rio carnival 2105 - how to do it well?

Botafogo is an OK area to stay. Ipanema, Leblon, and Copacsbana get most tourists.
You'll probably want to see the parade in the Sambodromo on either Sunday or Monday night. For someone without a favorite samba school, which night probably doesn't make a great deal of difference. Try to get seats in one of the sectors in the middle of the route/stadium. There are also blocos in the streets in most neighborhoods. Lapa will also be lively. See the regular sights, though crowded. See www.ipanema.com for info.

Understandably prices rocket at this time, but I found what looks like a very nice hostel in botafogo -£700 for a double room with breakfast for 6 nights. It seems reasonable enough to me given that ive seen packages with companies like bamba for over £1500. These tend to include city tours, parties, favela tours etc but surely my hostel will also be able to arrange those too, and isn't the whole city a party during carnival?

Price quadruple for Carnaval. I wouldn't worry about Breakfast - you'll be too busy heading out to party or sleeping (depending on how hard you partied the night before). A dorm bed in a hostel will be about 100USD a night for 7 nights.

Botofogo is a good area for Carnaval - its not far from the centro (where a lot of the good blocos tend to be). It does have a metro line and will take you straight to the beach. Obviously staying in Leblon, Ipanema or Copacabana allows for the proximity of the beach but will require you to travel more. There are blocos in Copa/Ipanema etc but the better ones tend to be near Centro/Santa Teresa.

Another option is to get a group of friends and hire an apartment. It will be cheaper (depending on how many others you can get in on it).

#tambordecriola and #trent84, thanks for the advice.

It's good to know that Botofogo's a decent area and close to the action, and that the accommodation I'm looking at doesn't seem extortionate. It's a hostel listed by LP as one of the best, and I always prefer hostels to hotels for the social aspect. I'm not really a beach person but my girlfriend is, so as long as we can get down there on the metro we'll both be happy.

The apartment idea is great, but as we don't know who we'll meet along the way, and would rather not leave it all last minute I may just bite the bullet and get the hostel booked. They only require a deposit now anyway.

As for breakfast - I can't miss it - I like it too much heheh!

Thanks again folks.

When I look to book accom in Rio. It comes down to one thing: Can I walk to the beach or not? Thats why I generally try to stay in Copa/Ipanema/Leblon. Rio has its fair share of decent ones. As for LP recommended - I find that once they get recommended the standard drops. Go online to Hostel World/Hostel Bookers and read reviews on there.

Brasilian Breakfasts are quite good if you love fresh fruit and juices....

The Owner Russell is from UK great place
Website: http://www.barraguesthostel.com
Contact: Russell
Address: 234 Rua Recife, Salvador, Bahia
Phone: +55 71 8774-6667
Fax: +55 71 8774-6667
Mobile: +55 71 8774-6667

Because Salvador is Rio right...