last-minute NYE Brazil suggestions

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I'm currently in rainy, boring Curitiba, and hoping not to be here for NYE. Now I'm not a huge party guy so I don't necessarily need to be amidst drunken craziness in Copacabana for NYE...and besides, the prices in Rio are just scary.

But really, I'm open for basically anything that's available. I'm willing to fly anywhere in Brazil really, totally open to suggestions. If you've got details on hotels, hostels, pousadas, whatever, I'd love to hear 'em. Thanks!
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Quote: I'm currently in rainy, boring Curitiba, and hoping not to be here for NYE. Now I'm not a huge party guy so I don't necessarily need to be amidst drunken craziness in Copacabana for NYE...and besides, the prices in Rio are just scary.

But really, I'm open for basically anything that's available. I'm willing to fly anywhere in Brazil really, totally open to suggestions. If you've got details on hotels, hostels, pousadas, whatever, I'd love to hear 'em. Thanks!
Considering you are in Curitiba, I would have no doubt: head for Florianpolis (FLN). 3 options: 1) 3h drive with excellent roads; 2) fly with GOL or TAM which operate daily flights nonstop (only 30min flight); 3) take a bus, Catarinense has excellent buses running the route with multitude of daily schedule.

Another option is Balneario Cambori, last year I spent my NYE in this place, it is a great place which I highly recommend, with excellent new year celebration and fire works, excellent infrastruture, very secure, and in my view better than Floripa because you dont need a car to transit between the beaches (the place is more compact). The place is very fashionable and decent. It is highly popular destination with Brazilians and Argentinians.

Rgs,
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Thanks! I actually just came from Floripa and while it was awesome I would love to see something new. Thanks for the advice about Balnerio Cambori -- do you have a good recommendation on where to stay if I should go?
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http://www.belasantacatarina.com.br/...riu/1-1-0.html

That is a list of some hotels in Balnerio Cambori.

The standard for guides is Quattro Rodas and this is their guide to the place:

http://viajeaqui.abril.com.br/destin...eario-camboriu

My favorite hotel there is:

http://www.resortrecantodasaguas.com.br/

I absolutely agree that with the criteria you stated this is the place! There are a gazillian options in the Northeast, of course, and in lots of other places but this one is special.
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As mentioned, there are plenty of places in Northeast Brazil as alternative options, but flights at this time maybe very expensive.

Quote: Thanks! I actually just came from Floripa and while it was awesome I would love to see something new. Thanks for the advice about Balnerio Cambori -- do you have a good recommendation on where to stay if I should go?
Balneario Camboriu is great place to spend holidays. In Camboriu you have Unipraias Park http://www.unipraias.com.br/ which has a cable car all the way to Laranjeiras beach where you could spend your day/afternoon. Half-way the cable car, at the top of the mountain, you have an ecological park with great panoramic views from Balneario Camboriu.

As per hotel, it depends whether you will have a car or not. if you dont have a car, location is key, then I recommend the Mercure:

http://www.accorhotels.com/pt/hotel-...iu/index.shtml

The resort mentioned above is nice, but you also need a car as it is outside the city.

Another great place is a "pousada" which I highly recommend called Felissimo. www.pousadafelissimo.com.br. Again this place is a bit outside the city so you better need a car.

On the coast of Santa Catarina there are so many great beaches to explore, with excellent pousadas. While in Balneario Camboriu you should drive through the Inter-Praias route . The whole drive of inter-praias is about 15km and will take you to 6 stellar beaches.

The NYE in Balneario Camboriu is memorable. However, beware of the traffic: this place is extremely popular with people from Curitiba and Porto Alegre. This means that you may get stuck in the traffic depending on the time of the day you drive in the highway. Plan this ahead to avoid bad traffic and ensure smooth travelling. Roads inside Camboriu will get jammed during the NYE so better stay at a city hotel (Mercure, for example) and it is extremely difficuld to find parking.

Rgs,
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Thanks everyone!

At this point I may just end up in Rio, I found a hostel for something reasonable that was highly rated, so it seems okay.

Would you guys recommend Balneario Camboriu for Christmas? I am thinking of there or Gramado.
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Gramado is quite special this time of year with the center of town well decorated and the hortensias everywhere (as they always are). I have never been there without my spouse. Two of our best friends are spending Christmas and new years there this year, as they've done before, and they do not tire of it. Their seasonal promotion is here: http://www.natalluzdegramado.com.br/...uz-gramado.php
Bento Gonalves has lots of interesting wineries and quite a few nice activities also, a short drive away.
http://bentogoncalves.com.br/
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Gramado is really something special, especially during Chirstmas. Balneario Camboriu is easily reachable from Curitiba and you can go another time of the year. Gramado is synonymous of Christmas.

Rgs,
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Just an update: I booked a ticket for GramSado on the 23rd, really looking forward to it. Staying with a CouchSurfer who hopefully can show me around a little. I will probably end up doing NYE in Rio despite the expense, arriving on the 28th: only live once, right?
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