Kim

Hi,<BR>My boyfriend and I are going to Brazil in december. We want to go to Manous, Bahia and Rio. The only direct flights from New York fly into Sao Paulo. Is it worth staying there for a day? If not- would it make more sense to get a in-brazil flightpass so we can from sao paulo to Rio and then to the other areas or should we just transfer in Miami to go straight to Rio. Secondly, any reccomendations on high-end resorts in those three places? Any recs at all??? I need advice

Tammy

If this is a strictly vacation trip, then I would not use your time off for Sao Paulo. Sao Paulo is a business center and doesn't offer much in the way of tourist spots. However, the city does have a lot of fabulous restaurants, and I happen to love the city, just not for vacation. Definitely look into getting the Brazil pass. I think it is good for 5 one way trips within the country. If you can, try to fly directly into Rio, and then go from there. If time allows, might I suggest going to Iguacu Falls.

dave h

Hi, Kim. In Manaus, the best resort is 16kms outside of the city. It's called the Hotel Tropical. I heard it is very posh and priced accordingly. If your going to explore the Amazon then I'm sure you can arrange it from there. I stayed at the median priced Best Western Hotel and used the Swallows and Amazons agency across the street on Rua Quintino Bocaiuva 189. It was run by an American and was cheap for a private 1 day tour. I had a riverboat, the captain and his wife who cooked great meals, and my guide<BR>who had accompanied Jimmy Buffet on his Amazon trip. All this was just $75 American without well earned tips in 1999. Whatever you do, don't even give the time of day to the touts at the airport, who are crooks. If you are going on a longer jungle tour then be careful of Malaria of which there was an outbreak along the river villages when I went. I purchased a Varig airpass before leaving the States which was good for 21 days. I just paid around $25 American to change a flight when necessary. There are some hotels in Rio which are considered resorts but are a little less centrally situated. I would suggest the 5 star Caesar Park Hotel in Ipanema if you want to go top end in a very pleasant area with shopping, nightlife and restaurants. As far as the direct NYC - SP question: The time you save in avoiding transfer in Miami can be used to transfer to Rio from Sao Paulo with the airpass,if you can't get a NYC-SP-RIO ticket and you'll save even more time since SP-RIO flights are many. Check out the Brazilian domestic air route maps though for the rest of your itinerary, because the routes can be very convoluted. I would think that the airpass would be more economical but with the recent currency exchange rates, it would be wise to check out ticket prices for the separate legs of your Brazilian flights. I haven't visited Salvador yet.

Erin

Hi Kim,<BR>I live in northern NJ and have been to Rio three times. Prior to Sept 11th, you could fly non-stop from NYC to Rio. But since the airlines have cut back flights, you can't do it anymore. But you can fly direct from the New York area to Rio. From JFK you can fly United to Rio with a stopover in Sao Paulo. From Newark you can fly Continental (Newark-Houston-Rio or Newark-Sao Paolo-Rio) or Delta (Newark-Atlanta-Rio). <BR><BR>Rio is like "Manhattan with a beach"; it's an older city, so there isn't much available land. You are not going to find many "resort hotels" like they have in Cancun or the Caribbean where the hotel is on the beach, has big pools and its own water sports area. In Rio, the beaches are public and only 1 hotel is actually on the beach (The Sheraton). All the other hotels are across a busy thoroughfare from the beach and most have small rooftop pools. The best and most expensive hotels are Caesar Park and Copacabana Palace. The Sheraton and Inter-Continental hotel come closest to being resort hotels (they both have land, big pools, and poolside entertainment). But both of these hotels are far from "the action" of Rio (ie, Ipanema and Copacabana beaches). Check out www.ipanema.com for more info on Rio, the layout of the city and its hotels. Feel free to email me if you have any questions. Good Luck!

Surlok

Kim,<BR><BR>Is not that Sao Paulo doesn't have any attractions, but it is, mostly, a business oriented city, with many good restaurants and a live night, but is not, in fact, worth of stopping over just to visit. It's not pretty, as Rio is, just bigger, wealthier, and with a horrible traffic mess.<BR><BR>There is more than one type of flight pass, so be careful. You need one that allows you to go north and northeast. <BR><BR>Now, about resorts: you'll find many in Bahia. There is a new touristic pole, called Costa do Sauipe, with many resorts. Besides Costa do Sauipe, there is Comandatuba and Club Med, and also the Transamerica resort, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World.<BR><BR>Close to Rio, about 100 and a few miles, there are two beach regions, one is a little bit south, Angra dos Reis, and there is Hotel do Frade there, and another Club Med, the Rio das Pedras. Heading north, there is Buzios and Hotel Nas Rocas, another nice resort. Both regions are beautiful, but Buzios has a nicer climate, it seldom rains or get cloudy there, whereas Angra is often cloudy in the afternoon. Angra, being mostly islands, requires that you use a boat to go elsewhere, what doesn't happen in Buzios, which is a peninsula.<BR><BR>In Rio, besides the Ceasar, and the Copacabana Palace, there is the Marina All Suites Hotel, at Leblon Beach, less than a mile from Ipanema Beach.<BR><BR>Dave already told you more than I would be able to about Manaus. I've been to Belem, which is also part of the Amazon region and river, but not to Manaus itself. Expect a long flight to Manaus, either from Salvador or Rio, although I from Salvador, if there's a direct flight, the distance would be shorter.<BR><BR>I hope it helps.<BR><BR>Regards,<BR><BR>S

Carla

My husband and I have just returned from our vacation. Among other cities, we went to Manaus. We enjoyed ourselves very much. We stayed one day in Taj Mahal - Holiday Inn, that is in the center of the city. It was good because it is close to the beautiful Opera House (just one block). If you are lucky enough you can even attend a concert at popular prices (less than 5 dollars) like we did. Then we bought a 2 1/2 day travel package to the Ariau Hotel(www.ariau.tur.br) - a jungle hotel. They picked us up at the hotel and took us there by boat. One word to describe the experience: WONDERFUL. When we returned, we stayed another 2 days at Tropical Hotel - www.tropicalhotel.com.br (although one day would have been enough), just resting and enjoying the ambience. Tropical Hotel is a very beautiful resort, although it is far from the city. Ah! while in Manaus, don't miss Rio Negro Palace, a museum and a Cultural Center.<BR>About Rio, there are beautiful resorts around (1 1/2 hour drive), Hotel do Frade, Hotel Portobello or Mediterranee (Club Med Rio das Pedras). http://angra-dos-reis.com/ingles/index.htm<BR>In Salvador, try to stay one day in the city to see the "Pelourinho" and enjoy one night of the afro-brazilian rythm of "Timbalada" and then head to a resort<BR> like "Costa do Sau&iacute;pe" , Mediterranee (Club Med Itaparica, "Praia do Forte" (a preservation area for turtles)or Transamerica (Ilha de Comandatuba - http://www.transamerica.com.br/welc_ing.htm).<BR>

Carla

I forgot to post an advice. Pay attention to the name of the airports if you decide to travel Rio - Sao Paulo.<BR>The international airports are Galeao/Rio and Guarulhos/S&atilde;o Paulo and the domestic flights ones are Santos Dumont/Rio and Congonhas/S&atilde;o Paulo - although the international airports are also used for domestic flights. They are very far from each other.

Surlok

Ref: airports<BR><BR>Well said, Carla. Yes, there is Guarulhos, the International airport in Sao Paulo(GRU) and the domestic airport, Congonhas. If you mean to get a connection in Sao Paulo, make sure that your flight out Sao Paulo takes over from GRU, and not from Congonhas. They are far from each other, and the traffic in Sao Paulo is terrible.<BR><BR>Same if you're flying out Rio, to make a connection in Sao Paulo when you're bound back to the States. You'll be always leaving from the International airports which are, I repeat, for Rio, Galeao or "GIG", and for Sao Paulo, "GRU" or Guarulhos. <BR><BR>S

PAT

We just got back from a 12 days trip in Brazil.I think we did the "bestof".One night/2days in Iguassu(Tropical Das cataras)exceptional-visit both parts!Then 2 full days in Rio at Copacabana Palace(undoubtfully the best).3days in Amazonia with 2 nights at Ariau jungle tower-2h by boat from Manaus (to visit also for 1/2day)-amazing place!and then 4 days in BAHIA at Praiadoforte ecoresort with a 1day visit of SALVADOR-hihly recommended.In all those places people are so kind and at the exception of RIO(no reason to panic but be careful at night!)you will feel very safe.Don't waste your time in Sao paulo