Sao Paulo Reports

[SinfullyKorean]

Convert Chase points to UA points and use UA to make reservation with your UA points. You can do what I said or just open jaw to save time.

Ah, I see what you mean now by booking with points. I was trying to book with Chase points, not UA. Thanks for the info! It's more of a hassle at this point. I'd have to cancel my flight, create a new UA account, transfer points, and book again. Not to mention not getting some of the travel protection perks of booking with a CC.

[Nounce]

Yup, I tried on google flights AND chase points. The chase points reservation system is implemented with Expedia.

I tried a multi-destination trip from LAX - SDU - SAO - LAX, which costs $701.

I also tried a multi-destination trip from LAX - RIO - SAO - LAX, which costs $695.

I found that a round trip flight from GRU - SDU is only $22, with free carry-on. LOL.

Convert Chase points to UA points and use UA to make reservation with your UA points. You can do what I said or just open jaw to save time.

Normally I don't book with points when I don't get the benefit of booking by points. For round trip, I would just pay for it

[SinfullyKorean]

Did you book by points? I just tried it but to SDU instead of GIG, and it costs 0 point and $6 fee. It does not affect the US legs price I have.

Yup, I tried on google flights AND chase points. The chase points reservation system is implemented with Expedia.

I tried a multi-destination trip from LAX - SDU - SAO - LAX, which costs $701.

I also tried a multi-destination trip from LAX - RIO - SAO - LAX, which costs $695.

I found that a round trip flight from GRU - SDU is only $22, with free carry-on. LOL.

[Nounce]

I tried adding Rio as a multi-destination trip, but that made the flight $160 more expensive. I'll just book it separately.

Did you book by points? I just tried it but to SDU instead of GIG, and it costs 0 point and $6 fee. It does not affect the US legs price I have.

[SinfullyKorean]

I canceled a Sao Paulo trip a few hours before my flight took off about a month ago. When I canceled it, I booked another trip in mid May which is one week away. Brazil's covid situation is still bad. Should I go or cancel my trip again? Really a headache. I am fully vaccinated, but just couldn't find the information such as -- you are safe as long as you have take the second shot of Pfizer covid vaccine. Would you go if you were me? I really missed Sao Paulo.

Natty went, he seems to be fine. I'll be going (2nd shot today) in early June. Sick of the travel restrictions. Thailand would be my first choice, but they still have quarantine restrictions. I'll visit the LOS end of this year. Vaccination was for the purpose of getting back to normal. If you can't travel after getting vaccinated, what was the point?

You can get a free leg if you book by points. The GIG-GRU leg should cost 0 point. Arrive at one airport and leave from the other airport.

I tried adding Rio as a multi-destination trip, but that made the flight $160 more expensive. I'll just book it separately.

[PhuckBiden]

I canceled a Sao Paulo trip a few hours before my flight took off about a month ago. When I canceled it, I booked another trip in mid May which is one week away. Brazil's covid situation is still bad. Should I go or cancel my trip again? Really a headache. I am fully vaccinated, but just couldn't find the information such as -- you are safe as long as you have take the second shot of Pfizer covid vaccine. Would you go if you were me? I really missed Sao Paulo.

A top health official on Wednesday said it was not clear that COVID-19 vaccines offer protection against the so-called Indian variant of the disease, and cited this concern as a key reason why Israel must ban travel to countries with high coronavirus infection rates.

"We don't know about the Indian variant, we don't know enough," Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis, head of public health services at the Health Ministry, said of the strain of the disease ravaging India. Asked about claims and indications that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is effective against the Indian strain, she said: "I didn't see any research on this."

[The Cane]

All you say is true. Better food, drinks, service, music (loud, repetitive techno at Globe gives me a headache), security too. For pure top level quality Scandallo is the best venue in the world. Keen to hear from anyone who disagrees.

The baddest "puta palace" on the planet!

https://vimeo.com/162586573

[HarvestBoi]

In my opinion, there is no comparison between Globe and Scandallo wrt ambience, number of available girls and the beauty ratio.

All you say is true. Better food, drinks, service, music (loud, repetitive techno at Globe gives me a headache), security too. For pure top level quality Scandallo is the best venue in the world. Keen to hear from anyone who disagrees.

[Turgid]

Mercure are GF. You may consider walk proximity to the nearest metro station. Also, even with google maps tools on walking, sometimes it's just not feasible due to traffic / road layout. Example: you can walk from Moema to Tangara, but practically you need a ride.

When in a destination I incorporate an exercise routine into walks from mongering destinations. I do it in Europe, Medellin and Sao Paulo. In SP I always stay in Moema and walk to and from the Moema clinicas. With regards to Tangara I take a taxi to Tangara but walk back to my hotel in Moema going through Ibirapuera park in the process.

[Nounce]

Might hit up Rio afterwards. Let's see if I get sick of SP by week's end. LOL.

You can get a free leg if you book by points. The GIG-GRU leg should cost 0 point. Arrive at one airport and leave from the other airport.

Brazil seems to be the only choice for me now Thailand is shut.

[Hobbying]

I canceled a Sao Paulo trip a few hours before my flight took off about a month ago. When I canceled it, I booked another trip in mid May which is one week away. Brazil's covid situation is still bad. Should I go or cancel my trip again? Really a headache. I am fully vaccinated, but just couldn't find the information such as -- you are safe as long as you have take the second shot of Pfizer covid vaccine. Would you go if you were me? I really missed Sao Paulo.

CDC does not recommend international travel to 80% of the world and Brazil being one of them regardless if you have been vaccinated. Out of 77 million people vaccinated in the US, 5,800 got infected, 7% hospitalized, and 70 died. The vaccine is very effective but there is still a small chance. Look in the general discussion section where Spidy posted some questions to ask yourself if you should go or not.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...eople-n1264186

[SinfullyKorean]

Nothing beats the buffets in Asia and the ones you get in Brazil are definitely not comparable. But get the breakfast anyways if you are a breakfast person like me. I need my proper breakfast to start my day.

Thanks. Opted out of breakfast. Even in LOS, I had a hard time getting up for breakfast. Not much of a breakfast guy anyways. But Dream Hotel's was worth getting up for. I missed a few, though. I'll probably pay for it a la carte.

I've stayed at the Mercure Times Square a couple of times, and liked it enough that I would do it again. That said, to be honest, I was thinking about giving Bourbon a shot the next time. I never book with breakfast included because I can rarely drag my ass up in time to eat within the time frame they give you. So, it's not a good deal for me. But that's just me. You could be totally different. On the other hand, when going to Brazil I always book for two people without fail. I've never had a problem bringing young girls to my room, and I believe that's been a part of my successful formula (booking for two), besides the front desk just not giving a damn haha! It's extra insurance against any problems and / or extra charges and hassles though. I prefer a king size bed too, but thinking back on it, I don't think I've ever had one in Brazil. I just book whatever the biggest size is that they have, and its been fine. As for airlines, I definitely prefer United over American (can't stand them). I like Delta even better. But then again, that's just me!

United flight has been booked! Don't think I'll need check-in luggage, so I'm getting round trip for $535 (about 42 k chase points), although I won't be selecting my seat.

I use hotels dot com site and according to them all the hotels you have initially picked are 3. 5 stars just like Bourbon. I personally don't care about stars over 3 unless I am brining a guest to impress.
Breakfast costs only 5 bucks for 2 at Bourbon. I did have breakfast one day but I went there a closing time. I thought whatever they had left was decent. Yes hotels in Asian countries do have elaborate breakfast. I wouldn't have such high hopes with Bourbon breakfast.
I see the price difference on hotel site but the difference is not much. The site I mentioned above shows the same rate for 1 or 2 people. I see great rates for next few months at Bourbon. Even suite or junior suites are about $40/ night and fully refundable until the day of check-in.
In some countries double bed means a bed double the size of single bed. It could be two single beds attached together or a big single bed (king). Choose 1 double bed instead of 2 single beds.
Even tough Mercure and Bourbon hotels are walkable distance from each other I like Bourbon's location. Mall next door has good food court and few restaurants in case you want to eat something as Cane mentioned in his post.

Thanks! Booked a week in Bourbon's best room for less than $40/ night! I booked through Chase ultimate rewards and I think I got an additional discount for booking my flight with rewards points.

Might hit up Rio afterwards. Let's see if I get sick of SP by week's end. LOL. I plan on ubering around while I'm there.

From what I can gather, it looks like I need to get a covid test before flying to Brazil and again before flying back to the US?

[Lalabo]

Again, I stayed at the Mercure Times Square in Moema. There was a decent grocery store within walking distance. There was a nearby barbershop. And although not as close as Bourbon, it was walking distance to Ibirupuera Shopping Center where there are a gazillion places to eat on the lower level. Also plenty of ATMs around, including in the shopping center plus a money exchange place there. And restaurants around on the streets. Moema is an excellent choice for all of these reasons, besides the fact that it's close to lots of clinicas for your daytime action. The only negative to consider is airport noise. I did not experience any problems with that when I stayed at the Mercure Times Square. Also had no problem bringing a girl in. She wasn't dressed like a tute, and we walked right past the desk no issues.

I agree the shopping center has big food court. It also has few restaurants. There are more than one convince store in that area where you could buy snacks, fruits, water, beer, liquor etc.

I felt very safe walking in Moemo even at night.

[Lalabo]

Do you guys think a 4* hotel upgrade is worth it? Sounds like Bourbon Convention Ibirapuera is slightly more convenient and less noisy. But the other 3 hotels I listed are 4*.

I use hotels dot com site and according to them all the hotels you have initially picked are 3. 5 stars just like Bourbon. I personally don't care about stars over 3 unless I am brining a guest to impress.

Would you recommend booking WITH the breakfast option? Just wondering how good their breakfasts are. FWIW, when I stayed in Thailand, I thought the breakfast buffets were worth it.

Breakfast costs only 5 bucks for 2 at Bourbon. I did have breakfast one day but I went there a closing time. I thought whatever they had left was decent. Yes hotels in Asian countries do have elaborate breakfast. I wouldn't have such high hopes with Bourbon breakfast.

Lastly, when I went through the booking process, it showed different nightly rates for 2 people (even w / o meals) vs 1 person (some hotels). This has no bearing on bringing guests to the hotel, right?

Looks like Mercure So Paulo Moema Hotel's largest bed is a double. I prefer a king, or at least queen. So that option's probably out. And Mercure Times Square in Moema also seems to be the same. Bourbon Convention Ibirapuera on the other hand has a king size bed. All things considered (convenient location, noise, bed size, and cost), it looks like Bourbon Convention Ibirapuera is the winner.

I'm actually a bit confused. The Bourbon booking site says it's a "double bed (king size)". So does Brazil consider double = king?

I see the price difference on hotel site but the difference is not much. The site I mentioned above shows the same rate for 1 or 2 people. I see great rates for next few months at Bourbon. Even suite or junior suites are about $40/ night and fully refundable until the day of check-in.

In some countries double bed means a bed double the size of single bed. It could be two single beds attached together or a big single bed (king). Choose 1 double bed instead of 2 single beds.

Even tough Mercure and Bourbon hotels are walkable distance from each other I like Bourbon's location. Mall next door has good food court and few restaurants in case you want to eat something as Cane mentioned in his post.

[Lalabo]

I've stayed at the Mercure Times Square a couple of times, and liked it enough that I would do it again. That said, to be honest, I was thinking about giving Bourbon a shot the next time. I never book with breakfast included because I can rarely drag my ass up in time to eat within the time frame they give you. So, it's not a good deal for me. But that's just me. You could be totally different. On the other hand, when going to Brazil I always book for two people without fail. I've never had a problem bringing young girls to my room, and I believe that's been a part of my successful formula (booking for two), besides the front desk just not giving a damn haha! It's extra insurance against any problems and / or extra charges and hassles though. I prefer a king size bed too, but thinking back on it, I don't think I've ever had one in Brazil. I just book whatever the biggest size is that they have, and its been fine. As for airlines, I definitely prefer United over American (can't stand them). I like Delta even better. But then again, that's just me!

I don't book room with breakfast for the same reason. I don't know how girl friendly Bourbon is. I didn't bother to check during my stay as it was my first trip and had not plans to bring guests. Some hotels consider any guest that is not with you at check-in time as additional guest. Some hotels change extra for such guests or some refuse entry altogether (I have not experience this case but I do hear other reporting on forums time to time).

Bourbon hotel in Foz do Iguayou did allow guests but they charged me 50 Real each time I had a guest. I agree, registering guest at hotel front desk provides security.

I am trying to use my remaining AA miles so I could fly other better airlines but pandemic is not helping.