Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Plush lobby of Hotel Bourbon Curitiba, one of Curitiba's premium hotels
did make the reservation.
Credit cards are accepted as
payment at most properties,
especially in bigger cities.
Only the larger hotels in
bigger cities will handle trav-
eler's checks. Checks drawn
on Brazilian banks are gen-
erally acceptable, as is cash.
Many places accept payment
in US dollars, but they will
set the exchange rate, which
will often be high.
When booking, it is
important to check what taxes
are included in the price.
These may include a 10 per-
cent service tax, a 5 percent
sales tax and, in some areas
of Brazil, a nightly tourist tax.
Prices throughout Brazil
vary greatly and it is rare that
any traveler should ever need
to pay the rack rate as advert-
ised by the hotels. Like air-
lines, hotels often make
special offers available even
through their own websites.
Some hotels, normally smaller,
privately owned properties,
still think they can charge
different prices for Brazilian
travelers and foreign visitors,
so it is worth checking the
rates on the Portuguese lang-
uage version of the website.
In Brazil, the price often
reflects not only the quality
of accommodation, but also
the location. A traveler on a
budget needs to decide if the
priority is a beachfront loca-
tion or a better quality hotel
a couple of blocks back from
the beach. There will also
be notably different rates for
rooms at the front of a beach-
front property and those at
the side or behind.
they go. Children are always
welcome at most hotels with
only a very few smaller,
normally romantic
pousadas
having any restrictions, which
will be clearly stated on their
websites, or at the time of
booking. The vast majority
of hotels and
pousadas
in
Brazil are child-friendly.
Larger properties will have
high chairs and possibly
cots, and many resorts also
have special child-friendly
areas, playrooms, and even
separate kitchens for mothers
needing to prepare food for
babies and smaller children.
Many large hotels can also
organize babysitters.
Warn the hotel of the age
of your children and any
special requirements you may
need for them in advance. If
the hotel does not have it
already, it may be willing to
get it by the time you arrive.
TIPPING
It is customary and much
appreciated if guests leave
a tip for the staff that have
served them well during
their stay. This could be the
chambermaid, the bellboy,
or the barman. Many of the
people who serve visitors
will be earning the minimum
wage of around US$150 per
month, so any tips can make
a real difference.
CHILDREN
Many Brazilian families travel
with their nanny in tow, and
are quite happy taking their
children with them wherever
DISABLED TRAVELERS
The situation for disabled
travelers in Brazil has greatly
improved over the years but
not all accommodation
options, especially the smaller
properties with narrow lifts or
those in the remoter areas of
the country, can offer wheel-
chair access or the facilities
that disabled travelers may
require. Brazilians by nature,
however, will do everything
they can to assist, so do not
hesitate to ask.
Children's playroom, a feature in
many Brazilian hotels
