Rio de Janeiro - Hotels & Apartments

[HoleRanger]

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!

[Buckfutch]

Has anyone used rentinrio.com for apartment rentals in Rio? I am planning a trip in mid April and am considering one of their apartments on Ipanema. I am new to the forum so I only have a few credit hours of education at this point but I plan on continuing on to the graduate degree level.

Buck

[Boratsexytime]

Does anybody know if the Copocabana Excelsior is girl friendly?

[Off Road]

Are there roaches in hotels? My last stay in an apt was roach infested and I am hesitant to try an apt again.

I have stayed in probably 12 different apartments in Rio and none of them have had a roach infestment. I have seen an occasional roach, but that is not unique to Rio or brazil.

[Off Road]

As I was writing this I just recieved another email for an apartment from info@rioapartments.com and this apartment looks very acceptable. Does anyone recognize it? http://www.rioapartments.com/2-3_alu...os_copacabana/ The cost of this rental for 30 days is $1,400 dollars plus gas, electric, and a cleaning charge of $20.00. I have sent an email back to them and have them holding it for me for 24 hours. This way I can hopefully recieve some responses from members here who might be familar with it or might have questions I might need to have rioapartments answer for me. The contact person is Mit Shibazaki.

I have rented that apartment, It is on a Domingos Ferrira near the end of the street, on the 10th floor. Nice place. Shower needed some work (valve problem, but had internet and was comfortable and clean. The photos are accurate. This is close to the action too.

[Off Road]

I have used and trust:
Kenn at ez-riorentals.com
the team at riorentals.com

You can get a nice 2br for around $100 a night with internet access. And that would be closer to the action. The farther away from the beach, the less it costs.

What I would do if I were you, email both of them tell them what you are looking for exactly (location, prices, size) and they will more than likely send back links of potential apartments for you.

You can also then post the address or link here of what you are thinking about, many of us know the apartments.

[Exec Talent]

We all hate them, but I think we can understand why a reservation deposit and security deposit is necessary. I have never heard of anyone getting ripped off of their deposit money, so I think sending it is pretty safe.

Western Union to Brazil is very reasonable if you use a supermarket or drugstore. Do not use Western Union offices since they tend to charge about 5 times as much. Paypal works too.

Recently I rented an apartment from www.rioapartments.com and used the option to pay the deposit online with a credit card. What I was not told was that my $200 deposit would be subject to a VAT of $40.

[Jan 156]

I have information for you but your PM is turned off. Be sure to LOOK at an apartment before you rent. Check: <snip>

An excellent post - I'd recommend it as one of distinction (but not sure how to do that).

It looks basic info but it shows experience. That's the way to do it for sure.

[Exec Talent]

I have information for you but your PM is turned off. Be sure to LOOK at an apartment before you rent. Check:

Hot water
Air Conditioning
Condition of Building
Signs of insects (roaches)
Street noise
The bed - smell the pillows, many times the pillows reek of sweat (I usually buy my own at Lojas Americanas)
Towels, extra linens

If you are sensitive to noise the last place you want to be is on a low floor on NS Copacabana at an intersection. The buses screech to a stop and rumble loudly starting out.

Keep in mind that apartment rental agencies often rent apartments like used car dealers sell cars. They try to rent you the apartment that has the greatest profit for them, not necessarily the apartment that is best for you.

Right now it is a buyers market. Tourism is way down. If you are coming after Carnaval and not during the time of the Pan AM games, there is no reason to send a deposit months in advance. You will have no trouble finding a nice apartment at a good price.

If you are renting for more than a week. Come to Rio and stay in a hotel for a night. Arrange visits of the apartments you have seen on the internet. Like used car dealers, agencies try to push to close the deal and get your deposit money. Don't bite.

UPDATE: A couple of things that I forget in the original post. When checking out apartments try to get an apartment with the fewest number of units per floor. The more units, the more noisy and nosey neighbors. Also, in Rio the most popular renovation method is to beat the crap out a wall with a hammer or chisel and hammer. Look not only on your floor, but take a walk up and down the stairs. Are there any apartments being renovated? If so, forget about sleeping in or that hot number you brought home last night staying until noon.

[Jan 156]

Just so as not to give any misleading impression to people coming to Rio for the first time, I *budget* for £15 a night for an apartment on a month-long rental, though I can generally get it closer to a tenner and without the long commitment. I don't think anyone should have to pay more than £15 but some people will want to pay extra for something a bit fancier.

There is no shortage of apartments in Copa (except in Carnaval time).

[Jan 156]

Christopherd, those sound like good rates at the Aparthotel. Do they have kitchen facilities in the rooms like many of the apartments? Also, is it no problem bringing the girls there?

Yes - they're nice apartments of varying quality and haggle-able prices. In the one I had, the kitchen was separated from the living room by a sort of L-shape. Separate bedroom and balcony looking at the Christ statue.

Absolutely no probs bringing girls there. In fact the security is formally more available than at an apartment. I had two girls over from an agency once. They were not only not very good IMO but started haggling afterwards to add a taxi fare which the agency said was included - and wouldn't leave. I called security up and they negotiated splitting the difference.

I did have a problem with the gas going off for a while. The chap who runs the rental apartments is very friendly but a hell of a bull-shitter. He told me it was a problem affecting the whole of Rio. <g>

The attraction is that maid service is included free of charge. But I think if you can look around for apartments there is better value to be had if you don't mind making up your own bed and emptying your own garbage.

[Gatorman]

Don't really know that much about the Port. classes, maybe some other members here can help. I think O Globo has a once a week supplement (not online) that is like a service guide. I think a few private instructors advertise there. Also there is a free weekly paper --I think called Posto Seis that has some ads also. I took a one hour individual class in Ipanema once for 45 reals. But really I have learned more in more fun ways from the girls I have been with that don't speak English. Its all good.
Christopherd, those sound like good rates at the Aparthotel. Do they have kitchen facilities in the rooms like many of the apartments? Also, is it no problem bringing the girls there?

[Big Bopperino]

Can anyone please recommend some trustworthy apartment agencies to use while in Rio. I don't like booking an apartment unseen, so I decided to get a hotel for the first few days.

I would prefer a place that caters mostly to Brazilians - hopefully to get a better deal.

Thanks!

BB

[Aybolit]

Thanx Gatorman and Christofer for your advice,

Those prices sound much better than what I heard so far. Now I just gotta work on my portuguese to be ready for Rio in March! I hope prices are gonna go down at that point, since its gonna be almost a month since carnaval is over. Any suggestions on Porto classes? I tried looking at the classifieds in OGlobo without any luck. In the worst case I'll just go sit at the cafe outside Help every night and prictice with a variety of "instructors" over a Brahma

Thanx again guys

[Mr Enternational]

I clicked on the photo to see the place but I quickly lost interest when I saw the girl. lol

Details please!

And you should see her doggy-style! This was a couple of years ago. I didn't take any pictures because I was so wrapped up. But she bent over and grabbed the bottom of the bed with her palms up so she could exert force. And she gives good massages too.