Grande Hotel Termas de Araxá

I’ve been in types of hotels and spas around the world but what Grand Hotel Araxa offers can’t be find anywhere in the world. It is well-being sanctuary for deep healing and spiritual awakening! Nestled in a beautiful pristine tropical forest area in the heart of Minas Gerais state, Araxa Grand Hotel offers all the comforts and premium amenities to make your journey one of the kind ever! From all-inclusive, half board or standard, the hotel features beautiful rooms, an extra large pool, plenty of activities, a state-of-the-art on-site spa, and a welcoming team ready to please you from the bellman to the General Manager. Mr. Renan Dias. The hotel is embedded with Brazil’s historical significance such as the hotel was a vision from former Brazilian president Mr. Getulio Vargas and hosted many other presidents through the years. The hotel was design by the architects Luiz Signorelli and world famous Roberto Burle Marx. The Araxá Grand Hotel has the largest sulfur and radioactive water spa in Brazil. The Spa offers different “journeys” and each one is designed to awaken, heal, and experience a profound and ultimate life transformation. In addition to all, inside the hotel complex, a 5 minutes walk from the main building is located the “Dona Beja” fountain which is known to bring eternal youth and beauty due its medical properties. According to legend, the irresistible beauty and youthfulness of the Dona Beja was due to the naked baths she took in the mineral water of radioactive source of the fountain, which you can do too when you stay in the hotel. I did it all and I can say, I’ve replenish my energies for decades, the Araxa Grand Hotel is a hidden treasury!

Place is the most relaxing ever! I enjoyed the quiet and relaxing places and sights. Breakfast was very well served and service was great. Nature looked astonishing with lots of options for sports and food.

I had lunch there. Great food, excellent staff. Waiter Rita was very kind and careful. Went to the thermal baths also and their mud bathtubes. Nice experience. Dona Beija fountain worth a stop by also. The gardens and atmosphere are scenic.

check in was quick however it went down hill from there on the chairs on the floor that we were staying was covered in dust, and looked like it hadn't been cleaned at all! the carpets were disgustingly dirty and stained the corridor lights were not lit the rooms are sold as luxury suites but to the contrary have chairs and that are stained and totally beat up the bathroom was a joke, the door was damaged the taps are ancient the food was terrible and atrociously expensive the swimming pool was not clean the area arou d the pool was dirty as thouigh the staff had given up on the maintenance poor value overall despite the eye watering prices

From the elegant ambiance to the exceptional customer service (thank you Deiva Beatriz, Gabriel Rodrigues (Account Manager Taua Caete), Armerindo, Rita, Rafael (check in), Franciele, Joalisson, Renan (General Manager) and everyone that make the customer experience here awesome. Every moment at the Grande Hotel feels like a true escape. The staff’s attention to detail and genuine warmth make you feel right at home. The rooms, a blend of comfort and beauty, offer a serene retreat. Overall, the Grande Hotel crafts an unforgettable experience, setting the standard for luxury and hospitality.

Not sure what I can write that hasn't been written before - this is a piece of history. Expensive? Very much so! But you get some of the best 4 meals you can get anywhere in Brazil - besides the traditional 3, delicious 5 pm tea/coffee time (detail - the teas could be a bit more special - like Twinings - and not the good, but not so special Brazilian brand Leão). And if you stay 2 days, the leisure and spa team offer enough activities that'll help you spend the time between those meals. There are nice opportunities to walk in the region - it's not really the most exuberant nature in Brazil, but it's pleasant. Staying 2 nights, my wife and I didn't have time to try some of the spa treatments - that'll be on our to-do-list for the next visit, and there will be one. We stayed on the 6th floor, facing the front area. There's a pretty view, but apparently there are often outside events and a book fair was just being set up, making it not so "pretty". The 6th floor is a must if you value a balcony - as we do. The rooms are not even that large, but sufficient. Very comfortable, though not particularly luxurious. All very clean and very quiet, as we like it. Of course it helped we went off-season and we were among at most 50 guests - there is room for about 700 when it's full. The relative emptiness was perfect for us when, on the 1st morning there we had the nice, warm pool just to ourselves. And we were among the youngest guests - both my wife and I are close to 60. It makes sense: it's really for those already have a pretty steady and guaranteed income. You absolutely most have a tour of the hotel and of the Presidential suite. Just a few things to improve: in the rooms, the shower could use a reform - the water was unsteadily warm - the A/C is not the silent kind - the days weren't too hot and we slept with our French doors open. In the public bathrooms, the drying paper is really flimsy and doesn't dry well. Finally, in the F&B - we found that some of the waitresses don't really know the drink options and need some better training. One had no idea what a Kir Royal is. Absolutely nothing that will deter us from returning.