Published by Mark Smith-HalvorsenSao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro were two of only three places in the Americas region to see rises in average room rates in excess of 20 per cent in February 2010.The other traveller hotspot was Vancouver, which benefited from a rise in traffic during the Winter Olympics.But while many intrepid athletes were braving the cold weather in the northern hemisphere, revellers from across the globe flocked to Brazil to soak up some sun and get into the carnival mood.Lisa Rudkin, travel consultant at Sunvil Traveller, explained that Sao Paolo, the seventh largest city in the world, is also a great destination for tourists who love their food."For a real Brazilian experience in Sao Paulo, the many Brazilian restaurants are a good place to start," she explained.Brits planning a trip to the South American country may wish to search for the best deals on foreign currency online, as the Brazilian real was the top-performing currency in 2009, appreciating by more than a third during the year.For competitive rates and commission free travel money, visit our Travel FX site