Rio de Janeiro - Hotels & Apartments

[Bartonsky]

I am trying to find apts for Rio and having a terrible time. I have booked apts in MED, BA and Santiago for my trip. Those experiences have been a breeze compared to Rio. To say customer service is bad would be a massive understatement. Do these people really expect me to give them $1000's without answering even the most basic questions and responding to emails?

I have been trying to book a room with this Zlatco at rioholiday. This guys must get great business because all his emails back to me are form emails which never answer any specific questions I have. He also never picks up his phone.

Am I just stupid or do people really just hand over $1000 bucks without even knowing what they are getting. Its kinda absurd.

If people have worked with this Zlatco before I wold love to hear your experience. Its like pulling teeth. Multiple emails just to get a price quotes then several more to get specific questions answered if at all. I have no ax to grind. I just want to find a reasonable place and am having one hell of a time.

Bart

[Almotu]

Any experienced people know www.flatsandrooms.com?? They seem real punctual and always get back to me. I am thinking about renting from them? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Viper10

Looks like they only have 4 apartments in Rio but a lot in BA. I am a bit concerned that the prices for the Rio apartments are not posted. (They only show a $50 administration fee) Report back about your experience if you do try them. For Rio, Bobby (Blameitonrio) and Kenn (Amerioca) seem to be the most recommended, still.

[Bartonsky]

Has any ever used rioholiday.com? I have been in contact with Zlatko Anguelow there. The bubba report recommends this one and EZ rental so have been talking to them. Then all of sudden I cannot get a hold of these guys. I was actually very close to renting one from Zlatko and he has disapeared. I have left at least 5 voicemails and a dozen emails and no response. It kinda makes me nervous to rent from someone who has such poor customer service.

I have been planning a long trip and booked hotels in Medellin, Buenos Aires, Santiago and now Rio and Rio BY FAR is the biggest basket case. There is no customer service. I guess demand must be so good they do not even need to care. I mean these people want to you to give them $1000's in deposits and pay cash upfront and they don't even return emails.

Any suggestions on a good apt rental place would be helpful.

Bart

[Ryjerrob]

I found the following report on tripadvisor.com about a theft from the safe.

Aug 28, 2008

We stayed at the Rio Roiss Hotel for 3 nights and we had US$1,200 stolen from the safe! They give you the lock and the key to the safe. Unfortunately we were too naive to believe that the money would have actually been stolen (we had a total of US$2,000 in the safe and they were clever enough to leave some money so we didn't suspect) and thought that we had left the rest of our money at home. Now that we have returned home we have realised that it was actually stolen while we were there and now we can't do anything about it!

That's FUCKED-UP...............I've heard about one person that rents apts, where money has disappeared from the apts. Never taking something large, just a little here and there. I actually heard this from a guy that is in competition with her, so I took it with a grain of salt.

Still, you can never be too careful. Like so many have said her, it's good to have a hinding place for you cash. Sorry for your luck.

ryjer

[Member #4378]

I found the following report on tripadvisor.com about a theft from the safe.

Aug 28, 2008

We stayed at the Rio Roiss Hotel for 3 nights and we had US$1,200 stolen from the safe! They give you the lock and the key to the safe. Unfortunately we were too naive to believe that the money would have actually been stolen (we had a total of US$2,000 in the safe and they were clever enough to leave some money so we didn't suspect) and thought that we had left the rest of our money at home. Now that we have returned home we have realised that it was actually stolen while we were there and now we can't do anything about it!

[Viper10]

Any experienced people know www.flatsandrooms.com?? They seem real punctual and always get back to me. I am thinking about renting from them? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Viper10

[Almotu]

Are you guys talking about this building? http://www.mytourpal.com/lastMinuteH...dence_Club.htm

Where can I see inside the apartments? Ohp: do you have some photos of 903?

Thanks in advance.

[Ryjerrob]

At Ryjerrob & Exec talent, I am currently staying in South Beach, booked over the internet from Hotelclub.com (part of Rates to Go) for 63, 50 euros a night.

Appt is okay, a little dark, a little rough at the edges, but cleaned and serviced daily, good size approx 40m². Bed is good, shower large, no bath, fridge and aircon excellent. Girls have to register at no extra charge.

I save a fotune on taxis as MP, help etc are in easy walking distance, even at night. Local tip, the Devassa bar on Av Atlantico is 100m away really nice staff, good food, big portions and the best southern hemisphere brew, ice cold Sarara wheat beer (hefeweizen).

I'm glad I was able to help.......

[Ohp1972]

At Ryjerrob & Exec talent, I am currently staying in South Beach, booked over the internet from Hotelclub.com (part of Rates to Go) for 63, 50 euros a night.

Appt is okay, a little dark, a little rough at the edges, but cleaned and serviced daily, good size approx 40m². Bed is good, shower large, no bath, fridge and aircon excellent. Girls have to register at no extra charge.

I save a fotune on taxis as MP, help etc are in easy walking distance, even at night. Local tip, the Devassa bar on Av Atlantico is 100m away really nice staff, good food, big portions and the best southern hemisphere brew, ice cold Sarara wheat beer (hefeweizen).

Actually I'm a fan of SouthBeach, I never used Hotelclub.com. I always used an independent renter. But, I always get the same room. #903. It's close enough to the action but also far enough away from too much Drama..... Right around the corner from Mondego.

[Arthur 1759]

At Ryjerrob & Exec talent, I am currently staying in South Beach, booked over the internet from Hotelclub.com (part of Rates to Go) for 63, 50 euros a night.

Appt is okay, a little dark, a little rough at the edges, but cleaned and serviced daily, good size approx 40m². Bed is good, shower large, no bath, fridge and aircon excellent. Girls have to register at no extra charge.

I save a fotune on taxis as MP, help etc are in easy walking distance, even at night. Local tip, the Devassa bar on Av Atlantico is 100m away really nice staff, good food, big portions and the best southern hemisphere brew, ice cold Sarara wheat beer (hefeweizen).

[Mr Blue]

Just wanted to hop in here and quickly leave a note about my trip. I just returned from my trip and had an excellent experience renting with Adriaan from RioPenthouses (I think they have a network of sites). It was an excellent ocean front apartment and Adriaan and Frank were able to get back to me quickly on all my questions. Frank was my local contact and he spoke excellent English. I would definitely consider renting from them again.

[Patbutter]

Pat, I had been staying in the same apartment in Copacabana that I rent from Gringomanagemt.com for the past 5 years or so. Every time I arrive at the apartment after a long flight from my home he helps me to my apartment with my suitcases. I tip him for this, this is the day doorman.

Then when I am out all night and come home at 4 am, the last thing I want to be doing is fumbling for my keys to get into the building. I want to exit the taxi quickly and enter the building as quickly as possible for security reasons. This is a good building I stay in and the door man is very professional and always at his post. He buzzes me in instantly, calls for the elevator and opens the door for me and my ladies. For this I tighten him up a little for doing the right thing.

If the guy does a good job for you and is there when you need him then sure why not throw him a few reais now and then.

Thanks for the advice guys

[Rio Bob]

I am staying in an apt in Copa with 24hr doormen. Curious if other guys tip the doormen at any point. I am thinking particularly of the guy who I frequently wake up at 3AM with a garota from Help on my arm. Thanks for any feedback

Pat, I had been staying in the same apartment in Copacabana that I rent from Gringomanagemt.com for the past 5 years or so. Every time I arrive at the apartment after a long flight from my home he helps me to my apartment with my suitcases. I tip him for this, this is the day doorman.

Then when I am out all night and come home at 4 am, the last thing I want to be doing is fumbling for my keys to get into the building. I want to exit the taxi quickly and enter the building as quickly as possible for security reasons. This is a good building I stay in and the door man is very professional and always at his post. He buzzes me in instantly, calls for the elevator and opens the door for me and my ladies. For this I tighten him up a little for doing the right thing.

If the guy does a good job for you and is there when you need him then sure why not throw him a few reais now and then.

[Jan 156]

I am staying in an apt in Copa with 24hr doormen. Curious if other guys tip the doormen at any point. I am thinking particularly of the guy who I frequently wake up at 3AM with a garota from Help on my arm. Thanks for any feedback

I think I've raised it once on here but people's views differ and there's no hard and fast answer.

Firstly, the doorman is included in the price of your rental so there's no need to pay him. Paying extra in the standard American tipping format might just be setting a bad precedent and not getting you anything in return (especially if you tip him at 3am with the garota on the arm - it can look like you are giving him a payment for turning a blind eye, which is totally unnecessary and none of his business - and it might give him ideas about expecting it in the future!)

On the other hand, getting, as far as you can, a sort of buddy thing - even if it's just a veneer - can be good for you if you do it right (and depending on the doorman).

A couple of examples. My favourite area for apartments is Prado Junior. It's not the 'safest' area of Copa but I like it cos of its proximity to buses into town and also late night drinking. I've had a few close shaves but nothing serious.

One apartment I had overlooked the Prado bar and I'd often look out from the balcony to see how the action was shaping up before venturing out. Or maybe I'd hang around downstairs, popping to the farmacia or 24hr grocer. I know the doorman gets paid sh*t - and also he will assume that I'm a sh*t gringo by rule of thumb. Over a few weeks I'd make sure I casually gave the night doorman a few beers (eg break off a four pack from my own on the way back from the supermarket). Once I'm heading out for food at night and ask him if he's hungry. The first time he'd asked me to get him a (sh*t) burger (<1R) from the corner seller and given me the money.

There's simple ways a doorman can make a difference. After getting in with a dodgy crowd one night I wanted to get in and out quickly. He was on my wavelength and keeping a look out to see when I was at the door. He was already wise to giving off the appropriate body language to people I liked or didn't like. But mostly I just liked having him around. I saw him every day. It was nice to have that limited friendship, even if it was slightly top-heavy.

Another flat is one I rent from a woman who probably knows that I monger like there's no tomorrow but officially I only tell her I'm here for the language, the dancing, the beach and so on. If you live in a non-gringo apartment block, your local street-cred has gone out the window the minute you take a garota back, and from that point it becomes harder to make friendships with your neighbours (not that that will bother many of you). The doorman is generally gossip central. So minimising his unwanted exchanges of information with people can be hard. I have limited faith in the 'few cans of beer' approach here, but occasionally try it anyway.

The ultimate doorman-usefulness can be to sort out a dispute with a garota. I had a dupla from an agency one night and was unhappy about the amount they wanted to stiff me for the taxi back. My doorman kindly mediated and got a settlement that was a reasonable in-between. This is quite unusual for a doorman to get involved like this though (in my personal experience).

[Exec Talent]

I got this link from a friend in Brasil. Don't know anything about the services they provide.

http://www.popstartur.com.br/southbeach/

ryjer

Ryjer, thanks a lot for the link.

The building where those apartments are located is one of the most beautiful in Copacabana. I always try to rent there, but in the past was given a list of private owners. I could never seem to find availability for times I wanted. Maybe now they have some "house" inventory.

With the exchange rate up, I highly recommend at least considering these apartments. Great location too on the block behind Av. Atlantica. If I remember correctly, someone on this board rents there all the time and may be able to share their experiences.

UPDATE: I tried to reserve but this must be an old link because the last year available is 2005!