The beach on Boipeba Island, Bahia, Brazil,
where it all started...
The Hidden Pousadas Brazil project originally evolved out of three things: a need, an interest and a passion.
A need to de-stress where nobody could find me, an interest in developing my knowledge of Brazil in terms of history, culture, cuisine and music, and a passion for travelling and discovering interesting places off the beaten track.
The need to de-stress has long since ceased to be necessary; Pousada Santa Clara in Boipeba, with its deserted beaches, gourmet cuisine and stimulating company put paid to that in just one day. But the interest in all things Brazilian remains, along with the passion for travelling off the package tour route.
Pousada literally means 'place to stay' and there are thousands of them all over Brazil, ranging from the very simple to the extremely sophisticated, luxurious and expensive. More difficult is to know which ones are the nicest when there are so many to choose from. Initially following the recommendations of friends, we started the project looking at mid-range pousadas in terms of cost, using the key criteria of comfort, quality, personal service, charm, and value for money.
What Hidden Pousadas Brazil now offers are two invaluable resources for independent travellers to Brazil:
Alison is a writer, marketing specialist, and travel interpreter, with a particular interest in Brazilian history, culture and music. Responsible for researching and personally reviewing every pousada, she is the guiding force behind the guide, and the person to talk to for any advice on where and
when to go.
Fola is a PR and communications expert based in London, with a shared passion for Brazil, culture, dance, travel writing and all things uniquely beautiful. She is responsible for communication of all Hidden Pousadas Brazil news and activities to Grupo Hidden pousadas in the special collection and for spreading the word about all the wonderful places to stay on offer to travellers to Brazil.
Rosane is the power behind the throne- the person who ensures the office runs smoothly and manages all Alison's travel plans and visits to pousadas in the Grupo Hidden. Fluent in English Spanish and Portuguese with a background in PR from PUC-Rio de Janeiro, Rosane brings efficiency, professionalism and an everpresent easygoing good humour to the Hidden Pousadas team.
Angela is a photographer and specialist in the market for individual travel. Based in Spain she shares a passion and enthusiasm for Brazil and has been involved in the project since the beginning. She has joined Alison on many of her expeditions using her life long knowledge of the travel business to make valuable contributions to the Hidden Pousadas Brazil experience.
PODER Marketing for Brazil's Pousada Accommodation
At Hidden Pousadas Brazil we believe profoundly that the future lies not only in Brazil as an extraordinarily diverse and attractive destination, but also in sharing and partnerships. As part of this we work closely as a team, not only sharing our knowledge and appreciation of beautiful places to stay with the international traveller, but also partnering with likeminded agencies and individuals working with Brazil, and particularly the special Grupo Hidden pousadas themselves, to promote a more authentic Brazil alongside the better known clichês of sun, football, carnival and samba.
