Rio de Janeiro - Hotels & Apartments

[Sprite13]

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I have already booked my hotel in Ipanema. Nice little pousada for 90 reais, very nicely located.

[Sunset Strip]

Sprite,

A really good book to take a look at is Let's Go travel's brazil guide. They also have a Rio guide.
Let's Go is a guide that specializes in budget travel. But the places they recommend are never dirty, just cheap.

If you go to a bookstore just look for it in the travel section and most public libraries have it.
Even if you do not want to buy it, I advise browsing through at a bookstore and perhaps writing some stuff down.


TJ

[RonnyRon]

I suggest The Hotel Argentina, which is nice and cheap. The rooms are clean and comfortable, the staff is friendly and helpful. It's conveniently located (one block from the beach in Flamengo, one block from a subway stop and you can reach all major destinations easily by bus), the area is and feels safe at night. They have a very good buffet next to the lobby. Free internet for guest on the first floor. I believe it cost me R115.00 for the night, but that was a couple of years ago. Here are a couple of links with more info:

http://www.argentinahotel.com.br/ingles.htm

http://www.brazilhotelbooking.com/ri.../argentina.htm

RR

[Sprite13]

Thanks guys for the tips. Yes indeed, I said Centro as in downtown around Flamengo, Botafogo, Catete or Gloria. Anyone can recommend a hotel with a good location, safe area and a good price?

Thanks.

[Jan 156]

Can anyone post/recommend a reliable, good and not to expensive hotel in Centro or near Centro? I'll be in Rio in 2 weeks and this time, I'd like to give Centro a shot.
Thanks.

You sound like you know Rio, but for the sake of general readers, let's point out that Centro ('Downtown') is about half an hour or more from Copa. Someone quotes Hotel Atlantico Copacabana, which even by it's own website, is "three blocks from the world famous Copacabana Beach", ie in Copacabana, not Centro. Maybe the poster thought you meant central Copa.

Botafogo is not exactly halfway geographically but a good halfway stop if you want to get to both Copa and Centro. It's an interesting, reasonably upmarket area with good shopping, nightlife, cinemas (although you need to know exactly where to go for P4P). Crap beaches - but you can get to Urca or Copa/Leme beaches easily enough.

Maybe you could post details of Botafogo accomm? Some agencies in Copa include apartments in Botafogo, but the further you go from Copa the more you need to be able to speak Portuguese.

For first timers wanting to try Centro, get the Metro. It's cheap and safe and you can't get lost (although you'll probably take a few wrong turns first time in Centro - have something comfy on your feet and maybe wear long trousers instead of shorts if you don't want to stand out).

More experienced mongers may just want to stay on or near Princess Isabel (the street that separates the eastern end of Copa from Leme). You can get almost any bus into town from there (but also have 24hr P4P on your doorstep ;-) )

[Prosal]

Can anyone post/recommend a reliable, good and not to expensive hotel in Centro or near Centro? I'll be in Rio in 2 weeks and this time, I'd like to give Centro a shot. .

If you want to stay almost halfway between Centro and Copacabana, then the Mercure Apt Botafogo - former Parthenon Botafogo Long Stay - is IMHO the best opton. It's my favorite apart-hotel in Rio. For me the location is just perfect, out of the 'gringos ghetto' in a nice neighborhood, close from Rio Sul and Cobal do Humaita (the nicest bar complex in Rio IMO) and with an easy access to Centro.

[Ulrico]

Can anyone post/recommend a reliable, good and not to expensive hotel in Centro or near Centro? I'll be in Rio in 2 weeks and this time, I'd like to give Centro a shot.

Thanks.

Good price, good location, good experience = Hotel Atlantico Copacabana:
http://www.atlanticocopacabana.com.br/

[Sprite13]

Can anyone post/recommend a reliable, good and not to expensive hotel in Centro or near Centro? I'll be in Rio in 2 weeks and this time, I'd like to give Centro a shot.

Thanks.

[Member #4378]

I'am planning my first trip to Rio(well my second, the first one was work). I would like to stay in a hotel close to the action(Help,4x4,65 etc.) and monger friendly. I speak no Portuguese right now but I will do some online learning over the next 30 days hopefully so I can p/u a basic understanding. What I need is a short list of hotels in the $100.00 range(+/-)$25.00 that are monger friendly. I've come across a few names here but would like some more specific locations/feedback. After trips to Panama and CR,I just have to check out Rio for some fun. Any information would be appreciated.

Enjoy!

For example, Rio Roiss, among many others. Very close to Help, quite location, and GF. Allows only one girl if booked a double room (make sure you book a double room). Try to call them and negotatiate a price.

[Prosal]

what other apartment rental sites are there that anyone can suggest for me.

http://www.aluguetemporada.com.br/

You'll find on this brasilian site a LARGE choice of apartamentos more humanely priced than the gringo-managed rentals.

[Ryjerrob]

Has anyone ever stayed at www.riodreamapartment.com???? I'd like to know your experience.

Ryjer

[Ace512]

Whats all im plainning to go to Brazil in June, from reading alot info hear and reading Budda guide. im thinking of rent an apartment besides Gringo Management Apartments, what other apartment rental sites are there that anyone can suggest for me.

Thank all,

Ace512

[Tavares]

Thanks Bubba,

Sent a message to Portinari this morning and just got their reply. Guests are allowed for a fee of 150 Reais! which means something like 65 Euros...

On the other hand it is very close to where the action is and a room in one of the top floors should offset the incovenience of the nightlife noise.

Last time I was in Rio ( beginning of February ) I stayed at Oceano. What a dump: small rooms, even smaller bathrooms, cheap furniture and poor breakfast and I was paying 220 Reais per night.

The only nice thing about it was a morena waitress with fantastic dark blue/ grey eyes! coloured lenses, maybe?!

I am flying to Rio on thursday. Bubba, If you happen to be there I would be delighted to invite you for dinner or something. Never seen such a comprehensive city guide like yours. Congratulations and thanks on behalf of all fellow mongers!

[Bubba Boy]

I remember a couple of posts saying that they allow guests but the guest fee is high, from memory R80. Secondly I have heard the hotel is very noisy. I have walked pass it 100's of times, it sits on a busy corner and hence the traffic noise would be horrendous if it is not well insulated.

The princess copacabana is a better bet, that hotel is maybe 5 years old, cheaper, and quiet. Just remember if you stay in the Copa princess, get a room on the inside, not the street side, the street side is really noisy in the morning.

[Tavares]

Is Portinari Hotel in Copacabana girl-friendly?

It isn't that expensive and it is NEW, a must in Rio!

Another very good feature about this hotel: rooms are equipped with electronic safe boxes...