Villa Greda

This 7-bedroom luxury villa in Arrail d’Ajuda, Bahia makes you think that 007 is going to appear at any second. Built with the jet set in mind, it is built high on top of the cliffs, has180 degree views of the sea and forest, a two tier deck with an infinity pool and even has a helicopter pad. The style is a combination of Traditional Bahia with a modern touch – Baderno as the owner likes to describe it. Great to hang with a big group of friends or extended family. I felt that I was on my own desert island suspended in the air, with a view that was too divine for words.

Villa Greda, Arrail d’Ajuda

villagreda.com

Zank Hotel

Zank in Salvador is a real find if you love boutique hotels. It was once was an historic summer retreat for contemporary artists and writers. Each of the 13 glamorous rooms is uniquely designed. For me, hanging by the pool, overlooking Salvador’s famous, Paciênca beach, with a caipisake in hand was pure bliss, especially after a hard day sight seeing in the busy Pelhourino!

R. Alm. Barroso, 161 - Rio Vermelho Salvador - BA, 41950-350, Brazil

+55 71 3083-4000

zankhotel.com.br

Copacabana Hotel

Since 1923, this infamous Rio hotel has had guests such as Princess Diana, Mick Jagger, and Marlene Dietrich to Brigitte Bardot. No matter how many new contemporary hotels open in Rio, nothing beats hanging by this enormous pool. Their incredible well-trained staff wait on you hand and foot and I never need to bring reading material, as the pool action alone will make you want to write your own novel!

Av. Atlântica, 1702 - Copacabana Rio de Janeiro, 22021-001, Brazil

+55 21 2548-7070

cocacabanapalace.com

UXUA Casa Hotel

In pretty Trancoso, a fishing village on the Bahia Coast, UXUA Casa Hotel is the brainchild of Wilbert Das, former Creative Director and Head of Design for Diesel Rather than simply having a bedroom, guests have their own casa. There are 10 in total – four traditional fisherman’s houses which date back to the 1500s, and six built from scratch using local materials and techniques with showers made from eucalyptus tree trunks, a beach bar built around a boat, and a swimming pool made of smooth blue-green quartz.

Praca Sao Joao Batista, Rua do Parque, s/n, Quadrado, Bahia, | Brazil, Studios from R$ 1400,00 peak/?R$ 990,00 off-peak,

uxua.com

Hotel Villa Bahia

This yellow-fronted boutique hotel made from two restored 18th century townhouses is in Pelourinho, the historic centre of Salvador

With just 17 rooms, a restaurant, bar and a terrace with a small pool, the antique furniture, well-worn floorboards and bright colours lend a colonial vibe. The bedrooms span three floors – think iron chandeliers, heavy wooden trunks, block-coloured curtains and locally made rugs, and bathrooms are especially pretty with large walk-in marble showers, brass sinks and soap in little ceramic pots with cork stoppers.

16/18 Largo do Cruzeiro de Sao Francisco, Pelourinho, Salvador, Bahia, | Brazil

en.lavillabahia.com/pousada-bahia

Doubles from £180, room only