Stays in Santos

I would point families towards Unique Vista Mar Ap 2104 for its mix of independence and shared facilities. The apartment has a kitchenette, air-conditioning and a private balcony with sea views, so meals and quiet evenings stay simple. Downstairs, the outdoor pool is open all year and there is a garden and a terrace for children to stretch their legs. José Menino Beach is a short walk away and Miramar Shopping is close by, which keeps outings easy with young children.

Hostel Castell Di Madre is an adults-only hostel in Santos, so I would not book it for a family with children. Rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms and garden views, and there is free WiFi, a garden and a sun terrace for slow mornings. Ponta da Praia is less than 1 km away, which keeps the beach within an easy walk. Guests rate it 9.6 across 61 reviews, an excellent score that suits couples and adult friends.

A rooftop pool and family rooms are why I would suggest Flat em Santos Quadra da Praia to parents in Santos. José Menino Beach is a short walk away, so a morning on the sand and an afternoon swim upstairs fit easily into one day. Units are air-conditioned with a minibar and coffee maker, though no kitchenette is listed for cooking. The sauna is better kept for adults, and the 24-hour front desk helps if you arrive late.

Unique Residence Executivo is an easy family base in Santos, with the beach a short walk away. The air-conditioned rooms have a private bathroom, a balcony and a kitchenette, and a continental buffet breakfast is served every day. Children can swim in the outdoor pool, and the on-site restaurant and terrace save planning on tired evenings. Free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk and free private parking are included. Guests rate it 9.4 from 24 reviews.

I would suggest Flat Cosmopolitan to families who want a beach stay in Gonzaga without the bulk of a large resort. The air-conditioned rooms each have a private balcony, and the rooftop pool with its sun terrace is the obvious spot for children in the afternoon, with a garden below. The family-friendly restaurant serves Latin American cuisine and caters for gluten-free and dairy-free diets, useful with fussy or allergic eaters. A 24-hour front desk and concierge help with late arrivals.

Sheraton Santos Hotel is the upscale Santos stay I would suggest to a family who wants the beach two blocks away and a pool whatever the weather, as the swimming pool is indoors. Rooms are spacious and air-conditioned with city views, a flat-screen TV and a minibar, which helps when children share. The restaurant and bar keep evenings in the hotel, parents can use the spa and fitness centre, and WiFi is free.

UNIQUE Residence gives families in Santos the freedom of an apartment with the beach on the doorstep at José Menino. Each air-conditioned unit has a kitchenette, a private bathroom and a balcony with sea or city views, so meals and naps follow your own rhythm. The outdoor pool is open year-round, and the garden and terrace add room to rest after the beach. A minimarket, free WiFi and a 24-hour front desk cover the practical side. A 9.0 score from 350 reviews is excellent.

Bourbon Convention Hotel Santos is in Gonzaga, about 250 metres from the beach, which is why I would suggest it to families who want sand and city on foot. The outdoor pool gives children a second option on busy beach days, and a sauna and fitness centre give parents time of their own. Rooms are modern with an LCD TV, and WiFi is free. The restaurant serves local and international dishes. Guests rate it 8.9 out of 10 across more than 1,700 reviews.

Unique Residence suits families who want the beach and a pool within easy reach in Santos. José Menino Beach is a four-minute walk away, and the apartment has sea views, a balcony and a private bathroom. The building has an outdoor pool, a garden and a terrace, and a restaurant serves breakfast. Miramar Shopping and the Orchid Garden are close by for a rainy afternoon. An 8.9 rating from 13 reviews is a good result, and I would choose it for a short family beach break.

Unique Residence in Santos suits families who want a sea view and a short walk to the beach: José Menino Beach is about four minutes away on foot. The one-bedroom apartments have a balcony, a kitchenette, air conditioning, free WiFi and a washing machine, which is handy with children's clothes. There is an outdoor pool and a terrace for downtime. Guests give it 8.8 from 30 reviews.

A rooftop pool and José Menino Beach a short walk away are what I would highlight for families looking at Helbor Stay Santos Pompéia Gonzaga. The units have one bedroom and one bathroom, so they suit parents with one young child better than larger groups. The private balcony gives sea views, which means keeping an eye on toddlers. Air conditioning helps with sleep, and the sauna and fitness centre are adult extras for the evening.

Unique Santos Flat 1105 gives a family a proper base near the sea: José Menino Beach is a five-minute walk, and the one-bedroom apartment has a living room, a balcony, air-conditioning and a fully equipped kitchen. I would book it for families who like to cook some meals and still have a restaurant and bar downstairs on lazy evenings. Children can use the outdoor pool and the garden, while the fitness centre suits a parent who keeps a routine.

Cosmopolitan Praia Flat is a four-star apartment hotel in Santos, three blocks from Praia do Gonzaga Beach. Each modern flat has a balcony, air conditioning, a living room and a fully equipped kitchen. Guests can have a buffet breakfast, eat at the on-site restaurant and use a pool and spa and wellness facilities. Guests rate it 8.7 from 548 reviews. I would recommend it to families on longer stays who want a kitchen, a pool and a short walk to the beach.

Helbor Stay Gonzaga puts families a three-minute walk from Gonzaga Beach, the central beach of Santos. The suites are modern and air-conditioned, with sea views and a private bathroom, and the rooftop pool is the main treat for children after the beach. Parents get a sauna and a fitness centre. The suite format suits a couple with one or two young children better than a large family. Guests rate it 8.7 from 46 reviews.

Suíte em flat no Gonzaga Stay Helbor suits a couple or a small family who want a simple stay close to the beach in Santos. The suite is air-conditioned, with a private bathroom, a work desk and a TV, and the building has an outdoor swimming pool and a terrace. José Menino Beach and Miramar Shopping are a short walk away. No restaurant is listed, so plan to eat out. An 8.6 rating from 7 reviews is good, though it rests on only a few stays.

Atlantico Inn Apart Hotel is a sensible Santos choice for a family that wants the beach close without paying for the seafront: Gonzaga Beach is 400 metres away. The outdoor pool is there for quieter afternoons, rooms are air-conditioned with cable TV, a minibar and free WiFi, and the buffet breakfast gets everyone fed before the walk to the sand. A bar on site covers a drink in the evening once the children are settled.

Parque Balneário Hotel is the Santos hotel I would book for a family who wants the sea in view all day: Gonzaga Beach is 30 metres away and the outdoor pool looks out over it. Children get the pool and the beach, parents get a hydro-massage hot tub and a gym, and the restaurant serves Brazilian and international dishes for easy evenings. The poolside bar has panoramic views, and internet access is free.

Comfort Hotel Santos is a good family base in Santos, close to the Santos Aquarium, which makes an easy outing with children, and to Praiamar Shopping Mall. The outdoor pool and sun terrace fill the gaps between trips, the apartment-style rooms have free WiFi and some look out to the sea or over the city, and parents can use the sauna and fitness centre. Pets are welcome, so the family dog can come along.

A rooftop pool and a family-friendly restaurant serving lunch and dinner are why I would suggest Flat no Gonzaga to parents visiting Santos. The fully equipped kitchen keeps breakfasts simple, and air conditioning helps children sleep. Gonzaga Beach is a 12-minute walk, manageable with older children but longer with toddlers. With one bedroom and one bathroom, the flat suits a couple with one or two young children best.

Apê Santos Praia do Gonzaga is the self-catering option I would suggest to a family in Santos who wants to cook some meals. Every unit has a kitchenette with a refrigerator, a microwave and a stovetop, plus a TV and a private bathroom, and the minimarket on site saves a shopping trip. Gonzaga Beach and Miramar Shopping are a short walk away, a lift serves the building, the front desk is open 24 hours and pets are welcome.

Unique Gonzaga is an adults-only aparthotel in Santos, so I would not book it for a family with children. The apartments are spacious, with air conditioning, a kitchenette and a private balcony, and the outdoor pool is open all year. There is also a fitness centre and a sun terrace. Jose Menino Beach is a short walk away, as is Miramar Shopping. Guests rate it 8.5 across 132 reviews, which suits couples and adult friends.

Atlântico Golden Apart Hotel is the Santos stay I would suggest to a family who wants the sand almost on the doorstep, as Praia do Gonzaga is 100 metres away. The rooftop pool with sun loungers is a good spot when the beach gets busy, rooms are air-conditioned and apartment-style with a minibar, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom, and the daily buffet breakfast sorts out mornings. WiFi is available throughout.

Pousada Beira Mar is a family-friendly pousada in Santos with practical apartment-style accommodation, air conditioning and free WiFi. It sits 100 metres from various restaurants and bars, and Gonzaga Beach is a short walk away. A simple breakfast is served daily. Guests rate it 8.2 from 560 reviews. I would recommend it to families and couples who want a modest base near the beach and nearby dining, and do not need hotel facilities.

Santos Hotel is a short walk from Praia do José Menino and from the Orquidário de Santos, a garden that suits a calm morning with children before heading to the sand. Its apartment-style rooms have air conditioning, a minibar, a TV and a private bathroom, giving families a little more room than a standard hotel. Free Wi-Fi covers the property, the front desk is open around the clock, and some options accept pets. An 8.2 rating from 459 reviews.

ibis Santos Valongo is an 11-minute walk from the Brazilian Coffee Museum and less than 1 km from Santos bus station, and I like that its free bicycles let families explore the historic centre together. Rooms are soundproofed and air-conditioned, with hypoallergenic bedding, a desk and a minibar. A traditional restaurant serves Brazilian dishes and there is a bar. Pets are welcome and WiFi is free. Guests rate it 8.2 out of 10 across more than 2,000 reviews.

Monte Serrat Hotel is the Santos hotel I would suggest to a family with children who need entertaining indoors. The games room has an Xbox and billiards, there is a movie theatre on site, and some air-conditioned rooms come with a private hot tub, a treat for parents. It sits in the city centre, 1 km from Santos Bus Terminal, while Boqueirão Beach is 4.1 km away, so plan on a short ride for beach days.

Casarão Hotel in Santos sits right on the beachfront, so families can go straight from breakfast to the sand. Embaré Beach and the Santos Aquarium are nearby, the aquarium being an easy outing for children. Rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms, a TV and a work desk. A buffet breakfast is served, a coffee shop and lounge offer a break, and housekeeping is daily. WiFi is free and the front desk runs 24 hours. It holds 8.0 from 311 reviews.

Novotel Santos Gonzaga suits families who want the beach within walking distance and a pool for the rest of the day. Gonzaga Beach is about 900 metres away, and the outdoor pool gives children a second option when the sea is rough. A daily buffet breakfast, restaurant and bar mean fewer meal decisions, while parents can use the sauna or fitness centre. Free WiFi and private parking help if you drive down from São Paulo. It scores 8.0 across 1,381 reviews.

Hotel Santa Catarina in Santos is a two-star hotel with family rooms that have air conditioning, private bathrooms and work desks. A 24-hour front desk, private check-in and check-out and a buffet breakfast are included. The listing places it near Itararé and the Orchid Garden. With a 7.9 rating from 222 reviews, I would recommend it to families and business travellers who want a practical, central-leaning base.