Fera Palace Hotel

Rua Chile places you in the middle of Salvador's historic centre, in a hotel opened in 1934 where the city is part of the stay rather than something you have to go looking for. Fera Palace Hotel suits you if your trip needs restaurants, architecture and a proper urban base, with a rooftop overlooking Todos os Santos Bay when you want to stop walking and sit down.

The hotel website is available in English, which helps you get the practical details before arrival. Inside, air conditioning, free WiFi throughout the hotel, a 24-hour front desk and room service keep the return from a long day in the city pleasantly straightforward. There is also a lift, accessible facilities and six meeting rooms, though the real reason to choose this address is its position in Salvador rather than its conference furniture.

You are in Salvador, Brazil, at Rua Chile 20 in the Centro Histórico. Lacerda Elevator is about 200 metres away, Mercado Modelo about 300 metres away, and Pelourinho, the Church of San Francisco and Terreiro de Jesus are all within roughly 500 metres. The African-Brazilian Museum and the Museum of Religious Art are each about 500 metres away as well. This is a location for exploring on foot, with history arriving before your second coffee.

The sea is part of the wider city rather than the hotel's immediate setting. MAM Beach is about 0.7 miles away, while Porto da Barra and Praia do Canta Galo are around 2.2 miles away; Praia de Ondina is about 2.4 miles away. Campo da Pólvora metro station is roughly 0.7 miles away, and Lapa station about 0.8 miles away, giving you alternatives to a taxi when the heat and Salvador's hills have had their say.

The room choice is mainly about how much space you want around the bed, not about assembling a complicated holiday residence. The smaller rooms suit solo travellers or couples travelling light, while the Deluxe Big Room gives three guests more room to spread out. If you are travelling as a couple and want the night itself to feel less functional, the Junior Suite, Deluxe Suite or Executive Suite provides a more generous setting without changing the hotel's central location.

Every room has air conditioning, a private bathroom with a shower, towels, toiletries and a hairdryer, as well as a flat-screen television with cable channels. A wardrobe, linen and an alarm clock cover the practical basics. The air conditioning matters in Salvador: returning from a warm afternoon in the historic centre to a cool room is not a decorative extra, particularly when your feet have done more work than planned.

Daily housekeeping, free WiFi and room service make the room useful when you decide that dinner should happen without another expedition. The larger categories are the sensible direction if you want room for two people and luggage without having to negotiate every movement around the bed. Children of all ages are welcome, with cots and extra beds available according to the accommodation chosen.

Breakfast is a continental buffet, giving you a practical start before the city begins asking for your attention. There are two restaurants. Arento serves lunch and dinner, bringing together Bahia and southern Italy through fresh seafood, locally caught fish and Mediterranean cooking techniques. Lunch runs from Monday to Saturday, with a longer Sunday service, while dinner is served from Tuesday to Saturday.

The Fera Rooftop Restaurant is the evening choice for a Mediterranean tasting menu and views over the bay, open from Thursday to Saturday. It is the sort of table that makes sense when you want the hotel to provide the evening rather than start another search through the streets. The chef, Peu Mesquita, works with typical Brazilian ingredients and keeps the product at the centre of the cooking.

Two bars give you different versions of the post-dive or post-walk drink. Bar do Fera serves signature cocktails, wine and live jazz daily from morning until late evening. Fera Lounge Bar, beside the infinity pool, adds drinks and snacks with a panoramic view of the bay during the day. A minibar, snack bar, special-diet menus on request and breakfast in your room cover the less ceremonial moments.

The infinity pool faces Todos os Santos Bay, with the Fera Lounge Bar close enough to make the decision between swimming and sitting down unnecessarily difficult. Sun loungers, umbrellas, pool towels, a sun terrace and outdoor furniture give you somewhere to stop when the day's walking, sightseeing or general Brazilian enthusiasm has run its course.

For a more deliberate recovery, the spa has relaxation facilities and massage services. The reception can provide the massage menu, so you can choose between dealing with tired shoulders immediately or pretending they will sort themselves out. The fitness centre has equipment for a full workout if you still have energy to spend, which is a personal matter between you and your legs.

The hotel can also arrange walking tours, local-culture tours and evening entertainment. These activities keep the focus on Salvador rather than turning the hotel into a sealed resort. For couples, that combination works well: a swim or massage first, then a short walk towards the historic sights, or simply a drink with the bay in view.

Salvador International Airport is about 12 miles away, with an airport shuttle available through the hotel. Parking and valet parking are available, while nearby public parking is also possible. The 24-hour reception provides concierge service, luggage storage and currency exchange, useful if your arrival time is awkward or your departure leaves you with a few unclaimed hours in the city.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to 15:30 and check-out from 11:30 to 12:00. You need photo identification and a credit card at check-in, and the hotel asks you to share your expected arrival time in advance. Free WiFi works throughout the property, and daily housekeeping, laundry, ironing and dry-cleaning services help if Salvador is one stop in a longer trip.

Children of all ages are welcome. Cots and extra beds can be requested according to the room category and availability, and children aged eight to twelve can use an extra bed where the selected option allows it. Pets are not allowed. The hotel is wheelchair accessible and includes features such as grab rails, a raised toilet and a lowered bathroom sink.