knowledge latin america
all-you-can-eat grill or churrascaria. As wait- ers circle the table with giant skewers of meat I start to resemble the steak-chomping fiend played by John Candy in The Great Outdoors. But while vegetarians seem to lose out in Rio, one thing they can appreciate is the caipirinha. In a cocktail-mixing class at the Rio Othon Palace hotel I find even my amateur efforts make for a perfect sun- downer, and merit a trip to the famous Rio Scenarium bar and nightclub. Party animals will not find much nightlife in Copacabana but at midnight in neighbouring Lapa the queue for Scenarium goes on for miles, liter- ally, so it’s worth booking a table for early evening. A cross between a ballroom and museum – it used to be an antique shop – the club attracts revellers of all ages and agents can secure tickets for dinner, drinks and a live music show through Blumar. At the quieter end of the spectrum, on Sunday visitors can stroll through the hippie market at Ipanema admiring the vibrant work of favela artists, as well as leather goods and the obligatory Brazil football shirts.
BUZIOS BEACHLIFE. Around two and a half hours drive from
Copacabana lies the fishing village turned glitzy seaside resort of Buzios, dubbed the Brazilian St Tropez ever since Hollywood starlet Brigitte Bardot visited in the 1960s. The town’s cobbled promenade and eclectic mix of restaurants and boutiques do have a Mediterranean feel, while colourful row boats and wooden beach bars retain its laidback charm.
The tropical water temperature and varied marine life make the area a good one for divers too, especially November through March. I encounter turquoise nudibranchs, pufferfish and flying gurnards on a dive with Litoral Sub (
litoralsub.com.br), which offers commission direct or through Breezes resort. Activity junkies are in their element at SuperClubs’ all-inclusive Breezes resort, proclaimed the first international standard
Fam feedback
Rio de Janeiro Ava Coffin, Designer Travel “The atmosphere is thrilling because there’s no division between locals and holiday-
makers. I’m bombarded with clients who are sick of ‘Blackpool with sun’ destinations whereas in Rio the beach culture really blends with city culture. There are plenty of options for culture vultures who would normally have to opt for a dual centre trip. The Christ the Redeemer monument seems to me the perfect symbol for a city that embraces all people.” ■
embratur.gov.br
Copacabana Palace Robin Grimwood, Cox & Kings “We use this hotel a lot for our deluxe clients and I was excited to see that it lives up to expec-
tations of such a famous property. I loved the old world ambiance; it seemed serene even when it was pouring with rain. The buffet in Pergula restaurant was really good and I do think the hotel is worth the hefty price difference from its rivals. It’s ideal for middle-aged couples with disposable income, the so-called grey market, and I’d send the odd honeymooning couple here for sure. They’re refurbing the main building
hotel for the region when it opened in June. Besides mini-golf, a skate park, and circus trapeze the 329-room property boasts a stretch of undeveloped beach and a lazy river pool. Some of the rooms and service in the canteen-style restaurant need tweaking, however the Japanese restaurant is excellent and a free shuttle until 2am compensates for being 20 minutes out of town. Nearer the action, boutique properties Insolito and Casas Brancas cater for travellers with bigger budgets.
between May and October 2011 but as it’s Orient Express-owned I’m sure it will be done with little or no disruption to guests. In my opinion the next best hotel on Copacabana beach is the Sofitel, although its rooms are all the same size unfortunately.” ■
copacabanapalace.com.br
Breezes Buzios Claire Andrews, STA Travel “Breezes is a little out of the way but its location on a quiet, windswept beach is just
beautiful and I believe I could sell it as an add-on after Carnival. The activities on offer are great, and the pool is amazing the way it spreads through the entire resort. I’m not sure the staff have yet overcome the language barrier for the UK market, but I’m giving the staff the benefit of the doubt as the hotel only opened in June. However, there are small improvements staff could make such as keeping the bar open for sundowners and ensuring porters know the room numbers. My room was lovely with a quiet air conditioner, although the bathroom in my deluxe room at the Othon Palace in Rio was sleeker. If I was booking a couple I’d be more inclined to send them to a property on the main beachfront.” ■
breezes.com
BOOK IT
Cox & Kings offers three nights at Sofitel Rio de Janeiro followed by four nights at Casa Brancas in Buzios on a bed and breakfast basis, including flights with TAP via Lisbon and private transfers from £1,795 per person during May. ■
coxandkings.co.uk; 0207 873 5000
TAP flies to Rio de Janeiro 15 times weekly from Heathrow and Gatwick. ■
flytap.com
ttglive.com
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