Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Average Review Ratings

Weather

temperature was perfect, could not get better, around 30C

Holiday

I've been to a lot of place in the south of Brazil visiting family and friends, we were driving to all of the places lot of the time.

Firstly we arrived at Sao Paulo- Guarulhos airport. We seen friends in the city and then went to Campinas to see relatives. a good place to go if you want a bit more relaxed (quiet) place this is Valinhos 10 miles from campinas which still not my favorite city of Brazil. On the way to Campinas was all good, motorways (with tools), weather, people and restaurants open until late there are lots of entertainment big (massive) shopping centers in Sao Paulo and Campinas, a range of diverse food, swimming and golf clubs and for night seekers, there are lots of clubs, bars, raves and shows. People in Brazil like to party and meeting new people.
SP is very entertaining city with a bigger diversified range of things to do and go.

After few days I went to Curitiba state of Parana for a cousin's wedding. the city is like London I think very nice. specially the University in town.
on the next day we went to Presindente Prudente in the state of SP to stay for new year with family, we had a lovely time there I have to say this city with 200 thousand people is great, very safe, people can go for a walk in the night and feel safe, lots of people stay out until late in the parks having a famous Brazilian drink called 'Terere', its made with herbs, ice cold water and lemon. This is a very nice drink and keeps you cool from the heat of the city.
I have to say this is one of my favorite city it has all the entertainment of a bigger city like SP, but is much safer and people are happier. there is one thing there that I really like, its the park do povo, its a big park with alot of kiosk, that has the best food in the city and the best Ice cream with salt' yes with salt its called Cajamanga flavour you will only find this in presidente prudente at Delicia do Cerrado - park do povo.

The next place we went was Londrina state of PR. this is a very nice city with good business opportunity. The city looks under development and theirs is lots of farms and filds around the city.

Now the least but not last destination Rio de Janeiro. We drove all the way from Pres Prudente and finally the dream of visiting Rio finally become reality. The city was different from everything we have ever seen, its a big city inside of mountain and forest with seaside, its just beautiful. Its a life time holiday, its a must!! you have to go and visit Rio. The city has everything you would wish for and more than all the cities I have stated above. The chances of you meeting someone famous like actors and football players are big. when you are in the city you get very emotional and excited you just cant believe you are in such a place specially when you go up at Christ the Redeemer (Corcovado) and look down at the Maracana stadium, sugar loaf, Copacabana beach and so on... if you don't go to Rio then you have not been in Brazil. I have to say my wife and I didn't book a hotel until we got there, it was so easy, and cheap, R$210 a night at IBIS Hotel, 10 mins drive to Copacabana Beach was great.
We have stayed at the top of the mountain where is the corcovado until late, then we went to the hotel. not as dangerous as people normally think but some traffic lights you don't have to stop at night even if its red. Throughout my experience comparing Rio to other cities, its worth not risking going out at night, day time is alright. I took my SLR camera out in every different place we went in Rio, and it was fine I shoot lots of photos, city has thief and other bad people but not exaggerated like people think. Its just like a big city in Europe or in the rest of the world. Try to relax and not take any valuable stuff that may attract people when going out and just relax as a normal relaxing day and don't think everyone in the city is a bad person. because you will be scared of every person even the ones who offers you to buy food, drink, parking place for a tip. just keep your belongings within your eye and secured sometimes. anyway you will have a wonderful holiday in Rio even looking weird 'joking'. The city of RIO is a live youth city full of life and love for everyone it has everything you want. just go search the good places that interest you. Go and enjoy because beach is good, weather is great, and there is a range of things to do and go, I have been to Copacabana beach and Ipanema, both the same. I think Barra da tijuca is the best beach there, lots of famous people go and water looks more clean.

Finally my last destination was Cabo Frio after being in Rio.
Arraial do Cabo, Buzios and Cabo Frio are all close to each other is like a city divided in three piece, but they are all three different cities hooked up together. I will review all of them referring to the city I stayed in Cabo Frio which is my favorite of all the cities stated even Rio.
The city is amazing I felt in love from the first look. The city is a normal quiet with nice apartments and houses. beaches have pure white sand with Crystal clear waters, nice kiosk, place are much more quiet than Rio beaches, its a Paradise and safe very safe the city is only 2:30hrs drive from Rio.
If you go to Rio go to one of those three city, if you can go to all of them you wont regret. It will worth every effort you can let me know after its one of the best place in Brazil. I stayed in Cabo Frio, its great, families specially with kids will fall in love with the peace that the city has to offer and those seeking more night fun there is Buzios the capital for parties. I wont say no more just go and see for yourself I guarantee you will be pleased that you went you will be saying these words after. if you don't go, you will be missing one of the best part of Brazil if not the best. I do take the north beaches of Brazil such as Fernando de Noronha, Fortaleza and Bahia into consideration which is also lovely places to go. However go to Cabo Frio even if you are not in Rio or going to Rio go to CABO FRIO OR BUZIOS OR ARRAIAL DO CABO. Its a MUST if you are in RIO plus search online for those places.
Overall I have done 4,600 KM in 30 days in Brazil and I enjoyed a lot.

Places Recommended

Sao Paulo - Maresias- Ilha Bela- Ubatuba- Paraty

Rio de Janeiro- Barra da tijuca- Angra dos Reis- Ilha grande
OR
Rio de Janeiro- Niteroi- saquarema ARRAIAL DO CABO- CABO FRIO praia do forte and BUZIOS

these cities above are easier to go by car as they are all close to each-other if you taking the size of brazil in the map.

Parnaiba- Camocim- Fortaleza- Aracati- Fernando de Noronha- Natal- Joao Pessoa- Recife- Maceio

Recommend Rio de Janeiro to others

Yes

Weather

It's mixed, mostly sunny though and I love to go in October when winter is approaching here, also at the end of our winter in March when you are longing for some sunshine.

Holiday

I go to visit my son twice a year and his family. It is my second home, my Brazilian daughter-in-law said 'Patricia you do not have heart of European you have heart of Brazilian'. I introduced him to his wife, we used to sunbath together on Ipanema beach, she was the 'girl from Ipanema'.....now their little boy has just gone back from visiting me, he flew on his own aged 7 and a quarter. No words can describe how wonderful that little boy is. He speaks perfect English and Portuguese....

Places Recommended

Barra beach about 20 mins from Ipanema and lovely shopping malls. That is after you have been to all the usual places....i.e. The Christ Statue, Sugar Loaf Mountain etc. It's nice to drive to Teresoplis up the mountain. A lovely hotel to stay at is La Canton, built on the style of a Swiss Mountain Village and very relaxing and everything you could wish of a top resort, go after you have spent some time sightseeing and doing the beaches.

Recommend Rio de Janeiro to others

Yes

Weather

The weather is always nice, my family and I generally go during their winter (our summer) and it is always mid-high 20C.

Holiday

Brazil is an expensive place to get to, but once you're there its very cheap.
Brazil is one of the most amazing places I have ever been to and I've been to a lot.

If you ever get the chance to go, grab it.

Its a holiday of a lifetime.

Places Recommended

Rio, Buzios and Manaus.

Recommend Rio de Janeiro to others

Yes