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 Casa Buzios is a charming old villa (pousada) located a few steps from the Orla Bardot ocean boulevard that runs through downtown Buzios. The villa was constructed in the 1940s, making it among the oldest buildings in the area, and it features a more recently built annex. Each of the six guest rooms is unique in terms of size, shape, and character. The public areas are charming and offer an interesting combination of French and African artwork and memorabilia, along with contemporary art pieces. There's also a lush tropical garden with a pool. Breakfast, Wi-Fi, and parking are included.

Miramar Hotel by Windsor is an upscale option in Copcabana's charming and vibrant Posto 6 area, a short walk from Ipanema. The hotel's top feature is its rooftop infinity pool with poolside bar and sweeping views of the ocean and mountains, though the famous beach across the street probably also merits a mention. There's a restaurant on site that serves an excellent free breakfast buffet, and the hotel's 200 sophisticated rooms have high-end touches like Nespresso machines and premium bath products -- some rooms come with ocean views. The hotel has more style than the nearby Orla Copacabana, though rates there can be significantly lower. 

This upper-middle-range all-inclusive resort offers plenty of features and services aimed at both couples and families with kids. The extensive grounds -- which are cut through by a river -- offer a lovely stretch of beach. Three restaurants and bars offer 24/7 food and drink; there are two outdoor pools with kids' areas; a full spa offers a variety of treatments; and there are plenty of sports courts as well as outdoor activities and water sports offered. The property could use some updating as the interiors are dated and lackluster, and some facilities, like the gym, are unattractive. However, the 236 guest rooms are clean and all offer private balconies as well as amenities like flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. For something similar, compare with Hotel Praia Dourada, for cheaper rates and slightly fewer features.

Hotel Le Relais La Borie's best feature is its superb location right on the famous Geribá; it's a gorgeous swath of sand in the middle of a tony residential neighborhood. This upscale hotel has 41 spacious rooms and suites with light, breezy decor; some have ocean views. Alas, not all look over the beach, and some bathrooms are in need of a refresh. A peaceful swimming pool, small spa, and beach attendant add to Le Relais La Borie's luxury. The well-regarded on-site restaurant serves a hot buffet breakfast and a la carte meals for lunch and dinner. Travelers may want to compare rates and amenities with the neighboring upscale Serena Buzios Resort, which has a more modern look.

A boutique retreat situated 20 minutes from Sao Sebastiao, Ilha de Toque Toque Boutique Hotel is a peaceful hilltop haven overlooking the ocean. Guest lodging is limited to 10 suites, which have beautiful rustic-chic interiors and balconies with ocean views. On-site facilities include two swimming pools, a sauna, a hot tub, a game room and a restaurant with a breakfast buffet and fresh seafood at lunch and dinner. The hotel's secluded beach has calm waters that are ideal for swimming and snorkeling.

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.

This chic mid-range beachfront hotel is located in Leme, a tranquil, lesser-traveled neighborhood at the northern tip of Copacabana. The 164 rooms, though a little small, have contemporary furnishings, sleek bathrooms, and many feature great ocean views. But save your gasps for the rooftop -- which features fantastic views of Rio, alongside a small pool, bar, and fitness area. The Arena Leme is a great option for a quieter vacation with affordable rates that include Wi-Fi and breakfast. But for those who want to be in the center of the action, take a look at a hotel further down Copacabana Beach, like Arena Copacabana.

The Rio Buzios Beach is a popular family-friendly hotel located a two-minute walk from the João Fernandes Beach. This upper-middle-range hotel offers clean and simple rooms with rustic furniture, small bathrooms, and balconies. The Corcovado Restaurant serves a Brazilian buffet breakfast with made-to-order omelets, which is included in the room rate. The hotel offers also half and full board meal plans. A good size outdoor pool, fitness center, and a steam room are nice bonuses. Wi-Fi is free in all areas and the hotel provides free parking. 

This four-pearl, 287-room beachfront resort has plentiful amenities and has been designed with sustainability in mind. The sprawling grounds are lined with tropical palm trees and eco-friendly local-wood buildings. Cozy, spacious rooms are decorated in a traditional Bahian style, and all include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and sea-view balconies -- some with hammocks. Facilities include eight pools (with an adult-only option), three restaurants, and three bars. The hotel offers half-board rates, with breakfast and dinner included. It also also a fitness center, tennis court, full-service spa, kids' club, and over 30 sports activities. Wi-Fi is also available, but unfortunately it costs extra. Travelers looking for something with a more intimate vibe should consider Pousada Sobrado de Vila instead, which adds free Wi-Fi. 

The upper-middle-range Mar Brasil is modern (having been updated in 2010), clean, and comfortable, directly across from the beach and 15 minutes south by car from the airport. It is one of Salvador’s best value hotels but not terribly convenient for travelers wanting to explore the historic downtown area, which is about 30 minutes away by car. Still, as former home to poet Vinicius de Moraes, the place has culture and character. The 66 rooms are immaculate and breezy, and there’s also a meeting area for business functions and two swimming pools to appease families and traveling couples wanting a safe and relaxing retreat.

Hilton Rio de Janeiro Copacabana is a four-pearl hotel just across the road from quiet Leme Beach at the northern end of Copacabana. The Cardeal Arcoverde Metro station is less than 15 minutes from the hotel on foot, and the property offers a spa, hot tubs, fitness room, and two pools including one on the roof with great ocean views. The hotel also serves a busy free breakfast buffet with an excellent range of options. The 545 modern rooms are plush and inviting, and many have views of the ocean. Guests looking for a true luxury option in the area should consider the Belmond Copacabana Palace, though rates will be much higher.

The Porto Bay Rio Internacional Hotel is located across the street from the popular Copacabana beach. This clean, 117-room hotel is a good mid-range option with simple, sleek decor including blonde wood floors, small modern bathrooms, and a nearly all-white color palette. All rooms have stocked minibars and electric kettles, and some have balconies overlooking the ocean. The small rooftop pool, poolside bar, and fitness center all have great views, and on the beach, attendants provide guests with towels, chairs, and umbrellas. There are also tasty on-site restaurants (one with a free breakfast buffet), and 24-hour room service is available. However, there is a pesky fee for Wi-Fi and the spa only offers limited services.

The Arena Copacabana Hotel boasts a superb location on Copacabana beach. After a 2009 renovation, the public areas are elegant, and feature interesting contemporary details and artwork. The clean and comfortable rooms have basic (bordering on bland) decor and are available in three categories, and the hotel also offers oceanfront suites. The rooftop swimming pool features one of the best views in Rio: both of Copacabana and of the Christ the Redeemer. The rates are quite affordable to Copacabana standards.

The Windsor Palace is an upper-mid-range hotel that has a central Copacabana location. This 18-floor hotel -- just a block from the beach -- underwent a renovation in 2014 and has 85 clean and spacious rooms with some balconies. A rooftop swimming pool, adjacent fitness center, free ride to the airport, and free Wi-Fi throughout are nice bonuses, but there's a charge for breakfast. Overall, this hotel is a good pick with cleaner and fresher rooms than what's usually found at this price point.