Part 2- Places to visit and accommodations
I wanted to share all of our experiences in Brazil from start to finish.
First post was on how to start planning, safety and transportation.
This post I will talk about accommodations from where to stay, rates and best locations.
What to pack (Do’s and Don’t) Although our trip was for leisure and fun we did a lot of family visiting. For this reason I will have a combination of locations. * The ones where I stayed and the ones I saw that it was appropriate and safe. At the bottom of this post I have provided a link to the sites I used to look for and book the best deals. I also provided a direct link to the properties. Hope you enjoy..
** As a Reminder Always remember you are a guest in these regions and life-and-death survival becomes a real issue if you don’t take sensible measures.
Where To Stay: We started our trip by flying from Boston to Texas and then to Rio de Janeiro. The flight and wait time at the airport was brutal and very long. I encourage you to bring a book, laptop or phone for games, movies etc.
Locations: These are the locations we visited in 22 days of our stay
Stop #1 Itaboraí – Rio de Janeiro – Visiting Family
Hotel #1 – Samba Itaboraí
“ Samba Itaboraí has 200 apartments with air conditioning, telephone and minibar, as well as offering Wi-Fi and free parking.”
We stayed at Samba Itaborai for one night while visiting family. The hotel looked clean and we felt safe. The rooms were clean and beds were comfortable. If I was to visit Itaborai again I would definitely return to this hotel. We paid US$65.00 for one night for 5 adults.
Stop #2 Copacabana – Rio de Janeiro
“ Famed for its crescent-shaped beach, Copacabana is one of Rio’s liveliest neighborhoods, drawing a cross-section of locals and visitors to round-the-clock activity along its sands and mosaic-tiled promenade. “
Copacabana was one of the most beautiful places we visited. We didn’t stay too long due to the fact that we had so many places to see and so many families to visit. However we did get to enjoy it and it was a memorable visit.
Hotel #2 – Olinda Rio Hotel
The Olinda Rio Hotel was beautiful. The location right across from the Copacabana beach was perfect. We had 2 rooms, one with a king bed and balcony and the other had 3 single beds(for the boys). Price was around US$347.00 for 3 nights including taxes and fees for both rooms.
“Located in the most privileged location and with a wonderful view of the entire Copacabana coastline, as it is in the center of the beach, the Olinda Rio Hotel is housed in a noble building with a classic architectural style built in 1949, which preserves the charm and glamor of that era.”
Stop #3 Armação dos Búzios – Rio de Janeiro
“Armação dos Búzios (or Búzios) is a Brazilian resort set on an ocean peninsula east of Rio de Janeiro. It’s known as an upscale vacation destination with numerous beaches.”
When we visited Buzios it was during COVID-19 and they had prevention measures established by the City and restrictions on Tourism. The hotel we stayed at provided us with a confirmation QR code to present to the Municipal Guards that were stationed right at the entrance of the Island. Without this, the entry into Búzios was not permitted! I thought that was a great decision on their part as this kept the crowd at a low capacity and nothing was over crowded.
While in Buzios we did a Boat Tour with Turismo Agua Viva – There are 3 stops for diving, around the vessel, in protected paradisiacal locations. Boats with bathrooms, bar, barbecue, second floor. We paid US$60.00 for five (5) adults plus the additional for the drinks and food. The whole experience was amazing and we absolutely loved it.
Hotel #3 – HOTEL VILLE LA PLAGE & BEACH CLUB (hotel website is not working)
“Located just a few steps from the Atlantic Ocean, Hotel Ville La Plage is within a short walk distance from João Fernandes Beach and La Plage Club. It also features an outdoor swimming pool overlooking the sea.”
What a beautiful resort this was. We stayed in a king size room with a balcony and the kids had a 2 double bed with a balcony. We stayed here for 3 nights and paid a total of US$557.99 for both rooms including all taxes and fees. The hotel has a beach front restaurant with a sun terrace allowing direct views of the ocean. The beach was closed due to high tides and strong wind so we didn’t get to go into the water, however the experience of being there and eating our food by the ocean was amazing.
Stop #4 Family Farm – Mantena Minas Gerais
Hotel #4 – Free Stay at family home
Stop#5 Vila Velha – Espírito Santo
“Vila Velha is a city on Brazil’s southeast coast. Beaches line the coast, including Praia de Itaparica, a surf beach in the north, and Praia da Baleia in the south.”
This is my husband’s hometown and it’s beautiful. We had a great time here visiting family, shops and the beaches.
Hotel #5 – Flat Pasárgada 404
We stayed at the flat Pasargada for 7 nights. Paid a total of US$429.01.
This beachfront fully equipped apartment had 2 bedrooms, one with 3 twin beds and one with a full size bed, and 2 bathrooms. Fully equipped kitchen kitchenware and stovetop (just like an Airbnb) secured locked entrances with a security at the door. Upper floors accessible by elevator. We didn’t use the pool or any of the other things they had to offer because we had to visit so many families. Time was short. But overall it was a great experience and we had so much fun.
As I mentioned in my post part 1 I used Booking for the car rental and accommodation
Booking.com – Is the best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates.
Stay tuned for Part 3 – Food & Adventures
Thinking Out Cloud 