Curitiba's Hidden Gem: Rede Andrade Mercado Hotel - Unforgettable Stay!
Alright, strap in, because I’m about to spill the tea on Curitiba’s totally hidden gem: the Rede Andrade Mercado Hotel. Forget the cookie-cutter hotels, this place is a whole vibe. I'm talking a messy, honest, and sometimes chaotic experience, but one that'll leave you grinning from ear to ear. And hey, if you're looking for perfection? Turn back now. This isn't that kinda review.
First Impressions - Okay, Let's Be Real…
Okay so, "Mercado Hotel," right? I was picturing, like, a bustling marketplace right outside my door. And… well, it's close. But don't get the wrong idea. It's in a pretty cool area, nice and accessible – big points for anyone with mobility issues (more on that later). The exterior itself? Classic, charming, you know? But the real magic is inside.
Accessibility - A Big Win! (And a Small Frustration)
Now, being brutally honest, I'm not in a wheelchair myself, but I did pay close attention to the accessibility. And honestly, major props to Rede Andrade. Wheelchair accessible? YES! Everything felt thoughtfully designed, especially compared to some other places I've been to. Wide hallways, ramps where needed, and the elevator? Smooth as butter. They seriously get it.
The minor frustration? Finding all the info wasn’t super easy on the website. So, I recommend calling beforehand if you have specific accessibility needs. But once you're there? Gold star.
Rooms - My Little Sanctuary (Mostly)
Okay, let's talk rooms. I'm pretty sure they're all Non-smoking, and they've got Air conditioning, thank GOD. Curitiba can get both chill and hot as heck. My room? Awesome. Super clean. They really nailed the Cleanliness and safety game. Rooms sanitized between stays, anti-viral cleaning products, the whole shebang. They've clearly put a lot of effort into that.
I had the works: Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens. The Interconnecting room(s) available is a thoughtful touch for families.
Internet - Ah, The Eternal Struggle!
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms, internet access – wireless, Internet access – LAN, Internet… it says it all right? Well… not entirely. Yes, Wi-Fi is free, and generally pretty reliable. (Sometimes). But the Internet [LAN] access? That's a blast from the past, right? I mean, I guess if you're a super coder or something, you might need it, but… for me? I stuck to the Wi-Fi.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - Fueling the Adventure!
Okay, food. Crucial. The Breakfast [buffet]? A MUST. (But more on that later). There's a Restaurant, a Coffee shop, and a Poolside bar (major bonus points!). The Happy hour deals were also pretty sweet.
I tried the A la carte in restaurant once, and it was good. But the Buffet in restaurant? That's where the magic happens. You name it, they had it. Asian breakfast? Western breakfast? Yes, and yes. I'm talking about a spread that will test your self-control – in a good way. And the coffee? Spot on!
One gripe: I did wish the Snack bar had some, like, more exciting options. I could've used a killer sandwich after a long day of exploring.
Let's Talk About That Breakfast – The Moment of Truth
So, about that breakfast… seriously. Just… wow. It’s not just about the food, it’s the experience. It's a delicious, chaotic ballet of scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, bread that's practically begging to be buttered, and a coffee machine that never stops brewing.
I'm a sucker for a good, creamy scrambled egg. These were perfect. Fluffy, light, seasoned just right. I basically built a mountain of eggs on my plate – no regrets. The pastries? Flaky, buttery… mmm.
But here’s the thing: I went early. Like, before the real crowds hit. And that’s my piece of advice: arrive before the masses. Because when it gets packed? It can get a little… intense. But even with the slight chaos, it was brilliant. It's the kind of breakfast that makes you want to linger, sip coffee slowly, and watch the world (and all the other hungry guests) go by. I'm telling you: book this hotel just for the breakfast.
Things to Do – Exploring Curitiba!
This hotel is perfectly positioned for exploring Curitiba. You've got Concierge and Doorman to help you out. And Cash withdrawal services on site, which came in handy. The Car park [free of charge] is a lifesaver in a city like this. They'll also arrange a Taxi service. But seriously, walk!
There's also a Convenience store. Don't expect a full-blown supermarket, but it's perfect for grabbing water, snacks, and any essentials you forgot.
Relaxation – Spa Day, Anyone?
Okay, so, they got the Spa thing going on. I'm not a huge spa person, but I did scope it out. They have a Sauna, Steamroom, Massage, Pool with view. If pampering is your jam, you'll love it. The Fitness center looks decent too, if you're into that sort of thing.
Services and Conveniences - Sorted!
Rede Andrade has the basics covered: Safety deposit boxes, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Elevator, Dry cleaning, Daily housekeeping and all the other essential services. I will say, the Ironing service was a lifesaver – my shirts were seriously getting wrinkled!
Cleanliness and Safety - A+ For Effort!
This is where Rede Andrade really shines. They are taking this seriously, I'm talking: Anti-viral cleaning products, Breakfast takeaway service, Cashless payment service, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment.
For the Kids - Family Fun!
They're Family/child friendly, with Babysitting service available. So, I can see this being a great option for families.
Getting Around - Easy Peasy!
Airport transfer? Yes. Taxi service? Yep. Valet parking? Also available.
In conclusion:
The Rede Andrade Mercado Hotel is not just a hotel; it's an experience. It’s not perfect, but that's what makes it so charming. It captures the spirit of Curitiba: a little quirky, a little chaotic, and utterly unforgettable. If you're looking for a hotel that’s clean, comfortable, and has a seriously amazing breakfast, then book it now!
My Personal Recommendation & Offer!
**Book the Rede Andrade Mercado Hotel now through this review for a *FREE* extra hour at the spa (because you deserve it after that breakfast!)** Use Code "CURITIBAJOY" at checkout. Don't miss out – this hidden gem is calling your name!
Escape to Lomolen: Your Aalter, Belgium B&B Awaits!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into a whirlwind tour of… well, the Rede Andrade Mercado Hotel in Curitiba, Brazil. And let me tell you, it’s not exactly the Four Seasons, but hey, that's where the real travel stories come from, right? Prepare for a schedule that's more "suggested itinerary" and less "rigid instruction manual."
Day 1: Arrival and… Oh God, My Luggage!
- Morning (Let's say… 8:00 AM? No, 9:00 AM. I am NOT a morning person.): Finally! After a flight that felt longer than my last relationship, I ARRIVE! Curitiba airport. Smells faintly of coffee and… something else. Undefinable. Excitement is a solid 7/10, mostly fueled by the promise of caffeine.
- 9:30 AM: Baggage claim. Or, should I say, baggage despair. My suitcase? MIA. Vanished. Poof. Apparently, it’s currently enjoying a scenic tour of… somewhere. Probably not Curitiba. Cue the immediate, rising panic. Breathe, deep breaths.
- 10:00 AM: Okay, dealing with the airport staff is a test of patience. I'm going to channel my inner Zen master… but secretly, I'm plotting creative ways to express my extreme displeasure. Filling out forms. Explaining, re-explaining. This is why you always pack a change of clothes in your carry-on! Learned that lesson the hard way. And now, the staff just told me that the baggage may be arriving in 24 hours!
- 11:30 AM: Taxi to Rede Andrade Mercado Hotel. (I'd booked it online, hoping for a smooth start. Famous last words, right?). The driver, bless his heart, spoke approximately zero English. The city rushes by in a blur of buildings, parks, and my increasingly frantic internal monologue. I have to hope the hotel is at least clean.
- 12:30 PM: Check-in. The lobby is… functional. A little dated, but clean. The staff are definitely friendly, which is a huge relief. I was expecting more. More "luxury". More "wow." No, just functional. They were very kind and helpful though, so I guess thats big enough.
- 1:00 PM: Room. It's… adequate. The bed looks comfy. The shower looks… like it might hopefully produce hot water. A small victory in the grand scheme of things. The view? It's a wall. Okay, fine. At least the Wi-Fi works. Immediately starting my frantic search for where is my luggage and where can I buy some clean clothes! Lunch is a priority.
- 1:30: Lunch: Found a little cafe nearby, and I ate the best pasta I have ever tried.
- 3:00 PM: Relax, and explore a nearby area, feeling a bit better after lunch. Still missing my suitcase, though…
- 6:00 PM: Dinner at an "Authentic Brazilian Churrascaria". The meat, oh god, the meat! It just kept coming! So much meat! I'm pretty sure I've consumed enough protein to build a small… building. Absolutely delicious. Slightly terrifying in its sheer, carnivorous abundance. I feel like a human food processor.
- 8:00 PM: Back to the hotel, absolutely stuffed. Still no luggage. So, so tired. The missing suitcase looms large in my mind. The bed is calling my name!
Day 2: Culture Shock and… the Search Continues!
- 9:00 AM: Wake up. Thank God and the gods of sleep; the bed was awesome. Still no luggage update. I need to get creative with my wardrobe. I'm running out of options.
- 10:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel. Basic, but they have pão de queijo (Brazilian cheese bread). This alone almost redeems the whole experience. Worth it!
- 11:30 AM: Explore Curitiba's "Jardim Botânico" (Botanical Garden). Seriously, this place is gorgeous! The French-style gardens, the greenhouse… it's a feast for the eyes. Makes you forget (briefly) about the luggage disaster. (I might even write a haiku about the beauty of it all… if I had a pen and paper!)
- 1:00 PM: Lunch near the Botanical Garden. Found a little place that serves a feijoada (Brazilian black bean stew). Oh, the joy of proper, authentic food!
- 2:30 PM: Wandering around. Take advantage of the day.
- 4:00 PM: Back to the hotel with no idea what to do. Still no sign of my luggage. The frustration level is hitting critical. I seriously considered going to the hotel's front desk and screaming.
- 6:00 PM: I decided to eat dinner at the city's downtown. I took the first bus that went to the center.
- 8:00 PM: Back to the hotel. Still no sign of my luggage. I just went to sleep.
Day 3: Shopping (Necessity!) and… Accepting Reality? (Maybe)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast again. Pão de queijo is my emotional support carb.
- 10:00 AM: The Shopping. I cannot wear the same clothes. The search begins.
- 1:00 PM: Another day with no luggage.
- 2:00 PM: I went to a Cafe, and wrote another poem.
- 3:30 PM: Back to the hotel. Another day.
- 5:00 PM: Dinner. Tried a new dish! It was nice!
- 6:30 PM: I try to relax.
- 9:00 PM: I will sleep.
Day 4: Departure (And a Prayer!)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. Trying to be positive. Still, no luggage.
- 10:00 AM: Check out. Praying the luggage fairy will magically appear before my flight.
- 11:00 AM: Taxi to the airport.
- The flight: Praying the flight won't be delayed.
- After the flight: If my suitcase is here, I will be ecstatic.
Quirky Observations & Random Rants:
- The hotel staff are incredibly kind and helpful, even if it's not the Ritz. They deserve a medal for dealing with my luggage-related meltdown.
- Brazilian drivers are… enthusiastic. Let's just say that.
- The sheer volume of meat consumed at a Churrascaria is almost a performance art. Absolutely incredible.
- The pão de queijo could solve world hunger. Just saying.
- My luggage is a cruel, cruel joke. A bad one.
Final Thoughts:
Would I recommend the Rede Andrade Mercado Hotel? It's not the height of luxury, but it's clean, the staff are lovely, and in a pinch, it gets the job done. Curitiba itself is a beautiful city, and the food is fantastic! Honestly, the whole luggage thing? Well, it's a story for the ages. And now, I'm the one telling the story. I hope my suitcase finds me soon. And I hope, if you read this, you enjoyed the adventure, because travel isn't about perfection. It's about the messy, the unexpected, and the stories you bring home. And let me tell you, I have plenty of stories. Now, to go find out where my luggage is!!
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Votel Hotel DePratnya Kediri!
So, what *is* this whole "FAQ" thing about? Honestly, I'm already confused.
Alright, settle down, newbie. Think of this as my brain vomit, but in question-and-answer format. Someone *might* have asked me these things, or maybe I'm just projecting my own anxieties. Or maybe, and this is the most likely scenario, I'm just bored and enjoy the sound of my own keyboard clacking. Either way, it's a glimpse into the swirling vortex of my thoughts on... well, everything. From the existential dread of mismatched socks to the profound beauty of a perfectly ripe avocado. Fair warning: You *will* find logical leaps and questionable metaphors. Consider yourself warned.
Okay, okay, I get it. But what *specifically* will we be talking about? Like, categories? Give me some structure, dammit!
Structure? Honey, you're in the WRONG place. But fine. Let's see… We’ll probably touch on:
- **Relationships (The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly):** Because, let's be honest, we all need a good rant (or a celebratory jig) about *those* people.
- **Work/Career (The Grind):** The place where dreams go to die… or maybe thrive? Jury's still out.
- **Hobbies & Passions (The Stuff That Keeps Me Sane):** Because if I didn't have these, I'd be curled up in a ball under my duvet, muttering to myself.
- **Technology (The Siren Song of Doom):** My love-hate relationship with that glowing rectangle in my pocket.
- **Food (My Religion):** Let's be real, food is life. End of discussion.
- **General Existential Angst (Why Are We Here?):** Prepare for some deep thoughts. Or maybe just some navel-gazing.
Relationships... Oh God. Look, I just went through *the* worst breakup of my life. How do I even *cope*?
Oh, sweetie. I *know.* Breakups are like… well, like being punched in the soul, then force-fed a gallon of ice cream (which, by the way, is a terrible solution, but you'll do it anyway). My *worst*? Ugh. There was this guy, Mark, who was convinced he was a poet. He wrote me a poem once. It rhymed "love" with "dove" and "above". I almost died of secondhand embarrassment right there on the spot. But the heartbreak? Real. The only coping mechanism that actually worked for me? Time. And a LOT of bad reality TV. Honestly, indulge in the schlock. It's therapeutic. And let yourself *feel* the bad feels. Cry, scream into a pillow, binge-watch rom-coms (the ones *before* they got too cheesy). Then, and this is key, remember that you are amazing, and Mark, with his rhyming skills, was *definitely* not worth it. You'll get through it. I promise. And maybe, just maybe, avoid poets for a while.
Work/Career… Should I even *bother* trying to climb the corporate ladder? Seems like such a slog.
Ugh, the corporate ladder. It's like a very tall, very poorly constructed staircase. You'll inevitably stumble, scrape your knee, and probably get stepped on by someone in *much* higher heels. My advice? Figure out what brings you even a *smidgen* of joy, and cling to that. It doesn't have to be your "dream job" (because let's be real, those are often overhyped). But find something that makes you slightly less miserable. If you're climbing the ladder specifically for money? Fine. Just make sure you're spending that money on stuff that actually makes you happy. Like, I have a very expensive coffee machine. I absolutely need it. It's an investment in my sanity. And don’t be afraid to change course. I have hopped from jobs to jobs in every industry and I am not ashamed.
Hobbies and Passions?! I feel like I have zero. How do you *find* them?
This one's a bit of a journey, my friend. Think of it like dating. You gotta try a bunch of things before you find the one (or the few). I always loved to bake, so I went to a baking class and ended up burning my hand trying to bake a cake, then I got bored. Then I tried painting but hated it. Then I found something I loved. So what I’m trying to say is, to be honest, you will have to go thru *a lot* of things before you find the one, or the few. Some people have a calling, the rest of us stumble upon something that sticks. Try a pottery class, take a dance class, watch documentaries about obscure things (like, say, the history of cheese). You never know what might spark something. And don't dismiss anything too quickly! Maybe you'll hate it at first, but if it starts to pull you, then hold on and see where it takes you. You could change your mind.
Technology. It feels like it's slowly turning me into a mindless zombie. Any advice?
Oh, the glowing rectangle. My constant companion. My source of endless distraction. The thing I can’t live without... and yet, I can’t live *with*. My advice? Take a damn break. And I mean, like, a REAL break. Put your phone away. Delete social media apps (I know, I know, it's terrifying). Go outside. Talk to an actual human. Read a book. Stare at a tree. Do *anything* that doesn't involve a screen. Because, for god's sake, we are losing ourselves to this thing. It’s insidious. It's addictive. And it's *everywhere.* You'll feel a weird withdrawal at first *and* then it's kind of amazing. Seriously.
Food! Gotta talk food. What's your stance on the great avocado debate: Yay or Nay?
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Avocado is LIFE. End of discussion. Anyone who doesn't love avocado is clearly a spy from another planet. Creamy, delicious, versatile… I put it on toast, in salads, in smoothies. I could eat it straight out of the skin with a spoon (and have, on numerous occasions). The only debate I'll consider is whether or not to add everything bagel seasoning. The answer is always yes, and I stand by that.
Okay, last one (for now,Honeymoon Havenst
