Sauipe Resort

Sauípe Fun consists of a series of white buildings surrounded by pretty but artificially-manicured grass, foliage, and palm trees. The hotel’s lobby area is large and open. The space leads to the venue’s valet parking/driveway with towering white pillars, potted tropical plants, and a skimpy assortment of wicker chairs and couches. With stone tiles surrounding the long, cascading pool and clusters of umbrellas and lounge chairs, the place looks and feels like a golf course with its pathways through the grass and palm trees. All the communal areas, including restaurants and bars, have open walls that provide an airy, tropical ambiance. Still, aside from the constant throb of samba music from the pool area, there’s nothing in the decor to indicate you’re in Brazil instead of any other tropical resort.

Part of the Costa do Sauípe complex, Sauípe Fun is on a private, beautiful beach flanked by white resort buildings. It’s about an hour-and-a-half drive up the coast from the Salvador airport and even farther to Itapuã and downtown Salvador. Outside the grounds of the complex, the resort is a quick walk from the leisure area/marketplace Vila Nova da Praia and Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres Chapel. Also, Praia da Barra em Sauípe and Praca de Meio Dia are short drives away.

There are 235 rooms at Sauípe Fun; some are suites that include large living areas and formal dining tables. All units have polished wood furniture, large white tiled floors, faux leather chairs, and couches in white and green -- nothing distinctly Brazilian. Cabinets contain small flat-screen TVs with English channels that are hit or miss. Mini-fridges and safes are in all rooms as well, but there’s a charge to access Wi-Fi.

Balconies feature views of the pool, palm trees, and ocean beyond, but these rooms come at a more expensive price and also require you to hear music by the pool all day and night. Many bathrooms are on the small side, but all have jetted tubs. The hairdryers and faucets are a bit dated and some faucets, thanks to the area’s extreme humidity, have signs of mold.

You can opt for just room rates or an all-inclusive stay, which includes second-rate buffet meals three times a day with a traditional Brazilian carving station. There's free parking on-site but a charge to use the Internet. The private beach is the big selling feature and the expansive pool has three sections cascading into one another, with a pool bar and lounge area on hand as well. Hotel staff organizes daily games for children around the pool, and there’s a game room with table tennis, billiards, and chess. There’s also a conference space for business functions as well as laundry facilities, an ATM, and a gift shop. Front-desk and concierge services are available 24 hours a day.