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Anchoring the leafy Praça da Alegria to the south, the cheery Residencial Alegria offers 35 fresh, renovated rooms with sweet dér at a low price.
We first stayed at the Alegria in 2002 and enjoyed the comforts that the charming hotel offered. On our last trip in May 2006, however, we were impressed by the extensive renovations the hotel?s undertaken in our absence.
The Alegria's lobby welcomes you with fresh flowers and attractive, modern décor, polished marble, and understated colors. Rooms are pleasantly dressed in creams and blues, with hardwood floors and attractive wooden desks and chairs. Freshly tiled baths are decently spacious, and the new sinks have room enough to line up your toiletries. Bathtubs are installed in all rooms but three. Soundproofed windows keeps rooms quiet, and air-conditioning keeps 'em cool. Rooms open to either the park or a quiet back street.
The Alegria retains its charm, post-renovation. Maybe it's because so many of its rooms open to the park. Or maybe it's due to its relatively small size. Whatever the reason, we're charmed.
Note: The Praça da Alegria, for all its photogenic tranquility, did seem a tad sketchy at night. We saw a couple undesirables hanging about. They were monitored, however, by the police, who were hanging out in front of their 24-hour station, located just next to the hotel. Fear not.
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