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Brazil (South America) Reviews |
Eric, Moira
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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This was our first time in North-East Brazil but it certainly won't be our last.
Ponta Negra is just outside the City of Natal, which we found to be quite safe to travel about in. The Hotel Praia Azul Mar is in the Thomson brochure as 2-star but we were delighted with it. It was extremely clean, the food was good and the staff and facilities were excellent. The hotel is situated right on the beach which gives fantastic views over the Atlantic. It is a 10 minute walk along the 'promenade' to the centre of Ponta Negra where there are many shops, bars and restaurants. The beach itself is lovely and clean {they are always tidying up any litter etc) and there is always a refreshing breeze to cool you down. You can spend all day there as beach-sellers offer you all types of food and drink, from kebabs to corn-on-the cob, to fruit juice and whisky!
The locals are extremely friendly and are keen to talk to tourists so that they can improve their English language!
There are some great shopping centres in the area which you can get to by bus or taxi. A taxi into Natal City is 13 Reals (£3.25p)The one peice of advice I would give is that the brochures say the hotels offer money-exchange facilities, but none of them do yet. Take either Reals (if you can get them in the UK), US Dollars which you can change at banks etc or use a Money Change machine at the PRAIA SHOPPING CENTRE in Ponta Negra. We found it no problem to use it and the exchange rate was excellent.
All in all, this was a great Hotel, lovely beach resort and friendly locals and we will certainly be back.
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Joyce & Neal
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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Thomson have celebrated there first year travelling to Brazil and I'm sure there will be many more. We were there over Christmas & New Year and it was HOT. I've never used Factor 30 sun cream before but it's a must. Hotel lovely and spacious, never seemed to be many people about (but I'm sure there were) plenty of seating at reception very posh. Only one bar open at night, two during the day, but never overly busy. Hotel lovely for a stroll at nighttime along the board walk or sitting in the gardens sipping a cocktail -heaven. Food quite good and plenty of it all day and night but of course there were the usual complaints but there's something for everyone.
Didn't do many tours and the two we did disappointing, but we're not really tour people would prefer to sit on the beach speaking of which hugh, empty and only two beach sellers, sea warm and wild great for jumping around in. Hotel had two pools with slide and pool bar.
I would 100% recommend this hotel to anyone,would definitely go back ourselves.
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Tina - London
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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We recently returned from the holiday of a lifetime in Brazil and I just had to share some of our experiences.
We arrived after a long flight (14 hours) with Varig airlines which wasn't too bad, the service was really good and we pre booked our tickets so we had 2 seats on their own, well worth it. We got to Rio and had booked into Ipanema Plaza which is 5 star, it was a beautiful hotel and only 1 block from Ipanema beach. Everything about it was great, the decor, the staff, the restaurant and we had marvellous views of the beach and Corcovado where Christ the Redeemerlooks over the city.
There are plenty of bars and restaurants, the best being around the Ipanema and Leblon areas. Copacabana is lovely but quite touristy and there can be quite a few beggars around. We had heard dodgey stories about Rio being unsafe but the beach is flood lit at night and there are always quite a few police around, I didn't feel threatened once. There are also a million cabs which are so cheap, just a couple of quid a ride so you really don't have to be wandering around anyway.
There are so many things to do, Sugar Loaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer to name but a few. We also went to Iguassu Falls, a 3 hour plane journey away but definately worth it, I have never seen anything so beautiful. Then we went to the Amazon, that was a 5 hour plane ride and although we really did enjoy it there isn't really much to see when you get there, it takes up quite a chunck of your trip, plus we got eaten alive so make sure you get all the right jabs. After there we returned to Rio for a few nights and stayed in the Marina palace Hotel on Leblon beach, we tried to get back in the Ipanema Plaza but it was full. Anyway the Marina is nice, only a four star but it was clean and the staff were helpful - it could probably do with a bit of a make-over as the decor was a little dated but it was comfortable.
All in all I would thoroughly recommend Brazil, I have to say I have been around the world and I have never met such warm, friendly wonderful people in my life, they would do anything to help you. I'm looking forward to going back one day.
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Carol & Shirley - Bir
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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The hotel had officially opened two days prior to our arrival and certainly lived up to its five star rating.
A very high standard of accommodation was on offer with excellent facilities.
My sister and I went all inclusive and found this to be excellent value for money as it included all drinks and cocktails and extensive menu choices in both the main and speciality (Brazilian, Japanese and Mediterranean) restaurants.
The golf course is still to open, but this didn't bother us, nor the fact that building work was still going on to complete the third accommodation block. In fact, it took us three days to realise where the building work was going on!
My basic Spanish came in handy as many of the staff spoke limited English (if at all), but I understand that they are currently taking lessons. However, they remained very polite and extremely helpful despite the language barrier.
The weather was a bit mixed. Starting hot and sunny and then raining around lunchtime, but often brightening up later in the afternoon. However, this is to be expected, as June is traditionally a Brazilian winter month.
We booked a two night trip to Rio which although cost more than half the original holiday cost, was a must and enabled us to see the main sights and join in with the football celebrations. We partied on Sugar Loaf Mountain in a sea of yellow and green as Brazil celebrated it's win over Ghana.
We were both very impressed, by the standard of the hotel; it's staff and facilities. Overall an excellent holiday experience and one that we would highly recommend.
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Bev & Nigel
Guest
Voted this Destination:Not voted yet
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I have just spent 2 weeks (15th Oct) at the Iberostar Bahia and it has some very good points, however not 5 star. There are no optics in the room, no fluffy robes and no beach bar. However the food is excellent, rooms spacious and beach is beautiful. George the First Choice rep is there to meet you off the coach and say goodbye and that is the total of his use.
All 3 speciality restaurant were very good however I felt the resort lacked a Brazilian feel and I could have been anywhere. Typical Iberostar hotel e.g. an impressive lobby bar, windy swim up bar and spacious entertainment room. Star friends as always worked extremely hard and although they were not fluent in English they tried very hard and every day you saw improvements. Nivea, a waitress in the buffet always had a smile at morning and night. The towel sculptures were a nice touch and tips were not expected however gratefully received. Remember you are entitled to 3 speciality restaurants a week, however whilst I was there they were trying to limit it to 5 a fortnight!
The first week the hotel was quite quiet however the second week there were far more Brazilians holidaying in the hotel. This sometimes made you feel like you were wearing "invisible powder" as they always got served before you, although you were at the bar first.
We did the 2 day /1 night trip to Rio and were fortunate to travel we an extremely friendly group of "Macs". I would recommend to anyone visiting the hotel to visit Rio the statue of Christ the Redeemer is worth the early morning flight. Book with hotel and not First Choice as it is much cheaper. If you can get on the Wednesday trip this will give you the opportunity of attending a football match Wednesday evening and more time for shopping. The Saturday trip is okay but he shops do not open until 2pm on the Sunday and the Amsterdam Gem stores are not open on the Sunday. Be prepared for the weather to be changeable in Rio but don't let it spoil your stay. Beaches in Rio are just like the postcards.
The Turtle sanctuary in Praia is a must as the village offers an insight into the real Brazil. Havianas are excellent value and a must for everyone's suitcase. I was part of a group where over 50 pairs were brought back by 5 ladies, whose age ranged from 30-60, as one said "it does matter if you are having a fat day your Havianas will always fit".
Downside of the hotel is there is only a swim up pool bar to get a drink from and nowhere you can sit outside and have a drink. The entertainment in the evening was the same as all other Iberostar hotels and the disco is often taken over by Spanish/Brazilian and star friends playing House music, and children were allowed in the disco. This I felt was unsuitable as it didn't open to 11pm and I feel there should always be one place in the hotel that adults can let their hard down without thinking of offending children.
Don't try to compare Brazil with Cuba, Mexico, Dom Rep as it is a new tourist area and the others have been open for years. I am sure anyone who chooses it in 2007 will not be disappointed and will get excellent value for money. Expect 5 star and you may be disappointed but you will get 4*+, and who knows by 2007 it may have achieved 5*s
Finally I would like to say Hello to Vanessa, Sam, Leanne, Rob, Connor, Ann, Les, Derek and Marlene and thank them for their company and the laughs we shared between 30th Sept and 14th October. I think I speak for us all when I say "We had a ball". and I brought the "bronze Adonis" home with me (joke)
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