Hotels

Brazilian hotels are generally clean, comfortable and inexpensive. In most Brazilian towns there seems to be an excess of hotel rooms, but appearances are deceptive: during the entrance examinations of Brazilian universities, it is often difficult to find a place to sleep. A congress in a middle-sized city is another cause of occupied hotels. Nevertheless, it is most of the time well possible to find a hotel locally.

A pousada is a guesthouse: a small hotel with less pretentious services. It is not always possible to come back late or to bring people with you. If hot meals are served, you often eat what the owner eats.

Many foreigners are surprised by the large number of motels in Brazil. Although a European motel is generally a hotel along a motorway, a Brazilian motel is a hotel that charges an ‘hourly’ rate instead of a ‘nightly’ rate. You will not find any single rooms in there! For those to whom it is not clear yet: a Brazilian motel is an establishment that offers privacy solutions.

The occupants of a Brazilian motel are often from the same region. They are young lovers who still live with their parents, married people who are sleeping around or women who are on the game. But if you happen to be in the rare situation of not being able to find a hotel for the night, a motel may be a solution.