brons' Guestbook

Date: 24th March 2012

Rio...and more!
Hi Emily! I definitely feel that the hostel is safe. During my time there, I met quite a few people who, like me, were travelling alone (guys and girls) and they all felt safe at the hostel and enjoyed their time there. Some people didn't like that there isn't a kitchen to use (they do provide a good breakfast though!), but with my inept cooking skills, that wasn't a concern for me! From my experience at the hostel, you would meet other people. I often went to the beach (fastest way is to get the metro from Cinelandia or Carioca, which are both about a 10-15 minute walk from the hostel. The bus takes a while longer, due to the traffic in the city) or out for dinner with other people who were staying there. I don't want to hype it up too much, as things are often a let down when you receive such news prior, but I had a great time there. The managers and all of the staff are great people who are really friendly and want to engage in conversation with you. As for Sao Paulo, I am here right now! I have friends who live here, which is the reason I have returned to the city. To be honest, I am not a fan of a place that is essentially a megalopolis, but if you like good food, nightlife and music, then Sao Paulo is the place. I am lucky, because I have been taken to places by my friends that I would not have known about otherwise. It is not a city to walk around at night alone, that's for sure! If you like art, then MASP is worth a visit. If you want to stop off somewhere on your way to Rio, I would consider Paraty for a night or two, before heading to Ilha Grandhe (there are direct transfers from Paraty. You can also easily get to Rio from the island). Ilha Grande is paradise. No cars, just sandy streets in a small village and numerous beautiful beaches. I wrote a blog on that place too, so if you're intrigued, you should find some more information there. I heard about it from other travellers who told me that I could not leave Brazil without going to Ilha Grande...and they were right! The cheaper hostels are El Misti and Overnativa. Biergarten is always spoken about positively by people that I have met who stayed there. The two party hostels which are located right on the water are Che Legarto and Aquario. There is a party at these hostels every night (alternating between the two). The most important tip is to take sufficient money with you, as you cannot withdraw money on the island. Most backpackers found that 800 (Brazilian, not USD) is sufficient for a week. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask! HAVE FUN!!! Bronson

From Blog: Rio de Janeiro