How We Found Out Bombinhas’ Unique Definition of “Essentials”

It’s a blue house without a number in a very narrow alley full of colourful houses without numbers. There’s an orange and blue bodyboard resting on the balcony upstairs, laundry drying on a rack, and three pairs of Havaianas at the front door.

This is where we’re staying.

It’s a weird Airbnb.

I wasn’t expecting much from the place we booked in Bombinhas. “It’s gonna be a beach house,” Feng said. I knew exactly what he meant. By “beach house,” we don’t mean a luxurious feet-in-the-sand villa but a roof over our head with basic amenities because Bombinhas is the exact opposite of Balneário Camboriú—we’re not even staying in Bombinhas but in Canto Grande, it’s the end of the road, no giant towers around here.

Mind you, this is why we’re coming to Bombinhas. Besides, we’re not as picky about accommodation in beach towns because we spend so little time inside—a clean apartment with a shower, a kitchen and beds is enough.

Bombinhas is on a peninsula only 10 kilometres east of Pôrto Belo. We checked out at 11 a.m. confident that it would take us at least two hours to get there on the very jammed BR-101. In fact, we got there remarkably quickly and we were able to check in at noon. It was obviously our lucky day.

And then, things got confusing. Finding the house, for a start. Then figuring out who the host was. A guy gave us the key and told us we could park pretty much anywhere, then he left.

“Qualquer coisa é só chama!”

If we need anything, just call me. Awesome. Except I didn’t have his WhatsApp and obviously, he wasn’t the woman I talked to on Airbnb.

We took a quick look inside the apartment.

“Wait… we don’t have any bed sheets.”

“Or pillows.”

We opened the dresser. No pillow, no sheet.

“And no towels either.”

“Let me message the host…”

Are you fucking kidding me? No included?

Feng and I checked the listing on Airbnb. It didn’t say anywhere that bedding and towels weren’t included. However, under “amenities,” “essentials” was listed as “not included.”

“But ‘no essentials’ usually means ‘no soap and shampoo provided!’”

“Even fucking hostels provide pillows!”

“How do you even define ‘essentials’? Like, are beds essential? Where do you draw the line?”

We travel with toilet paper (years of staying in hostels…), a top sheet (or sleeping bag if we go somewhere cold), a backup towel, and more. I even have laundry detergent, a sponge, gloves and clothespins. However, we don’t pack fucking pillows.

“Didn’t you have an inflatable pillow at one point?”

“Didn’t take it for this trip…”

We were still trying to think what we could use as a pillow when we went out to get some water and see what the town looked like.

“Eh, look! I’m guessing many places don’t provide ‘essentials’!”

As unlikely as it seemed in a town of this size, there was a bedding store at the corner of the street.

“Three pillows for 99 reais.”

“Do you think it’s a trap? Like, the Airbnb hosts also own this store? They’re sure to make money!”

We bought three pillows and hauled them back in a giant plastic bag. Problem solved. And yes, we travel with pillowcases… We paid $27 for the three pillows, so $2.5 each per night for a good sleep. Not a bad deal, even though pillows should be included when you book a place to sleep. I’m petty, I’m not leaving them the pillows. We can take them back to Floripa and give them to homeless people.

Meanwhile, we had to wash our bed sheets, we used them in Pôrto Belo.

We later discovered the shower was crappy—zero pressure, a trickle of water.

That, plus every plug gives you a shock. As for the kitchen… let’s just say making dinner—I bought fresh fish—was a lot of work.

And on the first night, after making dinner, I still had to work so I put the food in the fridge for my late-night dinner.

“Can you help me plug the microwave for later?”

We plugged it in. We got a shock, of course. And then we realized it wasn’t working.

“No way! What’s the fuck is wrong with this place?”

The oven was completely burned inside, so not an option either. I ended up warming up my food in a pot, on the stove.

I swear, the beach is worth it…

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