I stayed in SP for a week and a half during Nov. The Intercontinental is in the beautiful jardins district, very safe and full of good restaurants and some fun bars...You can go walking around the district at night to go to a restaurant or a lounge and it is perfectly safe.

Parque Trianon and the art museum are just done the street, with interesting street markets on the weekend. You can walk to Parque do Ibirapuera for biking/jogging and hanging out there (although the walk is through the Brigadeiro district which is not picturesque, I never felt in any danger). You might want to cab it back though since the way back to the hotel from Ibirapuera is uphill....

The hotel staff are all multilingual. The receiption and concierge were responsive and helpful. A problem with internet connectivity was resolved by the hotel in 5 mins (the time it took them to send a uniformed electrician to my room to show me how to connect...).

The room and furniture were everything I would expect of a five star hotel. Room service was quick and everything was delivered as ordered (there is a really good paprika chicken dish on the room service menu and there were some good Brazilian wines and imports on the menu).

Check out was speedy and efficient and the Citibank is across the street....what more could I ask? I will stay there next time..

On the first night of my stay I woke up with about 5 bugs (looked like bedbugs) in the bed and some bites. Mgmt apologized and switched my room. Other than that the hotel was very nice.

It's OK. The pool is tiny and if you don't get down there early there is nowhere to sit. It is also a stopover hotel for aircrew..need I say more. Room service is actually quite good, and the food is better than average. After visiting the city several times over the past 3 years this is definitely one of the best hotels but it is also more expensive.

The hotel is a 5-star hotel but the walls are so thin that I keep hearing my neighhours talking. Friends who stay in the hotel same period experience the same.

Otherwise, all amenities and furnishing is just like another 5-star hotel. Location is also not great, unless you are working in the financial district.