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SOFITEL RIO DE JANEIRO
All the way at the far end of Copacabana Beach (2.5 miles long) in an ideal location, is the 355-room Sofitel Rio de Janeiro. It's listed as a 5-star property and is considered one of the most prestigious hotels in Rio. I didn't know what to expect since the reviews on TripAdvisor were mostly negative, but when I walked into the plush, contemporary marble lobby, I liked what I saw. Then, walking down the long chic hallways to my room, I started to get a swagger like Jimmie Walker and when I opened my room door, I screamed out loud "DY-NO-MITE!" My room was sweet! It had a flat screen TV, DVD player, a glass desk, wireless Internet (20 BRL for 24 hours), a balcony, a very comfortable bed that Sofitel nicknamed "My Bed", a mini-bar, a safe (although oversized laptops won't fit) and a marble bathroom and a shower with a glass window and blinds so you can see the TV or better yet, the view of the Atlantic Ocean.

DINING AT THE SOFITEL
I couldn't understand why the TripAdvisor reviews were so bad but I found out when I took a tour of the hotel. It turns out that the hotel has recently spent $16 million renovating the top three floors (6, 7 & 8). The old rooms aren't nearly as nice and they won't be renovated until after the Pan American Games. The games are coming up in July and are a big deal in South America, kind of like the Olympics. All the rooms should be renovated by the end of 2008. Of course, the rooms are priced accordingly and the old rooms go for approximately $190 USD while the new and improved ones are $300 USD. Some rates include breakfast, which is quite good with plenty of fresh fruit, baked breads, and your typical American breakfast buffet. If you eat on the outdoor patio, you'll be treated to spectacular views of the world-famous Copacabana Beach. If you have access to the club lounge the food, juice, pastries, service and views are even better. For fine dining, the hotel has a French restaurant called Le Pre Catelan. It is regarded as one of the best restaurants in Rio and it's not cheap. However, if you're celebrating a special occasion and want to experience some fine French cuisine, excellent service and a modern decor, then swing down to the second floor. If you eat too much (like me) then mosey on down to hotel's state-of-the-art fitness center or one its two pools to swim some laps. Sofitel Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Atlantica, 4240, Copacabana, Tel.: (+55) 21/25251232.

COPACABANA PALACE
Though the Sofitel might be the most prestigious hotel in Copacabana, the Copacabana Palace is definitely the most famous, not only in Copacabana Beach or Rio but in all of South America! It was built in 1923 and practically every celebrity or dignitary who has visited Brazil has stayed here. They even have a wall of headshots to prove it! The hotel is located in the middle of the horseshoe curve of Copacabana Beach (about a mile walk from the Sofitel or a $4 USD taxi ride). The 222 rooms are large with high ceilings and come with a unique amenity; a pair of colorful flip-flops. I took a tour of the hotel when I had dinner in one of the hotel's two restaurants. The Cipriani Restaurant serves exquisite and expensive Italian food and is known as one of the top restaurants in the city. But I ate at the more casual (and affordable) Pergula Restaurant, which is situated poolside and serves traditional Brazilian dishes. However, the hotel wasn't for me because the place was filled with Americans, which completely turned me off. Don't get me wrong; I'm proud to be an American but when I am out of the country, I want to feel like I am out of the country and hanging out with loud Americans is not my idea of being away. Copacabana Palace, Avenida Atlântica 1702, Rio de Janeiro; Tel.: +55 21 2548 7070.

LIVE LIKE A LOCAL
If you want to live like a Carioca, a resident of Rio, there's a new booking service called Cama e Café (which means "bed and breakfast"). This service matches travelers up with one of 50 homeowners who rent out one or two (but no more than three) rooms in the artsy, hilltop neighborhood of Santa Teresa. The most fun and cheapest ($0.60) way to get up to this historic and charming town is to take the bonde – an old tram that cruises through the windy streets that are filled with unusual gift shops and quaint restaurants. Cama e Café offers four ranges of accommodations: Economic (90 BRL for a couple or 70 BRL for a single), Tourist Class with A/C and private bath (125 BRL for a double, 95 BRL for a single), Superior which comes with Internet and TV (180 BRL for a double, 140 BRL for a single) and Premium (220 BRL for a couple, 180 BRL for a single). All options offer travelers a clean house and breakfast. I toured four of them and they looked good to me. My favorite was a superior home of an artist named Ana Duraes, who showed us her paintings as well as her cozy house. Long-term rates are available and monthly rentals begin at approximately 1,000 BRL ($495). NOTE: During New Year's and Carnival, rates double, which is not bad considering that the rates at most hotels can rise up to five times the usual cost. Cama e Café, tel.: 55-21-2224-5689; CamaeCafe.com.br.

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