Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
9
Alegre (12 daily; 6-7hr); Rio (1 daily; 17hr); São Paulo
(hourly; 11-12hr). From Terminal de Integração Centro
(TICEN): #311, #330 or #320 to Lagoa Da Conceição (TILAG);
#231 or #233 to Canasvieiras (TICAN).
INFORMATION
Tourist information
There's a tourist information kiosk
(daily 8am- 6pm;
T
48 3228 1095,
W
visitefloripa.com.br) at
the Terminal Rodoviária. Santa Catarina's state tourist board is
based at Rua Felipe Schmidt 249, on the 9th floor (Mon-Fri
8am-7pm;
T
48 3212 6300,
W
www.santur.sc.gov.br).
Discount cards
If you intend to stay for more than
a week, the Floripa Pass discount card can save you
money on restaurant bills and museum entry; it costs
R$42.50 for seven days and R$64.50 for fourteen days
(
W
floripass.com.br).
ACCOMMODATION
Most tourists choose to stay at nearby beaches and resorts (see pp.579-587), but staying in Florianópolis itself has the
benefit of
direct bus services
to other parts of the island. It's not cheap, though, and accommodation is snapped up
quickly in high season.
Conferences
- becoming more frequent - can also double prices and sell out rooms.
Baía Norte Palace
Av Beira Mar Norte
T
48 3229
3144,
W
hoteisplaza.com.br.
Pleasant rooms, but be sure
to ask for one facing the ocean. Though the corridors seem
dark and dingy, the rooms are modern, bright and clean,
with cable TV and free wi-fi. Although just a short walk
from good bars and rest
aurants
, it's a longer trek into the
commercial centre itself.
R$240
Faial
Rua Felipe Schmidt 603
T
48 3225 2766,
W
hotelfaial.com.br.
One of the city centre's oldest
business hotels with a traditional-looking lobby and
spacious contemporary-style rooms. The staff are helpful
and t
he rates
are good value - there's also a pool and free
wi-fi.
R$220
Florianópolis Palace
Rua Artista Bittencourt 14
T
48 2106 9633,
W
floph.com.br.
Mid-range hotel with
ageing but adequate rooms, good facilities and a certain
fading elegance. Also has cable
TV and
free wi-fi (internet
on computer terminals R$5/hr).
R$145
Floripa Hostel
Rua Duarte Schuttel 227
T
48 3225
3781,
W
floripahostel.com.br.
Everything you would
expect from an HI hostel (free wi-fi, linens and lockers),
though, as in the rest of town, you'll find yourself paying
more than elsewhere in the region. It fills rapidly in
summer, so get
here early. Pr
ices for HI
members are i
n
brackets. Dorms
R$55 (R$45)
; doubles
R$120 (R$110
)
★
Ibis
Av Rio Branco 37
T
48 3216 0000,
W
ibis.com.
A typical Ibis value-for-money package featuring
small, well laid-out rooms and friendly, efficient
service. Alway
s popu
lar - reservations are highly
recommended.
R$170
Valerim Plaza
Rua Felipe Schmidt 705
T
48 2106
0200,
W
hotelvalerim.com.br.
A solid, centrally located
business hotel with contemporary, stylish a/c rooms (some
sleeping
up to
six), equipped with TV, free wi-fi and
frigobar
.
R$270
GAY FLORIPA
Florianópolis has developed a major gay scene over the last few years, with its own annual
Gay Pride
events in September (aka Floripa Gay Carnival) and numerous bars and clubs
catering to the LGBT community. You'll see free fold-out maps all over town created by
W
brazilgaytourism.com (the website is the best local resource). Note that most bars in the
city are gay-friendly - including
Box 32
(see opposite). The nudist beach at
Praia da Galheta
(north of Mole) is the primary gay beach on the island.
EATING
Fairy Land Cupcakes
Caminho dos Açores 1740,
Santo Antônio de Lisboa
T
48 9132 3432,
W
fairyland.com.br.
Floripa even has its very own
gay-friendly café and cake shop, located north of the city
in Santo Antonio.
Tues-Sun 2-8pm.
NIGHTLIFE
Concorde Club
Av Rio Branco 729
T
48 3024 4969,
W
concordeclub.com.br.
Aka Conca Club, this is the
city's major late-night party house, with resident and
guest DJs spinning electro, two dancefloors and five
bars.
Fri & Sat 11.45pm-8am.
Mix Café Club
Rua Menino Deus 47
T
48 3324 0102,
W
mixcafe.com.br.
Floripa's other major gay club, with
wild party nights, top sound system and go-go dancers.
Fri-Sun 11pm-7am.
