Oceana Atlântico Hotel

The food was delicious at both the main restaurant and the Japanese restaurant, with local and international flavors. The staff were friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere made it easy to relax. Oceana Atlântico Hotel in João Pessoa is right by the sea and has beautiful views. The rooftop pool and its panoramic outlook were amazing. It was an unforgettable stay. If you’re after luxury, comfort, and a great location, this is a lovely choice. I can’t wait to return!

The hotel was okay for the price, though I’d rate it 3 or 3.5 stars at best, not four. Its main advantage is being fairly close to beaches and shopping. Our room had good air conditioning and was fully equipped: a roomy kitchen, oven, microwave, refrigerator, washing machine, dishes, cookware, utensils, a kitchen table, and a balcony. We could see the ocean off to the side, but most of the view was streets and a parking lot. The bathroom was small and dated. The shower hung from a loose metal fixture, and the bath mat looked old. The toilet was too close to the sink, an odd size, and its lid kept closing when someone sat down. Towels were limited, so we asked the lovely housekeepers for more. There’s a gym next door as advertised, but it’s only open at certain times, not 24 hours, and hotel guests can use it only during certain hours. You need to bring your own towel, or they charge you for one if you don’t have enough from the hotel. There’s also a dress code, including no flip flops. We paid for breakfast. It was good, but the same every day and got boring, so we skipped it a few times. It only runs from 8 to 10 am, and on some days it was full, so we had to wait for a table. My son didn’t go down, and I had to ask permission to bring food up for him because he couldn’t wake up at the scheduled time. I’d recommend paying for breakfast as you go instead of in advance. Parking and the driveway were small, with tight turns. I’m surprised more cars weren’t damaged. The hotel had two pools, one inside and one inside. The indoor pool had a rule that women and girls with long hair must wear a swimming cap, and they charge for it. We ended up not using either pool. There were lots of little disappointments.

The hotel is right by the beach, with great beach access, and there’s a fun pool with an engaging staff. The mixed drinks at the pool are very weak. You’re better off ordering a cocktail on the rocks with a mixer on the side and making your own. Even so, we ran into problem after problem. Our room door kept malfunctioning, and after three attempts to fix it, we finally demanded a room change. Our belongings had been in a room whose door wouldn’t lock. We also had a group reservation at the hotel’s sushi restaurant, but it took two hours to get about four sushi rolls. The restaurant staff seemed not to care and were extremely unhelpful. For what you pay for a “5-star” hotel, I expected a lot more. I recommend looking around before booking here.

The pool area is lovely, with plenty of loungers and little cabanas, and the staff were friendly, quick, and genuinely helpful. Concierge Camila was especially great about suggesting places to eat, getting reservations, and sharing ideas for exploring. The Oceana made a charming base in Joao Passeo, which is a beautiful little spot in Brazil, and you’re only steps from the beach. I’d happily recommend it.