Tivoli Pool Villas - Tivoli Ecoresort Praia do Forte

The two-hour massage at Anantara Spa was such a treat. I was booked in for a treatment with cream and palm oil, and Luzinete was a wonderful masseuse, with a bright smile and warm manner. She kept me relaxed and engaged the whole time. Even though we didn’t share a language, we managed to communicate, laugh, and finish the treatment together. Afterward they served hot tea, fruit, and nuts, which was a lovely touch. I felt like a new woman, completely pampered and cared for, and I still smell amazing. I can’t praise Luzinete’s skills enough. I’d definitely recommend booking a massage with her, and wish I could give her more than five stars.

The Experience Team made our week at Tivoli Resort in December feel truly special, especially Tiago, whose personal attention and advice meant a lot. We arrived as guests and left as friends. Thanks to the whole team, we’d love to return. The resort is spacious, with a beautiful pool area, an outstanding beach, and attentive staff. Our room was clean and generously sized, with a large, very comfortable bed. The spa has everything you could want, and the fitness center and tennis courts are well equipped. There are plenty of loungers, so even with the resort’s size, it never felt crowded. Most guests seemed to be local families. The family area is separate, so it’s easy to find a quiet spot if that’s what you’re after.

We were vacationing in Rio from California, but with all the rain we decided to head to Salvador early for Carnival and hoped to spend a few sunny days at Tivoli. We travel a lot and have stayed at highly rated hotels around the world. Service at many top hotels in Brazil has usually been world class, which made this experience all the more shocking. My wife is Brazilian, and I don’t speak Portuguese, so she made the first call to ask about booking a room for that night. Since we’d arrive late, around 8:00 pm, she politely asked if there was any flexibility on the first night’s rate. The call cut off abruptly right after she asked. We weren’t sure if it was intentional, so we called back. I spoke to someone we believe was named Tiago. He was respectful and responsive at first. I explained what had happened, and he asked if I knew the other person’s name, suggesting it might have just been a dropped call. I handed the phone to my wife, hoping he’d answer her follow-up questions and that Portuguese would make communication easier. But when she asked again about flexibility on the first night’s rate because of our late arrival, the call was cut off at that exact question. He was impatient and unhelpful with her, unlike with me. Since it happened twice at the same point, it seemed intentional. The way my wife was treated was unprofessional, and I was shocked that someone in hospitality, especially at a hotel like Tivoli, would hang up on her. I don’t usually write hotel reviews, but this was a bizarre experience. We didn’t go ahead with the reservation. Luxury service should start with respect, professionalism, and a willingness to help, and we didn’t get any of those.

The activities they offer just keep getting better, so there’s never a dull moment. The service, the people, the food, all excellent. They make you feel like royalty.