Comfort Hotel Nova Paulista

Long weekend with both Formule 1 Paulista and Paraiso full, we had a lot of trouble trying to find a double room with a decent rate. Ibis Paulista and the surrounding Mercure hotels had outrageous rates, but the English website (rates in US Dollars) for Comfort Hotel Nova Paulista had a special internet rate. If you'd like to pay in cash, the hotel only accepts payment made in REAIS (Brazilian currency). Credit cards will be charged in REAIS (Brazilian Currency) converted in your country currency by your credit card.

TIP: Check the currency exchange rate before booking. Sometimes it's cheaper booking from the English website (rates in US Dollars) than from their Brazilian website (in Brazilian currency).

At the time it was more interesting to have the US dollars rate converted to Brazilian reais than paying the Brazilian rate advertised on their Brazilian website. You can either pay as you check-in or when you check-out. You will have to fill out a form with your personal information (address, ID, phone, e-mail...) when you check in. If you are Brazilian and have a CPF, you will have to inform them your CPF in order to receive your eletronic "nota fiscal" (I've done that, but I haven't received it yet - *rolls eyes*).

Security elevators: In order to access your floor, you need to insert your room key into the slot marked "Inserir Cartão" (or something like that at the bottom of the panel).
Our room faced the front street and it was a bit noisy and the view was a bit depressing but I couldn't complain about the size (it looks smaller on the website pics), cleaness, cable TV, fridge, security lock box electronic safe. Bathroom: large shower box.

CONS:

Bathroom: Unfortunately no liquid soap nor hairdryer (as mentioned on their website) in the bathroom.
Breakfast room - The toaster took a long time to toast the bread.

- The staff was a bit slow to clean/change tables. We had to take things from a nearby table or ask someone to bring us something that was missing.

Unique Quality: FREE Continental Breakfast: hot meal (scrambled eggs and hot dog sausage), tea (Dr Oetker brand, unfortunately I don't like them), coffee, milk (cold or hot), fresh orange juice, deli meats, 2 types of cake, etc...

Directions: Between 2 metro stations, Vila Mariana and Ana Rosa.