Fortaleza isn't the most beautiful city in Brazil, and so staying in a hotel away from the city is a good option. Praia das Fontes (means 'Beach of Fountains') has an amazing beach, not the typical coconut tree kind but one with small cliffs, with springs and colored sand. The Oasis Atlantico hotel is a simple yet charming resort, sporting excellent cuisine, great staff and a good mix of european style with brazilian 'flavour'. It is getting old though, and the bungallows especially could use a renovation.
++ Location
Right off the beach, some 60/90 minutes from the Fortaleza airport. The village nearby is small and rustic, so don't expect great shopping (other than awesome, cheap bikinis, even tailor-made!) or a strong restaurant/night life. There is a taxi stand right off the reception, and you can also take the staff bus to the village. There is also a lake inside the resort.
The beach is awesome, different from the typical postcard brazilian beaches. You'll find it a gigantic beach, and when walking you'll probably never come to the end of it. In the beach you can find the typical "barracas" (huts), where you can be served drinks and food at affordable prices (I recommend the "Barraca do Pedro", one of the first ones turning right as you descend the stairs to the beach), the typical Fortaleza "buggys" (VW Beatles converted into sand cars), and other things to spend money, such as ATVs, jewellry, horses, and even a verylight airplane to see the beach from above. Don't be scared though, this might sound much but it is actually tranquil, and you have to enter the brazil groove. Might not be ideal for honeymooners (unless adventurous ones), but a great place for active people.
++ Reception and Restaurants
You're welcomed into the hotel in a big reception, with a lot of friendly staff, eager to help in what they can. Close to reception there is a hair saloon, a travel agency and a rent-a-car. Also, the sport courts.
The restaurant (only one) is a big, roomy and aired space, overlooking the ocean. Meal times are scheduled, and you should abide by them, or risk having only the by-the-pool snackbar to eat.
Food is excellent, varied, and you can even cook to order - just talk to the chef! In one occasion, one of the people serving made a point of going herself to the market to buy a specific type of local vegetable that I wanted to try... Breakfasts are memorable, and a stuffed but happy stomach will give you an energy boost... or alternatively, make that sun lounger by the pool, lake or beach.
There is a separate area, for which you need to book, where you'll have an a-la-carte menu, including shellfish, for no extra cost.
The snack-bar, by the pool and lake, is good for drinks, but food there is simple (hamburgers, fried stuff, etc). The waiters there will tend to you by the table or the sun loungers, so you just need to relax.
Drinks on AI are "local drinks".. but Brazil produces all type of licquors so don't worry! And you should definitely try the fruit cocktails, either with or without alcohol. Non alcoholic beverages are also excellent, as one would expect from Brazil, with a lot of fruit drinks. The mini-bar is included in the AI.
++ Rooms
There are two types of accomodation; apartment rooms, or bungalows. I saw them both, found the rooms to be newer and perhaps of higher quality, but the bungalows that we stayed in were cozier, more relaxed and with a big veranda overlooking the ocean where you could sleep in a hammock during the strong sun hours.
However, these could use a renovation as they are becoming a bit dated.
They sport the veranda, a living room with chairs, a bathroom and the bedroom.
++ Staff
Friendly people, always eager to help and socialize, but without being intrusive, only very welcoming. The animation group were a pack of friendly, always smiling youngsters that really set out to brighten up the resort. The animation itself was ok (dances, disco, games, etc), nothing amazing but then one could just do something else instead.
++ Swiming pool
With the ocean, with warm water, right at your doorstep, a pool doesn't make much sense, so don't think it has amazing pools; they're ok, smallish but nice to cool off. There are a few, including a kids pool - and also a small pool/slide park complex in the adjacent, more brazilian-style resort, which you can visit at will anytime.
That resort may be somewhat akward for non-brazilians as the culture is quite different from europeans or north-americans, with louder music, dancing, etc... but it was nice and the shop there was much bigger than the one closer to the pool.
I would recommend this hotel for young (or young at heart) couples seeking a relaxed getaway with good food, things to do and a non-squared environment, with a good price-quality value for money.
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