Hotel Arujá

I stayed five nights in Sao Paulo after arriving at 4am because of a missed flight, and my dog came along too. The pet fee was reasonable. Everyone at Hotel Aruja was so friendly and helpful. One front desk worker helped me contact the airline and find someone who spoke English so I could sort out my flights. After the first night, I had a problem with the room water, and they moved me quickly. The room is very small, though it has a big desk for working, a decent closet and a mini fridge. The WiFi was fast, which helped a lot since I worked from the room most days. Breakfast is included and has plenty to pick from: cake, sandwiches, meat, cheese, eggs, sausage, fruit, juice, jam and more. Aruja is a pleasant, quiet neighborhood that isn't too busy. I went running in the mornings, and there are quite a few restaurants, shops and food trucks. For sightseeing, the location is less handy: getting to the city center takes about an hour when there's no traffic. I had a fantastic stay and would gladly return.

Gol put us up here after we missed a connecting flight because the first leg was delayed. That wasn't our fault, and we deserved better. The room felt like a very comfy jail cell. Stay here only if you have no choice.

Good value and a great hotel. I found it cheaper and easier to book through Expedia or another app, especially if you don't speak Portuguese. Americans sometimes assume Spanish and Portuguese are the same, but locals won't understand you. Say “WiFi” and someone will help, then you can use Google Translate. Staff say they speak English, but none of them speak it very well. The Brazilian-style breakfast is excellent, and it's important to feel your belongings are safe, which they were at Hotel Aruja. It's about 40 minutes or so from Garulhos Airport. Uber is cheaper than taxis and just as good. Safe travels, and enjoy the beautiful city of Aruja.

The staff are friendly and helpful, and the accommodations are clean and nice. If you can, book in the new wing. Those rooms are nicer than the old ones, though they cost a little more.