You can still see evidence that the Plaza Sao Rafael was once THE grand hotel of Porto Alegre. The staff is first-rate and many speak English. The hotel is near the Mercado and museums, though Porto Alegre is not what I would consider a tourist destination. I was there for a Congresso at Fiergs, the exposition center which is a 10-15 minute taxi ride away. Breakfast is included and is served in a very large, but windowless, room. The food is nothing out of the ordinary, but is plentiful and presented nicely. The lobby bar/cafe offered sufficient privacy for meetings and the staff was typically prompt. The menu was in Portuguese and English and also had pictures of the food. We had coffee there during the day and always met colleagues there in the evening for drinks. My room was on the 14th floor, facing the lagoon and I had a nice view. I believe the room had air conditioning, but in late September, I preferred to keep the window open for cool breezes. My double room was small by American standards ( moderate by European standards), tastefully furnished in an old-fashioned style, and very clean. Rooms have a small refrigerator that is stocked daily with two bottles of water (no charge) and three cans of soda (Pepsi, Coca Cola and Guarana, 4 Real each). There is dial-up Internet access free of charge in the room (you can borrow a cable from the front desk), but the free WiFi in the lobby and cafe is much faster. The bath is larger than average, with a shower (no tub) and a bidet. This was my first trip to South America and, as in Europe, they don't use washcloths in the bath, so if you do, take your own!