When you say Rio de Janeiro, you think about Copacabana, warm beaches, samba rhythms and of course, the famous and colorful carnival. With all the temptations that surround the city, the place is without a doubt a charming and decadent travel spot one must visit at least once in a lifetime. Rio de Janeiro is situated in Brazil, the capital of Rio de Janeiro and also the 2nd biggest city of the country. In English, its name means “River of January” and locals usually name it simply Rio. During 1763 and 1815, the settlement was the capital of the Brazilian country. After that, Brasilia took its place. Still, the city remained a very important economic, financial, development and research centre of Brazil where many tourists go every year not only to find out things about the tradition, but also to accommodate themselves in the best hotels in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

When I first traveled to the Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvelous City), what lured me the most was the Sugar Loaf Mountain, an interesting landform that guards the entire beach, and its cable car. After that, I saw the giant and amazing statue of Christ the Redeemer, listed as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. It is situated on the Corcovado Mountain. Climbing up to this beautiful monument can be a very interesting adventure. Also, the panoramic view that it offers is astonishing. Next, I wanted to discover the wonderful and famous beaches of Rio de Janeiro: Copacabana, Barra da Tijuca, Leblon and Ipanema. Every one of them impressed me with their beauty, white and fine sands and calm water. What also appealed to me were the extraordinary energy, vivacity and liveliness that these places revealed. In only a few hours spent on these beaches I learned what living life to fullest meant. If you want to see the heart of joy, happiness, music and dance then Rio de Janeiro is the place for you. But watch out! The dancing can wire you out, so be sure you have booked a room in one of the hotels in Rio de Janeiro, so you can have a cozy place to relax after all the fun ends.

I arrived in the city right when the famous carnival of Rio was in its process. After leaving my luggage in the room of one of the best hotels in Rio de Janeiro, I went to the festival. Although it was very crowded and noisy, the beautiful dancers and the allegorical cars made me feel like I was part of the story. The colors, the moves, the dresses, the decorations, everything impressed me and made me promise to myself that I’ll come back next year. After seeing all the dances, temptation and curiosity led me to one of the many dance schools in Rio de Janeiro. There, a very joyful teacher tried to show me the right moves for a real samba dancer. I must admit it is very hard and I couldn’t do even half of them correctly, but it was an interesting experience that I recommend.

Other things I’ve seen and that I suggest you visit were the Bossa Nova bars, the Maracanã Stadium, the harbour of Rio de Janeiro and the hills of Tijuca. I will definitely go back there for the World Cup 2014 and the 2016 Summer Olympics and I advise you to do the same. You won’t regret it!

My advice is that you start your trip by planning your program way ahead of your departure to give you enough time to prepare for an unforgettable stay in Rio de Janeiro. A good idée is to start your planning by visiting ExcelBooking.com and book a nice and comfortable hotel. There selection of hotels in Rio de Janeiro and Brazil is really excellent.