The Pouasada La Chimere has managed to create an elegant, home-stay-like ambiance. The owners -- world travelers -- have furnished the lobby-lounge with stylish souvenirs, statues, and carpets and combined them with local rustic furniture, abstract paintings, and pottery. Ceramic tiled floors, white walls, and fresh flowers -- like blooming bromeliads -- give the space a romantic vibe. The courtyard with tables and chairs offers a cozy area as does the adjacent (small) pool. The pousada attracts both couples and families, Brazilians and foreigners. It gets excellent feedback for the friendly service, comfortable rooms, and excellent location near downtown and the beach scene.

The Pousada La Chimere has a great location, just a short walk from the picture-perfect Praia Ossos beach and a five- to 10-minute stroll from the tropical Azeda and Azedinha beaches which offer white sand and crystal clear, turquoise waters. Praia da Armacao beach and its small fishing harbor and docking area are just five minutes away by foot. The famous Rua das Pedras -- the Ramblas of Búzios -- can be reached in 10 to 15 minutes by walking as well. The Rua das Pedras offers a number of restaurants, bars, and boutiques selling bikinis and beach wear, as well night clubs that open at midnight. The street gets pretty crowded during summer months or long holiday weekends. Búzios is a popular stop for luxury cruise ships. When two to three ships dock in front of the pier, the city population doubles.

Búzios is well known for its more than 20 beaches scattered around in small coves around the Armacao dos Búzios Peninsula. Perhaps the most famous beach, Geribá can be reached by car in 10 minutes. It's a well-known surfing destination. The town has several car and buggy rentals allowing guests to visit some of the more remote beaches. The town does not offer that much history or attractions such as museums, churches, and plazas, but it maintains an old fishing village vibe. It has some Mediterranean style charm with its narrow, cobblestone streets, small cafes, and pink bougainvilleas.

The pousada offers beautiful, quiet, and stylish rooms decked out in white, from the floors, to walls, to ceilings, and even furniture. High, vaulted ceilings give an extra sense of space. The 26 rooms come in three categories: Standard, Superior, and Deluxe. The Superior rooms appear to offer the best value, and some come with small French balconies. All rooms offer air-conditioning, minibars, safety boxes and LCD-TVs. Rooms have carpets and some nice abstract paintings on the walls. The bathrooms are modern and fresh. They offer shower areas, ceramic tiles, basic toiletries, and hair dryers. Bathrooms in deluxe rooms are large, but others feel a tad cramped to some.

The Pousada La Chimere offers a breakfast room which extends to the charming courtyard. It serves a Brazilian buffet breakfast -- well reviewed by the guests -- that includes a variety of fresh fruits, juices, French bread, cakes, eggs, and sausage. Lunch and dinner are not available, but the Breakfast Room Bar serves snacks (sandwiches, salads, and pizzas), as well as cocktails and juices. Room service is available from early morning until mid-evening.

The pousada offers a tiny pool, and beach towels for those wishing to explore some of the excellent beaches nearby. The lobby area has three desktop computers that may be freely used. Wi-Fi is also available for free throughout the hotel. The hotel offers laundry service, but no parking. For those arriving the pousada during summer months, parking in downtown Búzios can be tricky.

The front desk staff sells tickets to city tours to Búzios or nearby Cabo Frio, and popular boat trips that take guests to a couple of islands which provide an opportunity to swim and snorkel -- and drink caipirinhas. The hotel staff can also assist with arranging dive trips. An area near Cabo Frio (Arrail do Cabo) offers some of the best dive sites. The front desk can also organize airport transfers either to the domestic airport at Cabo Frio (with limited service) or to the international and domestic airports in Rio de Janeiro.