This hotel is part of the Tropical chain run by Varig. This one is okay, providing a reasonable place to stay, but would never make a highlights list of hotels. It was undergoing renovations to the lobby area while we were there.

The room was reasonably sized and the bathroom had been updated. The puke green shag carpeting didn´t do much for the room. There was only one room key available and you got charged a daily rate for using the room safe.

The breakfast buffet (included) was very run of the mill. The pool area was quite pleasant and there is a reasonable health club, for which an extra charge is levied per use.

The area was not really convenient. The main tourist area, the Pelourinho, is a good half hour walk away. We walked there in the day time, but the city seemed too dangerous to walk back at night, so we took a taxi (about $6 USD).

The Pelourinho is worth the visit, as it has undergone a massive restoration of colonial Portugese facilities. There are some good restaurants and interesting shops. It is very heavily policed, with police on every corner, which tells you something about the area. Tuesday night it gets very crowded, with music in the main square.

We took a half day city tour which was worth the price. It was with an individual guide (for two of us), and he pretty much showed us and explained to us what was worth seeing.

The street vendors are very aggressive and I would advise not to engage them in the least, not even to say "No." Just ignore them and continue walking. They will take any opportunity to tie a piece of ribbon around your wrist ("for good luck, a gift") and are very hard to disengage. I am sympathetic to their economic plight, which is dreadful, but we are just tourists. Hopefully the government can resolve the massive poverty.

We also saw a Condomblie service, which is an African religious ceremony involving dancing and trances. It was interesting, but after a couple of hours grew wearying. The hotel found someone who seemed part of the cult, who arranged the visit.

Salvador is the second most visited tourist spot in Brazil, and is for the more adventurous tourist. If I were to come again, I´d see if I could find a satisfactory place a bit closer to the Pelourinho.

The city of Salvador, Bahia is lovely but it could be dangerous, just don't wear jewelry or look too much like a tourist. Your best bet to be safe is to dress down and avoid walking in the city late at night. I stayed at the Tropical Bahia from January 27, 2005 to February 3, 2005. I left right before carnival to the city of Rio. The hotel physically needs updating but the staff(very helpful and friendly) and the pool makes you forget that your room still has the same design from the 1970's. The area of the hotel is in the middle of the city between the beach and pelundrino(the colonial/tourist area) I personally like the area because all major bus lines stops by the hotel and I felt safe during the night and day but it can be very noisy during the day. If you are in the pool during sunset or late in the afternoon watch out for the micos(little monkeys) and sometimes fruit bats, I personally enjoyed watching them. Basically the hotel includes all the amenities you need but don't expect to feel like you are at the Sheraton.

Probably a good hotel in its day but in need of renovation.

The rooms were large but very sparse with what little furniture showing signs of old-age.

The peeling wallpaper and damp bathroom were disappointing.

Aside from its beaches, the leading attractions in Salvador da Bahia are nearly all in or near the Pelourinho, the nicely restored and extensively policed colonial 'old town.'

The hotels in the Pelourinho itself are inexpensive, but not very good -- and the beach hotels are far, far away from the old town.

The Tropical Bahia is an excellent compromise. It's a 30-minute walk from the Pelourinho -- or a 20-minute bus ride from the main beaches. It's also just a block from Bahia's main performing arts theatre.

Like all of Varig Airlines' hotel properties, Tropical Bahia is an up-scale place with (1) good-sized rooms and well-appointed bathrooms, (2) a good restaurant and a small bar, (3) a few shops and a well-stocked newsstand, and (4) a helpful and friendly staff.