Ipanema Plaza Reviews

We recently returned from the holiday of a lifetime in Brazil and I just had to share some of our experiences.

We arrived after a long flight (14 hours) with Varig airlines which wasn't too bad, the service was really good and we pre booked our tickets so we had 2 seats on their own, well worth it. We got to Rio and had booked into Ipanema Plaza which is 5 star, it was a beautiful hotel and only 1 block from Ipanema beach. Everything about it was great, the decor, the staff, the restaurant and we had marvellous views of the beach and Corcovado where Christ the Redeemerlooks over the city.

There are plenty of bars and restaurants, the best being around the Ipanema and Leblon areas. Copacabana is lovely but quite touristy and there can be quite a few beggars around. We had heard dodgey stories about Rio being unsafe but the beach is flood lit at night and there are always quite a few police around, I didn't feel threatened once. There are also a million cabs which are so cheap, just a couple of quid a ride so you really don't have to be wandering around anyway.

There are so many things to do, Sugar Loaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer to name but a few. We also went to Iguassu Falls, a 3 hour plane journey away but definately worth it, I have never seen anything so beautiful. Then we went to the Amazon, that was a 5 hour plane ride and although we really did enjoy it there isn't really much to see when you get there, it takes up quite a chunck of your trip, plus we got eaten alive so make sure you get all the right jabs. After there we returned to Rio for a few nights and stayed in the Marina palace Hotel on Leblon beach, we tried to get back in the Ipanema Plaza but it was full. Anyway the Marina is nice, only a four star but it was clean and the staff were helpful - it could probably do with a bit of a make-over as the decor was a little dated but it was comfortable.

All in all I would thoroughly recommend Brazil, I have to say I have been around the world and I have never met such warm, friendly wonderful people in my life, they would do anything to help you. I'm looking forward to going back one day.