Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
system is open 6am-11.30pm Monday to Saturday, but
only 7am-7pm on Sundays.
By car Most local residents drive their own car; rental costs
start at R$80 for a day, but less if you rent over a longer
period. A warning, though: Brasília, uniquely among
Brazilian cities, is blanketed by speed cameras. If you're
caught jumping a light or speeding in a rented car, the fine
will be taken off your credit card. Rental firms with off ces
along the airport road include Avis ( T 61 3364 9905), Hertz
( T 61 3365 5151), Localiza ( T 61 3365 1288) and Unidas
( T 61 3365 2955). Avoid paying a hefty surcharge at the
airport by heading into town by taxi and renting from
there; highly recommended is Via Rent-A-Car ( T 61 3322
3181 or T 61 9985 4717, SHS Q6 Cj. A, Bloco F, Loja 50, next
to the Hotel Melia ).
6
INFORMATION
Tourist information The city's tourist o ce is in Praça
dos Três Poderes (daily 8am-6pm; T 61 3325 6376,
W conhecabrasilia.com.br), with desks at the airport
and Rodoviária Interstadual . They are all extremely
helpful and give out a free map with information about
all the main sights.
Listings There's an excellent listings site for Brasília
at W candango.com.br, in Portuguese only. Also in
Portuguese, the city's main newspaper, the Correio
Brasiliense , publishes a daily listings supplement, the Guia ,
with comprehensive information on films, exhibitions, live
music and opening hours.
ACCOMMODATION
On the face of it, Brasília is a very expensive place to stay. Most hotels are concentrated in the central hotel sectors , with
o cial (“rack rate”) prices way above their equivalents elsewhere. Actual budget places are few and far between, and are
either pousadas - unlicensed, and below the standards of the worst hotels - or else are located in the far-flung satellite
towns. However, an out-of-town location can be an advantage in some ways, as it will have shops, cheap lanchonetes and
so on nearby, and metrô connections to the centre are reasonably fast. Even in the centre, hotels may not be anything like
as pricey as they appear, since most offer considerable discounts - often well over 50 percent - especially at weekends
and in December and January, and many never actually charge the o cial rate at all (the rates we quote here are the
o cial rates for weekday reservations and include breakfast). Staying in the campsites north of town is not recommended
however: besides being unsafe, it costs much the same as accommodation in Brasília.
percent discounts in low season and at weekends. There's a
rooftop pool, spacious rooms, all a/c, and it really doesn't
lack anythi ng of u se that you'd get from its five-star
neighbours. R$480
Byblos SHN Q.3, Bloco E T 61 3326 1570, W byblos
hoteldf.com.br; map p.408. A low-rise hotel, clean but
a bit spartan - the rooms are big but quite plainly
furni shed. E xpect to pay less than a third of the official
rate. R$760
Casablanca SHN Q.3, Bloco A T 61 3328 8586,
W casablancabrasilia.com.br; map p.408. Close to the
Eixo Monumental and within sight of the TV Tower, a
small and friendly three-star hotel with cool cream and
beige d ecor in the rooms. Weekend discounts if you book
online. R$279
Econotel SHS Q.3, Bloco B T 61 3204 7337; map p.408.
The cheapest of the city-centre hotels. It's housed in a squat
grey building that doesn't look too prepossessing, but it's
actually fine inside: the rooms ar e cool a nd quite spacious,
and all have TV, a/c and a fridge. R$219
Kubitschek Plaza SHN Q.2, Bloco E T 61 3329 3333,
W kubitschek.com.br; map p.408. Tall five-star whose
lobby and corridors are decorated with photos from the life
of Juscelino Kubitschek, with cream, beige and grey decor
in the rooms. For good views, it's worth asking for an
upper-floor room facing the Esplanada dos Ministerios.
CENTRAL HOTEL SECTORS
Airam SHN Q.5, Bloco A T 61 2195 4000; map p.408.
A good-value mid-range hotel midweek, with fine views
from the upper floors, but no weekend discou nts. It's seen
better days, but it isn't bad value for the price. R$229
Aristus SHN Q.2, Bloco O T 61 3328 8675, W aristus
hotel.com.br; map p.408. One of the cheaper options,
especially at weekends when they offer 50 percent
discounts. The rooms are good, with wi-fi, a/c and a fridge,
the ones on the bottom floors costing less than those at the
top. R$275
Bonaparte Hotel Résidence SHS Q.2, Bloco J T 0800
701 9990 or T 61 2104 6600, W bonapartehotel
.com.br; map p.408. A good and well-equipped top-notch
hotel, with a gym and big pool. The rooms are actually
suites, with a sitting room and kitchenette, and although
the o cial rate is high, it rarely applies: generally speaking
you can expect to pay just over half i n the w eek, and
substantially less than that at weekends. R$910
Brasília Imperial SHS Q.3, Bloco H T 61 3425 0000,
W brasiliaimperialhotel.com.br; map p.408. Cool white
rooms, a gym but no pool, and an o cial rate that's never
actually charged - in reality you'll p ay less than half
weekdays, less than a third at weekends. R$850
Bristol SHS Q.4, Bloco F T 61 3204 6162, W bristol
hotel.com.br; map p.408. Very good value, with 50
 
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