Rio de Janeiro, Brazil + Add a trip

Fasano Hotel - Great Hotel, Not cheap but worth it. Service is friendly, but not over the top. Discreet and helpful. Breakfast on the 8th floor is nice. Great view.

Good italian restaurant, with nice outdoor (very limited space).

Windsor Excelsior - really friendly staff, clean rooms, also not cheap, its on the beach. Right next to the Copacabana Palace, so you can walk by almost every night and see all the paparazzi and/or military guards. Rooftop pool and bar are nice, as is the included breakfast buffet.

In Rio de Janeiro most of the hotels are expensive and the Copacabana Sol Hotel compared to the others has a reasonable price (R$ 156,00 single - around U$ 70,00). And it's really cosy. You can check this and other hotels rates in Brazil here: http://www.submarinoviagens.com.br/viagens/hoteis.aspx

The best place to stay in Rio, if you can afford it, obviously, is Ipanema. Fasano is top-notch, if you're looking for cheaper options, try Everest Hotel or Sol Ipanema, both are good and have great location.

If you can, don't stay in Copacabana, it's too touristy and a bit decadent.