Accommodation in El Salvador

• Hotel rating: Good Standard

The Vila Galé Salvador is located 10 minutes' drive from the Pelourinho and Mercado Modelo, in the residential Ondina district of Salvador. Guests can enjoy a view of the ocean from the pool terrace, while the modern rooms feature city or ocean views. Features: 224 rooms, restaurant, bar, swimming pool, jacuzzi, Wi-Fi. Room amenities: Air conditioning, television, safe, hairdryer, minbar. The hotel will be underoing renovations until November 2019. Any floor undergoing renovations will be closed off to avoid disturbing guests with noise and dust.

• Hotel rating: Superior

In the heart of Salvador's historical centre, a step away from the Jorge Amado Museum, the celebrated Lacerda Elevator and the Praca da Se overlooking All Saints Bay, Villa Bahia is a boutique hotel that has been tastefully converted from two colonial homes (one 17th and one 18th century). It is 26km from the airport, 5km from the beach and a short stroll away from many shops and restaurants. Brimming with character, the hotel has the ambiance of a colonial Portuguese merchant's house circa 1700. The staff's period uniforms and memorabilia from Bahia's colourful history, scatted throughout the property accentuate this. The 17 large bedrooms are individually decorated and themed after Portuguese colonies including Cape Verde, Guinea, Mozambique, Goa, Sri Lanka, Malaga and Nagasaki. Beside the lobby there is a gourmet restaurant that extends to the back of the house and an outdoor courtyard with a plunge pool and loungers. The small spa, where you can have a traditional or holistic massage is located on the rooftop terrace. There are also living areas with deep couches and antique armchairs, which are lovely for relaxing in a warm, colonial atmosphere.

• Hotel rating: Superior

The Casa do Amarelindo is a beautifully restored 19th century colonial townhouse in the heart of the trendy Pelourinho district of Salvador. Located just off the Quadrado main square, this boutique property is right in the heart of this UNESCO World Heritage town full of colourful houses, baroque churches, museums and cobbled streets. The airport is 35km away and the beach is 4km from the hotel. As you enter through the hotels tall archways into a tranquil reception area, you forget how close you are to the hustle and bustle of Bahian life. The 10 sunny and light rooms are simply decorated but still offer all the modern facilities you would expect from an international hotel such as air conditioning, Plasma TVs, DVD and CD players. Ceiling fans, wrought-iron bedsteads and antique dark-wood furniture reminiscent of colonial times complement these 21st century facilities. Double glazed French windows offer magnificent views over All Saint's Bay, and some rooms have an private balcony, ideal for watching the world go by. From the fantastic roof top terrace and garden courtyard you can relax by the small pool or enjoy an evening caipirinha from the bar while watching the sunset. The restaurant, located on the ground floor of the townhouse, extends out onto the terrace and the menu offers Bahian specialities and modern cuisine, accompanied by a substantial wine list.

• Hotel rating: Good Standard

The four-star Mercure Salvador Rio Vermelho Hotel is conveniently located near some of the city's best bars and restaurants and is facing the sea. This modern hotel offers 175 contemporary rooms with city or sea views, a restaurant serving international cuisine, a sauna, an outdoor pool and a cocktail lounge.

• Hotel rating: Good Standard

The Golden Tulip Rio Vermelho Hotel is located in the Rio Vermelho district of Salvador, close to the city's beaches and commercial and historical centres. This 4-star hotel is decorated in a contemporary style and offers 200 rooms. Its facilities include a restaurant, rooftop swimming pool with ocean views, health club and tennis court.