Rio hotel booking?
 

This Othon page offers some very good hotel rates: <BR>http://www.hoteis-othon.com.br/port/...r/rj_savoy.htm <BR>But they are stated to be "para o mercado nacional", which I think means for locals. <BR> <BR>Does it mean that an US visitor cannot book online at these rates? Is it possible for someone in Rio to book at these rates for an US visitor? <BR> <BR>In some countries that have separate rates for the locals and for the foreigners, the governments are enforcing these rules by checking the bookers' residence proof. I doubt that this applies in Brazil. <BR> <BR>Can someone clarify this please? <BR>

That phrase might mean "Corporate rate". On the English web page for this hotel chain, prices are listed for both "rack" and "Corporate" rates (http://www.othon.com.br/ingl/travel/savoy/apart.htm)

Thanks of the suggestion. There are rack and discount rates, but the package deals in the link I posted are much better. On both the English and Spanish pages, the rates are quoted in US$, and are much higher than those on the Portuguese page.

Hmmm...I wonder if they've adjusted the rates in Brazilian reais to match their falling currency, but not for US Dollars? Since the Brazilian economy isn't doing too well, a lot of Brazilians can't afford to travel abroad this year. So, the hotels are expecting a lot more Brazilian vacationers than usual. Do you have your heart set on this hotel? Maybe go with a smaller hotel (or at least one that's not affliated with a hotel chain) and you might be able to negotiate a better rate. Have you looked at www.ipanema.com..they have good deals. I used them to book my hotel in Rio last year.

I've checked quite a few sites, including Ipanema.com. Most quotes are in US$, and none beats those in the link I posted. Ipanema's quote for Lancaster is almost twice higer. One problem I found with these sites, probably including Othon's, is that the quotes in US$ may be stale, and may not track the fluctuating currency exchange rate. <BR> <BR>Lancaster has been recommended to me by those who have stayed in a few Copa hotels in the same price range. A room with an ocean view balcony at US$45 a day is hard to beat, provided that the deal is available to someone from the US.