Ferradura Resort

Situated on pretty palm-dotted grounds, Ferradura is a charming resort comprising multiple low-rise terra-cotta-hued buildings. It's an inviting place with a welcoming, relaxed vibe and the interiors mirror this atmosphere. Lots of large colorful art hangs on the walls throughout the common areas, while furnishings are a mix of wood and wicker. The lobby, for example, has wicker sofas and armchairs with floral-patterned cushions and flowers in vases dotted about the space. In the main restaurant, white wicker creates bright and airy feeling, as do large windows that look out over the grounds. Most guests here are vacationing families, but the resort also does a good job catering to business travelers with conference facilities and other features. 

This resort is situated a five-minute walk from the picturesque Ferradura Beach, in an area with several other hotels and a few beach bars. The charming cobblestoned center of Buzios, with many more dining and shopping options, is a five-minute drive from the hotel or around a 20-minute walk. The village was made world famous by the French actress Brigitte Bardot, who visited Buzios in the 1960s. After that, tourism started to boom here, and there's a statue of Bardot around an eight-minute drive from the hotel. Other popular attractions in the area include Joao Fernandes Beach (about a 10-minute drive), while the closest large city is Cabo Frio, which also has beautiful beaches and some good diving, takes about a 45-minutes to reach. Cabo Frio International Airport is about an hour's drive away, while the Rio airport takes about two and a half to three hours to reach by car.

Rooms here are spacious and air-conditioned and most have furnished balconies, but the decor and furnishings look dated. Tiled floors and cream-colored walls are paired with simple wooden furniture, including writing desks and headboards with built-in nightstands. Room categories start with entry-level Standard Rooms and go clear up to snazzier Luxury, Super Luxury, VIP, and Ferradura Suites. Standard amenities across categories include flat-screen TVs, minibars, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Some higher-category rooms add whirlpool tubs. Bathrooms are a small and many are in need of an update; some have colorful ceramic tiling while others feature a more contemporary cream-and-beige palette with granite countertops. Hairdryers and individual toiletries are provided.

The resort offers a solid array of features, including six outdoor pools and three hot tubs. All of the pools are attractive, skirted with palm trees and greenery and surrounded by lounge chairs, and some have in-water lounge chairs. There's also a spacious gym with plenty of modern cardio and strength-training machines, plus a steam room and a spa that offers a variety of treatments.One restaurant serves buffet breakfasts and a la carte lunches and dinners, plus room service from early in the morning until late in the evening. Full- and half-board packages are also available. There's a poolside bar and a second bar that doubles as the game room, equipped with a pool table, foosball, and tables for card games.Families are well catered to, and there's a kids' room stocked with toys and games, including slides, a swing set, and ball pit, along with plenty of children's activities. The resort also offers a special kitchen for parents to prepare baby meals that's open 24/7. Business travelers and groups seeking event space are also welcome here, with lots of conference space as well as five smaller meetings rooms that can host functions for up to 500 people. A business center is equipped with several computers and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property..