HOTELS GO HAUTE

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Grazia

June 2009

The hideaway:

UXUA CASA. BRAZIL

Spearheaded by Wilben Das, the creative director of Diesel, Uxua Casa (pronounced oo-SHOO-ahh) is a collection of nine colourful fisherman’s houses, or ‘casas’. Set in the hillcop village of Trancoso. in the remote southern state of Bahia, its laid-back vibe is about as far as you can get from the usual minimalist hotel decor. Each casa is unique; there’s a tree house encirely constructed from recycled wood, two poolside studios and six picture-perfect bungalows hidden among the lush coconut palms. The hotel is set around the Quadrado, a grassy town square that is a UNESCO world heritage site and, although this is a luxury retreat, visitors say the place still has a real community vibe. Guests who drop by the beach will see locals playing volleyball and capoeira (a Brazilian blend of martial-arts and dance). But the great thing abour Uxua is its flexibility; guests can opt for full five-star services or a more budger-friendly self-carering. UXUA Casa (www.uxua.com) offers B&Bfrom approx £197-£460 per night.