QUOTE=carvalh2;13325583]Rent an Apt. You can get a apt in Arpoador (thats right between Ipanema and Copacabana) for very cheap. A 3 bedroom penthouse with jacuzzy is around 500 bucks a night.
I used
http://www.gringomanagement.com/ You can put a deposit with a CC which is better than using paypal (more secure), and they have some awesome apts.[/QUOTE]
Thanks so much for the suggestion!
Tried to contact Gringo Management and no reply. Also, tried 2 other apartment rental agencies that had good reviews and they all have a 5 night min. We are only going to be there 3 nights, so no go on that front. Looks like we are back to the drawing board.
First, welcome to FT.
Second, there are a few good lodges and cruises near Manaus. My absolute favorite is the Ariau Amazon Towers
http://www.ariauamazontowers.com/
It is absolutely worth the price.
Third, Salvador hotels are numerous and some very nice, but for value and ease I'd suggest
http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-...ho/index.shtml the Mercure Rio Vermelho. There are also lots of nice Pousadas, kind of like a guest house, but their quality is less consistent and they're harder to find.
Fourth, in Rio there are hundreds of choices so your preferences make a huge difference. If you can indicate whether you want beaches, nightlife, views, etc, I can make a few recommendations. I live there.
Thanks so much!
We just booked the Amazon Village. It is very rustic which is actually what we were looking for but is a little close to Manaus for my liking. We got a great deal by working directly with the lodge vs a tour company.
As far as Rio, would love some help. Hitting a ton of dead ends. The "nicer" hotels don't allow triples and we would love to avoid getting 3 rooms. We are just not planning on spending enough time in them. Would love to be in nice beach area with lots of bars/restaurants/shops. Will check out some of the hotels mentioned in this thread. But if there are any additional suggestions, I assure you they will be well received.