How to Find Cheap Hotels in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Sao Paulo is the largest city in Brazil. In fact, with approximately 30 million people in its metropolitan area, Sao Paulo includes more people than New York City and its suburbs. The wealthiest city in the Southern Hemisphere, Sao Paulo is also the most cosmopolitan, featuring a rich mixture of cultures and industries. A visitor to Sao Paulo can expect to find everything one might expect in an American or European metroplex, but not necessarily the same high prices for accommodations.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Passport
• Computer with Internet connection

Know Your Destination

1. Seek accommodations in the Paulista and Jardins districts, which comprise the backbone of the city. With a hotel on Paulista Avenue, you will never be too far from the action--quite a luxury in a city as sprawling as Sao Paulo.
2. Walk in Sao Paulo's Ibirapuera Park and patronize a cardboard-box bar. There you can sample a Caipirinha, which is a regionally beloved drink based on a liqueur derived from sugar cane.
3. Look for the remnants of 17th-century cathedrals scattered in the shadows of skyscrapers near the city center. Visit one of the many ethnic districts that extend from downtown.

Transportation in Sao Paulo, Brazil

4. Fly into Guarulhos International Airport, located 40 km from the city.
5. Utilize Sao Paolo's cheap, clean and sophisticated Metro system to get anywhere you want to go within the city and surrounding suburbs.

Accommodations in Sao Paulo, Brazil

6. Stay near Guarulhos Airport for a high-quality hotel room at the affordable price of $30 per night. The Guarulhos area includes a shopping mall and movie theater. Metro stops are a short cab ride or shuttle ride away. To book accommodations, contact The Brazilian Tourism Office at [phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources, below).
7. Find one of several pousadas in the Paulista and Jardins districts. These Brazilian guest houses can provide a unique flavor to your stay and the rooms are fairly cheap, averaging $40 to $80 per night.
8. Look for hotels as little as one block north or south of Paulista Avenue and you can land 4-star accommodations for as cheap as $50 per night.
9. Locate hostels for the most affordable way to stay in downtown Sao Paulo. Dorm-style accommodations rent for as little as $9 per night.
10. Book accommodations online and far in advance of your visit, especially if you plan to visit Sao Paulo in the peak season between December and February. Rates can triple during that time.

Tips & Warnings

• Sao Paulo has a very ethnically diverse population. For example, the city is home to the largest Japanese population outside of Japan.