Hotel Don Quijote

The Don Quijote is marked by a large cream-colored sign topped by a weathered sculpture of a jousting man on horseback -- its namesake literary figure. Past the gravel parking lot, the hotel sits fronted by wrought-iron street lamps and a small decorative fountain. The cream-colored two-story buildings have terri-cotta tiled roofs, white-columned balconies, and preppy-green awnings. A small, cozy lobby has a Palm-Springs-by-way-of-Brazil look. Rustic, reclaimed wood furniture mingles with hanging drum lampshades, turquoise patterned rugs, and a white-glazed parrot figurine. Beyond that, the hotel's garden, centered around a romantic canopied daybed, is landscaped with tropical plants and greenery. Woven loungers and large clay planters decorate the grounds, and shaded walkways connect the rooms, which open onto the garden, motel-style. The light, airy restaurant has a bleached-wood bar, cream-colored walls, and white-tile floors. Pedestal tables and wrought-iron-and-wicker chairs give places to dine. Placemats with tropical flowers add a drop of color.A long standing establishment, Don Quijote has been in operation over 25 years and serves mainly Argentinian and local Brazilian families and couples alike. 

Don Quijote Hotel faces a busy main road, but the location is well situated, with the downtown area about a five-minute walk away and the charming beach town of Praia do Canto reached in 10 minutes by foot. The closest beach is a 10-minute walk away. The hotel is located in the Búzios area. Once a sleepy fishing village, Búzios blew up after a visit by Brigitte Bardot in the 1960s. Today it's become one of the top beach resorts in South America, but it still retains some of its charming, little-village vibe. The cobblestone streets are lined with restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops. The seafood from this region is especially excellent. The Rua das Pedras street, in the heart of the town, gets mobbed with tourists on summer weekend nights. More than 20 beautiful beaches of all different sizes and shapes are scattered around the peninsula. Some beaches, like the Geribá or Tucuns, are perfect for surfing, others, like João Fernandes or Ferradura, are better for swimming. 

Don Quijote's 55 guest rooms come in four categories: Standard, Superior, Deluxe, and Master. In general, the decor is in a neutral color scheme, with white-tile floors, beige or white walls, white bedding, and rustic, locally made wooden furniture. Standard and Superior Rooms feel a bit sparse, with little color aside from a framed beachy print above the bed. They also have a small patio opening onto the hotel's courtyard furnished with white plastic patio furniture. All rooms come with minibars, flat-screen TVs, safes, and air-conditioning, but no Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are basic affairs with toiletries, showers with old dingy tile, and rusty showerheads.Deluxe Rooms in the main building have an apartment-style layout with living-room areas and kitchenettes equipped with microwaves, full-size refrigerators, blenders, toasters, dishes, and utensils. The decor is upgraded here, with plush modern couches, drum-lampshade lights, and red accent walls, placemats, and crockery. High, pitched wood ceilings give an extra elegance to the space. These rooms also offer spacious balconies with wire patio furniture, but views look out over the main road. Bathrooms are a little more spacious in these rooms and have better fixtures like gray-marble topped vanity sinks and walk-in showers. 

The spacious breakfast room serves a free Brazilian-style buffet breakfast with hot and cold dishes including fresh fruits, juices, breads, cold cuts, baked goods, eggs, and sausages. But there's no on-site bar or restaurant to serve lunch or dinner, and no room service.There's a small blue-plastic pool with an adjacent whirlpool on the grounds. It has a few woven loungers for sunbathing. (There are plans to install a second pool by December 2014.) The garden offers some relaxing spots to sunbathe on loungers or the courtyard's canopied daybed. There's also a small playground here for kids.An ample parking lot provides parking at the front of the property, and free Wi-Fi is available in public areas, although oddly not for guests staying in Standard Rooms.