Review Grand Mercure Sao Paulo Itaim Bibi

First time in a Grand Mercure (I always stayed at Petit Mercures in the past ;) ). This was a 3-night stay for business. The hotel is located in a safe residential area of Sao Paulo. It’s a tall building (approx 23 floors IIRC) and all rooms have a balcony.

Even if the room was OK, stay was average and I will likely not return fro reasons I will detail here after.

I checked-in around 18:00. Only one attendant was taking care of check-in, 2 other counters were unmanned. There was only one couple in front of me and their check-in took forever. Mine too. Every single information of my passport was entered in their computer, as well as CC info. Is tarted to worry when I saw the agent entering my ALL card number in the computer. He said they were experiencing IT problems, so everything was slow. He said “we have given you a nice upgrade”. In practice, I don’t think II had any upgrade as I am 99% sure I had the room category I booked (Executive room with view on Ibirapuera park). I didn’t challenge it afterwards as I knew the hotel was fully booked (checked in the taxi coming from GRU) and I don’t even think there is a higher category. Then he said he could not give me my key room now as the system was broken, so someone would bring me to the room to  open the door. This has already happened to me twice in some Novotels in London & Edinburgh and the stay turned into something chaotic. The key was given 1hr later. The drink voucher is dematerialized and is sent by email. I had not received it and had to re-ask. It turned out that I didn’t have time to use it.

First impression of the room was good because large and on a high floor (20th). Bathroom vas rather on the small side and had a wal-in shower. But the good impression vanished quickly when I returned from dinner and realized that sound proofing was very poor. I was hearing loud street noise from trucks or cars. But that was nothing. Having arrived at night, I didn’t realized that 2 new tall buildings are being built very close, facing my room. And the workers start their shift at…6 am. And at the same time, planes are starting to take-off from Congonhas airport and are passing very low above the hotel. So, from 6 am do not expect to sleep.

Room amenities included bathrobe, safety box. No slippers but flip flop shoes to go to the rooftop pool. Only hangers, no drawers.

Welcome amenity and letter :

No water provided. Cans of water are available in the minibar, but you need to pay…

Constructions facing the hotel on the park side :

There is a small pool on the roof. I had no time to even see it. I had no meal in the hotel.

Every day returning at the hotel, the room key was not working anymore (I was not the only guest affected) and I had to return to the front desk to reprogram it.

Overall, the noise issue/lack of soundproofing and other minor details make I don’t recommend this hotel. There are better options in town.