MilesBuzz! - Help - Hotel Deal In RIO for NYE?

I plan to spend NYE in RIO. I know several on line places to locate deals for Hotels in the USA, and Europe, but have not seen one for RIO. (Also need a couple nights in Santiago Chile and 1 or 2 in Buenos Aires probably) Does anyone know where to start looking? The Hilton does not have a property at all there, (strangely) otherwise I'd love to burn some points! I do not believe Sheraton/Starwood does either which is also strange - darn nuisance as I have a few of those UA 50% off certs for there.

The UA 50% off certs are also good for Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Hyatt, Intercont, Libertel, Radisson, Shangri La, Sol Melia. Some of those chains MUST be down there - anyone know who?

Any help appreciated. Anyone with points that can be used there for Hotels (Latin Pass maybe?) please lets know, as we may be able to do a trade of some kind. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

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~ Glen ~

[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 12-02-2000).]

(very nice, luxury-) Sheraton is the only hotel in Rio with direct beach access (no streets between hotel and beach) - but it is a 10 minutes (free hotel-) bus drive away from Copacabana, between Copacabana and Ipanema beach.

Glen - THese might have some info. I've always stayed at the Ipanema Inn. Cheap, small rooms close to the beach. Probably not what you're looking for for NYE though.
http://www.ipanema.com/rio/hotels/e/home.htm#top
http://www.brazilinfo.com/hotels/brazilian_hotels_with_detailsen.htm
http://www.solmelia.es/

Have a caiparinha for me.


Tchau
Dick

Thanks Rudi. I thought I'd read somewhere the Sheraton was not down their either. Wow, the little colour photo in the Sheraton handbook I dug out really looks swish .. RIGHT on the beach! (I signed up for Diners Club too to use that free "Limo Service"!)

drtravels. Thanks for the links. I have not asked a price quote yet, but my bones shuddered to read this statement on the first link you provided:

Carnival and New Year's Eve are Rio's two highest season events. Hotels offer their rooms in prepayable packages including a number of mandatory nights. Sometimes dates are fixed. We suggest booking as possible, as the best values go very fast.

I get the feeling rack rates plus some is going to be the order of the day for NYE. Darn, as I want 3 or 4 days there probably. Great link tho, and I'll look into it. I guess at that time there will be no accepting 50% off type coupons. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif



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~ Glen ~

Intercontinental has a property in RIO - approx. 20 by car from Copacabana. Le Meridian has a property on Copacabana, the rates are reasonable, however, the rooms are dated.

Glen - Brasil is great but you'll pay the premium Christmas, NYE, Carnaval, MaceioFest, Carnatal, etc. It can be worth it though. Has been for me http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I'm going to Rio for New Years too.

As I have a free place to stay I'm lucky this time.

Expect to pay "the price" for Reveillon accomodations........as some places will try for 2-3 times the rack rate.

You should have seen it last year !!!

Originally posted by ozstamps:
Thanks Rudi. I thought I'd read somewhere the Sheraton was not down their either. Wow, the little colour photo in the Sheraton handbook I dug out really looks swish .. RIGHT on the beach! (I signed up for Diners Club too to use that free "Limo Service"!)

drtravels. Thanks for the links. I have not asked a price quote yet, but my bones shuddered to read this statement on the first link you provided:

Carnival and New Year's Eve are Rio's two highest season events. Hotels offer their rooms in prepayable packages including a number of mandatory nights. Sometimes dates are fixed. We suggest booking as possible, as the best values go very fast.

I get the feeling rack rates plus some is going to be the order of the day for NYE. Darn, as I want 3 or 4 days there probably. Great link tho, and I'll look into it. I guess at that time there will be no accepting 50% off type coupons. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif


Glen:

I'll restate (I posted something about it several months ago on the Starwood board) my position regarding the Rio Sheraton:

It's a nice hotel, the location is so so. The massage is excellent.

BUT no one should kid themselves about the "we're the only hotel in Rio on the beach" propaganda. Factually, it's correct. They are on the "beach" if your definition of "beach" is "where the water hits land". However, if your idea of "beach" is somewhere where you can put a towel on some sand and lay in the sun then FORGETABOUTIT.

Yes! And the girls in Ipanema, well http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Glen, go North - although a hard thing for you Aussies to do http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif. Magnificent beaches, safe, friendly, cheap (you can use your Sol Melia in Maceio for a real 50% off) and if you think the girls in Rio look good, just wait.

Have fun you lucky guy.

Dick

I believe the Sheraton has a three day minimum requirement during that time period to book a reservation. Also my favorite Restaurant in the world is in Rio, You must go there Called BARA GRILL. They will pick you up and return you for free from most hotels in RIO. About $20 USD For all you can eat. Just the best! I actually redeemed from my ONEPASS account one of those half off awards just to go to RIO to eat at this restaurant last month.

Thanks for the info folks, and I will certainly pencil in that restaurant.

Just phoned the Sheraton direct, and the BEST deal for basic room type, even for a Gold Sheraton Club member is 3 nights (as sydneyjb said) minimum stay and that costs $US1080 Plus 15% tax = $US1242.
My 33,000 mile round trip ticket on UA from SYD to Rio and back was about $US1000 in comparison. Yikes. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif

Buenoes Aires for NYE is looking a LOT more interesting all of a sudden!

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~ Glen ~

???????????????????? (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum50/HTML/003806-3.html)

I considered New Years in Rio this year and as of over a month ago, I could barely find any rooms at any price. So I'll be in Amsterdam instead. Maybe room availability was reserved for extended stays and as things get closer and rooms aren't booked. things will come down.

Eastbay. I must say that the rates are not all as bad as the Sheraton. I used that very useful link above posted by drtravels, and they emailed me back with a vast range of hotels, descriptions, and prices for the NYE period. Darn handy link, and thanks for that drtravels. Think I'll still go for NYE in Rio, but just not at the Sheraton. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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~ Glen ~

In Copacabana you should try the Grande Hotel Canada on Avenide N.S. de Copacabana. 40 USD gets you a good Carioca breakfast and a Holiday Inn style room. I've stayed there 3 times now.

I don't know what they want for NYE though. The expensive places are the beachfront spots because of the fireworks at midnight. This place is one block back from the beach.




[This message has been edited by Carioca Canuck (edited 12-07-2000).]

Carioca - hang the expense, I'll go anyway for a few days - sounds like fun! Some of the rates for waterfront/close places were half decent on an email I just got, so will go for it.

On Varig I used an airpass that allows 2,500 miles for $US280 wherever they fly. SCL-GIG is only about 1,800 miles I gather. I can check on booking an onward ticket to Brasilia or somewhere fairly close like that if you or your friends can use it - let me know! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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~ Glen ~

[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 12-08-2000).]

Glen.......I sent you an e-mail.

Check out this churrascaria (Brasilian for all you can eat BBQ beef restaurant...worth ***** stars !!!!!)............it's called "Porcao".............which in Carioca slang is......."Big Piggy"..........

The best food in the world.........well.........actually it's tied with "Marius" (another churrascu) in Ipanema and Copacabana.........

All you can eat........and then some........

Several Caiparinhas are also in order too............

[This message has been edited by Carioca Canuck (edited 12-08-2000).]

Carioca Canuck is right. Go to Porcao in Ipanema but he forgot some very important information. Have a light dinner the night before and very little food the day of the feast otherwise you'll not have room for all the good salads and meat. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I've had great food there the only problem I had was when the waiter said the Malibu was "complimentary" I thought he meant free but he thought it meant it compliments the meal. The drinks wound up costing more than dinner. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif

Dick

I say we have a churrasco feast in Rio during the holiday...

I'll be there too.

Ual 18 jfk-gig
Ual 1/1 gig-jfk

Barra Grill is excellent
Porcao will be GREAT
Also, the 2 Churrascaria Marius' are a good bet.

Robin

That's a good idea...........I'm in. We could all go out for dinner.

I'd have to upgrade to First for the return flight though............burp......

There's also a fantastic place one block off the beach on Rua Siqueira Campos. It's R$15 for churrascu.....compared to about R$35 at these other places.

You can also try the great Italian place called "La Mole"............

Or "La Maison"....a classy beachfront restaurant with a huge outdoor bar, right beside the California Othon hotel.

I can feel my arteries hardening now.....

[This message has been edited by Carioca Canuck (edited 12-10-2000).]

Red Robin ..... lets try and make it a mini FT event in RIO! Carioca and I have been in touch a few times by email and were setting something up anyway. Can't figure out your timetable exactly above. Are you leaving on the 1st to fly JFK? We arrive on 31st from Chile, so maybe a lunch or whatever on 1st will suit? If you are on the same flight to JFK as we are (#847) it leaves at 5.20 pm I think?

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~ Glen ~

Thanks for email RedRobin. Hope it all comes together. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I have asked on FT Community if anyone else will be around during this period and wants to join in.

I am flying in to Santiago via Lan Chile from a Christmas week on the Falkland Islands and then on Varig direct to RIO, arriving 2pm, Jan 31st. The wild RIO NYE culture will be a pretty amazing contrast to the sleepy farming village of Sea Lion Island!

Anyone know of a decent Hotel deal for JFK area for Friday Jan 5th? Priceline.com not giving anything cheap, and a weekend early January should be REAL quiet?

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~ Glen ~

Sorry,

I forgot to follow up here.

I will be in Rio, from 26 until 1st.

Carioca, qual o nome do lugar na siqueira campos?


It has my vote.

I think La Maison might be pricey and La Mole deadly! (linguica calabresa) oh.. i miss it too!!!


OZ,, the day of 31st will be really hard for me, it will be ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE to do anything around copacabana...

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

RedRobin.....

Desculpe.....eu pedirei meus gata pra do nome.

I agree that La Maison is pricy for the high end dishes...but the pizza on the sidewalk cafe is fantastic.....and good chopp is R$1.25....great scenery too.....

I remember the look on the waiter's face once in La Mole, when I asked for and received a coffee which I proceeded to drink black. When I waved off the tray of the hot milk and sugar it was as though I was from another planet.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif


[This message has been edited by Carioca Canuck (edited 12-12-2000).]

The name of the other restaurant is "Carretao".

RedRobin and Carioca Canuck,

Please take a look at these links to get a better idea of the type of person you are dealing with. If Ozstamps is really fast, he'll be able to edit and delete all of his offensive posts, but that would still take year or two...
www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum95/HTML/000749.html (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum95/HTML/000749.html) www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/003818.html (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/003818.html)

I'll have an chilled Antarctica for you too FallinAsleep. Enjoy that snow. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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~ Glen ~

[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 12-14-2000).]

I deleted my inappropriate message.

[This message has been edited by wonderland60069 (edited 12-14-2000).]

Ummm. Wonderland. Before you started your multi dozen post 'cyber-stalking' rampage this morning, did you notice the IP logging button was turned "ON" ??? (Lower right of each post) http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum75/HTML/000016.html

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~ Happy Holidays! ... Glen ~