Crocobeach Hotel — Hotel in Região Geográfica Imediata de Fortaleza

I vacationed in Fortaleza several times so I know many things about this marvelous Brazilian city including the different areas and suburbs, which means beaches, hotels and people, among other facts. I am of the opinion that Praia Do Futuro is the beast beach in Fortaleza being the reasons that it is never crowded, there are so many "barracas" along the beach, it is far from downtown (I am aware for many others, this is a drawback but I see it positively), water is warmer, and locals are happier here. ||||I had been incidentally staying in Crocobech hotel a couple of years ago (so before the pandemic) and since then I will never forget the kind and welcoming personnel working in this hotel. I recall Amanda, a talkative and easy-going receptionist who was always smiling and emanating good waves as well as Camilo, an amiable and efficient waiter working then in the restaurant, who knew Brazilian fruits so well specially the acerola served as dessert. I was so sad to learn that both of them are not in the Crocobeach anymore... but the current staff is equally charming and pleasurable! ||||As I booked a half-board rate I was again able to savour the exuberant "all you can eat" dinner being so tasty in the pleasant environment of the restaurant. The variety of meals available are the typical of a Brazilian and Cearan menu and as a foreigner it is possible to get introduced to local flavors and delicacies in a didactical manner. The buffet breakfast has also a distinctive seal making Crocobeach a culinary paradise, which can also be extended to the Crocobeach barraca, which is part of the Crocobeach complex. Complimentary entrance to the Crocobeach barraca is included when booking a room in the hotel and discounts for meals and beverages are given. ||||More remarkable features in the hotel comprehend the Business Center equipped with a desktop computer and a big table. Perhaps the addition of a printer would convert it in a full service unit. Wi Fi works great for guests with notebooks and mobile devices. The swimming pool is ample and has a second level in a first floor, which is particularly suitable to contemplate the astounding sunset. Waiters can serve meals and drinks while in the swimming pool area. ||||When needing transportation, Cabify, 99 and Uber come very fast so although city center is far it is possible to arrive in 10 to 15 minutes. Unfortunately, and because of the pandemic, this time there were almost no Argentine customers, who provide a regional approach to the hotel climate. Guest rooms are modernly ambianced and that is one of the traits that atracts me to come back to this hotel once again! And would love to meet agents such as Amanda and Camilo in...

Structure: The hotel looks nice from the outside, but from the inside it is actually a bit rundown and disappointing. The bathroom sink is tilted frontward, so whenever you wash your hands, the water splashes and spills towards you. It's a real mess. The shower box leaks water everywhere over the floor. And the balcony door/window is not insulated, so you can perfectly hear the neighbors talking and laughing at the next door balcony. Moreover, the windows are not tightly fit in place, so that when there is wind (the WHOLE time in Fortaleza in the end/beginning of the year), the doors and windows start trembling and banging, which adds to the noisy setup. To complete a perfect night's sleep, the balcony lights stay ON 24 hours a day! So imagine: you trying to sleep, you hear the neighbors at their balcony, the winds rocking the windows and the bedroom lit by the outside (which you can't turn off!)||||Restaurant: great food. Delicious dinner, quite varied breakfast. Everyday they have different menus. The downside: very often the hot food is actually cold... and the cold desserts are hot (because they're not under refrigeration)!||||Cleanliness: It's OK, the maid comes everyday tidy up the room.||||Note on the Covid-19 context: The hotel staff completely lacked surveillance towards guests. Even though the staff always used masks and kept distance from other people, they did not enforce the sanitary rules. In the restaurant, many times I say other guests walking around and grabbing their food without the "mandatory" masks and gloves (provided in the restaurant). And the employees would see it, but just ignore it... ||||Location: Crocobeach is just a street-crossing away from the Praia do Futuro beach, which is quite nice. To reach the hotel's beach complex (with restaurant, deckchairs, water park, and so on) it takes about 3min walking along the shoreline. However, this beach is among the most polluted in the city, and crowded with street vendors (really, every minute someone will stop by and disturb you trying to sell something).||||Frankly, if you want a better beach and a more reputable hotel, search for the Beach Park. At least, the beach is waaay better than...

Located next to the "Praia do Futuro" the by far best beach in Fortaleza, this little (comparing with the giants in Beira Mar) hotel is a gem. Very new has a fantastic view of the sea and it's very few steps from the beach. It has its own beach facility just a couple of hundred meters on the left side (from the front side) which is very nice, clean and pretty well organized and were you can have very good food, especially the buffet. The rooms are very clean and I was probably one of the very first guest ever using that room, the AC are all top notch Daikin, rooms are not too big but well furnished and with a nice balcony. The hotel has a huge terrace and a little gym just facing the terrace which means you can workout watching the sea (I loved it!).||The breakfast is just fantastic and you can order your favorite tapioca at the cook, I liked a simple coconut one!||||The swimming pool area is lovely and you can have a drink in the swimming pool as there are seats on the side just next to the bar.||The service was just outstanding and they were very keen to make me happy.||||A note about the location, this is a "dead" area during the night so if you're looking for perfect sleep, quiet and romance, awesome time on the best beach in Fortaleza then this is the place for you.||If you're looking for fun and crown and things to do during the night then you better go to Beira Mar. I anyway was going from there to Beira Mar almost everyday when I wanted to do "something more" and took 10-13 mins by taxi and 14-16 R$ via local taxi, Uber is cheaper.||||It is a fantastic hotel and I really enjoyed my time there, I wish I could have stayed longer.||||SECURITY NOTE: As stated before, Praia do Futuro is fantastic because it's still pretty wild. It's huge and not many people there, very few hotels around and the buildings with apartments built seems to be on sale (still empty). Probably in 10 years this place will be like Beira Mar but for now it's awesome and empty. So despite it's very well-lighted DO NOT walk around during the night. It is dangerous and as it's deserted (police passing through from time to time but not that often really) if something happens you're...