San Juan Royal

The San Juan Royal Curitiba offers a variety of amenities for a price that won't empty your wallet. Located on a heavily trafficked street in Curitiba's city center, the San Juan Royal is just 2 blocks from the mall Shopping Mueller, where you can browse in stores, buy a meal, and even dance inside a nightclub.

When you want to get outside, take a 15-minute stroll to Rua das Flores. This pedestrian-only street is one of the Curitiba's oldest, and its combination of flower vendors, street performers, and restaurants guarantees a fun afternoon of people watching. You can toss a busker a few coins to help finance his meal before stepping into an eatery for your own food. For an easy tour of the city, you can hop on the Linha Turismo, Curitiba's bus line designed just for tourists. (This university town's rapid bus system is an international model for innovative urban planners.) Pay once, and during the 2.5-hour tour you can get off and explore 4 different sights; the bus leaves every 30 minutes and goes by more than 20 attractions.

There's plenty to do in the Centro area, but if you feel like staying in, you can sip a cocktail and challenge your traveling companion to a game of billiards in the bar. Or, you can fit in a workout in the fitness room before you head into the hotel restaurant for dinner. Prefer swimming? You can take a dip in the indoor pool, then spend time in the sauna if you like to linger in the heat. Use the business center if you want to email family back home. Mornings, fill your plate from the complimentary breakfast buffet.

Back in your room, you can sit at your desk and log onto the complimentary wireless Internet access to research attractions, or break open the minibar for a nightcap. Need a nosh? You can order a snack from 24-hour room service and eat while you watch a movie on TV. (Stash any leftovers in the compact refrigerator.) Tuck your valuables in the in-room safe before you leave.