The Brazil Travel Site

Accor Hotels in São Paulo:
A Hotel for Every Style and Budget in Just About Every Area of São Paulo

Sao Paulo, sp-lodging (February 10, 2008)

In São Paulo, hotels in the Accor network offer a variety of price and comfort options and always good service and management. They have economical options, business hotels, flats and luxury options. Wherever you stay in São Paulo, there’s bound to be an Accor hotel nearby.

See: accorhotels.com

Formula 1

The Formula 1 hotels are very economical. They operate on a philosophy of simple and streamlined services, from management and reservations to the interior design and furnishings. Reservations are handled by Internet or in person only and, given their cost-benefit equation, are always booked up. You should plan your stay at least two months in advance and more if possible. One price covers up to three people in the rooms and there are no phones or fancy features—just comfortable beds and good showers. Breakfast is offered for an extra price. There is a Formula 1 located right outside the Paraiso metro station.

Rua Vergueiro 1571
Paraiso - Sao Paulo
11-5085-5699
11-5085-5694

The Mercure Nortel

This hotel is located in the North Zone of the city, where the Anhembi Convention and Carnival center is located. This is also where the Expo Norte Convention Center can be found. The Nortel is a business-oriented hotel, due to its location in the convention area of the city, and, as such, offers exceptional weekend specials that even residents of the city take advantage of. The hotel has a terrific breakfast (included) and a bar that is packed during happy hours. The rooms are large and comfortable and some have kitchens and balconies. The hotel offers a beauty salon, gym, sauna, 24-hour service and transportation to the convention centers nearby.

Avenida Luis Dumont Vilares
Santana - Sao Paulo
11-6972-8111

The Mercure Jardins

This luxury-style hotel is located directly in the city’s high-end shopping and dining district. But the hotel is reasonably priced for its location. They offer self-service laundry, breakfast 24-hour room service. The restaurant at the bottom of the hotel is excellent, but the options in this neighborhood will probably overshadow it.

Rua Pamplona 1315
Jardins – Sao Paulo
11-5878-5500
11-3884-9226

The Road From Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro

Rio, Sao Paulo, beaches, excursions (September 8, 2007)

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The Road from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro
The road between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo is one of Brazil’s most traveled tourist destinations. Called the Rio-Santos road, the trip is perfect for many visitors who want to see the big cities of Brazil, some excellent beaches and tropical islands (including some that are touristy and full of beautiful people and others that are remote and deserted), and also a touch of the interior. You can rent a car and take the trip at your own pace, visiting the highlights that you set for yourself. In this article, I’ll try to answer some of the most common questions about this trip. I’ll add more as they come in, so this will be a work-in-progress.

The road between São Paulo and Rio is a popular road trip for tourists and Brazilians alike. It’s about 450 kilometers of coastline and takes you past some of the most beautiful beaches and beach towns in the country. The water gets greener and warmer the closer you get to Rio, but the beaches near São Paulo are not to be missed either — for their water sports, beautiful people and great boardwalks.

The road itself is in good shape, but it can get a bit windy along the mountain passes around the São Sebastião area, so take it slowly and carefully and enjoy the time.

While you’re in Sao Paulo, you can take the Walking Tour of Downtown Sao Paulo. Also, I’ve listed some good hotels in the Sao Paulo area in my article on The Accor Hotels. I always suggest starting in São Paulo and driving to Rio. This way, your trip will keep building and building to the end, saving the most spectacular for last. There are so many things to see and do between these great cities, that you may want to make the trip twice to get it all in. You wouldn’t be the first.

Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a lot of violence in this region?
Outside of Rio, there is nothing excessive and even inside Rio, the problems are mostly located in the Copacabana Beach area. Of course, you should always be aware and careful. Keep a minimum amount of cash on you and no significant valuables. Split up your cash and when you drive, leave as much in the trunk as possible (your bags, valuables, and credit cards).

What are THE best places for snorkeling?
I’d say that the top snorkeling on this trip would be around Ilha Grande and Angra dos Reis. It’s hard to say which of these is best, but I can say that Ilha Grande requires a bit more time and commitment. If you have the time, it’s totally worth it. If you choose Angra, then be sure to take a boat out to the islands AWAY from the mainland — so you get away from the Angra pollution. That said, there are some wonderful dives there.

The next best place would be the north coast around Ubatuba. There are some wonderful waters there and you can charter boats out for great snorkeling.

How are the roads in this area?
The BR freeways (called rodovias) are much faster and in better condition than the small roads. Also, this is a mountainous region and the roads can be difficult at times. I suggest sticking to the main estradas that will offer the smoothest ride. However, the roads in general in this area are well maintained and generally problem free. You have to get used to maneuvering in two-lanes of traffic is all.

How do Ilha Grande, Paraty, and Buzios compare?
These are all different from one another and Buzios is completely different than just about any other place on the coast. It’s a great place for adults and offers a lot of shopping, modern facilities, great hotels and lots of beaches — both crowded and secluded. You also have some economical options for hotels, so it’s not only for the spenders. A lot of Brazil’s TV stars can be seen at Buzios.

Paraty is an excellent place for tourists and provides a bit of the historical side of Brazil along with beaches and great restaurants. It’s a small town, but the best beaches are outside of town to the north or south. Don’t miss the waterfalls in Paraty, as well as the boat trips.

Ilha Grande is the most remote of the three. There are very few cars on this huge island and only one major town — called Abraao (Abraham). The town, hotels, and eating establishments are all very quaint and you can walk around town with no problem to take it all in. There are beaches all around the island and you can hike or take boats out to them. Some of these are among the prettiest in Brazil and offer great snorkeling, diving, and other fun activities. You really feel the island experience at Ilha Grande because of the lack of cars.

What is the best rental car service to use there?
Here’s a comment from one of my readers about that…”We used Unidas rent-a-car and they were great and about 50% cheaper than Hertz or Avis (12 day rental of a Chevy Meriva was $500, including insurance). It was practically new and they gave us an 800 number to call in case of problems. We booked them through Autoeurope.com.”

Is it worth going inland to Teresopolis?
Absolutely! Teresopolis has a lot to offer and is completely different than the coastal sights. The feature there is hiking and rafting and you should probably set this up ahead of time — like while you’re in Buzios or Rio — with one of the agencies that offer packages or trip planning. For most people 48 hours is enough, but if you’re really into hiking and rock climbing, you might want more.