Where to stay in Brazil

When deciding where to stay in Brazil, you can choose from a good range of accommodation options. An albergue or hostel offers the cheapest option. These have dormitory beds and single and double rooms. Many are part of the IYHA, www.iyha.org. A pensão is either a cheap guesthouse or a household that rents out some rooms. A pousada is either a bed-and-breakfast, often small and family-run, or sophisticated and often charming small hotel. A hotel is as it is anywhere in the world, operating according to the international star system, although five-star hotels are not price controlled and hotels in any category are not always of the standard of their star equivalent in USA, Canada or Europe. Many of the older hotels can be cheaper than hostels. Usually accommodation prices include a breakfast of rolls, ham, cheese, cakes and fruit with coffee and juice; there is no reduction if you don't eat it. Rooms vary too.

Normally an apartamento is a room with separate living and sleeping areas and sometimes cooking facilities. A quarto is a standard room; com banheiro is en suite; and sem banheiro is with shared bathroom. Finally there are the motels. These should not be confused with their US counterpart: motels are specifically intended for very short-stay couples; there is no stigma attached and they usually offer good value (the rate for a full night is called the 'pernoite'), however the decor can be a little unsettling.