Just spent 3 wonderful weeks travelling Brazil. Want to give a brief trip<BR>report for those who are interested. Thanks to all in this group for<BR>allowing me to lurk and answering my questions. Hope this helps others<BR>planning a similar trip.<BR><BR>We went to Iguassu Falls and stayed at the Hotel des Cataracas. Would<BR>definitely do that again. Hotel is very nice. View of the falls is<BR>incredible. Be sure to get a guide and go to the Argentinan side of the<BR>falls. Even more spectacular IMHO than the Brazilian side.<BR><BR>Then we went to Rio de Janeiro. Stayed at the Ipanema Plaza Hotel. Would<BR>definitely do that again. The hotel is beautiful, reasonably priced, one<BR>block from the beach, in a great area of Ipanema. We had no problems in<BR>Rio. And there were four of us - me, my wife and kids - ages 6 and 9. Went<BR>for Carnival but didn't go to the Samabadrome. The tickets were expensive<BR>and we had just a good a time watching and being part of the street parades.<BR>Of all the cities I've been to, Rio is the most beautiful. And did I<BR>mention the people? Work out a lot before you go because every body is<BR>gorgeous. Eye candy for men and women alike.<BR><BR>Then to the Amazon. Stayed at Ariau Towers. Okay place. Contrary to my<BR>expecations you won't see any animals...except lots of monkeys. The place<BR>is just okay but the excursions are a lot of fun. Best one was the jungle<BR>trek and seeing the sights via motorized canoe. It's a pretty easy<BR>experience, but I didn't really feel like I experienced the Amazon. There<BR>are a lot of other options. Doing a river boat ride and staying with an<BR>Indian tribe next time sounds more appealing. Check the internet for Amazon<BR>jungle trips. There are a lot listed.<BR><BR>Then to Salvador and stayed at Praia de Forte. Definitely would stay there<BR>again! Praia de Forte is an hour out of Salvador. So you won't go into<BR>town too often. But if you want a glorious resort that is very much like<BR>Club Med -- breakfast and dinner included, free kid activities and adult<BR>activities, sail boats and windsurfers for use included -- you will love it.<BR>After travelling all over Brazil it was great to relax at the resort.<BR><BR>This was my first trip to Brazil and I'd say this was the best vacation of<BR>my life. Many Americans are afraid to travel because of the stories we've<BR>heard of the dangers of travelling in Brazil in general and Rio in<BR>particular. Maybe there were true in the past but we sure didn't experience<BR>anything of the sort. What we found was a country full of nice, fun-loving<BR>people. Looking forward to going again ... one day!<BR><BR>

I just read your report on your 3 week vacation to Brazil. It sounds like you had a wonderful time. I'm very curious about Rio. I've been doing alot of research mostly through this website. I've had alot of positive feedback on Rio. You said you stayed at the Ipanema Palace and found it very nice. Did you favor Ipanema over Copacabana? I've heard Ipanema is much nicer. Would you agree? Any advise/opinion on where to stay and things to do, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Sally

Hello Sally, ..<BR>I am so sorry about, but I was the person who sent the message (but from another person, posted in a newsgroup) <BR>to this forum, ..<BR>because I thought it very well for all those brazilian-travellers!<BR>As I am not the person who had written this, I can't give you personally information about the hotel they told about, but I definitely could give you a lot of insider-advice about what to do and to see in Rio also...<BR>have been around 8-9 times to Rio, it is my favourite city and I love it!<BR>So please feel free to write to my E Mail:[email protected]<BR><BR>Greetings<BR>Evelyn

Evelyn, I decided to take you up on your offer and wrote to your E-mail address. It wouldn't go through. [email protected] (am I missing something)? Sally

Sally I have been to Rio and I would definitely recommend Ipanema over Copacabana. I speak from the heart. Copacabana is more of a magnet for trouble, Ipanema is more upscale and I think worth the extra $$. I would never recommend any of my family to stay in Copacabana.

Hello Sally...<BR>Yes, you can take my offer for real and write me...!!!<BR>But it is not "Elynn"..it is [email protected]??<BR>Maybe because of that it was not going throug??<BR>Hoping to hear from you soon!!!<BR><BR>Evelyn