Hilton HHonors - Hilton Sao Paulo vs. Hilton Morumbi Sao Paulo

Any info on these hotels? How where your experiences? Thanks for your help.

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Will I be the first on to actually stay at one of these hotels???

Morumbi is of course the nicest enclave of Sao Paulo... that's where I would stay unless it's inconvenient to wherever you are going.

bump...any recent (or not so recent) thoughts? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I stayed at the Hilton Sao Paulo for six nights in August. The toilet was dirty in the first room so they changed me to another one.
The safe (which was supposed to be installed on the wall) was on the on the floor and anybody with access to the room could have walked with it. They changed me to another room. The third and final one. All these rooms were on the same executive floor. They didn't offer anything for all this trouble.
The executive lounge was under remodelation that week so they told me that I could have breakfast at the Patio restaurant.

The front desk staff was nice. I could talk to them in English and to one of them in Spanish. They didn't know a lot about tourist places but fortunately the hotel is close to a metro station and there's a tourist booth before the metro. The Hilton has a theatre with portuguese shows on Saturdays. That day the lobby was full. I didn't see a single person with a camera in the Hotel and other areas during my whole stay except for Sunday.
That day I saw a group of Japanese tourists with cameras in the restaurant. When the people at the hotel saw me with the camera they told me be careful and not show it too much. The bottom line is that if I have to pay or use my points to stay at a hotel in Sao Paulo, I wouldn't stay there, I would try
the Morumbi hotel.

Things may have changed since 2000, but if not, here's my feedback....

I absolutely HATED my stay at this hotel. I was in town on business for 9 nights back in 2000. It's not a great area at night. From my window at night you can see the hookers all over. Walking around made me feel uncomfortable. I felt trapped in this hotel every night and the restaurant served awful meals. At the time, there was not much option. You either paid 300-400/night for a hotel or went less than a 4-star such as this hilton. I think a Marriott opened up a year later, would prefer that one. Or the Sol melia, at least that was hooked up to a shopping area so you could walk around. If this other Hilton is in a better place, defintely chooose that one.

Decor was awful, I felt like I was in a motel 6 yet I was on the executive floor! Smelled funny too.

I stayed in a residence apartment for one week during my next stay for business the same year, due to this awful experience.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by AA-flyer-90:
Things may have changed since 2000, but if not, here's my feedback....

I absolutely HATED my stay at this hotel. I was in town on business for 9 nights back in 2000. It's not a great area at night. From my window at night you can see the hookers all over. Walking around made me feel uncomfortable. I felt trapped in this hotel every night and the restaurant served awful meals. At the time, there was not much option. You either paid 300-400/night for a hotel or went less than a 4-star such as this hilton. I think a Marriott opened up a year later, would prefer that one. Or the Sol melia, at least that was hooked up to a shopping area so you could walk around. If this other Hilton is in a better place, defintely chooose that one.

Decor was awful, I felt like I was in a motel 6 yet I was on the executive floor! Smelled funny too.

I stayed in a residence apartment for one week during my next stay for business the same year, due to this awful experience.

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The Hilton Sao Paulo is in a scary area at night. Very seedy area and despite the friendly staff, there are other places like the Hyatt or the other Hilton in Morumbi or the Maksoud Plaza or Emiliano with better rooms.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MFUALHSTAR:
Any info on these hotels? How where your experiences? Thanks for your help.</font>

Haven't stayed at the Hilton Sao Paulo, its an old hotel in a dicey neighborhood (of course it was a great hotel in a nice neighborhood when it opened 30 years ago).

I've stayed at the new Hilton Morumbi. IMHO, it is the best value Hilton I've stayed at anywhere. The rooms are different and VERY practical with actual workstations, high speed Internet hook-ups (for a fee), very comfy king bed, huge TV with DVD built in, CD player/alarm, separate tub/shower, etc. Also, hands down the best Executive Floor lounge I've seen thus far in a Hilton. All for around $170/night (a good deal in Sao Paulo). They have stiff comnpetition - just down the street is the new Hyatt which is ranked amongst the 10 best Hyatt's worldwide.

The only major downside for me was the time it takes to/from GRU, the international airport. On a Friday evening it can take up to 3 hours one way. Also, the particular area where the hotel is located is going thru a transformation from a slum to the "new" business center of town (this are a is across the river from the long established upper scale residential part of Morumbi). There still are a few slums within walking distance of the hotel. Do not recommend walking around out there.

Enjoy !!!

Is there any metro station near Morumbi Hilton? Is it easy to go around the town of Sao Paulo from here? As planing my first time visit this vast country without speaking any Portugess, I would like to gather as many information as I can. Thanks.

I agree with semjeito, the Hilton Morumbi in Sao Paulo is the new standard as far as Hiltons go. I was there this past week and it was great. The Executive Floor and the staff were fantastic. As a Diamond member I was treated extremely well. The morning breakfast looks like a nice restaurants Sunday Brunch. The evening spread is also great, love those unlimited Brazilian cashews. No charge liquor...wow.

I will finish up a two week tourist trip to Brazil. I need to overnight in Sao Paulo to catch an international flight out of GRU. I would probably just take a half day bus tour of the city to get a feel for the city.

From reading this thread, the hotel Morumbi is far from the airport and the other Hilton is in a seedy section of the city.

Since I am Diamond, I like to avail myself of the benefits of a possible upgrade.

Any comments or suggestions?

[This message has been edited by airbus320 (edited Dec 18, 2003).]

Stayed at the Hilton Morumbi in May (5 weeks). Excellent hotel (nicest hilton I have stayed). Bad thing about São Paulo is the traffic. (Going to GRU expect at least 3 hours for afternoon evening).

I wouldn't stay under under the training room floor (some how the bathroom gets awfuly hot). If doing more travel inside Brazil consider the local airport (Congonhas) it is a 20 minute ride. If any trouble talk to Nadia in the exec. floor. Suzy is also fantastic but Nadia is the best.

I've stayed at the new Hilton Morumbi. IMHO, it is the best value Hilton I've stayed at anywhere. The rooms are different and VERY practical with actual workstations, high speed Internet hook-ups (for a fee), very comfy king bed, huge TV with DVD built in, CD player/alarm, separate tub/shower, etc. Also, hands down the best Executive Floor lounge I've seen thus far in a Hilton. All for around $170/night (a good deal in Sao Paulo). They have stiff competition - just down the street is the new Hyatt which is ranked amongst the 10 best Hyatt's worldwide.

The only major downside for me was the time it takes to/from GRU, the international airport. On a Friday evening it can take up to 3 hours one way. Also, the particular area where the hotel is located is going thru a transformation from a slum to the "new" business center of town (this are a is across the river from the long established upper scale residential part of Morumbi). There still are a few slums within walking distance of the hotel. Do not recommend walking around out there.

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I agree 100%. This hotel is the best Hilton I have seen so far. Very nice and clean. And a great and helpful staff ... all top notch.... not only Nadja - ALL!
Yes, it's a little far from the international airport (that doesn't real matter, I paid $30+ for the taxi and a little more for the hotel taxi back to GRU), but near the domestic airport.
The Internet access at the executive lounge (26th floor) is fast and free.
The hotel is "on top" of a pretty nice shopping center, which leads "underground" to several other buildings ... I believe, also the S.P. World Trade Center.
I would go back there anytime ... The staff is unbelievable friendly and professional

The postings here are all very accurate. End of March I spent 2 nights downtown. The hotel personnel all tried very hard but there is a lot of deferred maintenance as the property is 30 years old; in addition, the health club happened to be closed. The neighbourhood is problematic at best but just a short 5 minute cab ride from some great churrascarios.
Morumbi is defintely an exceptional property and the executive level is, in my experience, unparralled.

I will finish up a two week tourist trip to Brazil. I need to overnight in Sao Paulo to catch an international flight out of GRU. I would probably just take a half day bus tour of the city to get a feel for the city.

From reading this thread, the hotel Morumbi is far from the airport and the other Hilton is in a seedy section of the city.

Since I am Diamond, I like to avail myself of the benefits of a possible upgrade.

Any comments or suggestions?

[This message has been edited by airbus320 (edited Dec 18, 2003).]

I worked in Sao Paulo for a couple months in 2002. Gave up on Hilton because it was so bad (didn't try another). I went to a Melia property recommended by my colleague. For a one night stay and needing to get to the airport I'd recommend the Melia Jardin. This area is gorgeous and unlike much of Sao Paulo is safe. Check out http://www.trypjardins.solmelia.com/

If not this might help - due to the long drive time to the airport my team took a helicopter to GRU. We had several people so this wasn't outrageous. The hotel set it up for us and it picked us up on the hotel roof! Was a ride and tour in one.

I will finish up a two week tourist trip to Brazil. I need to overnight in Sao Paulo to catch an international flight out of GRU. I would probably just take a half day bus tour of the city to get a feel for the city.

From reading this thread, the hotel Morumbi is far from the airport and the other Hilton is in a seedy section of the city.

Since I am Diamond, I like to avail myself of the benefits of a possible upgrade.

Any comments or suggestions?



I could not find a half day trip and went with a taxi to city center. All nice ("old") buildings are in walking distance .. Se, stock exchange ...
Yes, Morumbi is a little far ... actually most hotels are far from GRU.
Still, I would highly recommend this place .. you will be upgraded to the executive floors (25 to 28, I believe). The reception is at 26 .. the whole crew and the hotel is first class! I was told their spa/fitness is very good. So is their "Amazon" (gift) chocolate.
They can arrange a nice taxi/car to GRU .. you pay Hilton and get points!

I just finished at one night stay at the downtown Hilton.

I would agree with comments above. This property needs lots of work. It was however quiet and clean. The executive lounge was well appointed with evening snacks and complimentary drinks. Breakfast was decent with some hot food.

The area is quite safe during the day and I walked the main streets around the hotel. Very crowded streets and lots of shops. This was certainly the way to experience the Centro

Hotel has seen better days. The concierge service was excellent and organized a tour for me and transfer to the airport by private car. Be advised that traffic is horrific and it took one and half hours to get to the international airport...and this was a good day. Rain or an accident can turn this journey into a nightmare.

Just got back from a week at Morumbi - the BEST Hilton I have ever stayed at!! Some random thoughts..........

**Don't plan on doing a lot of walking in this city, and definitely not a lot around this hotel - just take a glance at all the security staff guarding this place, and you will realize they aren't there out of boredom.......

**Place looks brand new. Modern design that is highly usable and comfortable for business travelers. I loved the desk and separate shower in the bathroom.

**Staff were amazing. All spoke excellent english - EVERYONE (whether calling on the phone, going to the lounge, stopping at the front desk) always called me by name - don't know how they did it.

**This is far away from GRU. We had a 8:30 PM flight and left at 4:15 PM.......didn't arrive at the airport until 6:45 PM. Traffic is something else!!

**Diamonds are treated great. Not that others are treated differently, I just can't speak to it because I don't know. I didn't request or ask for an upgrade, but was provided one. I had a box of amazonian chocolates and a bottle of local wine waiting for me in my room. The lounge was great - full breakfast in the mornings and great in the evening. I arrived after the evening serving time on my first night, and the staff went downstairs to obtain drinks and snacks for me and my co-workers. That doesn't happen in other lounges.

Give this place a try - you won't be disappointed!!

**This is far away from GRU. We had a 8:30 PM flight and left at 4:15 PM.......didn't arrive at the airport until 6:45 PM. Traffic is something else!

This is a normal trip.... an accident or rain will even make the trip longer. It took me 2 hours from the downtown Hilton and the driver said that this was a fast trip. !!!!!

If you're there for business, ask your office or customer to recommend a hotel for you - it's best to be close to the office since this is one of the biggest cities on earth, heavy traffic and lots of crime. I did not stay at the Hilton in SP but did have a reservation there, until it was recommended that I stay somewhere else (The Blue Tree, an excellent hotel). I would not advise public transportation and always have your hotel or office arrange for your driver, don't just hail a cab if at all possible.

I had an excellent meal in SP at the "master grill" it's one of those Rodizio or Churrascaria places - there is also the famous Fogo de Chao, the same sort of place http://www.fogodechao.com.br/ which you may be familiar with from visits to Houston, Dallas, Chicago or Atlanta.

Enjoy and be sure to visit Rio if at all possible.

.....I would not advise public transportation and always have your hotel or office arrange for your driver, don't just hail a cab if at all possible....

Very good advise!

Nadja at Hilton arranged the taxi ... paid Hilton with CC ... got Hilton HHonor Points :) ... and a nice clean car!

I would not advise public transportation and always have your hotel or office arrange for your driver, don't just hail a cab if at all possible.



SP has an excellent metro system but it is limited to only portions of the city. It is usually quicker to take the metro than a cab if the stations are close to where you are going. I've taken the metro often without any issues even late at night, but be aware of the areas you are walking in around the metro at night. The bus system covers all areas of the city, but you may need to transfer if you going any significant distance in the city and either know the exact numbers of the buses before your trip or speak enough portuguese to ask people for the appropriate buses to your destination.

btw if you are staying in Jardins or some of the other areas close to Jardins there is a bus that only stops at certain hotels that goes to GRU and it has room for luggage. Ask your hotel if this bus stops at your hotel, i think it came about every 40 minutes, and the bell captain will know the exact schedule for it. I've used it from the Rennaisance in Jardins and it is very comfortable and at less than half the price of a cab, I think it's around 25 to 30 reals

I've used cabs and never had a problem, although some basic Portuguese is helpful as very few drivers will speak english. If you don't speak portuguese have the exact address written down to hand to the cab driver. Don't be alarmed if the driver get to the area you are going to and has to stop to ask for directions to the exact address, as Sampa is huge city and most drivers only know certain neighborhoods very well.

When walking in the city always be careful as muggings are fairly common and most sampa residents that have lived there will tell you a story of themself or someone in their family being robbed. I try to avoid wearing jewelery, wearing designer label clothes that are obviously not available in brasil and carrying anything visible like camera bags or briefcases. When i do have to carry something I use a local shopping bag. I also avoid using ATMs at night.

If you aren't familiar with the part of the city you are in it's best to always take a cab. So far I've walked through many parts of the city without any problem but I know that I've also been lucky and tried to be cautious without being paranoid. Whenever I've been lost or needed directions I've always found Paulistas to be very helpful. I always keep 50 or 100 reals in my pocket so I can hand over something quickly in case I am ever confronted by a mugger.

Agree with all the comments that The Hilton Morumbi is a great hotel and the staff is excellent. You can use the health club on the top floor and even if you don't work out, go up there and check out the view of the city from the windows it is pretty spectacular even if you do see lots of concrete. The shopping center next to the hotel is mainly for home furnishings and higher end home decor so not of much interest if you are looking for small gifts or souvenirs. Shopping Morumbi is a large mall that is close by, about a 15 to 20 minute walk or about 5 minutes by taxi.

If you are on an expense account try out Hotel Unique it is has a very unique architecure and a bar on the top floor where seems to attract some of the higher end of SP business people for drinks. I stayed there once but only for one night since it was on my own dime and really enjoyed the ambience of the hotel. It is also in a nice area and close to Ibirapuera Park which is one of the larger green areas that you can walk around in sampa.

also another nice shopping center is Shopping Iguatemi which is about a 15 to 20 minute cab ride from the Hilton Morumbi

This is a normal trip.... an accident or rain will even make the trip longer. It took me 2 hours from the downtown Hilton and the driver said that this was a fast trip. !!!!!On a Wednesday night I'm flying out of GRU at 11:25pm (to FRA). What time does this necessitate leaving the hotel area? Is traffic still awful later in the evening? Thanks.

...Agree with all the comments that The Hilton Morumbi is a great hotel and the staff is excellent.....The shopping center next to the hotel is mainly for home furnishings and higher end home decor so not of much interest if you are looking for small gifts or souvenirs....

There is a nice, pretty large shopping center right at the Hilton. When you are at the Hilton lobby, you have to go down to the "basement" and there it is. It's an underground mall with shops, restaurants .. connecting to the other (office-) buildings in this area. When the reception would not have told me, I would not have found it.

Regarding taxi: The traffic is a little better at night. And I was once on a Sunday, there was almost no traffic.
Let the girls at the executive floor call the car .. nice clean cars and driver, and you pay Hilton and get points. ^

On a Wednesday night I'm flying out of GRU at 11:25pm (to FRA). What time does this necessitate leaving the hotel area? Is traffic still awful later in the evening? Thanks.

Check with the concierge for timings. My flight was at 9pm and I left the hotel at 5pm. Rush hour was a zoo.

Sorry can't help you with your timings.

Hilton Sao Paulo (downtown) review

Wanted to use points for a very quick one-night stopover in SP Oct. 3rd. After reading previous postings about lengthy airport commutes I reluctantly ruled out the Hilton Marumbi since our Rio flight was arriving at the downtown airport around 5pm Sunday and we were flying out of GRU early Monday morning. Spending additional hours stuck in traffic in a taxi didn't seem worth it.

Overall we were very disappointed. As stated earlier, this hotel is very dated, and the executive level room recieved as a Gold member showed this - 1970's furniture, tiny and well-aged bathroom, etc. The room was clean but everything was well-worn. Having read good things about the executive lounge it was also disappointing to find out it is closed on Sundays. In fact, the entire hotel seemed empty except for a few large tour groups.

The lounge was still closed in the morning but we were able to catch a good breakfast buffet at the restaurant downstairs (free for Gold members). Rather than take a taxi back to the airport we chose to walk two blocks to Republic Square where a scheduled Airport bus departs. The streets were empty and seemed safe, and while waiting for the bus we ended up joining forces with another passenger and splitting a taxi for the same price as the bus would have cost. Unless you are in a rush or on expense account this bus is worth considering (we also used it to get between the two SP airports a few days earlier).

Luckily the stay was a PointsStretcher but even so it was very underwhelming.