Fasano Rio travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

Fasano Hotel is an elegant, understated and fabulous place in Rio, Brazil. The hotel is designed by Philippe Starck, the 82 rooms and 10 suites are a decadent blend of period furniture and cool contemporary style. Rich hardwoods sit alongside Art Deco lamps, marble bathrooms and quirky fittings. The beds have 300 thread-count Egyptian linens and plump goose-down pillows. What’s more, each room has a private balcony, most overlooking the clear Atlantic Ocean.

Each room has parquet floor and whitewashed walls and original artwork from the 50s and 60s. The beds are kingsize – loaded with crisp white linen and mounds of goose-down pillows – and the walk-in showers overlook the Atlantic Ocean. The attention to detail is first-rate: fluffy white dressing gowns and complimentary WiFi. There’s even a butler service for that extra degree of luxury.

Fasano owns an Italian restaurant, booked days in advance, and is often referred to as “the best restaurant in South America“. It’s not just the food that’s fabulous though. The Fasano restaurants are places to rub shoulders with the city’s movers and shakers. There is also a Rooftop Bar, open all day and serving a mix of hot and cold light meals and freshly squeezed tropical fruit juices. When to go: Anytime of year. February and New Year if you want to be around for Carnival and the biggest parties; if not, these times are best avoided as prices soar and Rio is packed. July-September are the coolest months but also the driest.