Hilton Sao Paulo Morumbi {BRA}
 

There's a new kid on the block ! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

No one seems to comment on this one but there's a new Hilton in Sao Paulo, much more conveniently located than the Hilton Downtown, in the middle of the Business District.

This Hotel has escalators and corridors that even enable one to go directly to buildings such as WTC and CENU in the Berrini Avenue, without stepping on the street...

Its Gym Facilities are worth a visit, in the Penthouse, and are running a start-up sale with huge discounts to grab new customers.

For those aware with Sao Paulo this property is NOT in Jardins, but for those who aim a Hotel just for work, this is it.

They're also running a promotion offering additional points per stay.

I will be staying with a friend in GRU. Do you know if there is a Hilton property in Rio, because I can't seem to find one?

I was expecting someone from Rio to answer directly your question. To my knowledge there's no Hilton property in Rio de Janeiro or somewhere near.

Hilton Sao Paulo. Is the city and hotel worth visiting?
 

Hello. I'm looking for info from anyone who has stayed at the Sao Paulo Hilton and some information on the city itself.
On a United Airlines /*A award ticket it is an easy stop-over choice but I've no idea what's there!
Any insight from anyone who has been would be great.
Thanks and Happy Flying,Tattikat2

I can't advise about the hotel but Sao Paolo is a "megacity" of 15 million inhabitants and not an easy city...
My brother-in-law lives there (he married a Brazilian girl) and he says it's a pretty dangerous town... :(

I presume that you are speaking of the downtown Hilton. I stayed there and I would not recommend this property. It is a tired facility that is in dire need of renovations.

If you decide to stay at a Hilton, the Hilton Morumbi is a great hotel. It is however quite far from GRU.

I hired a car and guide to get a feel for the city. I was fascinated by the size of the city and the guide gave me an excellent briefing on the social/ecomonic challenges facing the city.

I would not however make a special stop-over for a visit. I was waiting for my flight back home and had a day to kill and would not recommend making the effort unless you have business in Sao Paulo.

Sao Paulo is a great city - if you haven't been, you should go.

Hello and thank you Joelle, airbus320 and izzik for your replys. I was thinking of the Hilton Morumbi, however as this is a holiday, I'm not sure a "Megacity" is the right fit!
I'll do some more thinking.
Thanks again to you all.
Happy flying,Tattikat2

I just returned from Brazil
 

and visited both SP and Rio. SP is an incredible city. I equate SP with an urban, metropolitan city in the US, like Chicago. Rio I equate with San Diego, focus is on the beach and is more laid back. Most folks from the US know Rio for the beaches, but SP is really the city that runs Brazil. They have great shopping (similar to the high end stores you can find in Miami, Chicago, etc like Tiffany's, Armani, Versace, etc). I never found the city unsafe, and I don't speak the language. Cabs are plentiful and cheap. Draft beer is about $1US to $2US per. I've added SP to the list of cities I would love to visit again....Rio I could either take or leave. Just my 2 cents. Feel free to ask more questions and I'll help if I can.

I stayed at the Maksoud, which in the 1980's was probably a cool place to be...not so much anymore. Didn't see the Hilton at all, but the Fasano hotel is incredible.

Hilton Morumbi is a great hotel. The staff is wonderful!
 

Hilton Morumbi is a great hotel. The staff is wonderful! ^ They can organize for you a clean and save car with driver, you pay Hilton and get points.. ^
I liked Sao Paulo, it may be dangerous .. I don't know. Had no problems, but never walked around at night.

I liked this restaurant:

Figueira Rubaiyat
Rua Haddock Lobo 1738
Jardim Paulista
São Paulo
Tel: + 55 (11) 3063-3888
Built around a courtyard with a giant fig tree (figueira),

Hello. Thanks to Bucko and USAFAN for taking the time to share your experiences. I think we may pass through GRU on the way to EZE but we probably will have to do SP on another trip.
Thanks again.
Happy flying,tattikat2

Hilton Morumbi Sao Paulo, Brazil review
 

Status: Diamond

Room: #2409

Status Recognition: Wonderful. This is an award stay, yet I was upgraded to Executive level room (22-28 floors), with full lounge access. 5* ^

Room: Standard sized room with a wonderful bathroom. Bathroom has a separate walk in shower and a semi-deep tub. Also a separate toilet room. One sink counter. All the necessaties are provided, including a robe and slippers. The room has a wonderful design. Huge window followed by your standard chair and coffee table. A king size bed with a 25" flat screen TV in front, followed by a nicely position desk that actually faces the room towards the window. Lots of space to spread out with a laptop, newspapers, etc.. The corner of the desk has a mini-bar. The desk is somewhat blocked off from the bed by ~4ft tall wall, yet when sitting at the desk the eye level allows to see out of the window. Everything is in great shape, except the AC is little louder than I'm used to, but nothing drastic. There is also a fax/printer in the room, but I assume it's only true on the executive level floors. Internet is wired high speed but expensive at ~$20 per day. The lounge has free wireless available, so it's not a huge problem. There are also 2 computers available if you do not have a laptop. 5* ^

Location: neutral 2.5* :td:

Executive Lounge: Fabulous. What all the lounges in the system should be like. Full breakfast in the mornings. Magnificent fruit spread and sandwich meats and cooked eggs and on and on..... Open bar in the evenings with waiter/waitress service if you so desire. Good size and great views! Very helpful staff. 5* ^

Public areas: Wonderful. The lobby and 1st floor have couple of restaurants and a great bar with a 20FT or maybe even bigger TV screen above it. The top of the hotel has a spa/gym and a good size pool. 5* ^

Overall score: 4.5* ^ - the location is the only thing that is really missing here. The hotel is one of the best Hilton I've ever been to.

Very happy! :D ^

Hilton Morumbi - one of the best Hiltons I have ever been
 

andrzej:

I agree 100% - one of the best Hiltons I have ever been.

Like to add:

-The nice agents at the executive floor are great, really helpful.
-The location is a little 'remote', but the domestic airport is nearby.
-The Hilton has nice clean taxis & and you get points ...
-At the basement under the Hilton is a nice, large shopping center.

What about the Gym :) 5* do you agree ?

Awsome views from the top !

Hilton Sao Paulo
 

We stayed there about 3 years ago. The thing I liked (along with a superior fitness center) was the helpfulness of the staff--they went above and beyond the call of duty.

All things considered this just may be the best Hilton in the world, in my opinion.

I wonder if the same people run the Hilton in Buenos Aires? It's a great property as well.




BTW, In my review I did mention the great staff and the wonderful gym at the top. :)

The same family has an interest in both. ;) And Tom Potter has gone from one to the other. :)

I bet that theit meter runs at a far faster rate than those of "regular" taxis. You might end up paying deerly for HHonors points.

In Sao Paulo I always choose Renaissance because the location is very good.

I have just returned from a stay at this hotel, and agree with all of the positive comments. FYI, the hotel car to the airport cost BRL160 vs. BRL92 for a taxi. For a 2 hour ride on Friday evening the added comfort was certainly worthwhile.

Hilton Sao Paulo Morumbi Trip Reports and Reviews
 

Stayed at the Sao Paulo Hilton last week for the first time. Overall, nice property, but I received absolutely NO Diamond recognition: no welcome letter, no welcome amenity, no up-grade to something better than the Executive Level room I already had booked.

I was amazed that a colleague of mine who has a lower HH status, was in fact recognized and welcomed.

Is this normal? Or just an oversight on the hotel's part? I filled out the customer sat survey and expressed my dissapointment on checking out. Was told they would take care of things for my one week visit next month.

This is not good news as I will be in Sao Paulo in early Nov.

Did you show your Diamond card at check-in? Did you make your reservation on Hilton.com? Did you ask about an upgrade at check-in?

Yes...yes...yes, to all three of your questions. I was told all up-gradeable rooms were booked (which was hard to believe as last Thursday was a Brazilian national holiday.

I have considered writing to the Diamond Desk, but not sure if it is the right approach...or simply wait and see if they come through and make it up for my second visit, which will be for a whole week.

When I checked in last year as a gold, they didn't seem to have my status in the record. They came up to my room later and gave me a new key that would let me access the lounge, and some sort of amenity. I only book the normal rooms, but would say I get executive floor 90% of the time, suites of some sort maybe 20%.

International Hiltons are generally quite good about the amenities.

As you will see from the following, the hotel has a lot of wriggle room with regard to an upgrade. But they dot have have the option to ignore your Diamond status completely.

Given that you have raised the mattater already with the hotel, I would phone the Diamond Desk and ask to speak to a customer service rep. They will document your complaint and get back to the hotel. I am sure that this will ensure that you get proper treatment when you return .. if you do.

What exactly where you expecting?
 

My experience in June was quite different. I had a 1 night stay, one night elsewhere, then followed by 3 night (weekend) stay. Each time at check in I was wisked away from the lobby to the executive lounge for checkin and thanked profusely for my business.
The first stay I was booked into a regular room and upgraded to an executive room, given lounge access, and a bottle of wine and box of chocolates as an amenity. On my return one day later I was booked into an executive room and in fact given the same room I was in before! Again, lounge access, wine, and chocolates.

Sorry that you had a poor experience, hopefully they take care of you on your return!

Whenever I check into any hotel chain that I have any sort of status with, I always hand the clerk my charge card and my hotel program card. This way they cannot claim that they didn't know I was Diamond / Platinum / whatever. I've found this really helps.

Back at the Sao Paulo and booked into an executive room, and once again absolutely NO Diamond recognition. I'm starting to wonder if it has something to do with the corporate rate we are obligated to use...???

what kind of recognition were you looking for? There is usually no upgrade beyond exec floor anyway and I believe breakfast is included. Sure, you sometimes get some goodies/water/wine or whatever, but this is not mandatory. Corporate rates should not change anything.

Have you explicitly asked "What do you do for Diamonds at this property?"

Actually, at the very least, an additional, "Amenity" or "Service" should have been provided.It's the same in this for HHonors Gold members.

What this amenity/service actually is, only the Hotel can answer. I have had a box of chocolates or a bottle of Wine; A hotel may think two bottles of water or a free pressing would suffice.

It appears to often be the case that check in agents simply assume your Executive room implies you have received an upgrade so an amenity is not necessary. In these cases it is correct and proper at the time of check in to enquire as to what amenity is hotel IS going to provide.

Hilton Morumbi Sao Paulo, Brazil
 

I recently made my first visit to Sao Paulo, Brazil. The company I was meeting with had a rate with Hilton and being Diamond it was my first choice anyway.

I cannot say that Sao Paulo is a place I am dying to return to, but the Hilton Morumbi was first class. Everyone from the front desk clerks, doormen, executive center were above and beyond friendly and English speaking. I believe that they said the Hotel is about 4 years old but looked brand new. Rooms were impeccable. Being Diamond, my welcome was a full bottle of red wine and a large box of chocolates. Fresh complimentary water was provided EACH day as well. Buffet breakfast in executive lounge very good plus complimentary happy hour, booze included each evening.

There is an underground mall that connects other buildings with shopping, restaurant's etc., which was nice. My only complaint for the hotel is the internet access was $45BR per day which is about $22 USD! Free wireless is available in the lobby and the executive lounge.

Overall outstanding. Just a warning though, Sao Paulo makes Los Angeles look small. Traffic is horrendous. Be sure to only stay here if convenient to your business needs. Ride from the airport (GRU) took 30 minutes on Sunday night, but took 2.5 hours Thursday night leaving the Hilton at 4:30 pm. A ride to a client office in the financial district, Paulista took an hour each way in the middle of the day.

Sao Paulo is not safe especially to those who don't speak the language. Hilton arranged a ride both ways for $200BR (90USD) each and allowed fee to be billed to room which again was nice. ATM's city wide are turned off at 10:00 PM.

DLB404:

I agree 100% .... Hilton Sao Paulo is great.^ I highly recommend it, it's one of the best business hotels I have ever been.

It is a very nice property, but an internet rate of $20-30/day is pretty standard outside the US, at least this is what I've found in Europe, Australia, and Brazil. (Haven't been to Asia for business.)

Even with such high rates, some places even set MB limits per billing cycle.

$9.99/day in the US is a bargain.

I fully agree with you on the property review.

However, would you mind explaining your remark above in a little more detail. I would be very interested to know what exactly you are referring to. :)

If you happen to be flying in/out of Sao Paulo Congonhas (CGH) domestic airport the Hilton Morumbi is convenient.

Hilton vs. Hyatt Executive Lounge?
 

I have always stayed at the nearby Grand Hyatt Sao Paulo. They have a huge lounge with a great breakfast and an extensive spread for the cocktail hour along with space to hold a small meeting. I have never been at the Hilton. Can anyone comment on the size of the Hilton's lounge vs. the Hyatt and if it is open all day and on weekends?

Thanks.

I don't know the Hyatt SP, but the executive lounge at Hilton is also big, open the whole week, with a great breakfast and evening cocktails.