ThinGorjus

I am going to Rio in July, 2004, and am considering Sofitel Copacabana as my hotel choice. Good idea?

Also, I can't find Gaveas Shopping Center on my map of Rio. Just where is it?

Cheers, John G.

Dondiega

Gaveas Shopping center? I never heard of it, it may exhist but I never heard of it, if it does then I would imagine it would be in Gavea which is near the Sheraton hotel. The only shopping center I know of in that area is the Sao Conrado Fashion mall right behind the Intercontinental hotel. Its a nice shopping center with nice restaurants and high level shops.

The Sofitel used to be the Rio Palace, I stayed there in the earlt 80's. It was a great hotel then and is in a great location near Ipanema and it is at the beginning of Copacabana. 2 pools one for the morning and one for the afternoon and has 2 very nice restaurants with a nice bar, the 1 restaurant is a high level french restaurant with an award winning chef. Im sure it has been refurbished since I stayed there last, sounds like a good choice.

Dondiega

Well, learn something new every day, here is a blurb about the shopping center you are interested in:

Purpose-built, air-conditioned, shopping centres - shoppings - have mushroomed in Rio during the last couple of decades. The best known and most central is RioSul (Mon-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 3-9pm), before the Pasmado Tunnel at the end of Botafogo. Inside there are department stores, a supermarket, a huge range of fashion boutiques, record stores and lots of places to grab a snack. Other shoppings include Shopping Center da Gávea, Rua Marquês de São Vicente (Mon-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun noon-10pm), and the small, upmarket São Conrado Fashion Mall, Estrada da Gávea 899 (Mon-Thurs 10am-9pm, Fri-Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 3-9pm).

mrwunrfl

I think it is a good choice. I stayed there for a week in November 2002. The first four nights were in a fairly large room on the 2nd or 3rd floor overlooking the rear swimming pool. Very comfortable and quiet with two small balconies. For the last three nights, I moved to an ocean view room. The hotel is U shaped with the opening of the U facing the beach, of course. I stayed in the wing closest to the end of Copacabana beach (the wing opposite the hotel lobby), about the 8th floor, one room or two in from the end of the wing. About 40% of the view (ok, maybe more) was of the hotel, but the rest was a spectacular view down the entire Copacabana beach out to the Pao de Azucar and beyond.

The ocean view room was about 65% the size of the room in the back and cost about 25% more. I really enjoyed the view. You can of course, get great views from the mezzanine level of the hotel where there are table s set up around the small front pool. There you can order drinks/food, thought I didn't since I didn't think the prices were reasonable.

There is a business center on one of the upper floors with free access to computers, etc. and coffee. Accessible from a door in the lobby of the hotel is a small shopping arcade where I got some mineral stones. There were some nice things for sale there and I think there was a restaraunt/bar in the center.

Walking out of the front of the hotel, to the left, there are a couple of restaraunts with decent food. At the side street, turn left and you will see a small shop on the corner down the street on the opposite side. Good cheap coffee.

The hotel has chairs and umbrellas available on the beach. I think I had to show the guy my Sofitel room key. You might want to get there earlier than later as their supply was not great.

The Rio Sul shopping center has a free bus that shuttles between the beach hotels and the shopping center. You can take a taxi over and ride the bus back (or taxi back, since it is close). The Hard Rock Cafe has a shuttle as do/does the shopping malls in Barra de Tijuca.

From the Sofitel, I went to Gavea to the racetrack there. The man in front of the hotel hooked me up with a guy driving a Mercedes taxi. The driver spoke fairly good English and taught me a few words of Portuguese along the way. He charged R$30, I think. On the way back, I caught one of the typical small taxis and was charged R$10.

I took a toor bus out to Petropolis, arranged by the concierge. The bus was a rattling 16-seater but other bus companies had big coaches. Also took a bus tour to a Sunday soccer game at Maracana. Seating was in a crowded section with a poor view. A small bribe got me into the adjacent, nearly empty, section right at midfield.

I wasn't particularly comfortable walking more than a half-block away from the hotel at night. Better to take the taxis on the side street.

ThinGorjus

Thank you for your replies. I think I will book the Sofitel because of its location to Ipanema. Or maybe I should choose the Cesar Park instead???

Dondiega

Well, the difference between the 2 hotels I guess would depend on where you plan to be during the day and night. If you plan on being at Ipanema beach during the day and bars/restaurants in Ipanema during the night then sure you should stay at the Caesar Park right in the middle of Ipanema in front of a great beach. Personally I would stay closer to where I plan on ending up at night and travel during the day. For example a walk to Ipanema during the day is no problem but at night I like to limit my exposure to travelling.

ThinGorjus

To make matters worse, I visited the website of the Copacabana Palace and it looks like the kind of hotel I adore--older, elegant, charming. The kind of hotel the is a "grande dame." I don't like "Hilton-type" hotels at all. I want a hotel filled with antiques, not reproductions. So, now I am leaning towards the Copacabana Palace. I am very confused

Dondiega

You shouldn't be confused, if you want to spend the kind of money it costs to stay at the best hotel in Latin America then by all means go do it.

Sounds like you are in the beginning stage of doing your homework, everybody needs to go through it, have fun.

cariocagirl

Dondiega,

Wouldn't you rather stay in ipanema than copa? The beach is much cleaner. I'm sure you will agree. I think the copa palace is way overpriced. but if you can afford it and like the lap of luxury go for it. I'd rather spend my money shopping downtown (Uruguiana) sorry can't spell it. Or in Barra than on a hotel. I like renting apartments its better. You can still hire a cleaning person for a good price.

Dondiega

Cariocagil, I stay in an apartment too, $40 a day, I prefer it rather than a hotel. The cleaning lady costs me $8 for a cleaning. I also rent a cell phone for $5 a day, this is all right on Ave. Atlantica in Copacabana. I would never pay the money for the Copacabana Palace but maybe Mr. ThinGorjus has money to throw away.

The beach in Ipanema is nicer than the beach in Copacabana but not as fun.

I know many people who go to Rio every year and everybody does it a different way and its all good.

ThinGorjus

Well, I am taking my mother to Rio. My stepfather can't travel anymore because of bad health. My mother is very rich and only stays in the world's best hotels (Oriental Bangkok, Crillon Paris, Palace St. Moritz, etc.). She doesn't care how much it costs, as long as it is THE BEST. This is why I am so confused. If we get to Rio and she sees another hotel that is NICER than the one I book, she will be upset.

But, anyway, she has decided upon the Copacabana Palace because they have the biggest pool and her friend stayed there 5 years ago.

Thanks for your help. John G.

mbo

I think the Copacabana Palace is the best by far. It is lovely.

Dondiega

Well Mr ThinGorjus, glad you settled on the best Hotel in Latin America. After you give Mommy a warm glass of milk at night and she goes off into dreamland make sure you go out and experience the nightlife of Rio in all it has to offer you. Actually I took my Mother to Rio in the mid 80's, she loved it but didn't see me much as I got very busy.

The pool in the Copacabana Palace is the biggest in Copacabana. Other big pools would include the Sheraton and the Intercontinental, I have swam in them all and they are all good for a pool hustler that is.

mrwunrfl

Great choice!

I could have just said: the Sofitel Rio is like your average Hilton.

cariocagirl

Dondiega that was a pretty funny reply to Mr ThinGorjus. I'm sure they will have a great time. What do you think about renting an apartment in barra? Is the water always rough year round?

reason being is that its close to Gracie Barra (Carhlinos Gracie) and close to the water parks/ shopping, and other nice beaches (grumari). give me your feedback

ThinGorjus

Actually, Dondiega, I took my mother to Bangkok two years ago and she insisted that I take her to Patpong, the most notorious red-light district in the world. She thought it was very interesting. She has also been to Amsterdam's red-light district. I am sure she could give you a run for your money. I doubt she will be drinking milk before she goes to bed (more likely gin).

I visited Rio years ago. It was a business trip and I was only there for 3 days, staying at the Sheraton Hotel. My employer paid for everything, so we had private car with driver take us (group of 5) everywhere. Unfortunately, I got to see very little of the city and NEVER got to the beach. I did take a helicopter ride over the city, however, which was unbelievable and memorable.

I have lived in big cities all my life, so am kind of tired of nightlife. Been there, done that. I am much more interested in culture and food, and I love talking to local people.

Cheers.

Dondiega

John, sounds like your Mother and I like to frequent the same cities. Try the Caiparinha in Rio its made with cachaca Brazilian fire water, limes, ice and sugar. Its the national drink, one should be enough. I always wanted to take that helicopter ride over Rio and bring my camera along, maybe I'll try it next time.

Cariocagirl, I hear you about Barra and it being close to places you want to frequent, I do believe I read in a previous post that you take your child with you so being close to the water parks would be a good idea. I also bet that you can get a very nice apartment in Barra for the money as compared to Ipanema and Copacabana.

I don't go to Barra that often as it reminds me of Long Island or New Jersey with all the shopping malls and it is more of a residential area for the middle class. I went to the Barra Grill one night but it doesn't compare to Porcao nor did the atmosphere. I also went to Praia do Pepe one day and after went across the street to Cafe Do Gol Romarios place but I think that is now closed. I still prefer Ipanema and Copacabana for the time being.

Surlok

Tried to reply twice yesterday, but none of my posts came through.

Glad to know you'll be visiting my hometown with your mom, John!

Whatever question you might have, that hasn't been answered in a satisfactory manner, write me a note. My e-mail address is:

[email protected]

Cheers, and welcome to Rio,

S

ThinGorjus

Thank you, Surlok. Years ago, on the Europe Board, I told you that someday I would return to Rio and we would have a caiparinha together! Do you remember that?????

We always used to argue over which was the better hotel in Rome--Russie or Hassler. I have not heard from you in some time, however. The regulars on the Europe Board still mention you once in a blue moon. I will definitely email you as my trip comes closer to fruition. Cheers, John G.

Surlok

I do remeber the two of us arguing about the best hotel in Rome. ;-)

I've been posting on the Europe board occasionally, John. And very rarely here, on the L. America board. I should check it more often...

Let me know how your planning proceeds, so that we can have that Caipirinha when you're here!

Cheers again,

Surlok