Hotels general discussion. There seems to be tons of hotels in SP ranging from $30 to $450 a night, only problem website states Sao Paulo as city so what to make of it, guess Centro, Ave Paulista or Moema? Any suggestion would help fellow hombres like me, not on business trip but doing research of a more important matter.

how about apt.hotel bela cintra rua bela cintra136.1min from rua augusta with quite a few boites.or savoy palace on rua augusta1272 fone 288-6459.i dont know the phone number for bela cintra they have a web site.sorry for the grammar mistakes.maybe you have any use of the adresses in the future

It's been awhile seen I've been in SP...my last two trips down I stayed at the Bluetree Plaza. Got rooms for about $100 US both times thru orbitz or travelocity. Great hotel & very chica friendly with no additional charges. One of the few places in Brazil I've stayed with "american" size beds...actually got a kingsize bed. It's a few blocks from where Rue augusta crests the hill up to the big park. Not a bad walk during the day but I'd grab a cab at night.

My personal preference for SP, is the SP Hilton on Ave. Ipiranga. It's two blocks away from all the clubs on Ave. Nestor Pestana. Like Kilt, Vagao, Cocktail. And one block further away is Rua Agusta where Big Ben is located and where all the cheapo Termas and Saunas can be found. And late at night the street-walking freelancers.

If you don`t pick up anything? Next door is Love Story. I call it the "help" of SP. But, don't go before 3 AM. As it doesn't get started until all the fore-mentioned clubs above close or chicas looking for a second or third "score" come around.
Love Story is closed Sunday's.

To avoid paying the dollar rate. Do not make your reservation in the States. Call them direct or from the airport upon arrival. I have yet to be shut out doing so. (55-11) 3156-4300

Also, you can get frequent flyer miles. And if your a gold or diamond HH member, the Executive floor and lounge is very good. Even if your not, I would pay extra just to stay there.

The hotel is girl friendly. You are allowed one guest at a time. They must have their "documento" to get in. Daytime it's easy to just walk right in without registering. At night, it`s a whole different matter. ID required. For security.

The SP Hilton has the requisite CH location and the staff is quite friendly.

See ya there!

Gents,

I visit SP about 3-4 times on business a year so I've had. In terms of true value for the $$, the Blue Tree properties are probably the best in SP. They have great presence, sometimes two or three in each major neighborhood. When I was I stayed at the Blue Tree in Vila Olimpia - an upscale mixed commercial/residential neighborhood. While the hotel was a little older, I stayed in a top-floor suite for what worked out to US$50/night.

The last time I was in Brazil, I returned to my old reliable - Renaissance on Alameda Santos. this is regarded by some as the most posh hotel in SP. While this hotel stands head-and-shoulders above the rest, it becomes quite obvious why once you receive the bill - the lower end rooms will cost around US$185/night.

Next time in SP, I think I will stay at the Hilton in Morumbi - the center of the new business district. However, I've been warned by many paulistanos against staying at the Hilton in the old Centro. Although, it's a Hilton and the old Centro isn't too bad at night, it's still a little too sleazy for my - and I assume most Americans - taste.

Meccakrang,

Regarding your comments on the Hilton in Centro and Morumbi, I have stayed both hotels and obviously no comparision between the two.

I stayed at the Hilton Morumbi a couple of weeks ago for one week. I'm a Hilton's frequent guest so they put me at the executive floor. As it is a brand new hotel (less than one year old), overall interior design and decoration are based on modern theme and everything is clean and nice.

Attending staff from the bellstand, reception and executive lounge was very friendly, prompt, courteous. The top floor has a good size swimming pool and large number of exercise equiments as the hotel has separate fitness center memberships with local folks. So the hotel guests benefit from various exercise equipment.

The size of the guest room (at the executive floor) is somewhat smaller than what I expected, even though not small at all from the perspective of hotel room size in non-US hotels. But the room design was very ergonomic and nice, especially the bathroom - separate shower, bathtub. Lighting of the room was good as well.
This hotel has sound deafening installed so you do not hear any street traffic noise at all. I felt like I was in the fishball looking outside - no noise at all. There was a high-rise construction right by the hotel and my room, I did not hear any noise, espeically the construction crew started their work early in the morning. This new construction technology was big plus for me.

Will I stay at this hotel again, absolutely! What I paid ($125.00/day) for the executive floor and the lounge for free breakfast spread, free drinks all day, finger food throughout the evening and free internet access was worth it.
Thought share my experience on Hilton Morumbi.

Any comments on Caesar Park - it is just off Av. Paulista. I have stayed there previously but with my boss so there was no opportunity for fun. Is it girl friendly?

Waterrat
All the hotels in SP are guest friendly.

Anyone stayed or has info, on Parthenon Manhattan flats.


CN

Anyone have info on the SP Hyatt? Here's some hotel info, from their web site...
on Avenida das Nações Unidas, in the heart of São Paulo's new, prestigious Marginal Pinheiros business and financial district.

I'm specific looking for any info on the following:

- Girl friendly (I've read that all SP hotels are girl friendly, but just what's involved for the Hyatt?)

- Good location for access to weekend places, such as Bomboa, Kilt, Love Story, or mid-level MPs or prives?

- A good place for having an internet girl visit?

- Local neighborhood - food, convenience stores, juice places (or is this a Rio thing only?)?

- Best transportation option on a Saturday AM from GRU... best method for getting to CGH on a Monday AM?

Thanks for any help/experiences you might share!!

Dunno about the Hyatt, but answering your questions in general:

All SP hotels are in fact girl-friendly. Imagine them telling businessmen they can't bring hookers to their rooms! all hotels in town would go bankrupt... the only reason Rio hotels sometimes are "difficult" is becuase Rio is all about vacationers, not business, so they want to maintain a "family" image.

Marginal Pinheiros is kinda farfor Bomboas and Kilt, but closer to Love Story and the other Morubi hangouts (Pinheiros is on the southern edge of Morumbi). Kilts and the other Av Augusta places suck anyway, and a taxi ride to Bomboa won't break the bank.

Sure, no problem having escorts visit. Easy taxi ride.

Nieghborhood? Ha! Marginal Pinheiros is a highway, not a neighborhood. Can't go anywhere without a car. Stay somewhere in Morumbi or right off Av. Paulista if you want atmosphere (without getting killed).

Shuttle bus from GRU, taxi to CGH.

Serioulsy, why stay at the SP Hyatt, stay at the Parthenon (read Athos' trip report).

BS

For Parthenons or other hotels on ave Paulista, my advice is pick one south of Ave Paulista, not north as streets are mostly one way and it will save you time and money in case you take a cab.
My other advice is to pick a hotel near a metro stop to have quick access to day time mps or cut on taxi rides. Expect to spend 3 times more on taxi in SP compared to Rio. Another advantage of Paulista, many escorts are in the neighbourhood. For sucos, they are available everywhere, look for small places that serve quick sandwiches and coffee.
Parthenon, expect to pay R$110 for double.

I used to stay in the general area when i was in SP on business. the problem around there is that the area shuts down in the evening and on weekends. I stayed at the Blue Tree Towers Nacoes Unidas, because that was where my client put me up. It was pretty nice, not sure the cost as I never paid the bill - I would guess about the same as a Hilton. The only problem I ever had with an escort was that they required she be at least 21 years old, and they were quite strict about that.

Badseed is right on in that there is no place you can go without a car. Well you can probably walk to the office you are working at. One thing that might be interesting is there was a Hooters that was just being finished that last time I stayed in that area. I cannot remember the street name, but I think it was on the same street as the Oracle campus. I remember thinking that a Brazilian Hooters could be interesting.

-beachbum

I forgot to mention that there is a Churrascaria (Brazilian BBQ) called Fogo de Chao in that general area (any hotel receptionist would know). The best Churrascaria that I have been to. A little on the expensive side, but definitely worth it (although I was always on the company dime when I went).

-beachbum

Badseed, thanks for all the info!

Guys, you each said to pick another hotel - and I goofed and didn't mention here (as I did in my post to the Homebase) that the hotel is FREE. Hyatt has a promo, any two stays equals a free night... I've got 6 stays in the last month or two - so that's three free nights.

So, please let me now ask - does the Hyatt (it's situation) suck enough that even if it's free you'd rather pay us$50 or up to stay in a better location?

I agree about hating to stay in a place that is a 'business' hotel alone on a highway not in a cool residential-feeling neighborhood. For example, in BA I would never stay in Retiro or Centro, even though the Marriott is nice, and there's the Sheraton - and I would always stay in a place like Art Suites... Or in Rio I'd never stay downtown, only staying in Ipa or Copa...

But if it's free, for the SP Hyatt?

Thanks guys, let me know?

You're welcome, always happy to help out. And as I wrote in response to your chat-section question, FREE makes up for a lot of other evils. In other words,I can pay for a lot of taxi rides to someplace more lively, closer to the garota action,etc with the money I am saving on FREE.

Besides it's not so bad.Just to understand the geography of the situation, Sao Paulo has a "ring-road" (actually a series of highways and limited-acces avenues) that circle the downtown about 4-5 miles out. The Hyatt is on that ring road (it's called Marginal Pinheiros in the south part of town and Maginal Tiete in the north... the main highway from GRU feeds directly into Marginal Tiete). The road also seperates Sampa's "inner neighborhoods" (Jardins, Brooklin, Pinheiros, Mormbi, etc) from the outer neighborhoods (Santana, Freguesia do O, Penha...). With the exception of Bomboa (I think, I may be wrong), all of the major hotspots are in the southern "inner neighborhoods" so Hyatt is well-placed even if you can only go by taxi.

One tip, ASK your doorman at the hotel what the normal taxi fare is to the spots you want to visit, that way you will avoid getting ripped off by the cabbies. Don't be embarressed about revealing to the doorman that you are mongering, everybody does it in Brazil, no big deal. In fact, the doorman (and night receptionest) can be your best friend, make sure to give him a tip every day in return for good service... giving you tips where to go, getting you taxis that aren't total thiefs (although doormen usually get kickbacks from taximen, at leastin Rio.. so feel your way on this one), and most importantly in "overlooking" any house fees involved in bringin girls back to the hotel (yeah, officially the Hyatt probably will want to charge you R$50 or so above and beyond your free hotel room for the privilige of bringing back a girl... now if you are the night receptionist, would you rather charge Mr. FLMonger R$50 each and every time he brings back a "girlfriend" and put it in the register or would you rather pocket R$100 from him on the day he leaves??).

Anyway have a blast! Hell yes, stay at the Hyatt and live it up. See how much it costs to upgrade "FREE" to their best-level suite, you never know. In Brazil, everything is negotiable.....

BS

Fogo do Chao is good but there is a better Churrascaria called Jardineria near there also. Both or good but the other is a little better. IMHO.

You are near Advance VIP. Not a bad MP.

www.advancevip.com.br

I will be in Sampa for just one night in October(enroute to RIO). My intentions right now are to visit Bomboa only. Would somebody suggest a few hotels in the vicinity...lower end of the price scale but must be clean and reasonably well appointed.

I am ready to turn in the Hilton Sao Paulo for another hotel; I am thinking about one of the Parthenons or Blue Trees. If anyone out there has the website addresses of these, would you please post them. Also, is there a better way to book the hotels, other than through their websites? And, any other suggestions about comparable or better hotels (other than the high end, which I already have a handle on)? One of my preferences is the hotel should be near a metro stop, otherwise it would be Hilton Morumbi all the way.

I like the Parthenon St. Germaine. Look on the accorhotels website. Booking on the website IS the best way for this chain. The St. Germaine is not high end but near a metro stop, banking, food and in a safe neighborhood. The Marriott is about two blocks away, with it's televisionless bar.

I totally agree with MitchC. I finally found the best hotel for me in SP. First St Germain is not the best parthenon in terms of facilities, probably the worse for me but if you consider location I will return.
First book single room as they do not charge you for garotas so R$107 per night. Bare bone gym on top floor. Small bathroom but bed was good. Not the quietest hotel but located in small rua so no noise at night, well that's what one garota mentioned who lived nearby.
Located right by mall, best pastries and paulistas, located 2 blocks from paulista, near internet cafe, near MASP, lanchonetes. Room has hi speed connection as well. To go to Bomboa, walk till end of Paulista 5 min walk then 5 min cab ride straight shot on reboucas. Near Metro Consolacao for mp runs. South of Paulista which is very important when coming home by taxi so no 1 way street and extra wasted time.

I am going to visit SP next month and I want to know which good hotel is most conveniently located relative to the good mongering spots. Also, what is the lowest I can pay a night for a decent hotel in a safe area?

Thanks for any help.

Athos, actually the weekend rate is even cheaper, about $90R. Also, I have actually walked to Bomboa from the hotel and it's not that bad. There are many shops on Rua Augusta also, so the walk is pretty nice. The fact that the hotel is near the subway is very important. Cab fares in SP are outrageous if you are solo.

Athos and mitchc,

Parthenon saint germain looks great but if you book a single room you get a single bed, right? And where do you fuck the garotas? or am I wrong?

just asking. I plan to be in SP in september (cherry trip)

Dcool

Double bed; comfortable with plenty of room for two. Also, no guest fee and I love the showers there. They are smoking hot with lots of pressure. Again, the location is fantastic.

Mitch,

Thank you so much for this priceless info. This is a real deal and this is what's make lodging cheaper in SP comparing to Rio.
I am about to book my room right away (from 9/12 to 9/23).
See you there? Tchau,

Dcool

Have to agree with Mitch - I'm currently staying at the Saint Germain, and the location is quite nice - facilities are cool, and the room I have (single with queen size bed) has a mini kitchen as well as very acceptable bathroom facilities - quiet, comfortable, affordable, broadband internet in the room (ask for free cable at the desk "cabo por banda larga/Ethernet".
vale apena - worth it, I think - esp. for the location.
MASP museum in easy walking distance if anybody cares..

What's the best way to get to the Parthenon Saint Germain from GRU? Shuttle bus or Taxi? Approximate cost of a taxi ride from GRU? Thanks.

$75 reals by cab and should not be any more. Try for $70 but do not pay more than $75.

Soccer, there are buses that run hourly from GRU to the city. One to Plaza Republica, and one to downtown Paulista. I believe they drop you off by the Hotel Maksoud Plaza?

Get your bus tix outside of baggage claim, by the taxi, rental car offices. It costs around 23R.

From the Maksoud you are close by to the PSG, and can cab it? If the above PSG info is correct? As I have yet to see the place or stay there.

After an all-night flight (assuming you are going to be on an all-night flight) a taxi is probably the best way, assuming $25 is not a problem. I wouldn't want the hassle of taking a bus, transferring to a taxi, etc., just to save a few dollars.

Having said that, if you have a Diner's Club card, Diner's runs free shuttles to somewhere downtown, although only a few times a day (if memory serves me right). You can find out about this at the Diner's lounge at GRU. I've never used it, but I am fairly sure it is available to Diner's Club card holders and is free. Sf4dfish?

I don't think soccer owns a DC cc?

Laguy, you and I are in the minority for carrying a DC cc. 95 buck$ a year!

Last DC shuttle in the morning is 11 am, and they drop you off at the Maksoud. The next one doesn't run again until 3 pm.

DC also has a shuttle from Guarulhos to Congonhas, and back.

Am staying at the mercure hotel in bela vista, they have a deal on internet R$110 for single from R$192. I´d say 3.5 stars roomd, very clean, great bed and nice bathroom. Same management as parthenon.
I recommend.

Athos: Do you prefer the Mercure over the Saint Germain now? What lead you to switch? How's Bomboa this time? Thanks.

soccer
Mercure did not have any room with double bed on my return so i went back to st germain. Mercure bela vista is bit newer and feels like a hotel. Bringing a garota, no one would notice.
St Germain is better located for me, room is nice but hotel a bit old. They know you bring garotas but don't charge extra. The bed at mercure is great, st germain good enough. Bathroom also better at mercure. If same cost, i'd return to mercure.

Bomboa was pretty good but I regretted spending so much time after going to millenium.
Bomboa has under 400 garotas working there, so expect at least 200 on any given night so 10% fitting your need that's enough for 1 or 2 nights. Girls are sluts and pros for the most part. I could not find a ninfa, too many mid 20's to early 30's. Sushi is great.
Current hotties: mulatta Mel, mulatta Luisa highly recommended, loira emmanuela highly recommended, loira Sabrina. Thumbs down for loira Gabriella from Santa Carina, she has a twin sister selling her virginity so after that's done I guess you could do a twin dupla.
Millenium had great selection, 80 garotas on a wed night which is country dancing night and feijoada. Tues nigth is sushi night. Same rule as connection so no kissing unless you get a girl who won't mind being fined. 1/2 the garotas were attractive with best hourglass you can find anywhere. Some girls failed my interview so maybe I got lucky finding 2 safadas. Loira vicky is most safada from my last trip.
Connection has good selection but I recognized girls from 2 years ago, i had a hard time finding a garota suitable for my needs as most failed my interview.

Does anyone know how far from a metro station and/or Avenida Paulista the Mercure in Bela Vista is? I'm looking at hotel availability in Sao Paulo next month and some of the hotels I usually stay in appear to be sold out.

LAGuy
Mercure in bela vista is right by Brigadeiro metro stop, located on rua sao carlos de pinhal, parallel to paulista, north side. Exiting hotel, make a right, then a right, you hit paulista then quick left.
They have a deal on accor web site, R$100 per night. Highly recommended at this price level as bed was fantastic. They have a very cute late afternoon receptionist, actually more like very beautiful.

Athos:

Your posts got me interested in Mercure, although I decided to book at the Mercure close to the Renaissance Hotel as I like the location a bit more. Aside from the fact I will be paying around R$150 rather than R$100 per night, do you know anything that would suggest the Mercure in Bela Vista is a better hotel? I still have the option of canceling and re-booking.

Also, while I'm at it, I noticed Accor (sp) sells a yearly club membership that provides, among other things, reasonably decent discounts at all their hotels throughout the world, which range from cheap to five-star. The cost though is 130 Euros per year. As I am a frequent hotel guest it may pay off, but I am wondering if anyone out there knows whether the discounts apply to the special internet rates they advertise. I haven't been able to figure that out from their website, and they make it virtually impossible to email them to ask this question (in order for their website to accept email about the club membership you have to provide your already purchased club number, hardly helpful if you have questions that bear on whether you want to purchase the thing in the first place).

Laguy
I have no idea about difference between Mercures. I can only compare with Parthenons which are more like 3 star flats. Mercure had better bathroom and better bed than Parthenon. Parthenon is a bit larger, has a kitchen that I never use. I personally would not pay extra R$50 but everyone has different needs.
I have no idea about the membership.

I decided to go with the Mercure on Bela Vista -- 100R. Is there an ATM nearby? Thanks.

soccer
go to paulista, lots of banks there.

Your best bet with a U.S. issued card (I'm assuming that is what you have) would be either Citibank or HSBC on Avenida Paulista. Citibank is fairly close to MASP (Museum of Art Sao Paulo), and I believe HSBC is also in the general vicinity.

HSBC is on the north side of Paulista, west of MASP, same side street.
Bradesco works for me too.

A guide to Love Motels in Sao Paulo, if the need should ever arise (no pun intended):

Guia de moteis

I liked the Mercure Trianon in Bela Vista. Athos, many thanks for the recommendataion. The bed was great: firm and not a squeak in it. The internet rate of 100R was an excellent deal. A Citibank ATM was a 5 minute walk away, and the Brigadeiro Metro station was even closer. I had 5 women come to the room, and they dinged me for 20R once, but it was after midnight.

I found the Hotel Lido; the one that is frequently mentioned on gpguia. It is in Liberdade and a five minute walk from the Sao Joaquim Metro Station. Sao Joaquim dead ends at the station, the next street to the right as you look down Sao Joaquim is Pirapitingui. A couple doors down Pirapitingui is the Hotel Lido. When she told me the street name, I transcribed it as best as I could (I made her repeat herself 3-4 times.), but when I found it on a map, my transcription didn't come close.

I went there because one escort insisted we use it rather than my hotel. You rent a room for a four hour period. After finishing, I called up another, went to eat some Japanese food, walked around Liberdade a bit and went back to the Hotel Lido for the second romp. I was sitting in the waiting room, and the woman I did earlier walks into the room. We laughed and then she looked in her little black bood and started calling clients to tell them she was available and already at the Hotel Lido. Obviously, her MO is to book clients for the Hotel Lido and hangout there awhile.

I haven't stayed at the Mercure Trianon but the Mercure Jardins is also quite good. A bit more expensive than the Mercure Trianon though; I suspect the rooms are a bit bigger (they are bigger than at the Mercure downtown) and the location may be considered more desirable (although probably not by much) as it is within a block or two of the Renaissance Hotel. Anyway, after having a very hard time finding reasonably priced hotels in Sao Paulo that did not have significant flaws, the Mercure chain may be the answer. Note that I haven't brought any garotas up to my room (too much business stuff lying all around, and I generally prefer to get my kicks on site) but I would be surprised if that presented a problem.

One more thing about the Mercure Jardins is it is on the corner of Rua Augusta and Alameda Itu, three blocks down from Avenida Paulista. Buses run up and down Rua Augusta, and you can therefore be at the Rua Augusta or Rua Nestor Pestana places (including Kilt, Cocktail, etc.) within a few short minutes. One of the two buses that runs this route also takes you to Republica Praca (centro), or going in the other direction both buses as far as I can tell will take you to Pinheiros (near some of the Pinheiros prives/casas, and lower-end nightclubs I wrote about in one of my reports); Pinheiros takes maybe 20-25 minutes though.

The buses cost R$1.70, and as far as I can tell are considerably safer than the buses in Rio. The metro is also three blocks away, although two of the three blocks are uphill when going to the metro.

In the Mercure Trianon, there was a safe in the closet, but I couldn't get it to work.

The room was small, but for me that doesn't matter. For a small room, it had a lot of furniture: king sized bed with two small tables with lamps, a table with two chairs, a tv stand and a large comfy chair in front of the tv. And it had plenty of hot water for showers, ahhhhhh.

The window shades in the room were so thick, I could never tell if it was day or night.

Oh, the old safe doesn't work in the closet trick. When I checked into the Mercure Jardins, my safe did not work. This was because they had changed the battery, but the battery guy didn't have the reset code necessary after a battery change. After the front desk came up to re-set the code (well, actually, the front desk itself stayed downstairs, but someone from the front desk came up) it worked fine.

Getting back to the more important basics, there is free broadband in the rooms at the Mercure Jardins, Mercure downtown, and I am assuming the Mercure Trianon. However, at least with my vonage softphone there were indications the broadband may not be up to snuff (its fine for surfing though and the speed is fine). Next time I will try my regular vonage box, since I am beginning to think it may work better in dicey situations than the softphone (not sure about this yet though).

Your Vonage softphone wouldn't function at all at the hotel? Did you use the other setting?

I don't seem to find the other setting really helping me that much anyway in situations where I don't have sufficent bandwidth.