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The Luxury: Staying in or near Ipanema isn’t the only way to experience Rio. The Santa Teresa Hotel, a former colonial mansion with 44 artfully decorated rooms and an 80-foot-long pool with views of Guanabara Bay, is a sophisticated alternative. Tucked away in Santa Teresa, a quaint hillside neighborhood of rambling 19th- century villas turned artist ateliers, the hotel radiates authenticity (indigenous art and tropical woods dominate) and indulgence (restaurant chef Damien Montecer fuses African, Asian, and Mediterranean infl uences). The samba-fi lled clubs of Lapa are just a bondinho (tram) ride away. The Value: For stays of three nights or more before September, Sherman’s Travel readers can enjoy 25 percent off rack rates of $260/night or more, a guaranteed room upgrade, a welcome caipirinha, and a massage at Le Spa Natura. The Catch: Getting to Rio’s famed beaches requires a 20-minute car ride. The Details: 011-55-21-2222-2755 (mention Sherman’s Travel).

From the Summer 2009 issue of Sherman's Travel magazine.