Pousada Santorini

The Pousada Santorini offers a picture-perfect setting for a relaxing Búzios beach holiday. As the Pousada is quite small, it feels cozy. Most importantly, the owners personally attend to guests' needs, which is greatly appreciated and why many here are repeat visitors. The pousada has a beautiful tropical garden with both flowering and fruit trees. The swimming pool and accompanying sun deck area are both of good size, and they offer phenomenal views over the idyllic Búzios town, the bay, and the turquoise ocean. Though it's a laid-back, mid-range property, the pousada charming, decorated with local and Caribbean paintings, as well some typical Búzios-style romantic and tropical artworks. The spacious rooms feature colorful textiles and stylish pillows -- although bathrooms show some wear and tear.

The Pousada Santorini offers one of the best views in Búzios overlooking the city, the islands, and the glittering sea. The closest beach is the charming João Fernandes, which is a short walk downhill (and a steep climb back). The beach is among the most idyllic of the more than 20 Búzios beaches; it features good swimming and snorkeling conditions, and is also a great spot to just enjoy a cold beer or caipirinha at the beach bar.

The idyllic Búzios town -- made famous by Brigitte Bardot in 1960s -- is just a 15-minute walk away. The town, which is a popular docking place for luxury cruise ships (particularly between December and March), is filled with charming narrow streets, boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. The most famous street is Rua das Pedras (Rock street). It offers a great dining scene and several bars with sea views.

The distance to Rio de Janeiro is some two-and-a-half hours by car. Air-conditioned buses connect Rio and Búzios, and during high season buses run almost every hour. The nearby city of Cabo Frio also has an airport, but it caters mainly to domestic flights and some charter flights to Argentina and Chile during the peak summer months (January through March).

The Pousada Santorini offers nine suites that all come with spacious balconies. Eight suites are about the same size, while the Master Suite offers more space, including a walk-in closet and  huge terrace. The suites have a tropical feel and decor, and offer air-conditioning (and ceiling fans), minibars, and LCD TVs. The floors have ceramic tiles and the walls simply painted white. The bathrooms (most on the smaller side) have white ceramic tiles and granite counter tops, and some could use a few updates. They come with hairdryers and toiletries. The balconies -- the most attractive features of the rooms -- are each furnished with a table, two chairs, and a hammock (stored in the room closet).

The pousada serves a hot buffet breakfast, which consists of fresh tropical fruits, juices, baked bread, eggs, and sausage. Guests may also enjoy a lunch (or early dinner) at the cafe, with pastas, salads, and sandwiches on the menu. The pool area has sun beds and umbrellas, and an adjacent steam room with a shower. For beach-goers, free towels are available at the reception.

The small front desk offers a computer that guests may freely use, if needed, and free Wi-Fi is available throughout. The staff is helpful and knowledgeable, and sells tours, such as visits to nearby Cabo Frio city. Boat tours (for island-hopping) and two-hour Búzios city tours are also available. The staff can also arrange massages or manicures on-site. Laundry service is available and free parking is conveniently in front of the hotel.

The Pousada can assist and book transfers to the international airport of Rio de Janeiro (Galeão). Normally it can be reached in two-and-a-half to three hours, but occasional traffic jams, particularly on weekends and long holidays, may cause considerable delays. The traffic in Búzios city itself can also get pretty congested during the New Year and Carnival period, as the main road running through the peninsula is very narrow.