We stayed in the 3-bedroom penthouse at Residencia Vespucci in Ponta Negra for 6-nights in early Sep ($338 Can/night). The suite was huge, with three distinct areas: the inner apartment with the bedrooms, a sitting area with a large sofa and huge flat-screen TV, kitchen with a stove top (no oven), microwave, plates, utensils and a large water dispenser; an outer sitting area that was formerly part of the patio, completely surrounded by glass doors, with two tables, a large couch that could easily double for a bed, and two chairs; and the large outer deck with the jacuzzi and two lawn chairs. The inner apartment could be shut off from the outside and cooled by the AC units in each bedroom. The bedrooms were of adequate size with plenty of storage space, 4 comfortable beds, and blackout curtains as well as sheers. The master bedroom was large, with an en-suite bathroom with a large shower (electric rain shower-head). The views from the deck were outstanding, across the promenade and along the bay to Ponta Negra's signature dunes. Breakfast, served in the room in front of the pool, was adequate but nothing special – a few strange (for a foreigner) fruit juices, buns with cheese and ham, fruits, and made to order egg and tapioca dishes. The pool was small and needed a bit better maintenance, but was a nice addition for an afternoon dip after the beach. The location was, of course, across from the beach and easy walking distance to a variety of restaurants and a few small mini-markets. The hotel staff were friendly and helpful; only one (Stanley) spoke English, but everyone could understand my broken Portuguese. The apartment was ideal for our purposes, three adults and two children wanting separate rooms. It was not luxurious by any means, with older furniture, sliding glass doors that were jammed or didn't lock. However, it was perfect for us and provided a comfortable base for a tranquil beach holiday.
