La Chimere has a cozy, home-like lobby-lounge and stylish white rooms filled with light. This mid-range pousada offers rooms in three categories, and some come with tiny balconies. All rooms feel bright and spacious, and feature stylish white walls, floors, and ceilings that are high and vaulted. Bathrooms are equally sleek, if small. The pousada features a small pool and an adjacent courtyard, but there's no park and the restaurant does not serve lunch and dinner. The Brazilian buffet breakfast is included in the room rate, however, and free Wi-Fi is available in all areas. 

The Pousada Santorini is one of the most beloved options in the resort town of Búzios, thanks to its personalized and friendly service, spacious rooms with balconies, and superb hillside location. All of the nine total suites offer lovely views and fresh, simple decor -- but bathrooms in some are a bit dated and cramped. The swimming pool area has a tropical feel and also features phenomenal views. Adjacent to it is a small steam room. A home-style hot buffet breakfast --  which is included in the room rates -- is served in the Uruarama Café,  which also offers meals until early evening.

Pousada Aguas Claras Buzios is located along a road leading towards the end of the Armacao dos Búzios Peninsula. This mid-range pousada offers older Classic rooms, as well as fresh Atual rooms in an annex that was built in 2013. The newer rooms are modern, quite spacious, and offer a solid value with large flat-screen TVs and plenty of storage space. Classic rooms include many of the same amenities, but have more dated decor and tired bathrooms. On-site features include a pool and kids' pool. The restaurant serves a Brazilian-style buffet breakfast that is included in the room rate. Wi-Fi is free throughout, as is parking.

On a hillside overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Vila d'este has stunning waterfront views from its pool, whirlpool, on-site restaurant, and some rooms. With its lush grounds, this stylish upper-middle-range hotel feels like a romantic hideaway. The 19 rooms have airy, light decor, and a handful have ocean views. The on-site restaurant offers a free breakfast buffet and other a la carte meals. Despite the views, this property is not on a beach, and guests must travel to other beaches in the Búzios area in order to lay out on the sand. Travelers looking for an elegant beachside location in this neighborhood could try the Hotel Le Relais La Borie.

The Pousada Boutique Bella Nina offers a tranquil, residential location near Brava and Forno Beaches. This value pousada (the term for a Brazilian guest house) is stylishly decorated, cozy, and feels like a home-stay. There are an outdoor pool and cheerful lobby with indoor and outdoor seating. Seven private guest rooms are spacious and decorated with romantic florals, some come with balconies, and some have distant ocean views. Breakfast is included in the room rate, and Wi-Fi is free in public areas, though most rooms don't pick up the signal. 

The mid-range, 30-room Hotel Pousada Experience João Fernandes offers a dual identity. The body belongs to a hotel, but the soul beats to the rhythm of a small "pousada" (guest house). In any case, it offers a great location just a five-minute walk from the popular João Fernandes beach. The hotel changed ownership in 2013 and renovations were completed in mid 2015. It offers basic but clean rooms that all come with furnished balconies and views. Breakfast is included in the room rate and Wi-Fi is free in all areas.

The Pousada Bucaneiro is a romantic, mid-range option in a quiet residential area that's still within walking distance of beaches and downtown Búzios. The pousada offers 20 spacious and bright Standard and Superior Rooms, the latter come with cozy verandas, though bathrooms are a bit small. Features include tasteful and elegant public areas and a beautiful tiered swimming pool surrounded by blooming frangipani trees, bougainvilleas, and a massage tent. Brazilian breakfast is included in the room rate and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. 

The upper-middle-range Pousada Bahiamarela has a picturesque location on a hill overlooking João Fernandes beach. The pousada (Portuguese term for a guest house, but is actually a small hotel) features a spacious lobby with locally made furniture. 26 bright rooms are available in three categories. All come with unfurnished balconies and most have spectacular ocean views. The adjacent restaurant opens to the infinity-edge pool deck. A sumptuous hot buffet breakfast -- included in the room rate -- and a la carte meals for lunch and dinner are available. Other perks include a small spa, free (but spotty) Wi-Fi, and kayak rentals.

The Azeda Boutique Hotel is a popular mid-range hotel located a five-minute walk from the picturesque João Fernandez beach. The boutique hotel offers 18 clean and pleasant guest rooms in three categories and most come with furnished balconies -- though maintenance issues have been reported. The public areas are a bit more stylish with colorful furniture and an arty vibe. A semi-outdoor restaurant overlooks the chic pool and serves a free breakfast buffet, and a la carte lunch and dinner. A small fitness center and steam room are nice bonuses, as are free parking and Wi-Fi. 

The fun and funky Aquabarra Boutique Hotel & Spa is located a five-minute walk from the famous Geribá Beach and a 10-minute drive from Búzios downtown. This mid-range property provides colorful and eclectic public areas decorated with an exceptional collection of furniture, paintings, carpets, masks, and memorabilia from around the world. The 15 suites are spacious and individually decorated; each comes with a balcony or private patio and some have sea views. Breakfast, served in the Caetano restaurant, is included in the room rate. Fun extras include a spa, cinema room, free beach chairs, and an outdoor pool. This is an excellent pick for couples who care about style and convenience near the beach. 

The Costa do Sol is an elegant and well-managed boutique three-and-a-half pearl hotel in the upper Brava hills area. It offers 40 units, ranging from spartan, basic rooms all the way up to stylish Personalite Suites. The hotel is mainly frequented by couples and is a popular venue for local weddings. The public areas are full of beautiful artifacts, artwork, and paintings. The hotel offers two pools: a smaller one that's only for Personalite Suite clients and a larger one that's open to other guests. There's also a romantic spa and modern fitness center on-site.

Porto Bay Buzios, an upper-middle-range hotel, is located halfway between downtown and Brava beach. The neighborhood is mainly residential, with some pousadas (guest houses) and hotels as well. Porto Bay offers clean, sleek-lined suites in three categories. All come with spacious, furnished balconies, as well as modern bathrooms. There is an inviting pool area surrounded by tropical flowers and some tall imperial palms, a small massage area nearby, and a tiny open-air gym. A buffet breakfast is included in the rates, and Wi-Fi is free in public areas. 

The Pousadas Unicornio is an upper-middle-range option located on the extreme end of Ferradura Beach. The location is stunning and good for lazing on the sand, but a bit isolated for exploring without a car. The hotel offers spacious and comfortable rooms and suites with furnished balconies and some ocean views. A swimming pool overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and Prana Spa offers various relaxing treatments and a steam room. Free breakfast is served at the on-site restaurant. Free yoga and mediation classes keep this property zen. 

For couples who want an upscale and romantic beach vacation, it doesn't get much better than Serena Buzios Resort. Free chairs and umbrellas are set up at Geribá Beach, about a two-minute walk or free shuttle ride from the hotel. Meals and drinks are served at an elegant restaurant that overlooks the outdoor swimming pool, surrounded by lush garden landscaping. Many of the spacious rooms and suites have private balconies and whirlpools. Expect to pay extra for breakfast, but a foot massage and surf lesson are included with the price of a room. 

The mid-range, 55-room Don Quijote has a location just a few minutes' walk from the beach and the charming cobblestone streets of downtown Búzios. But it lacks beach views, and there's little scenery aside from the busy main road it faces. Some rooms in the higher categories have kitchenettes, furnished balconies, and upscale furniture. But the lower categories can feel a bit sparse, and their bathrooms are in need of a refresh. A generous free breakfast is included, but there's no on-site restaurant to offer lunch or dinner. A petite pool gives a spot to splash around, but little else. (Although the hotel has plans to install a second pool by the end of 2014.) Travelers looking for lodging in this area could compare rates and amenities with the neighboring mid-range Pousada Bucaneiro.