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— Galen: “We passed through Trancoso and stopped to have a drink. Ten days later, I had bought a summer retreat here on the beach at Trancoso. And I never looked back.”
Interview By: Welcome Beyond
— How does an American end up in Brazil running a pousada?
Galen: “You know, it was quite by accident. I had met a Brazilian woman in the U.S. when I lived in Memphis and she said one day, ‘Let’s escape and go to Brazil for a vacation.’ She had heard of Porto Seguro but had not been there.
So we went to Porto Seguro and three or four days after we had arrived, we decided to drive down the coast. We passed through Trancoso and stopped to have a drink, had another drink, and decided to spend the night. We got up the next day and said, “Wow! This is a beautiful beach, let’s walk a little bit more.” Ten days later, I had bought a summer retreat here on the beach at Trancoso.
My family, when I told them, said ‘Galen, you’re the most structured, predictable person we know in the world. There is zero chance that you would do something this spontaneous, that you would change your life and leave your career. Now, tell us the truth.’ I still don’t think they believe I am here. That was in 2001.”
So we went to Porto Seguro and three or four days after we had arrived, we decided to drive down the coast. We passed through Trancoso and stopped to have a drink, had another drink, and decided to spend the night. We got up the next day and said, “Wow! This is a beautiful beach, let’s walk a little bit more.” Ten days later, I had bought a summer retreat here on the beach at Trancoso.
My family, when I told them, said ‘Galen, you’re the most structured, predictable person we know in the world. There is zero chance that you would do something this spontaneous, that you would change your life and leave your career. Now, tell us the truth.’ I still don’t think they believe I am here. That was in 2001.”
— Villa Golf at Villas de Tranco
— Have you ever looked back?
Galen: “You know, I never have. I think we sort of all hit a window in our lives where we think, ‘Well, I am never going to do something different, try something different, now is the time.’ It just so happened that I was in a financial situation where I could really try for something different. I had spent my whole life in corporate America and health care so... no, I never looked back.”
— VIP Villa at Villas de Trancos
— And then you immediately started to run it as a pousada?
Galen: “It took me about a year to get all my documents and transition out of my career and job in the States. But immediately when we arrived, we opened up a small villa retreat. It has just grown and expanded from 3 to 5 to 6 villas now. I acquired a couple of adjacent properties and Villas de Trancoso just sort of evolved over time.”
— Bathroom Villa Golf
— Having an American background, what would you describe to be very Brazilian and what very American about the pousada?
Galen: “Villas de Trancoso is certainly very Brazilian in terms of its location on one of the most beautiful and most private beaches in this area of the world. It is really a private villa retreat and not very public. A very high end destination for people who are looking for privacy and a very high level of service, which is something that is difficult to find and achieve in Brazil. We have been about it for nine years now.
This year, if you look at TripAdvisor, we are rated number one and have a five-star rating. We were also selected by Guia Quatro Rodas as one of the top boutique beach hotels in Brazil, but I would say what sets us apart is really the location, service and that emphasis on privacy.”
This year, if you look at TripAdvisor, we are rated number one and have a five-star rating. We were also selected by Guia Quatro Rodas as one of the top boutique beach hotels in Brazil, but I would say what sets us apart is really the location, service and that emphasis on privacy.”
— One Bedroom Villa
— And that would be the essence of Villas de Trancoso — a beautiful place with privacy and very high level of service?
Galen: “Yeah. I think the other thing in addition to the staff and the service we hear about most often is, that we have beautifully manicured gardens at Villas de Trancoso that are quite striking and different than people are accustomed to finding in this part of the world.
We are also located on a quite dramatic beach. I had a lady yesterday who came back from a run on our beach. She was just speechless. She said, ‘I have travelled all over the world and I have never, ever found a beach that is this tranquil and this beautiful and this private.’ We hear that fairly often.”
We are also located on a quite dramatic beach. I had a lady yesterday who came back from a run on our beach. She was just speechless. She said, ‘I have travelled all over the world and I have never, ever found a beach that is this tranquil and this beautiful and this private.’ We hear that fairly often.”
— Two Bedroom Villa
— How would you describe the style of the villas?
Galen: “Each is really unique and different. Several of them have thatched roofs. Actually, three have thatched roofs and three have a wood-shingled roof. All but one are constructed from Tatajuba, which is a very hard wood. It is really difficult to find now in Brazil, but ten years ago it was fairly common.
We call our style at Villas de Trancoso elegant simplicity. All the rooms have beds draped in white musquitero. We really try to go for nice, high end appointments, rugs, and what-not. They are all different. They are all unique.”
We call our style at Villas de Trancoso elegant simplicity. All the rooms have beds draped in white musquitero. We really try to go for nice, high end appointments, rugs, and what-not. They are all different. They are all unique.”
—
Galen's favourites:
Villas de Trancoso
Transportation
Eat & Drink
Activities
SightsInterview By: Welcome Beyond
— Please tell us about the facilities at Villas de Trancoso.
Galen: “In the middle of our grounds, the middle of the gardens, we have a cabana restaurant with two levels. The second level is sort of an entertainment and business centre that has a computer connection and a flat-screen LCD. People can come up there and select games, DVDs or movies.
Downstairs is the restaurant, which is surrounded by a white marble swimming pool that has a sunken bar. So you can actually sit in the pool and have lunch, or you can step inside the restaurant. You can also be served on the beach, depending on your preference. At night, we are open for dinner as well. All of our gardens have landscape lighting that has been done by probably one of the top lighting architects in Brazil. He is even staying with us right now, making some more changes to our lighting.”
Downstairs is the restaurant, which is surrounded by a white marble swimming pool that has a sunken bar. So you can actually sit in the pool and have lunch, or you can step inside the restaurant. You can also be served on the beach, depending on your preference. At night, we are open for dinner as well. All of our gardens have landscape lighting that has been done by probably one of the top lighting architects in Brazil. He is even staying with us right now, making some more changes to our lighting.”
— Villas de Trancoso gardena
— Is there a special place that you go to or something that you do when you come back from travel?
Galen: “I am a golfer. The golf course that one of the villas sits on was called one of the eight pebble beaches in the world by Golf Digest. It is one of the top golf courses in Latin America. It is really a dramatic course.
But I think the thing that draws people here is the village of Trancoso. There is another village very nearby too, called Arraial d’Ajuda. They are two of the most magical villages in Brazil. They are filled with small shops, lots of colours and lights, and good restaurants. They come alive at night and attract a lot of people.”
But I think the thing that draws people here is the village of Trancoso. There is another village very nearby too, called Arraial d’Ajuda. They are two of the most magical villages in Brazil. They are filled with small shops, lots of colours and lights, and good restaurants. They come alive at night and attract a lot of people.”
— Golf course
— What is the special atmosphere of Trancoso?
Galen: “It is very laid back. The main area that draws visitors is the square or Quadrado. It has a church sitting at the end, and shops surrounding the square. The façade of the Quadrado has been protected for 500 years. You are not allowed to change it, so it sort of kept its same form. The only difference is, when you walk through a door now, you may step into a very high end designer shop, but you can still find horses wandering in the square.
A lot of restaurants have tables out in the square with candlelight. It is a very magical place. There is usually some music going on and in the summertime, there are lots of things happening.”
A lot of restaurants have tables out in the square with candlelight. It is a very magical place. There is usually some music going on and in the summertime, there are lots of things happening.”
—
— What would be your one recommendation to see or do around Trancoso?
Galen: “It kind of has to be tailored to the couple or the family, and what they are looking for. A lot of our guests enjoy horseback riding on the beach. There is kayaking down the Trancoso River, which is a very popular activity. There is a world class golf course on our doorstep. Then there are a lot of beach excursions. Espelho Beach is a quite well known destination in Brazil — a little private, a little difficult to access, but within an hour and a half of here. So there are lots of places to explore and find even more privacy in the area.”
— Beach
— When is the best time to come to Villas de Trancoso for a visit?
Galen: “Boy, you would have a raging debate I think, to ever figure that out. My favourite time is wintertime – June, July, August. We get a little bit more rain, but the temperatures are milder and I can play golf all day long. For Brazilians, of course, our most popular season is December/January. But I think for Americans and Europeans, February, March, April and October, November, December are great months — sort of straddling winter and summer.
But there isn’t really a bad time to come to Villas de Trancoso. The weather is beautiful year round. You can be on the beach and you can swim in the ocean year round.”
But there isn’t really a bad time to come to Villas de Trancoso. The weather is beautiful year round. You can be on the beach and you can swim in the ocean year round.”
— Villas de Trancoso veranda
— Looking back, what is the best thing about your life today?
Galen: “Probably just the opportunity to meet so many people from every walk of life and every country in the world. It has just been an amazing experience to get to meet so many people, so many nationalities, so many cultures. Our market isn’t just Brazil. I would say over half our market is the rest of the world. We see a pretty steady stream of people from throughout Europe, the U.S., Canada, Australia — and now we are starting to see some adventurers from even farther afield. It has really been a great experience for me. I get to meet somebody new every day.”
—
— Thank you, Galen!
Prices are an indication only. The final quote will be the same low price as booking your vacation directly.
There are no fees to book. Please check directly with the owner for special arrangements or information not listed here.
Service
Catered
Accommodation type
Boutique hotel
Location
Beach / Coast
Special requirements
Children welcome
No pets allowed
Not suitable for wheelchairs
No smoking, please
Transport
Car not required
Private parking
No public transport
Prices are an indication only. The final quote will be the same low price as booking your vacation directly.
There are no fees to book. Please check directly with the owner for special arrangements or information not listed here.
Bedrooms
0 Single bedroom
1 Double bedroom
0 Twin bedroom
0 Room w. multiple beds
Additional:
0 Sofabed
1 Extra bed (on request)
0 Air mattress (on req.)
1 Baby cot/crib (on req.)
Bath/shower rooms
0 Bathroom (ensuite)
0 Bathroom (shared)
1 Shower room (ensuite)
0 Shower room (shared)
0 Toilet (ensuite)
Additional:
0 Toilet (shared)
Other rooms
-
0 Kitchen
0 Kitchenette
0 Cooking area
0 Living room
0 Dining room
0 Other rooms
Prices for 2 sharingperson
Lowest price
Highest price
Low season per night
R$ 705
R$ 830
High season per night
R$ 986
R$ 1160
Extra person per night
R$ 280
R$ 280
Size: 60 square meters. 2 units available.
Our two villas with one bedroom are spacious and beautifully appointed and include romantic lighting, verandas with hammocks and comfortable chairs, beds draped in white mosquitero netting, and master bathrooms with rainforest showers and exquisite Brazilian woods. Both villas are set amongst our beautiful gardens and are a very popular choice for honeymoon couple. Rates include full buffet breakfast and daily housekeeping. Rates plus 15% (service and city tax). Discounts for longer stays available. Special rates for Christmas, New Years, Carnival, Easter and January.
The 15 Best Places to See Right Now — Trancoso, Brazil
With money in their pockets, Brazilians are eager to see more of their expansive country, and the tourism infrastructure is growing to keep pace. The beachside village of Trancoso, in the northeast state of Bahia, is a prime example. For years, Trancoso has been an enclave for Brazilian trendsetters (Gisele, for one), many of whom have homes here or stay in one of the tiny design-driven hotels, such as the Villas de Trancoso, just steps from the sand.
— Condé Nast Traveler (US)Condé Nast Traveler (US), April 2011
Where to stay in Latin America
This tranquil retreat, close to the hip, historic village of Trancoso, is set in tropical gardens that open onto a private beach. US owner Galen Briggs keeps things small and intimate: there are just five one- and two-bedroom guest villas, all built from Brazilian woods. Private verandahs have hammocks for the siesta hour; and the secluded beach area, dotted with shaded palms, has a well-stocked bar and a little wooden gym. Bahian chefs prepare exquisite moqueca (fish-and-seafood stew in coconut sauce) and lobster. Groups of friends or large families can book the entire resort, which is proving a draw for VIPs seeking escape; Al Gore and his wife have stayed here. A recent addition is Villa Golf, a four-bedroom house set on a hillside overlooking the 17th green and fairway of the Terravista resort. Swimming and sunbathing are the main activities on Bahia's beaches: Praia dos Nativos and Praia dos Coqueiros are recommended. (...)
— Condé Nast Traveller (UK)Condé Nast Traveller (UK)
Best rates
You pay the same rate as booking with the property directly. There are no booking fees or extra costs to you. That’s guaranteed!
Direct owner contact
Use the ‘Contact’ button on the left to get information about availability and rates from the owner directly — and also receive the link to the property website with further details.
Our helpline
If you need help, call us on +49 163 737 2509 (Mo-Fr, 10am-10pm CET)
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