I spent three nights at the Melia Brasilia in August 2005, and I loved this hotel. It is international in style - nothing typically Brazilian about it - but I had a very enjoyable stay. Plus, Brasilia is a modern, international city. There aren't really any charming historic inns, so indulge in good cable and efficient air conditioning and don't feel like you're missing out on the "authentic" experience!
The rooms are large and nicely equipped. Tasteful, understated decor with a few artistic black-and-white pictures of Brazilian architecture, king-sized bed, nice feather pillows (with a pillow menu in case you would prefer a different type of pillow), efficient air conditioner that is not noisy, great cable selection and large tv, large modern bathroom with a very large shower, good water pressure and sufficient hot water, and a pretty good breakfast. Breakfast has a good selection, including scrambled eggs and bacon, alongside traditional pastries and fresh fruit. There is even a blender if you want to make a smoothie.
All of the above is what you expect of a 5 star hotel. (This is a Brazilian five-star... this hotel is not the Four Seasons, but more like an upscale Hilton or something of similar quality). What really seduced me was the friendly, efficient staff. I believe that the hotel is mostly used by business travelers, but we as tourists found it to be perfectly suited to our needs. The staff was very helpful in suggesting restaurants, advising us on the closest ATM machine for foreign cards, suggesting additional sights to see, and even calling the Palacio do Justice to make arrangements for us to visit. Yes, any good hotel worth its salt should do all of the above, but unfortunately not all hotels are as helpful with advice, especially for tourists.
Location is not really an issue - nothing is really "central" in Brasilia, the city made for cars. Still, we never felt unsafe. There is a modern shopping mall within walking distance, as well as a churrascaria. (However, we had a better meal at the churrascaria Porcao, which was a short taxi ride away). Buses are close by, taxis are easy to come by (the front desk will have a taxi there in a minute), and you can even walk to the TV tower (just don't be afraid of crossing six lanes of traffic!).
Bottom line - I would definitely stay here again if I ever return to Brasilia. Great value for money (I booked directly on the Sol website) and a great stay.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.