In Brazil, we had a total of 3 tour guides...
Brazil
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Apr 9 - Apr 20, 2024
In Brazil, we had a total of 3 tour guides with us and 2 of them exceeded expectations and one seemed to leave us hanging for a part of the trip. Luis and Alberto excelled at their job they both kept a pace we could keep up with (we are both 60+), were very informative, commenting on the significant historical stories of each locale, and were receptive to questions and adjustments to the tour so that we felt comfortable at every stage of the trip. While C was informative and tried their best at English she probably kept the Portuguese portion of the group well informed but when we went to confirm our return ride back by rail, we felt a little abandoned not knowing what the next step was. Thankfully fellow passengers and the station master were quick to figure out the next step and ensured we had tickets for, the return train trip back to Curitiba. It must also be said that C was very considerate in backtracking the group to recover a personal item left behind - thank you C. Kimkim and Luis were very helpful when the airline cancelled a trip from Foz do Iguacu to Curitiba shortly before boarding. Luis was on the phone to clarify alternate plans, and in a few minutes, an alternate route going through Sao Paulo was arranged. While we got in later than expected it all worked out. All the transfers were handled professionally with no hiccups. At all times when travelling with the parties, Kimkim arranged we felt safe and looked after. In overview, the hotels were all comfortable and met our expectations with interesting features and locations. Kimkim was right on with sticking to the plan as agreed upon. I would travel with Kimkim again especially if the same stellar tour guides were included.
Hotel Reviews
Unforgettable building and A1 staff. The building is quite old but has been tastefully renovated with AC and comfortable beds and a spacious bedroom. I doubt you will have ever stayed in a bedroom with higher ceilings - quite a unique and beautiful feature. The daily breakfast was tastefully presented and with numerous options sure to address whatever your breakfast desire is. for security reasons, you are buzzed in 24hrs around the clock at the front door(not easy to find initially). the front desk is attentive and prompt with opening the door - nice when it is raining. One small observation - the shower works well however the shower base is level not providing a quick draining shower floor. not a large issue. Consider bringing your USB plugins as we had none in our room. It is in an old part of Curitiba and therefore not that close to many amenities. The municipal market(must see) is about 20 minute walk away. We used Uber to get to the things we were interested in.
Staying at the Viale Tower Hotel was a good experience. The location was quite close to a presidential hotel or palace, which was interesting to see. However, I felt that the hotel could have been better situated, perhaps nearer to transit, shopping, parks, or other attractions. Despite this, we used Uber for our commutes, which made things easier. Overall, it was a comfortable stay, but I would consider the location more carefully next time.
The Windsor Palace in Rio de Janeiro was fantastic! Its location was superb—just two blocks from the beach and close to a great park and numerous shops. We really enjoyed our time there and appreciated the convenience of having everything nearby. It made our free days in Rio much more enjoyable as we could easily explore the area. I would definitely recommend this hotel for anyone looking to stay in Rio.
