Costa Do Sol Boutique Hotel

The romantic Costa do Sol Boutique Hotel feels like a tropical hideaway thanks to its location in the upper Brava hills. Clients are a mix of local Brazilians and foreigners, and it attracts couples and families alike. The public areas feature stylish rattan sofas and armchairs and cushions with floral prints, while fresh flowers, plants, ceramic pots, and vases add to the elegant look. 

The Costa do Sol Boutique Hotel is located in the exclusive Brava area. The views are breathtaking and the area feels safe and quiet, but it's removed from downtown Buzios and the immediate neighborhood offers limited dining or shopping options, so guests will need to rent a car or plan to rely on taxis. The hotel offers occasional free transportation to the downtown areas and to beaches, including the nearby Praia Brava, a five- to 10-minute drive away. The beach has calm waters that are good for swimming and a long stretch of white sand flanked by casual beach bars. Central Buzios is an idyllic old fishing village turned into a vibrant beach resort with narrow cobblestone streets, old churches, and several good dining options. The most popular area is Rua das Pedras (Stone Street), which can get busy with tourists and cruise ship passengers, particularly during the summer high season. Buzios is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Rio, but during weekends and peak seasons the road can get congested. Buses run every one to two hours. The closest large city in the area is Cabo Frio, which can be reached in 30 minutes by road. It has a domestic airport, and during busy summer months it receives charter flights from Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile.

The Costa do Sol Boutique Hotel offers a range of rooms, from spartan Standards, to fancier Deluxe and Superior Deluxe Rooms and all the way up to luxurious Personalite Suites. Most rooms feature ceramic-tile floors and plain white walls contrasted by eye-catching table lamps and paintings.  All rooms have air-conditioning, minibars, and safes and are equipped with 24- or 32-inch flat-screen TVs (TVs in suites are even larger) Wi-Fi is free both in rooms and in public areas.  All rooms -- except Standards -- come with furnished balconies. Small bathrooms feature shiny ceramic tiles and granite counter tops and come with basic toiletries and hairdryers.

The hotel's lobby-level Terraco restaurant serves a hot buffet breakfast -- included in the room rate -- and Brazilian-inspired a la carte meals for lunch and dinner. The adjacent lobby bar serves tropical drinks, fruit juices, and snacks. Room service is available from morning until late evening. The spacious main pool area has comfortable lounge chairs and an adjacent pool bar. Downstairs is a cozy relaxation area with a modern steam room. Raisa Spa offers a variety of treatments including Shiatsu and Thai massage. There's also a well-equipped fitness center on-site as well as a function room that's popular for staging weddings and has spectacular views over Buzios and the Atlantic Ocean. Boat tours and snorkeling and diving trips can be arranged through the front desk, as can airport transfers. Laundry service is available and the hotel provides free and secure parking.