1. Cama e Café
At the time of this writing, there is a single Olinda member of the small and friendly Cama e Café, a Brazilian network of bed and breakfasts.
Janet's Home is in Olinda's historic district and near Rua do Amparo, a quaint street with lots of art studios.
Information about availability and prices can be obtained by e-mail (reservas@camaecafe.com.br).
2. Costeiro Olinda Hotel
Hotel Costeiro is located on a beach less than 2 miles away from the historic center of Olinda. In 2008, it opened a new wing with 24 rooms.
Swimming pools, air-conditioned rooms, a pool bar, cable TV and wireless service are some of the hotel's amenities.
3. Hotel 7 Colinas
A park with mature trees and lush vegetation surrounds Hotel 7 Colinas, one of the best in Olinda. The hotel has its own museum, a preserved colonial home which shares the sprawling grounds with an award-winning modern building designed in harmony with Olinda's historic architecture.
4. Hotel Pousada São Francisco
A low-key, contemporary building in the colonial district houses Hotel Pousada São Francisco. The hotel has 45 air-conditioned rooms with balconies, some of which have an ocean view, while others look onto Olinda's colonial district.
Rooms for guests with special needs are available. There's a bar by the swimming pool.
5. Olinda Hostel - Albergue de Olinda
The Olinda Hostel is affiliated with FBAJ - the Brazilian Federation of Youth Hostels - and Hostelling International.
Consistently rated as Very Good (Muito Bom) by Brazilian travelers, the Olinda Hostel has also scored good reviews from international travelers.
6. Pousada D'Olinda
As of July 2008, prices are still not available for Carnival at Pousada D'Olinda. Word of mouth in Brazil and good reviews from real travelers have done more for this inn than formal advertising - the current website is not informative.
Polite service, reasonable prices and great location are some of the keys to the success of Pousada D'Olinda.
7. Pousada do Amparo
A member of the Brazilian Charm Hotel Association - Associação Roteiros de Charme - Pousada do Amparo occupies a meticulously restored eighteenth-century building on Rua do Amparo, known for its art studios. With only eleven apartments, the inn affords guests an exclusive treatment.
Amenities include Flor de Coco, a restaurant serving regional dishes, and a blooming garden with a view of Olinda and Recife.
8. Pousada dos Quatro Cantos
Pousada dos Quatro Cantos - the Four Corners Inn - is located in Olinda's colonial district. The carefully preserved nineteenth-century mansion features two suites and 16 rooms, gardens with trees and a swimming pool. The inn also has an art & craft gallery featuring works by local artists.
In a country where a varied breakfast buffet is to be expected of every good hotel and inn, Pousada dos Quatro Cantos has managed to stand out for its morning display of regional fare, served in a room that doubles as an art gallery selling original paintings by artist Marília Didier. Brazilian tapioca, cakes, fresh fruit juices and caramel bananas are some of the treats available at breakfast (included).
9. Pousada Marin dos Caetés
Pousada Marin dos Caetés is a hostel/inn which provides airport transfers and travel agent services. With rooms ranging from single to collective dorms, Pousada Marin dos Caetés occupies a nineteenth-century building in the historic district of Olinda.
10. Pousada Peter
With a privileged location on Rua do Amparo, Pousada Peter occupies a restored eighteenth-century building. One of the inn's most attractive features is an ample lounge which has been redesigned to become an art gallery where owner Peter M. Bauer showcases his work and that of other artists.
Rua do Amparo is part of the Olinda Carnival circuit, but apartments at Pousada Peter have acoustic insulation. Some of the thirteen rooms are located in a newer part of the building.
A terrace with a great view of Olinda and Recife, a pool and an inner court are other attractions at Pousada Peter.
11. Rental Homes
Vacation rentals in Olinda are not as widely available as vacation rentals in Recife or other nearby areas. Keep an eye out for opportunities on Alugue Temporada or Imóveis Temporada.
Ricardo Freire, a famous and hugely popular self-described professional tourist and blogger, hit a funny note with his post about Carnival rentals in Olinda in 2008. Informal, on-the-spot house rental in Brazil is an ever growing reality - but it takes careful screening and preferrably a recommendation to embark on that kind of arrangement.
