Uxua Casa Hotel, Trancoso, Brazil

Every summer, Brazil's fashion and finance sets steal away to Trancoso, a colonial village on the Bahían coast (imagine the Hamptons in vivid colors). Those who don't already have their own fabulous digs in the area more than make do at Uxua Casa Hotel, built by Dutchman Wilbert Das, the former creative director of fashion label Diesel. With just nine guest quarters scattered around a lantern-lit garden, this posada tucked discreetly off the main square makes high style of rusticity. Casitas have thatched roofs, cement floors, king-size beds with fine linens, and a catalog's worth of vintage furniture and Bahían folk art. Sumptuous bathrooms incorporate reclaimed tree trunks. At the beach, a five-minute stroll away, the hotel runs a lively bar and lounge, where locally crafted daybeds front a gorgeous strand. Staff may be snooty or sweet, depending on who's on duty, but with luck you'll run into barman Morgan Biagio, who makes a mean passion fruit caipirinha. One tip: Don't miss the breakfast banquet, which should keep you satiated well past lunch.—2010 Hot List

What to pack: Nothing says rustic luxury like a mismatched bikini.

Uxua Casa Hotel
Quadrado
Trancoso
Brazil
Tel: 55 73 3668 2277

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