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.

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 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. 

Corais e Conchas is a family-friendly option in Buzios, with generally affordable rates. This pousada offers two rooms for kids' activities, a well-equipped playground, children's pool, nursing room, and even a kitchen for parents. Some of the 38 spacious and air-conditioned rooms come with hot tubs and/or balconies. However, some of the in-room decor looks dated, particularly in rooms housed in the older part of the hotel. Those wanting something more modern should request a room in the new annex, added in 2012.

The Pousada Dos Reis  -- a mid-range option -- is located in the quiet and residential area of Portão da Tartaruga. Downtown Búzios is about a 15- to 20-minute walk away and Tartaruga Beach is about a 10-minute walk. A free shuttle transports guests to both spots and bikes are available to rent. The pousada offers spacious and bright rooms; some have balconies or kitchenettes. Breakfast is included in the room rate, and there's a nice outdoor swimming pool with an adjacent bar and restaurant. Wi-Fi and parking are free. 

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.

Pousada Cantinho de Geriba is a boutique option for those looking for budget accommodations within walking distance of Geriba Beach. The pousada (guest house) offers 21 simple rooms in four categories; most rooms have balconies and hammocks. A free breakfast buffet gets mixed reviews, and lunch and dinner are served a la carte. The pousada offers free Wi-Fi, a small pool, and free parking inside the compound. The property looks worn in areas and could use with a refresh. Check rates at Pousada Boutique Bella Nina for nicer rooms and a better breakfast.

The Marina Vip Club Resort & spa is located in the Marina area, a 10-minute walk from Baia Formosa beach and a 20-minute drive to central Buzios. The establishment has the feel of a local, family-run pousada (guest house). It opened in 2012 and offers basic, clean rooms for up to four people. Breakfast is included in the room rate, and Wi-Fi and parking are free. Lunch and dinner are available on request, which is especially useful considering the property is somewhat isolated and there aren't any dining or shopping options in the immediate vicinity. Besides the pool, amenities are few.

The Pousada Alcobara is a budget hotel near(ish) the Geribá beach, located on a quiet street in a mainly residential neighborhood. It offers 30 simple rooms that come with air-conditioning, ceiling fans, tiny TVs, and minibars. The pousada features a restaurant and lobby area filled with memorabilia. There's also a small swimming pool and a tiny pool for tots, but little else. A simple breakfast is included in the room rates, but Wi-Fi requires an additional fee. The pousada has noticeable wear and tear; some rooms and public areas look dated, but rates are often more than reasonable.