In Brazil, we had a total of 3 tour guides...
Brazil | Apr 9 - Apr 20, 2024

D
D N.
Canada | Reviewed on Apr 27, 2024

In Brazil, we had a total of 3 tour guides with us and 2 of them exceeded expectations and one seemed to leave us hanging for a part of the trip. Luis and Alberto excelled at their job they both kept a pace we could keep up with (we are both 60+), were very informative, commenting on the significant historical stories of each locale, and were receptive to questions and adjustments to the tour so that we felt comfortable at every stage of the trip. While C was informative and tried their best at English she probably kept the Portuguese portion of the group well informed but when we went to confirm our return ride back by rail, we felt a little abandoned not knowing what the next step was. Thankfully fellow passengers and the station master were quick to figure out the next step and ensured we had tickets for, the return train trip back to Curitiba. It must also be said that C was very considerate in backtracking the group to recover a personal item left behind - thank you C. Kimkim and Luis were very helpful when the airline cancelled a trip from Foz do Iguacu to Curitiba shortly before boarding. Luis was on the phone to clarify alternate plans, and in a few minutes, an alternate route going through Sao Paulo was arranged. While we got in later than expected it all worked out. All the transfers were handled professionally with no hiccups. At all times when travelling with the parties, Kimkim arranged we felt safe and looked after. In overview, the hotels were all comfortable and met our expectations with interesting features and locations. Kimkim was right on with sticking to the plan as agreed upon. I would travel with Kimkim again especially if the same stellar tour guides were included.

Hotel Reviews
Johnscher by San Juan
Curitiba

Unforgettable building and A1 staff. The building is quite old but has been tastefully renovated with AC and comfortable beds and a spacious bedroom. I doubt you will have ever stayed in a bedroom with higher ceilings - quite a unique and beautiful feature. The daily breakfast was tastefully presented and with numerous options sure to address whatever your breakfast desire is. for security reasons, you are buzzed in 24hrs around the clock at the front door(not easy to find initially). the front desk is attentive and prompt with opening the door - nice when it is raining. One small observation - the shower works well however the shower base is level not providing a quick draining shower floor. not a large issue. Consider bringing your USB plugins as we had none in our room. It is in an old part of Curitiba and therefore not that close to many amenities. The municipal market(must see) is about 20 minute walk away. We used Uber to get to the things we were interested in.

Authenticity & Character
the crazy high ceilings and formal breakfast.
Location
More amenities would be nice in the area, drugstore, larger food market, transit.
Staff
At least one person at the front desk spoke very good English at any one time.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Viale Tower Hotel
Foz do Iguacu

Staying at the Viale Tower Hotel was a good experience. The location was quite close to a presidential hotel or palace, which was interesting to see. However, I felt that the hotel could have been better situated, perhaps nearer to transit, shopping, parks, or other attractions. Despite this, we used Uber for our commutes, which made things easier. Overall, it was a comfortable stay, but I would consider the location more carefully next time.

Location
Nobile Hotel Copacabana Design
Rio de Janeiro

The Windsor Palace in Rio de Janeiro was fantastic! Its location was superb—just two blocks from the beach and close to a great park and numerous shops. We really enjoyed our time there and appreciated the convenience of having everything nearby. It made our free days in Rio much more enjoyable as we could easily explore the area. I would definitely recommend this hotel for anyone looking to stay in Rio.

Location
Local specialist: Sara Martinel
Sara
Sara Martinel
Local specialist in Rio de Janeiro | Replied on Apr 28, 2024
Hi Duane and Adeline Thank you very much for taking the time to write this detailed and very useful review! We thank you for choosing to book with us and are happy that you return home with fond memories and a positive experience of this great and unique country! Did you like the places you visited? As I told you on the day of the Morretes tour from Curitiba, unfortunately that local company is the only one to organize the kind of trip you wanted to do, so we would have had no choice in... Read more

Hi Duane and Adeline

Thank you very much for taking the time to write this detailed and very useful review!

We thank you for choosing to book with us and are happy that you return home with fond memories and a positive experience of this great and unique country! Did you like the places you visited?

As I told you on the day of the Morretes tour from Curitiba, unfortunately that local company is the only one to organize the kind of trip you wanted to do, so we would have had no choice in having you do it with other guide-organizations. so we were sorry that the guide that day was not clear in guiding you about the return by train. However, I am happy that everything went well.

I hope to hear from you in the future if you want to explore the rest of the enormous Brazilian territory! happy homecoming and OBRIGADO again.

warm greetings
Sara