Praiano Hotel

The second reservation turned into a reception problem. They wanted to charge R$150 extra for my wife because the booking listed one adult, even though I made both reservations through their website and paid the same amount for each stay. They said the reservation center would need two days to sort it out. After about 20m of back and forth, I asked to cancel. They escalated the issue, and the artificial fee was removed. My first reservation had gone well, and the hotel itself isn't bad if you leave out reception and the lift. I should have checked Google maps reviews first, since I now see several people describing the same experience.

The breakfast tastes good and has a solid range of traditional Brazilian items, though the dining space gets very crowded. Some staff speak two languages, which is helpful for foreign travelers. Since Fortaleza is more of a local destination than Rio, you wouldn't necessarily expect hotel workers here to speak the major languages as you might in Rio. This was my second hotel during a visit to Fortaleza. The staff were friendly and attentive, and the older building has been remodeled. The rooftop pool and restaurant are nice, and the rooms are clean and well appointed. The ironing facilities and gym could be better.

The pool is a little small, but nice, and the breakfast buffet is good. The place feels safe and the location is great. My five stars are mostly for the bellman Javier, though. His service was stellar, and he was there for anything you needed with a big smile. I hope management treats him well, people like that are rare!

The service was great, and the location is fantastic. I'd stay here again.