Rio Buzios Beach Hotel

The Rio Buzios Beach Hotel offers a relaxing environment close to João Fernandes Beach. The pool and the deck area look inviting and are set with sun beds, tropical plants, a small waterfall, romantic canopied beds, and tropical views over the nearby beach. Cacti and succulents planted into the hill in front of the hotel look chic, as does the mostly white lobby with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and rattan furniture. The hotel -- with a cozy family vibe -- offers plenty of activities for kids of all ages, and their parents. 

The Rio Buzios Beach Hotel has a convenient location 200 meters from the picturesque João Fernandes beach. The beach offers -- in addition to swimming and relaxing -- water sports activities, like snorkeling, scuba-diving, windsurfing, or stand-up paddle boarding. The beach is normally calm, and offers a good place for younger kids to enjoy the sea.The immediate neighborhood offers decent restaurants, beach bars, and tourist shops. Downtown Búzios is about a 10- to 15-minute walk away. It features decent dining options, like Brazilian grills, seafood and ethnic restaurants, and fast-food outlets. Rua das Pedras is the heart of the city. It gets busy on summer weekend nights because it offers a high concentration of bars, cafes, and small boutiques selling locally made bikinis and beach wear. The most photographed spot in Búzios is the statue of the famous French actress, Brigitte Bardot. The statue was designed by a local sculptor, Christina Motta. Bardot -- together with her Brazilian boyfriend -- visited Búzios in the 1960s and made this sleeping fishing village famous to the rest of the world. Today Búzios is considered among the top three resort towns in South America. In front of the Bardot statue -- along the Orla Bardot boulevard -- are some of the funkiest nightclubs in Búzios. They open at midnight and fun continues until the wee hours of the morning.

The Rio Buzios Beach Hotel offers 70 spacious and comfortable rooms in four categories: Standard, Standard with a Sea View, Deluxe, and Deluxe with a Sea View. All rooms have balconies furnished with a table and two chairs. Frontal and partial, but distant, sea views are available.The Standard Rooms feature beige color, ceramic tiled floors, and bamboo furniture. White bedding looks fresh and an ocean-inspired painting hangs above the bed. The rooms (particularly the cabinets and the furniture) feel dated with noticeable wear and tear. All rooms have air-conditioning, safes, minibars, and 32-inch flat-screen TVs. Bathrooms are clean, but small, and feature white ceramic tiled floors and walls. They come with hairdryers and basic toiletries. There is a separate wash basin area located near the hallway.

The Rio Buzios Beach Hotel offers Carioca Restaurant, which serves a free breakfast buffet with fresh fruits, juices, different types of bread, cakes, eggs, and sausages; omelets are made-to-order. The hotel offers half and full board meal plans. A la carte meals -- featuring a Brazilian menu -- are available for lunch and dinner, and room-service functions from mid-day to late evening.Outside, there's an inviting pool area and a deck with some romantic canopied beds decorated with white curtains. A shallower part of the pool is separated for kids. Adjacent is a steam room and shower area. The fitness center offers modern cardio equipment, but some of the weights look rusted.The hotel offers a game room for older kids and adults, and a cute children's play area. Adjacent is a nursing room for mothers wishing to heat baby food or change diapers.An on-site meeting room can host functions of up to 100 guests. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. The front desk staff -- as is a common practice in Brazil -- carries out the concierge duties. They sell tickets to city and boat tours, and can help organize airport transfers or car rentals. The hotel provides free, but limited parking along the street. This is a major bonus, as João Fernandes beach area gets crowded during the summer season, and finding a parking place can be frustrating. The hotel offers laundry service and free beach towels. Chairs and sun umbrellas are available for a fee.