Rio de Janeiro Hotels

Be warned: Rio's powers of seduction can leave you with a bad case of saudade (indescribable longing) when you leave. Planted between lush, forest-covered mountains and breathtaking beaches, the Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvelous City) has many charms, most notably the Cariocas, its exuberant residents.

The international tourist crowd takes advantage of Rio's ritzy side - there are innumerable opportunities to be decadent. But Rio also has much to offer the budget traveller: there are cheap hotels and restaurants aplenty, and the beach is a free entertainment zone.

The city's humidity can be high in summer, with temperatures hovering around and above 28°C (82°F); rainfall is another factor, with October to January the wettest months. In winter, Rio temperatures sit at around 23°C (73°F), with a mix of both rainy and superb beach-going days. The high season runs from December to March, and is especially busy around Carnaval and New Year, when the city is in full party mode, and the excitement on the streets is unsurpassable. However, everyone becomes a little unglued around Carnaval time - there are more car accidents than usual, prices are noticeably higher and crowds are unavoidable. Still, it is Carnaval.