Hotel Transamerica Sao Paulo

The Transamerica has a resort feel and is set on an expansive, well-landscaped property with gardens and a golf course. The vibe is peaceful and the property feels secluded from the city, despite its location on a busy avenue. A large, bubbling water fountain sits in front of the resort's entrance. The high-ceilinged lobby is large and light-filled, with a colorful and contemporary look. Abstract art hangs on the walls and a silver sofa is placed in front of a wooden coffee table with a puzzle piece geometric top. Guests are a mix of conference attendees and leisure travelers willing to sacrifice a prime location for resort-like facilities.

The property is located a five-minute walk from the Transamerica Expo Center in the Santa Amaro section of Sao Paulo. The hotel is on the busy Avenida das Nacoes Unidas and looks out over the Pinheiros River. The area doesn't have much within walking distance, although the adjacent Alpha Theater is a good venue for plays, concerts, and dance performance. The Morumbi football stadium is a 15-minute drive north of the hotel and the city center takes 25 minutes without traffic. Sao Paulo International Airport is a 45-minute drive northeast of the hotel.

The 396 rooms at the Hotel Transamerica are divided between two eight-floor towers that are connected by an overpass. Rooms and suites are spacious and have a contemporary feel, with a largely neutral color palette of beige, white, and brown. Some rooms have dashes of color in the bed throws and furnishings. Flooring is hardwood, carpet, or vinyl. Beds have thick mattresses, but plastic liners under the sheets may be uncomfortable for some guests. All rooms have safes, minibars, free Wi-Fi, and large flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, but no coffeemakers. Some bathrooms have only showers; others also have separate tubs (some jetted) as well as bathrobes and slippers. Most suites have separate dining areas and living rooms (some with sofa beds). There's a quieter private VIP floor with its own lounge, an in-room breakfast option, and meeting rooms. 

The Hotel Transamerica houses an impressive array of recreational facilities, especially for a city hotel next to a conference center. A large freeform pool is set outdoors next to an attractively landscaped sun deck with lounge chairs and tables. There's also an adjacent kids' pool. Outdoor recreation facilities include two lighted cement tennis courts, an artificial turf soccer field (use for a fee), and a 200-meter jogging and walking track that winds through the lush property. For golfers, there's a three-hole pitch-and-putt golf course, a nine-hole putting green, and driving range (all for a fee). Indoors, there's a fitness room, a men's section with a sauna and steam bath, and a women's section with a sauna and a circular shower. Massages and beauty treatments are also available. The breakfast buffet (not included) has a range of Brazilian and international dishes. The main restaurant also has buffets for lunch and dinner, plus freshly prepared grilled meats and pasta, themed buffets, and a selection of desserts. A second restaurant serves an a la carte menu of innovative French, Italian, and international fare. There's also a piano bar with views of the golf course and room service is available. The hotel has a business center with several computer stations. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. The property even features a helipad for those arriving by helicopter -- guests who come by car should expect to pay for valet or self-parking.