Rio de Janeiro - Hotels & Apartments

[Amantelondres]

have stayed at Excelsior a few times....was shagging receptionist! Security is pretty tight and they even have cards in the rooms stating they discourage guests bringing "guests" upstairs! However, the buffet (breakfast, lunch and dinner) is I think one of, if not THE, best of all the hotels on Av Atlantica.

[Brazil Lover]

The only two I can recommend against is gringomanagement and blameitonrio4travel. They both are bait-and-switch, so don't waste your time there.

I am currently talking with www.rioapartments.com, and they are very friendly and appear to have some great apartments. They have luxury ones for $65/night, and they also have some in what they call the 'bachelor' section, that also look quite good.

Question : Has anyone had any experience or is familiar with the following apartment rental websites (Basically looking for 2-3 BR apartment in Copa or Ipanema oceanfront/oceanview):

www.riovacationrentals.com
www.blameitonrio4travel.com
www.rentinrio.com
www.spectralight.net
www.rioapartments.com
www.EZ-RioRentals.com
www.homesinrio.com/welcome~pageId~71.htm
www.telefonema.net/
www.riorenting.com/
www.gringomanagement.com/
www.apartmentsinrio.com/
www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/south-america
www.riorentals4less.com/apartments_hotels.shtml
www.ipanema.com/hotel/a.htm#augustos_copacabana

If so, please let me know your experience (whether good or bad) and whether you got what you paid for, security was good, location was worth it (also if location was convenient to pickup girls) and if you would stay there again. And if you have others that are not mentioned feel free to respond. Thanks !

Latino (in Rio 11/9-11/21)

[Braves41]

I have a question regarding where one would exchange money if staying in an apartment? During my two eariler visits to Rio, I stayed in hotels where they exchanged the money right there. I was also wondering about laundry service. Any information would be great. I will be in Rio from Oct. 21st until 27th. I will give a post when I return.

Thanks guys.

[Perkele]

Perkele, not sure where you get your numbers from but I think you're WAY OFF in your rental amounts for a 3 bedroom in Botofogo.
This link shows O Globo classified adds for 3 bedroom apts for 30 month leases in Botofogo and they are a hell of a lot more then 300reais.
Try 1200-1500reais + condo fees (200-300reais) and taxes..

http://classificados.oglobo.com.br/b...is_aluguel.asp

click here and go to
Localidade ...... select Botofogo
Tipos de Imóvel.... select 3 Quartos

then click Buscar to search the listings..........

Nodd!

What? I think that I stated that the price COULD be R$ 300 in ZONA NORTE, that's not Botafogo. I know perfectly what apts cost in Botafogo. I actually could have rented one BEAUTIFUL apt in Tijuca (NOT BARRA) with that amount but I'm not Brasilian and I knew that I wasn't going to stay 3 yrs (minimum rental time) etc. etc.

I'm sorry if I wasn't clear enough.

P

[Ulrico]

Anyone ever stayed at the Excelsior Copacabana Hotel? Are there Escorts more or less welcome?

[Trippleecks]

Perkele, not sure where you get your numbers from but I think you're WAY OFF in your rental amounts for a 3 bedroom in Botofogo.
This link shows O Globo classified adds for 3 bedroom apts for 30 month leases in Botofogo and they are a hell of a lot more then 300reais.
Try 1200-1500reais + condo fees (200-300reais) and taxes..

http://classificados.oglobo.com.br/b...is_aluguel.asp

click here and go to
Localidade ...... select Botofogo
Tipos de Imóvel.... select 3 Quartos

then click Buscar to search the listings..........

[Perkele]

Perkele... I understand completely. However Botofogo, Flamengo, or anywhere else they have to use the Metro or Busses to get into Copa. or Ipanema is just is NOT where most people want to stay. $700.a month is OK but Botofogo is a more dangerous area also.. I would rather spend a bit more and know that I am a bit safer.

Dude what on earth are you talking about? Botafogo more dangerous than Copa? That's a statement. I'd rather stay in Botafogo-Flamengo-Catete area than in Copacabana. If you didn't know, majority ot the people in Botafogo area are normal middle class families and such. Its such a relief to walk around with a girl without everyone staring at you and calling her a ho (especially if you're with non-working girl). Think about all the possibilities to dine in Largo do Machado. Number of quality restaurants in that area is vast and its so peaceful without all Copa BS sellers and "samba" groups. You must be mixing things up, if you go to Lapa - Centro during the night it gets a bit dangerous.
Going to Copa or elsewhere is not a problem. As you said Metro takes you just about anywhere and its efficient and cheap. Bus takes you to Copa too, just get closer to Aterro, Praia do Flamengo or Praia do Botafogo and you'll get to Copa. I wouldn't recommend bus, but if you want to. After sunset just get a taxi. Catete - Prado Junior, Copa is around 15 R$. Not a problem.
Well anyway I prefer Zona Norte to Zona Sul anytime. Some of my good friends live in Praca da Bandeira where I spend lot of my time when in Rio, too bad that its virually impossible to find an apartment (Temporada) in that area. Or what sounds an apartment 3 bedroom R$ 300/month. Downside is that its not furnished and owner wanted at least 30 months contract and guarantor (Fiador). Not that easy....

P

[Trippleecks]

Jaimito Cartero... that looks like an OK apartment... Better then I thought it would be. It says 3 blocks from the beach so I am guessing near Barato Ribeiro .. Are you also paying the elect. bill? Does it have A/C??

I'll have to look and see if I ever took any photos of some of the places I have stayed in... I'm sure I have some..
But the rates won't make any sense for this conversation unless I can remember what the dollar was when I stayed there.. During the past 6 years in Rio the rates have gone from .1-8r to 4.01r. the dollar. So if I paid 1300.reais for an apt. when the rate was 3.5 then its only $371US for the month.. and at 3 it’s $433US. But at 1.85 its $700US.
I have usually stayed in Copacabana but not near ground zero. I usually stay on Cinco de Julio, Pompeu Louereiro or Tomelero further from the beach than you are now… a few times I stayed in the Real residence just before the tunnel to Botofogo. But no more since my brother-in-law sold his place there….

[Jaimito Cartero]

Jaimito Cartero, I have forgotten more about Rio than you will ever know.. So don't try and tell me anything about apartments for rent in Rio.

Again, you seem to have some pent up frustation here. Remember, that YOU are the one that started this crusade with the comment below.

At what you were looking to spend $400-$600 US, no wonder no one was able to come up with a nice apt. for you.

I never said that my apartment wasn't nice. It's certainly not fancy, however.

Since you have so much experience, let's hear about the places that you've rented by the month in the price range I mentioned.

I full admit that my knowledge of Brazil is miniscule. The whole reason I post and read the ISG/WSG is because I want to learn more. If my mistakes or info can help someone else then I feel I've done a little to return the help I've gotten, then great.

Perhaps you can post all the pictures you took in your dozens or hundreds of apartments here, in particular the ones between $400-$600.

Here is a link to my apartment.

http://www.riorentals4less.com/cgi-b...partment_id=47

[Trippleecks]

Perkele... I understand completely. However Botofogo, Flamengo, or anywhere else they have to use the Metro or Busses to get into Copa. or Ipanema is just is NOT where most people want to stay. $700.a month is OK but Botofogo is a more dangerous area also.. I would rather spend a bit more and know that I am a bit safer.

[Perkele]

Nodd.

Good post, nothing to do with me but I wouldn't post the info of all the goodies I've found in Rio. This place is infested with predators who will do anything to get your goodies.
I can assure that when you've been living in Rio for long time enough and you have some good contacts you can find decent apartments with reasonable prices. Copacabana is mostly filled with brasilian scum (or foreign) who just care about the money.
Also the hotels have totally different prices for travel agencies and its very common that if you are able to speak Portuguese you'll get better price. Best price from any hotel you'll get if some brasilian would go and ask the prices for you. Us GRINGOS have a bit different prices altogether.
I've stayed in many places, Copacabana, Flamengo and Botafogo and Copacabana is worst because the apartments are usually overpriced and just plain crappy. As I mentioned the best one I found was in Botafogo that cost me about $700/month but it was 3 BR apartment.
Anyways for me a hotel is just a place to sleep and next when I go to Rio I go only for rest and relax so I won't need internet or fuckin' TV (who has time for TV in Rio anyway). I think I'll stay in one of the hotels in Catete/Botafogo/Flamengo area, those are around R$50/night. These hotels are definately guest friendly, clean and A/C. Nice location, because you can get to Copa or to Centro pretty easy.

My 2 centavos

P

[Trippleecks]

Jaimito Cartero, I have forgotten more about Rio than you will ever know.. So don't try and tell me anything about apartments for rent in Rio. I have rented MANY, MANY apts. in Rio during the last 6 years and I have stayed more than a few times for 90.days at a time.

Some of you crack me up. ""I rented an apartment for a month for $600 US and it was great, why do you guys pay $800-$1,000 US."" Without photos of the place and it's location, how are we to judge for ourselves???????? It may be OK for some and a shithole to others. Are you also paying the utility bills for the month????

I have heard about, read about and seen guys on the street bragging that they got laid for free or had an all nighter with some girl for only 100.reais... Yes and when you actually see the girl you see she is a FAT UGLY OLD DOG and you would not fuck her for any reason. Yet there are some guys that brag about it all day long. So just giving a price for a girl or an apartment DOES NO GOOD AT ALL. Lets see what you got and where it is. I guess you have a digital camera with you, so lets see it and tell us where it is.

[Amerioca]

Rio Bob,

She originally told me there was nothing she could do that she had given the money to the owner and then she told me she would refund my money but I had to move immediately. She did tell me her car had just been stolen so maybe she was having some bad days. The whole experience with Margareth was one hassle after another.

I have yet to go beyond this post, however, Margareth must be a Brasilian. No way in hell will you ever see your money back. I would have grabbed her BY HER THROAT and demanded the money back right then (yes, two years of living in Cidade de Deus will change you). And I'm serious as cancer. When in Rome...

[Exec Talent]

rio bob,

i respectfully disagree. i rented an apartment from kenn at www.ez-riorentals.com. when i decided to stay a little longer than originally planned i needed to find another place for about a week. kenn did not have anything with high-speed internet so i called margareth and was very specific that i needed a place with high-speed internet.

she put me in what would normally have been a great apartment. the place obviously had not been rented in awhile as it was musty and it had roaches. also, the shower did not work properly which she blamed on me. the internet worked fine when i first arrived and then stopped working. although the cable company had to replace the modem, that too was my fault.

she originally told me there was nothing she could do that she had given the money to the owner and then she told me she would refund my money but i had to move immediately.

in terms of easy to contact and general responsiveness, i had no problem. also, she seemed like a nice enough woman. she did tell me her car had just been stolen so maybe she was having some bad days. what i can say is that my experience with her and kenn were like night and day. i felt comfortable with kenn from the start and he was always on top of everything. i unconditionally can recommend him. the whole experience with margareth was one hassle after another.

[DFWdude]

Ibiza Copacabana Hotel? Is this place "guest friendly". Looks like a fairly good deal. Any insight.