Augusta Park Hotel, Sao Paulo

The price was fantastic and the room was great. At only $38 a bucks a night if you stay for 7 days or more, you get a bedroom, small living area w/couch and tv, bathroom and a little kitchen w/gas stove, sink and refrigerator. Very spacious, your own phone and good view if you stay on at least the seventh floor or above. Ask for a rear room, otherwise you will have to contend with the loud noise coming from the street in front. Its not so bad during the week, but it is very loud during the weekend and will go on to almost sunrise. The location is not so great because there are some strip clubs along the road and bums on the sidewalk. That didnt bother me since I would just step out of the hotel and get into a taxi to take me wherever I was going. If you left and did not expect to return until late at night, they asked that you turn the key in at the front desk and pick it up when you returned. I dont really see the point in that, but they said it was to help prevent you from losing it. I made a reservation for one night and was happy with it, so I stayed all 12 nights. Up the hill, Avenida Paulista is just a few blocks away and I enjoyed the walk during the day. Along the walk, there is a small grocery store where you can buy drinks which are less than a buck (better than buying pricey drinks from the hotel frig), and internet cafes where you can keep in touch with the rest of the world. Once you hit Avenida Paulista, there are many banks w/ATMS. If you keep walking straight down Rua Augusta several blocks past Avenida Paulista, youll hit Lorena street close to Rua Oscar Freire which is an upscale shopping area and lots of nice restaurants. This isnt the US with parking lots in front of shopping malls as far as the eye can see, so plan to do some walking in Sao Paulo. Its nice, good for your health, you see more and it will save you a few bucks a day in taxi fare.