Based on only the room and the hotel's common areas, I'd give TRYP Paulista 3.5 stars, but I'm bumping it up to 4 stars based on the convenience, fun and safety of the surrounding neighborhood. First, the popular Avenue Paulista is only 1 block away, with plenty of stores and restaurants, and a lovely street fair on Sundays, when they shut the street down to traffic. There are also plenty of bars and restaurants on the smaller streets surrounding the hotel, especially Rua Augusta. Our favorite bar, though, turned out to be the small Bee.W, which is connected to the hostel on the same street as TRYP, a half block away. Friendly service, and good food for snacking! (Tell the bartender hello!) Also, there is a great little market on the corner next to the hotel called Bella Paulista, which is a great spot to stock up on bottled water, beer and snacks for the room, as well as grab brunch or lunch at the on-site restaurant, or put together a picnic lunch for later. There are a couple of subway stops within walking distance of the hotel, and most important of all, the neighborhood itself is safe to walk in. And note, evidently the hotel has smaller rooms than the ones my friends and I stayed in, but the upgrade fee is so small, I would HIGHLY recommend upgrading. Our room had a nice sized bathroom, a desk and a small refrigerator and tea kettle. Also of note, the front desk staff speaks English, and were all very friendly and helpful. All in all, I was very pleased with this hotel, and would definitely stay there again, next time I'm in Sao Paulo. read more