Brazil Vacations

[Imagineer7]

Any of you ever travel to Brazil? Which resorts did you stay at?

 

[Syrreal]

Brazil is a big country. What area are you planning on visiting? I know a few places in the Sao Paulo and Rio areas that I can suggest if you are going to hit those and their surroundings.

 

[prncess674]

Agree, where in Brazil would you like to visit? What is your travel budget? What time of year? Traveling with kids?

I know that many people on the DIS are very rude and nasty about Brazilian tour groups. Brazilians have a different sense of order and don't always follow American standards, so don't say they are all rude.

 

[Imagineer7]

Rio area definitely! Looking for a place right on the beach.. budget is large as this is one of those luxury trips for us and it will just be and the girlfriend, no kids.

 

[prncess674]

There are two major beach areas in Rio: Ipanema and Copacabana. Copacabana is more white touristy, but the prices are double. While Copacabana seems like the better choice since most Americans hear about it in songs, the area you really want to be is Ipanema. I have stayed at both beaches and we loved Ipanema so much more. All the beaches are public so you must cross a busy street to reach the either beach. While it sounds crazy we stayed at the Best Western Ipanema Sol, it was an absolutely great location. It was not a luxury hotel, but it was so well situated, safe and clean. We were able to walk everywhere.

In Rio you walk across the street and a bunch of beach hawkers in tents (baraccas) are set up. Basically when you walk up a hawker will then try to approach you and they then rent you chairs and umbrellas. You don't pay right away. They start a tab and then will bring you whatever you want from cocktails, snacks, etc. At the end of the day they give you a bill. This is negotiable. Also make sure that the shirt they are wearing matches a tent. Many times there are independents who then rent on your behalf and then mark up prices. We always rented from Barraca de Marcello that sets up shop near the Ceasar Park Hotel. Also if you are there for multi days be sure to go back to the same tent if you enjoyed the service, the price tends to get better the longer you stay.

Also while sitting on the beach many vendors will approach you selling everything and anything. Once again EVERYTHING is negotiable. If they speak no english start drawing the numbers in the sand to negotiate!

Love! Love! Love Rio! I have been twice for New Year's and I can honestly say it is two of the best trips of my life. Don't forget that the seasons are reversed so if you go in December it is wonderfully warm beach weather!

 

[Imagineer7]

Great information prncess!! Thank you..

 

[JCJRSmith]

I did a trip to Rio one year (1988). The name of the "resort" I stayed at was USS Independence (CV-62). We stopped there for a few days on a cruise around South America to change our ship's home port from Norfolk, VA to San Diego, CA. We couldn't go thru the Panama canal as the ship was too wide - aircraft carriers are BIG doanchaknow.

We had a really good time in Rio.

 

[prncess674]

A few other things, all the women (even the old, fat, etc) where bikinis and men wear a bathing suit that looks like boxer briefs. Women do not go topless in general, but they do wear these very teeny tops and bottoms. If you don't want to stick out and immediately be deemed an American the ladies should invest in at least a modest bikini and men should invest in one of these boxer brief type suits.

They also don't bring a ton of junk to the beach. Most men will just walk down to the beach in a bathing suit, flip flops and maybe a t-shirt and women just throw a sarong over a bathing suit. In the morning you stop at one of the bazillion juice bars that line the side streets for a smoothie type drink and when leaving the beach in the afternoon there are tons of snack carts selling anything and everything. Dinner is eaten very late so you need the snack to tide you over till after at least 8, with many people eating after 9pm.

 

[Syrreal]

If you decide to stay in Ipanema, a couple of really nice places are the Praia Ipanema, Caesar Park Ipanema and Hotel Fasano. In Copacabana the Copacabana palace is awesome (but you def pay for that awesomeness). Personally, I prefer Ipanema, but it's personal preference.
If you do stay in Ipanema, you should visit Vinicius. It's a restaurant where supposedly the song Girl from Ipanema was written. The food is good. Get the picanha plate (or something like that) which is a dish for 2 where a big hot plate is brought to your table to cook little picanha slices and it's served with rice, french fries, farofa, and I can't remember what else, maybe a salad. There is a little bossa nova bar upstairs too.
You should also try Casa da Feijoada.

If you're looking to do something a little different, you can go down to Angra dos Reis and go on this schooner they have there and have them take you to Parati. http://www.escunadalia.com.br/desenv/index.php?idi=2 IIRC the people that run the ship can set up a car service for you to take you from Rio there and back (about an hour away).
Parati is a cute little town. http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/South_America/Brazil/Estado_do_Rio_de_Janeiro/Parati-1508527/TravelGuide-Parati.html

 

[prncess674]

If you decide to stay in Ipanema, a couple of really nice places are the Praia Ipanema, Caesar Park Ipanema and Hotel Fasano. In Copacabana the Copacabana palace is awesome (but you def pay for that awesomeness). Personally, I prefer Ipanema, but it's personal preference.

When thinking about hotels remember that the beach is the great equalizer. I am all for staying at great luxury hotels when said hotels have private beaches and wonderful beach service. Just realize when staying in Rio everyone has to cross the street and whether you took the bus down from a favela or paying $500 US a night at the Palace you are all using the same beach and all are being served from the barracas. You have to ask yourself how much a super luxury room means to you. We stopped and had drinks one night at the Palace which of course was very nice, but I didn't see any public spaces that made me want to pay 5 times as much.

If you do stay in Ipanema, you should visit Vinicius. It's a restaurant where supposedly the song Girl from Ipanema was written. The food is good. Get the picanha plate (or something like that) which is a dish for 2 where a big hot plate is brought to your table to cook little picanha slices and it's served with rice, french fries, farofa, and I can't remember what else, maybe a salad. There is a little bossa nova bar upstairs too.
You should also try Casa da Feijoada.

picanha is served at almost all restaurants and certainly at any of the rodizio restaurants.


I didn't write a trip report about my last trip but I did write one over at Flyertalk back in 2004 for my first trip. You can read it here. On my first stay we stayed at the Sheraton Leblon and I would never stay there again, hence why I stayed at the Best Western the last time.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip...ss-lisa-go-rio-de-janeiro-new-year-s-eve.html

 

[Syrreal]

When thinking about hotels remember that the beach is the great equalizer. I am all for staying at great luxury hotels when said hotels have private beaches and wonderful beach service. Just realize when staying in Rio everyone has to cross the street and whether you took the bus down from a favela or paying $500 US a night at the Palace you are all using the same beach and all are being served from the barracas. You have to ask yourself how much a super luxury room means to you. We stopped and had drinks one night at the Palace which of course was very nice, but I didn't see any public spaces that made me want to pay 5 times as much.

picanha is served at almost all restaurants and certainly at any of the rodizio restaurants.

You're right about having to use the public beach. The OP said that the budget was large for a luxury trip which is the reason I listed those hotels. There are perfectly great hotels just a block away but since you have to walk an extra block they are significantly cheaper.

The Promenade Visconti is a good example. There is also a sofitel around there, if I'm not mistaken. Although I do NOT recommend the Ipanema Inn. We stayed there a little while back and it was great but the quality of the hotel had greatly decreased when we went last year. I think they got new owners. However, if you are looking at getting a call girl, it's right up that alley including condoms in the room as part of the "amenities."

I do know that picanha is served almost everywhere (I'm Brazilian and miss picanha greatly here in the states where I have to pay an arm and a leg for it) but I mentioned that dish in particular because it's cool that it gets cooked table side and it's meant to be shared so it's a cute couples thing to do.

You can also go to a rodizio like Porcao but I think the value of a more local rodizio is better as in Porcao you are paying a lot for the name and for possibly catching one of the soap operas filming right outside. (Difference of easily 30 reais between the two not including drinks).

Definitely try the street food. Pastel (thing eggroll outside, but in a square shape filled with cheese or meat, or even pizza or shrimp) and Coxinha (like a deep fried chicken filled dumpling) are my personal faves.

On rainy days, you can hit a mall like Leblon Shopping.

Just as a note, there is a lot of begging in Rio. Unless you are prepared to give to every hand you see, learn to say no or just walk past. (Times like this I wish we could insert intent or inflection as I know that can be read as way more insensitive than I intend it to be).

Definitely do Pao de Acucar (Sugarloaf Mtn) and the Christ statue, which if you go on a Sunday cars aren't allowed all the way to the top. If you can, find a show going on and catch that.

OP, How long are you planning to be in Brazil?

 

[prncess674]

You're right about having to use the public beach. The OP said that the budget was large for a luxury trip which is the reason I listed those hotels. There are perfectly great hotels just a block away but since you have to walk an extra block they are significantly cheaper.

I think the OP needs to define "luxury" and a price point. My parents think the Westin is luxury, to me it is a basic business class hotel.

I do know that picanha is served almost everywhere (I'm Brazilian and miss picanha greatly here in the states where I have to pay an arm and a leg for it) but I mentioned that dish in particular because it's cool that it gets cooked table side and it's meant to be shared so it's a cute couples thing to do.

agree that it is fun dish since you get to cook it yourself. I just mentioned that it is served everywhere and they don't have to traipse to a special restaurant to get it for dinner one evening. During a week long trip I think we ate a lot of it. I had to go on meat detox when I got home.

You can also go to a rodizio like Porcao but I think the value of a more local rodizio is better as in Porcao you are paying a lot for the name and for possibly catching one of the soap operas filming right outside. (Difference of easily 30 reais between the two not including drinks).

I found the rodizio restaurants to be really expensive by Rio standards and found that unless you are a guy with a REALLY hearty appetite you are better just going to a good local restaurant and ordering what suits your fancy. We went to Porcao once and felt so overstuffed at the end that it kinda ruined our night since it made us so sleepy.

Definitely try the street food. Pastel (thing eggroll outside, but in a square shape filled with cheese or meat, or even pizza or shrimp) and Coxinha (like a deep fried chicken filled dumpling) are my personal faves.

I loved all the empadas!

On rainy days, you can hit a mall like Leblon Shopping.

thankfully i never encountered rain on my trips!

Just as a note, there is a lot of begging in Rio. Unless you are prepared to give to every hand you see, learn to say no or just walk past. (Times like this I wish we could insert intent or inflection as I know that can be read as way more insensitive than I intend it to be).

I learned to just pretend like I didn't hear them! A good pair of dark sunglasses can be helpful to avoid eye contact. Also if you hand money to beggars they are also watching where you are pulling out money which could end up making you a victim of pickpocketing or other petty crimes.

Definitely do Pao de Acucar (Sugarloaf Mtn) and the Christ statue, which if you go on a Sunday cars aren't allowed all the way to the top. If you can, find a show going on and catch that.

I was glad we took the funicular tram up to the top since it was an interesting experience that had a band on the tram but it was worth every penny to take a car back down! Once you make the trip up, all you want to do is get back down!

 

[Imagineer7]

Thanks for all the great suggestions!! The trip will be about 10-12 days, haven't decided on the exact length yet. We'll definitely be spending a lot of time at the great beaches but will also be wanting to do some sight seeing. Any good rain forests that a person can cab to?

I did see the Copacabana Palace, I think its rated #1 on Trip Advisor. Looks amazing and I would say that would be right at the very top of our budget. We were thinking more 350 to 450 a night for a hotel but I could be swayed to spend more if it was necessary.

Luxury to means ultra clean rooms with top service, probably maid service 2x a day, a hotel with a couple dining options, a nice bar, an amazing pool.

 

[kreeshastewart]

I'm afraid I cant suggest a hotel right now. But I guess I will go back on this forum and suggest the best and the finest hotels in Brazil. I am now going in New York and visit the luxury hotels new york city. I think it will also be fun.