 2 nights – Nov ’19 (which in reality turned to be shorten to approx. 3 hours before I left)||||CHECK-IN * As mentioned earlier, it took me long time first to find the property due to not matching names and then driving around the property trying to see any sign of reception. I DID NOT find one. After trying to find anybody around, I was directed (from restaurant) to ‘somewhere there’ and finally to ‘villa 14’ – obvious, isn’t it? ||When I arrived, some lady just connected me on the phone to somebody else who just directed me to my room/chalet, which was just few houses above. Fine, but completely unnecessary and frustrating way to check-in or to guide guests. ||||LOBBY & RECEPTION * I did not find one…||||ROOM * Chalet #12 – located on top of the hill, just on the corner. You have plenty of parking space nearby. I’m still not sure if the road nearby (to the beach on the other side) is a public road or is this part of the property. Not very convincing for safety. Anyway…||A big ‘check-in card with my name, days and wi-fi access’ was Sellotaped to the main door and keys were there as well. OK, fair enough, but how I suppose to know that in advance.||The are and chalets from outside looked actually lovely and very picturesque, bit rustic… And now the fun begun when I entered the house (with an open mind as always and no expectations as I did not pay for luxury). ||It was OLD. It was VERY OLD and DATED. Starting from the door handle and the lock – this was simply partially damaged (as you can see on the pic) and you probably could open those doors with a light kick. The “locking chain” was just covered in rust. OK, fine, it’s economical accommodation, so can handle this… At this stage I decided that I will keep my valuables in the car as this would be more difficult to get into. The door was fixed at some stage and even the paint on it was not matching – detail, but how can you do fixes like this? Even in cheap hostel you don’t do it this way.||The light switch was probably not cleaned in the last 30 years – clearly visible on the photos (even with bad light in the evening). Same as the Not a good start. Same with the ‘energy card locker’ (that thing you need to put your (again sellotyped) key to have energy inside – probably never cleaned. Adding to it questionable paint choice (to make it look ‘rustic’) – it looked like it was simply dirty.||The kitchenette was equipped with many items from different eras and state of them was also questionable. ||The old-style TV (nothing wrong with them as I normally don’t use them), but all cables hanging from behind – looks terrible. And once again I will complain about decoration choice – that wallpaper looks like somebody actually smeared something on this wall. Something brown. Whyyyyyy???||I had an impression that ceiling will collapse at some stage (hoping not during my stay) as it was so out of shape (again, visible on the photos). ||There’s also a sitting area with a table (thank you for two sweets which were probably the nicest part of my ‘stay’) and also balcony. This would be such a nice place to stay and relax. Spacious and with nice views, but the quality was non-existent. ||As I decided to keep my valuables in the car, I had only some of my items unpacked. I was getting anxious about the bugs and entire state of the place… As soon as I decided to go to my (separate) bedroom, the decision was made – I’m leaving even if I had to spend a night in the car. The moment I went to my bedroom, a large cockroach crawled from under it. Yes, I know, this happens. Yes, I know they live in this climate. Yes, this is possible. However, it did not happen in more than 25 other places I stayed before and after during my 4 trips to Brazil. Unfortunately, my fears of this place not being safe materialized (again, photos attached). ||BATHROOM * Hm… Personal taste opinion again – one of the worst-looking bathrooms I have been. Looked far older than the entire chalet – white & dark green bathroom fittings and yellowed shower walls… I’m positive the door to the bathroom was not cleaned for years – again, I could even take a clear picture of it. ||The window was “fixed” by somebody some time ago, but… it doesn’t close. It remains open which of course attracts all creepy-crawlies (which is nothing unusual in this climate). But, if the window was closed, it would stop at least most of them. ||The bathroom sink was covered in white paint dots (I don’t know was it intentional or not), but same as the hairdryer!!!||There were some bars of soap and clean towels provided. ||Shower had yellowed window walls and I was afraid that during shower some of the insects will decide to shower with me (due to permanently opened window). ||Corners on the floor were really carelessly cleaned – is saying “dirty” OK?||||BREAKFAST * I did not have a pleasure to stay that long… ||||INTERNET ACCESS * Complimentary, easy to log-in and connection was stable. Wi-fi password provided at the ‘front door check-in card’.||||CHECK-OUT EXPERIENCE * After meeting my crawly friend (and some smaller insects in the bathroom) I decided to simply leave. I have packed my staff, quickly booked some other hotel few kms away and left with a note in the ‘check-in card’ as I still was not aware of any reception being there… I have sent the message to booking.com (their auto-answer suggesting ‘enjoyable stay with my pet’ wasn’t very amusing after mentioning the cockroach). As there’re unable to charge my various cards (I would still leave even if my booking was non-refundable and fully charged), I was not bothered to chase this. Even if this was not a high price (not the lowest in the area either), I did not feel like doing anything wrong by leaving. I have sent immediately report with photos to the booking.com to communicate with the host the next day. Booking.com offered full refund later, but because no charge was made – no refund was requested. ||||STAFF * Well… I don’t know. I did not meet any members of the staff. ||||OVERVIEW * First (and hopefully last) place where I decided to leave without any delay. Looked lovely from outside, but not offering absolutely any comfort, safety or cleanliness. Maybe renovated chalets (I was happy to pay more if I knew!!!) are better, I will not know that. Standard chalet #12 is a one to AVOID. For me, even if I will be in the area in the future, the entire hotel / cabanas / other names will be a NO GO ZONE. I’m sorry. It was not worth the time, the hassle and the nerves. You can see from my previous reviews, that I can review places objectively and I do think this place deserves 1/5 (some points for great location and that’s all). I think this is fair note and I truly think this place could have been such a nice hotel in a fantastic location. A little bit of work (better work) involved and not even much investment. It will return in one month if done properly because of the location and how it’s placed between the beaches. I could stay this is one of the biggest accommodation disappointments I ever had – what a waste of chances to earn good money for the owners. And what I said before, I did not expect luxury (certainly there wasn’t any) – I only expected decent, basic accommodation. Instead I got what I got… Being very honest (and no, I’m not a spoilt tourist), I do not even feel guilty of not being charged (as I would probably ask for a refund if booking.com didn’t offer voluntary). And it doesn’t matter that it’s cheaper than many hotels in Florpia – I stayed in cheaper hotels and they’re clean and decent. Here, room was probably left cleaner (and not used) than before my arrival. Would I come back there?...

This was the worst hotel ever I ever stayed. I went for a beach holidays to florianopolis and wanted to stay by the Mole beach for easy access and found this hotel but very very disappointed. The rooms are very dirty and very old, the bathroom in my room absolute stunk with mould on the tiles and around the shower and the sink. The bed was awful and not comfortable at all. The cleaners just go and make the beds n clean more or less the bathroom and that it. I took a couple of beach towels from the reception and after the beach I left on the bathroom fir then to pick up the next day but the cleaners never collected then after my 7th day at the hotel they were still there, unbelievable!! The breakfast it's always the same n they never change the options after the second day u get very bored. The receptionist are grumpy and not friendly at all. On my check out day was a nightmare to sort out our bill they didn't know how to calculate it took me ages. The hotel do not have laundry services , the send it to the local laundry and u get it 2 days after. There's no wifi on the rooms only at the reception and even that so slow. The facilities are very bad, I was the one who's choose the hotel for me and my partner and for my friends but got do embarrassed never again I a really really don't recommend it at all. For the price they charge for a room it's not worth at all it's a dump place very old and they haven't done any refurbishment for years and years. The only thing is the location but it's better to rent a car and find a better place at the Lagoa da conceicao and it will be much cheaper. |I really don't recommend this place don't go otherwise you will waste...

The Hotel is front one of the best Beaches in Florianpolis. Maybe some years ago this structure was excellent because is builded like a med club. Some Rooms front beach (or better street and beach), some in an main building, some chalet on the hill. You can cross the Hotel to go to the lagoa side for made some Sup or Kayak. But the other side seems abandoned. Nightime the intere area is very dark. Not external light at all. Normally big struture have a nice look lighting nightime. Here is dark. The rooms are old, with a lot of maintenance problems. Despite the site promise an free wifi ... yes ... is free in the reception and in a caffe bar. In room no wifi. If you stay in this Hotel you need a car to go to the lagoa center for dinner etc. In the area simply you will not find any restaurant. The hotel has a Sushi resturant but you cannot eat sushi for all your stay!. Second issue is the street. During the weekends specially you have an constant traffic jam from 4pm to 9pm! Means for going to the Lagoa (4km) you need 40 minutes! Walking is not a option. Dark, Hill crossing, no sidewalk ... dangerous. The structure despite surfers etc. is more family oriented with little children. Really the place has an huge potential because big an in an good location but is an mystery because is in this state! To finish,...