Carnaval 2010- World Carnival Dates, Schedules and Information

When u want fun, enjoyment and spend some leisure time imbibed in nature and yet surrounded by modernity, take a trip to Rio de Janeiro. The City offers a true blend of mystic beauty, mesmerizing beaches, grand carnivals with its enchanting music and breath holding dances. It’s a paradise to be in for leisure and fun, the city is full of clubs and pubs partying all night.

You are a sport lover, it the place you can do it all. Water sports like surfing, kite surfing and bodyboarding; beach sports like football, volleyball or a combination of both “fute-volei” will give you excitement; climbing, hicking or jumping try them all. If you have had it with beaches, you could simply enjoy walking or bicycling. For Golf lovers has great Gavea Golf Club.

Rio offers a variety of accommodation to suit all budgets; you may rent an apartment or some exclusive package offered by many hotels. Accommodations near the beaches cost a bit more that the ones in downtowns. If you plan to visit Rio de Janeiro during the Carnival, its best advised to book the accommodation well in advance to experience a memorable travel along with discovering the Brazilian life style, its tradition blended with the Carnival fun.

Rio de Janeiro is termed as one of the best tourist spots, which is full of beaches, resorts and landmarks.

As we all know, the giant Jesus Christ statue on the mountains of Corcovado is world famous and the favorite tourist attraction. Rio also has the famous Marana stadium. For nature loves, there are forests and wildlife parks too.

As the number of tourists is increasing every year, many new hotels are coming up to provide the luxury and the comfort for the tourists. Some of these famous hotels are –

Ipanema Plaza Hotel

This hotel is built near an elegant and stylish neighborhood. It is situated 50 mts. Away from the beach and offers comfort and luxury to its guests. This hotel is very close to the International Airport and the financial center.

Ipanema Hotel has 79 luxury apartments, 39 deluxe and 12 junior suites with state-of-the-art décor and furnishing.

The basic services includes centralized air conditioner, telephone service, Internet access, TV, bar, and 24 hour room service. Al the rooms are designed as per the Golden Tulip Hotels standards and it gives a glorious view of the Ipanema beach.

Everest Rio Hotel

This hotel is located in Ipanema near the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon and minute away from the beach. The visitors in this hotel are thrilled with the view of the Jesus Christ statue on the mountains of Corcovado. This hotel lies in close proximity of various shopping malls and half an hour away from the International Airport.

It has 96 standard suites with standard services and queen-sized double beds. 7 executive rooms provide the panoramic view of the Ipanema Beach and comprises of a living room, bathroom, and a king-sized bed.

The hotel has two restaurants serving according to the well-designed menu. Grill 360 Degrees restaurant serves breakfasts, which includes breads, fruits and many more. It also serves salads, snacks, and desserts. They specialize in meats, fishes, and seafood.

The second restaurant is the Dombri EDO Restaurant. It specialty is Japanese cuisine.

Style Flies down to Rio

Rio, an obsessed beautiful city simply lacks in stylish accommodation. Most of the hotels are lined near the Copacabana beach but the Palace has pretensions to style. With the opening of Ipanema beach by Fasano, most of the contemporary chic’s reach the beach this year. It is designed by art effects created dating back in 1950s and 60s, the hotel has around 92 rooms along with suites with a gastronomic restaurant specializing in Italian cuisine and sea food with a rooftop pool. For more information you can log in to www.fasano.com.br

On the beach

COPACABANA PALACE

Location:- It is located on the beach and is just a few minutes drive from the mid town and around 40 minutes drive from the international airport.

Character:- It certainly is the best hotels available in Rio with its effortless styles. Built in 1920s it has hosted presidents, celebrities and world leaders. It has a private swimming pool with rooftop tennis court and is certainly known for its peerless service.

Rooms:- There are 225 rooms and suites and around 147 are in the main building area. Rooms are generally sea facing or Copacabana Avenue, giving some of the best views of the penthouse suites present on the sixth floor.

Food:- The famous Cipriani restaurant serves its guest with Italian cuisine and is as best in Rio. The Chef Franceso Carli has managed to serve dishes similar to Cipriani hotel in Venice where he worked previously.

We like:- The beach service includes complimentary fruits with water along the most fabulous bar at the pool and is certainly the best way to enjoy your evening in Cipriani Hotel restaurant.

Not so keen:- When speaking of leaving.

Essentials:- 0800 181 123 log on to www.copacabana palace.com.br; tariffs for doubles include £230 plus taxes, for room only.

International

SOFITEL RIO DE JANEIRO

Location:- It is located at Ipanema at the end of Copacabana and is certainly suitable for both beaches.

Character:- The building is a modern styled, seven storey with a Brazilian-French touch in its service- may be considered as slow but certainly adds a lot of smiles.

Rooms:- It has around 338 rooms and suites with balcony. The building is double curved so a number of rooms are available in the front face of the hotel instead of facing the sea and all the standard rooms are a bit small. So if you want to enjoy your stay you can check in at the suite with an ocean view of Imperial club that is located at the 8^th floor.

Food:- It has two restaurants, Atlantis which is located at the first floor serves its guests buffet lunches along with light meals; and the Le Pre Catelan, which serves French cuisine all in the modern surroundings.

We Like:- The pool that is in circular shape and breakfast on the terrace facing the Copacabana beach watching the beautiful sun set from the rooftop lounge present in the Imperial Club Floor.

Not so keen:- It has a corporate feel and is definitely pretty much par in Rio.

Essentials:- 0055 21 2525 1232 or log on to www.accorhotels.com. Tariffs from £104 for double bed plus taxes for room only.

INEXPENSIVE

MELLOW YELLOW BACKPACKERS HOSTEL

Location:- It is located in the heart of Rio and a block away from Copacabana beach just on the rear of the Copacabana Palace Hotel. It is centrally located and close to metro and main bus services.

Character:- It certainly was created for backpackers by the backpackers. It is six storey building and a hub of place with bars, Jacuzzi, chill-out rooms and an excellent barbecue terrace.

Rooms:- The dorms are Brazilian themed and double bed rooms are bigger in size but priced accordingly equipped with wardrobes and lockers. So if you are looking for extra privacy or raveling with partner you can take the double bedrooms.

Food:- It has a bamboo bar and restaurant with themed nights and also offers India cuisine along with Thai and traditional Brazilian cuisines. The décor is excellent with cheap drinks and music playing through out the night. It also has two different kitchens with ample of space where one can create their own culinary delights.

We like:- It offers a good collection of city tours and events including football events, surfing, samba parties and also hand gliding trips. Chill-out rooms offer a great hammocks that certainly will catch your breath.

Not so keen:- The double bedrooms are simply basic.

Essentials:- 0055 21 2547 1993 or log on to www.mellowyellow.com.br. Tariffs starts from £7 and double bedrooms are for £24.

Getting there:- A number of tour operators offer package trips to Rio including Scott Dunn (020 8682 5030 or log on to www.scottdunn.com) and trip along Latin America (020 8747 3108 or log on to www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk). Journey Latin America also includes a week long stay in Rio for around £917 for each person and certainly on b&b basis including flight tariffs. So if you are traveling on British Airways (0870 850 9850 or log on to www.ba.com) you certainly can have a return flight from Heathrow Airport to Rio for £743 per person. For more information on Rio de Janeiro or other details regarding UK operators with special holiday packages to Brazil, you can always contact the Latin American Travel Association or log on to www.lata.org.