A friend and I are planning a trip to brazil in april, for about 2 weeks or so and are looking for ideas on fun places to go/major points of interests/things that "sterotypical" tourists don't do..... etc, any suggestions?

I imagine that it might depend on your resources and interests. I just got back from 3 weeks in Brasil and found the hotels and food expensive. My thoughts are that Brasil is overpriced for what you get. I did feel that Rio is less expensive and more variety. Just one persons thoughts.
bsvirginian

When I visit Rio, I never stay in hotels, I rent an apartment and eat at the local restaurants. It's much less expensive but there is usually a minimum rental requirement in an apartment.

I suggest you come over to Salvador, Bahia. It is a beautiful place, historic, with great food, great music, nice people.

I agree with Brazilnut, go to Salvador, the food is fabulous and the architecture is incredibly interesting. I found prices very good value in April of this year.

Expedia has very good deals on hotels.
We stayed at the Convento do Carmo which was one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever stayed in with an amazing breakfast buffet. Sobremese for breakfast that's my kind of hotel!

I'd be a bit reluctant to deal with Expedia. I've actually found that their cost is above what the hotel might charge and their guarantee is not what you might think. My recent encounter with them (via a credit point use) actually cost me very dearly via an international call that was supposed to be free. And the reservation didn't exist when I got to the hotel. Than on a supposedly free international call to clarify the situation was charged another exhorbanant international call fee. Expedia just shrugged their shoulders and said that they were not responsible and could not do anything about it but did thank me for informing them that their free internation telepone claim was not honored. I have since decided to back away from Expedia type travel arrangements and even stopped using the credit card that uses Expedia for its travel. Just my thoughts on recent travel to Brasil. bsvirginian