Sheraton Vitoria Hotel

The facilities are old and in poor shape. Our air conditioning stopped working, the sink was blocked, and one elevator was out of order every day. The gym ceiling leaked, the pool was dirty, and the room had plastic toilet seats and an old computer chair. There was no kettle, no drawers or clothing storage beyond a wardrobe, and no robes. Breakfast was bad too, including pão de queijo left over from the day before. Restaurant service was painfully slow. We were the only people there, yet it took 45 minutes to get the bill. The food was below average and overpriced. I stayed for 8 days, and this was one of the worst run hotels I’ve visited. It’s nowhere near five star. Awful, and I don’t recommend it.

The rooftop pool is a highlight, with exceptional views over the city and beach. The hotel is also well placed by the beach, where an early walk around 6am lets you see people running, exercising, swimming and canoeing. It has a nice vibe. My room was good, and the shower pressure was like a fire hose. Breakfast was a buffet with friendly staff. I was upgraded when we arrived without asking, probably because I’m in their club program. My one small complaint is that the TV wouldn’t let me use Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, which I’ve been able to do at other hotels in Brazil.

The 11th floor room had an amazing beach view, but it wasn’t well maintained. When I tried to turn on the water, the shower faucet fell off, and I found a razor blade in the shower enclosure, presumably left by the previous guest. That was particularly disgusting. Check-in was uncomfortable too. The young woman at the desk seemed lost and showed very little sympathy. I gave her my ID and credit card for incidentals; she returned the card, then later handed me the card machine and rudely demanded a credit card for incidentals. At checkout, the woman told me I was “free to go,” which felt like being released from jail. It was a bad stay, and the only bad experience I’ve had at a Marriott property.

The room was generally quiet on the 11th floor, and the front desk staff could usually speak English. Security seemed good too, since you need a card to use the elevator. Service in the restaurant and through room service was very good. The restaurant felt formal, though, more like somewhere to eat and leave than a place to relax or meet people. Tip the restaurant and room staff. As a business hotel, it works. The room was clean but dated, with a very hard bed that took some getting used to. It lacked a coffee maker and iron, and the TV remote had limited functions, including no captions. At $100 CAD a night it was a bit above average. There isn’t much within walking distance besides a McD, though walking access seems limited across the city generally. I can’t say what it’s like during Carnaval in April. Overall, not a bad place.