Gaucho100K,

I live about 1 hour driving distance from those beautiful cities. The hotels you mentioned still famous, but I'll check with a couple of friends that work for a travel agency in Gramado about the options. I'll let you know soon. Meanwhile, some thoughts:

1) mid April is not that really cold there, most people prefer Jun to Aug (chances of snowing);

2) if you have a whole week available, perhaps you can consider the Kur Hotel SPA. My business partner just checkout today, he spent the last week there to recover from a "light" heart attack and he's in love with the place, very relaxing;

3) during April I'll probably be in HKG, but I can arrange some friends to assist you. Anyway, I don't have any bookings yet and my schedule might change;

4) I suppose you'll fly to POA (Porto Alegre) on RG, from GIG, GRU or EZE. The best to do is to hire a car, unless the hotel offers pick up service, what I doubt. If I'm here, I can pick you up in the airport with much pleasure;

5) I suggest spare one day for POA itself, nice city.

Toxa