Asalem

Ilha Grande is a tropical paradise. It’s beautiful. The weather is great. The water is warm, and so are the people. Asalem has the best location on it for balancing privacy with easy access to town. Asalem’s deck is a wonderful place to have dinner and the food is excellent. The friendly staff was wonderful. So I can’t give this hotel less than 3 stars. But if you are used to North American or European 2 star hotels or better, you should look at other options. And that’s crazy because for a little effort, the owner could make this place amazing. The towels in the room smelled. The beach towels were covered in dirt. The bed spread was dusty. When I moved in the bed at night, dust particles would set me off coughing. The pillows were terrible. The room was filled with ants. Maybe that is hard to stop here, but I didn’t get the impression they were trying real hard. They were doing noisy construction throughout the day, something they never mentioned nor apologized for. There was an old wooden canoe which I used for a great paddle around the bay. A couple of paddleboards or sit on top kayaks (like most other nice hotels on the water have) would provide something you could stop and swim off of, or kids could play on in front of the hotel. Again, the location and staff are wonderful. That's why I titled this lost opportunity. We lost the opportunity to enjoy Ilha Grande even more. But it’s really a lost opportunity for the owner, who for a small investment in some towels and pillows, and hiring one really good cleaning person, could be running the best hotel on the island.

I will make this review brief. I cried a little when it was time to leave. Have you ever watched Gilligan's Island? It's kind of like that. Yes, it is rustic. Yes, you are in (a VERY remote part of) a developing country, so have a little patience with silly things like hot water or wi-fi. You really don't need either of those things here. And keep in mind, getting supplies in for building and repairs is not easy, nor cheap. The drinks and the food and the FRUIT are amazing. The staff are like family and the most beautiful people you will ever encounter. Suffice it to say, we will return ASAP!

This hotel is a little piece of heaven! The staff was so friendly and kind. I encourage you to eat at least one dinner there, it's homestyle cooked food. I highly recommend staying here if you are looking for a romantic getaway. Easy commute to and from village via boat provided by Asalem. I hope to make it back!