Jurere Beach Village

Jurerê is the most fashionable beach on the island's north coast, known for wide, calm, shallow water, beach clubs, summer parties and a grid of upscale restaurants. Jurere Beach Village sits on Alameda César Nascimento, about a minute on foot from the sand, which makes it one of the easiest places to stay if you want to walk from your room to the water without a car. The rooms are generous by hotel standards. A Studio sleeps three, while the Deluxe Room and the Deluxe Room with a sea view are large enough for up to five guests, so the hotel works for families and groups of friends who would otherwise need two rooms. Facilities include two on-site restaurants, a cafe and a corner shop, a gym, bike hire, a games room with ping pong and billiards, a concierge, laundry, free Wi-Fi and air conditioning. Breakfast is available as a buffet for an extra charge, and valet parking is offered for a fee. Pets are not allowed, apart from service animals. It is a relaxed, holiday-style base rather than a formal luxury hotel, and it suits travellers who want space and a beach nearby more than formal service.

The airport is around forty-five minutes away by car depending on traffic, so plan for a transfer or a hire car, and ask the front desk about arrival times if your flight is late. Rooms and facilities: the rooms are spacious and practical, with room for luggage, beach gear and children, which counts for a lot on a beach holiday. Check the room type when you book, as sleeping arrangements and views differ. Sea-view rooms cost more but are worth it if the view is important to you.

The hotel has a gym and recreation spaces, and the on-site restaurants save a trip out at the end of a long beach day. Facilities such as the pool, spa and gym can be subject to maintenance, so check what is open for your dates when you book. Breakfast and parking are charged separately, which is worth factoring into the price. Who it suits: families with children, groups sharing a room, couples who want a beach base with restaurants close by, and travellers who plan to spend most of their time on the sand.

Jurerê is lively in summer, especially from December to February, when beach clubs and restaurants fill up, and much calmer in the cooler months. It is less suited to visitors who want to be near the surf beaches or the lagoon nightlife, or those who prefer a small pousada feel. Good to know: summer rates rise sharply, so book early for the holiday season, and weekday stays outside high season tend to be better value. Ask about late check-in if you arrive in the evening.