Lets start with the positives: The rooms and the sushi bar food is OK.

Now let's move on to the rest. The restaurant is appalling. I don't know what they have done to the fruit juice at breakfast but it is pretty much undrinkable- I guess it's diluted or made from powder. The service in the restaurant is also very poor despite the fact that most of the time (understandably) virtually no-one is eating there. The ambience is that of school dinners, with linbes of tables all pushed together and harsh lighting. There is also a dreadful player piano murdering a variety of tunes.

In fact, the whole of the lobby area is really dismal. It would make an acceptable morgue as you can't help but feel depressed on entering the echoing, grey atruim.

My room safe had a problem and when I rang I was told that the guy who could fix it was "resting for an hour". OK, no problem. Two hours later , no-one had turned up so I rang again. A bewildered bell boy arrived, and left just as bewildered. I rang again, and finally, 3 hours after first ringing someone came and fixed it.

I tried room service. Big mistake. The first two times I rang I was pushed from person to person until they hung up the phone. I had to ring reception for them to forward the order. Perhaps the lack of service was their way of warning me off, because when the food came it was an exceptionally soggy, tasteless cheesburger.

Now when I had checked in, the lady noticed that I had booked for an additional night beyond what I needed. No problem, she said, they would amend the bill at checkout. Wrong. I spent 40 minutes arguing about the bill as they said it was impossible to take off ther extra night and to make matters even worse they added an extra night on top of that, I guess just because they felt they could. So they tried to charge me for 7 nights when I was staying for 5! (Actually, because I had a late check out, I only occupied the room for 4 nights, but I had no problem with paying for the 5th night). I managed to get the 7th night taken off the bill but they refused to take off the 6th. By now I was in danger of missing my flight so I had to accept it.

My adviced is to check your bill very carefully on leaving to make sure they don't slip on an extra night. Gives the Hotel St Petersburg in St Petersburg, Russia a run for its money as the worst hotel I have stayed in over the past few years.

Definitely no value for the money. I stayed for 3 weeks and would rather not stay at this one again. Very disappointing.

Positive: Sushi bar/restaurant - good service, good food, but one cannot live on sushi or Japanese food alone day in and day out. Free wi-fi, although connection is not stable (anywhere from 6Mbps to 65 Mbps, on any given day at any given time while one's connected.)

Negative: There is nothing nearby the location except for a 24hr drugstore (omen?) and private residences. The Blooming Garden restaurant at the lobby ("international cuisine"), serves buffet style meals only - breakfast, lunch, and dinner (averaging about R$47 per person excluding beverages). There is no a la carte service at all. The lobby bar does not have posted hours (one never knows if it's open or closed and the service is sketchy at most) - beers: one long neck bottled beer brand and one canned beer brand, no drafts; it takes at least 15 minutes to make one caipirinha (muddled lemon, sugar, cachaca). There are no sit-down restaurants close-by (walking distance). About four were referred by the front desk when inquired. Housekeeping is not available 24 hrs - if your room is "skipped" because of a "do not disturb" sign on the door during the weekend, you may not get service for 2 days or after 2pm. Expect banging of the doors whenever a message or statement is slipped under the door (whether it be at 2pm or 2 am, the rule seems to be that you must be woken up to read whatever is slipped in under the door). Although marketed as a "business hotel", the room does not have a clock; the power outlet by the desk does not work, actually, the number of power outlets in the room is very scarce and where they exist, although it may looks as though your plug may work, it may not work for your specific plug, There is.no business center (copiers, printers, mail service, etc not available). For your mornings or meal outings, there are no taxis available out front and usually no one is there to help you get one if you need it. By the way, the "hotel service directory" binder is very outdated - does not mention wi-fi connection availability, actual TV channels do not match the listing, hotel restaurants' hours of operation are not listed. Keycard will demagnetize completely daily, even if kept away from electronics.

Stayed at hotel for conference. I think I was upgraded to the jr suite--a corner room with a sitting/desk area. Looks pretty much like the photos on the website. Clean.

Bed was OK (foam mattress, ugly blanket and bedspread, 3 pillows--flat foam, lumpy foam, and feather) and I slept fine. Heavy curtains blocked all light (no shears so either open or closed). Windows can open for fresh air, but I did use the a/c because insects flew in. Old sleeper sofa and basic furniture. Plenty of lamps, though one's cord was a little sensitive. Broadband internet, 3 telephones, minibar, TV with a couple of English news channel, large closet, small safe, and full length mirror. Bathroom had tub/shower, Japanese toilet, magnifying mirror, and hair dryer. Basic towels and toiletries.

My rate included breakfast--Japanese buffet and Western buffet. Western offered bacon and another meat, scrambled or boiled eggs, cold meats and cheeses, yogurt, breads, cereal, fresh fruits, juices, coffee and tea. Japanese had the porridge etc. Fewer offerings on a holiday morning. I thought it was fine. So-so lunch buffet. Also a sushi bar in the evening, but I did not see it open or try it. Also a bar in lobby, but never open.

Looked at the small indoor pool and exercise room. Several machines. I didn't have time to use any of those facilities, the sauna, or the yoga classes. Couple of computers and a printer in the lobby.

Staff is very helpful. We had a couple of problems with paperwork on reservations and they were polite and understanding, seemed to trust that we would work it out. Comforting after an overnight flight when an early check in-half day rate was reserved. Held bags upon checkout. Always seemed to be a taxi waiting in the queue.

Tiny convenience store across the street with nice staff. Drugstore on other corner along with a cafe. Otherwise not much around for the guests. Strictly a place to sleep, not sightsee.

Very big rooms, large bed.
Free internet in rooms and loby.
Breakfast could be much better. Poor variety.
Very small indoor swimming pool.
Small ginasium out of order for more than one month.
Located far from the center but near the wonderful city park 'Iburapuera'.