Hotel - Rio de Janiero

[Grannyvee]

We will be ending our cruise HAL (Rotterdam) in Rio. Anyone have hotel recommendations?

[blue cruiser]

you need to give people a idear on your likes and dislikes and idea on budget, other wise you could have rates from $50 to $800 a night.
a nice hotel on cocabana which would be $160 a night. a good hotel that i would recomend on the beach and right near to ipinema that is the
luxor regent.
but you might want more , i dont know
you can find there web sight for info.
you can splash out on the sheriton which is good but thats out of town you need a taxi as the area a little unsafe at times but the hotel is good and the views our great and your on the beach ,
rates start at $250 when i was last there .
both our good its want you want and what you want to spend.
hope this helps

[SDHALFAN]

We did a San Diego to Rio cruise a few years ago on the Ryndam. Since we were novices as regards to South America we didn't think to stay over a couple of days in Rio, which is something I will definitely do the next time.

HAL bussed all those passengers, who had not booked a shore excursion, to the Sheraton where we sat around all day in the Banquet Room of the Sheraton. Don't get me wrong, the hotel is lovely, and the people there could not have been more accomodating what with feeding us (sandwiches, sweet rolls, pastries and coffee, tea, juices, coke and water) all day long. It just was an incredibly long day. Bear in mind that most flights from Rio going to the North American Continent do not leave until midnight, although you have to be at the airport by about 9:00 p.m. Also, in case you don't already know, there is a charge to leave Brazil. Back in 2001 it was $35.00 per person. I have no idea what it is now. They are (or were) happy to accept American Dollars.

The Sheraton, as I mentioned, is a lovely hotel but it is a some distance out of town. I am sure that you can do better as far as convenience goes. Just be sure to get a lot of rest the day you are leaving Rio and keep your hotel room for as long as you can before leaving for the airport.

As an aside, our Varig flight which was supposed to be nonstop from Rio to St. Louis actually ended up flying from Rio to Sao Paulo where we had to get off the 'plane and get on another one. Sao Paulo airport at 1:00 a.m. was totally deserted and even though we had to get from one gate to another we couldn't find anyone to give us directions. If I remember correctly we all just sort of followed someone who took the leadership position (could have been a Brazilian for all I know) and after going up and down several deserted corridors we finally found the gate and the 'plane.

Our cruise was absolutely sensational and my favorite out of more than 20 HAL cruises so far but that last day still makes me shudder when I think about it.

Have a sensational cruise, a wonderful time in Rio and a safe trip home.

Valerie:)

[jasl]

Another vote for the Sheraton, while the location is a bit distant, taxis are not all that expensive and you'll have a nice quiet area.

[Grannyvee]

Many thanks for the info you provided regarding hotels in Rio. I shall be checking them out.

[Grannyvee]

SDHALFAN:

Thank you for all the information you provided regarding hotel in Rio and the other experiences you had on your trip.

We decided to spend a night in the Rio as we felt we would need the time to truly see the city. Hopefully, we can store our bags at the hotel after departing the cruise ship while we do a tour until check-in time. This also allows a extra day to see more sights of the city and visit the beaches.

We are flying out of Tampa with a connecting flight from Miami on American Airlines. We don't expect to be re-routed to a connecting flight within Brazil.

[xpcdoojk]

We stayed at the Ipanema Plaza, and enjoyed the hotel very much. They had a decent restaurant on premises and they took great care of us on two occassions during our trip in November by storing our luggage while we visited Iquasso Falls.

about 1/2 block off the beach.

jc

[tjcox9]

Also stayed at Ipanema Plaza last March. Facilities were nice, price OK, easy walking to beach and several restaurants.

Bar Do Beto was casual, just up the street, nice friendly service and great selections. We ate their twice.

On the same side of the street as the hotel, there's a more upscale Italian restaurant whose name escapes me, but it was also very good, although considerably more pricey.

Be aware that this area does seem to attract the gay crowd, if that's something that bothers you. We were unaware of that at the time of booking. It didn't create a problem, but made for some interesting people watching.

[xpcdoojk]

Also stayed at Ipanema Plaza last March. Facilities were nice, price OK, easy walking to beach and several restaurants.

Bar Do Beto was casual, just up the street, nice friendly service and great selections. We ate their twice.

On the same side of the street as the hotel, there's a more upscale Italian restaurant whose name escapes me, but it was also very good, although considerably more pricey.

Be aware that this area does seem to attract the gay crowd, if that's something that bothers you. We were unaware of that at the time of booking. It didn't create a problem, but made for some interesting people watching.

I think that is because on the beach they have the rainbow flag up at that section of the Ipanema Beach....:D Not a problem for anyone in our group. We learned about the Rainbow flag thing in San Juan a few years ago. :D That is a whole nother funny story!

jc