Rio de Janeiro - Hotels & Apartments

[Garotalover]

My understanding is that the Princess Copacabana is also "guest friendly"?

Have any one stayed there?

[Jan 156]

apartmentsrio.com

F*ck sake - $85 USD for a pissy little studio. No wonder his flashy availability schedule is showing it empty. The groovy website musta costa packet. PLeased you managed to steer clear of him.

On the positive side, I think it's good advice to get a hotel if the apartment system hacks you off. Good for you. There's really no point in spoiling your holiday with malandro bullshit - which can be remarkably easy to do.


ps there's lots of other sites to get info about apartment rentals - such as Virtual Tourist or Trip Advisor - they mostly tell the same story as on here. here's one for Rentaflat that will say the same about him I would. But his site doesn't have prices. I think it's a bit wide giving advice to Brasilians - they are pretty expert on what they do - have you tried building a high tech website with the sh*tty connections most of them have? I saw one for Gringo Management which mirrored the type of comments here too. I'm sure he has a nice PC somewhere - which his customers will pay for of course.

[Jan 156]

I never said prices don't change year to year. I said 'seasons' don't change year to year. I said they can set the new prices for all seasons at the beginning of the year.

Well you're arguing over no difference - prices fluctuate and they are not necessarily the same this February as last February. And if I was a renter and you insisted on getting a quote miles in advance I'd just give you the highest rate I'd think it would be and say contact me nearer the time and maybe I can do it cheaper. I'd be mad to do otherwise.

By not having any prices the consumer is automatically at a major negotiating disadvantage. It makes it very difficult to comparision shop.

Sorry, that's your disadvantage but it's not an unfair one. You just want a western system. I always shop around. I just don't expect them served up western style on my latest version of Internet Explorer and I def don't necessarily expect it in English.

My conclusion is that its just a bigger city and more touristy. As a result there is just less customer care. They know they will get a lot of calls and emails so whats one more person. Its like a real estate broker in NYC vs. One in Arkansas.

I think some of your comparison is valid. Copa is rip-off city and not just due to size of RJ. But as with NYC it doesn't mean there aren't honest deals to be had. And like NYC, who you know can help big time.

Oh and BTW I was not seeing any price breaks this yr due to any slowness.

I could tell. And I could also see Gringo Management putting his prices *up*. It's almost like some of the girls - if biz is bad, do we drop the prices or put them up to maximise each deal? But when you know Copa better you will be able to get better deals. I won't [CodeWord140] you off by telling you what I'm paying.

[Edward M]

I wanted to report back as my Rio hotel/ apt searching saga has come to a close. I finally decided to book a hotel. The hassle and slimy feeling I got from dealing with these Rio apt guys was too much.

I do have an interesting angle. I basically confirmed what I have thought all along. That these apt guys are just colluding with each other. Every other city I have been to quotes prices on the website or somewhere, high season, low season etc. Except Rio. They claim because it’s to seasonal but this makes no sense. The seasons don’t change every yr. You can easily just quote your prices at the beginning of every yr for each season.

Well I had been coorespoding with a guy about an apt for while. Same crap, slow to respond, only would answer half my questions etc. Then I get an email from him today that is addressed to someone else. It sounds like another apt person and he is trying to get the ok to rent the room to this guy. The thing that really floored me was the prices he was quoting was during carnival and it was 25% CHEAPER than he was quoting me for after carnival.

Man these guys make me sick.

You are so right. I give up very quickly on guys that want to negotiate price via e-mail. In case there are any apartment owners/agents out there here is my guide to you to get clients via the internet.

1. Have prices on your site. They can change. They can be seasonal but they need to be there. If you like to wheel and deal and fleece the stupid then have 2 sites. By not having prices some people will not even consider your apartments.

2. Know the address or at least cross street. "Great spot close to everything!" means nothing.

3. Actually read the inquiries potential clients send you and answer their questions. Different things are important to different people.

4. Deposits work both ways. A deposit means to hold the apartment for the client. THE APARTMENT not something else.

[Bartonsky]

Some (very few) do quote prices on the Web. It's also not quite correct to say that prices don't fluctuate from one year to the next.

I never said prices don't change year to year. I said 'seasons' don't change year to year. I said they can set the new prices for all seasons at the beginning of the year.

By not having any prices the consumer is automatically at a major negotiating disadvantage. It makes it very difficult to comparision shop.

My conclusion is that its just a bigger city and more touristy. As a result there is just less customer care. They know they will get a lot of calls and emails so whats one more person. Its like a real estate broker in NYC vs. One in Arkansas.

Oh and BTW I was not seeing any price breaks this yr due to any slowness. I was pretty much taken aback at the pricing. So I just went with a hotel anyway. Some of the prices I was getting just sounded down right stupid.

[Jan 156]

Some (very few) do quote prices on the Web. It's also not quite correct to say that prices don't fluctuate from one year to the next. Prices this year during Carnaval are lower as there's less demand, but are normally between double and triple off-peak times. Remarkably, no-one's mentioned the tragedy of the flooding that has hit Brasil recently either. They feel disasters same as any country.

Although there are many 'slimy operators' in Copa, I don't think it's quite fair to lump them all together. Some will haggle over a broad spectrum (especially, in my own experience, if the office is in the region of Help). Some will tell you their prices and that's it, give or take a very small margin as a courtesy, or negotiating over things like deposit or electricity. I've found Rent-a-Flat very consistent in this respect, year after year (they are one of the oldest rental agencies).

But it is also inappropriate to judge Brasil and especially Rio by other countries' ways. Rio has its own way of doing everything, and that's the end of the story more or less. There's little point in trying to make them play American or European or even Argentinean - they will, but you'll pay extra for the privilege. And if you want people who write good English you pay for that too (English lessons are not cheap!) Simply learning their way of doing business is far more efficient IMO.

Another thing to bear in mind is that a lot of these apartments stay empty for a large part of the year. So renting them has to be a game of trying to make up for the overall losses too. This applies to the 'slimy guys' - and yes, do name and shame them - but it also applies to the more straight up ones. They will all judge the market before setting their prices. A big difference is the slimy ones will chop and change a lot. The others will set them maybe a month or two in advance and keep them fixed. But the cost of updating prices on the Internet, rightly or wrongly, is more admin than most of them want.

There is also a big difference between someone who books ahead over the Net and someone who makes a face-to-face booking. Brasilians will mostly prefer the latter for many reasons (legit as well as non-legit). If necessary, I will phone an agency I know for a quote rather than email them. If I'm in Brasil (and say booking ahead in another town) I'll maybe let a Brasilian phone for me, but only if I trust them - a trusted garota you are taking with you for instance will haggle better - or else get a knock back for trying to get non-gringo rates for a gringo. But believe it or not, many people renting couldn't care less for the haggling, they're just happy to get a booking.

[Bartonsky]

Give them a lesson by naming them so everybody can avoid them.

apartmentsrio.com

[El Greco]

I wanted to report back as my Rio hotel/ apt searching saga has come to a close. I finally decided to book a hotel. The hassle and slimy feeling I got from dealing with these Rio apt guys was too much.

I do have an interesting angle. I basically confirmed what I have thought all along. That these apt guys are just colluding with each other. Every other city I have been to quotes prices on the website or somewhere, high season, low season etc. Except Rio. They claim because it’s to seasonal but this makes no sense. The seasons don’t change every yr. You can easily just quote your prices at the beginning of every yr for each season.

Well I had been coorespoding with a guy about an apt for while. Same crap, slow to respond, only would answer half my questions etc. Then I get an email from him today that is addressed to someone else. It sounds like another apt person and he is trying to get the ok to rent the room to this guy. The thing that really floored me was the prices he was quoting was during carnival and it was 25% CHEAPER than he was quoting me for after carnival.

Man these guys make me sick.

Give them a lesson by naming them so everybody can avoid them.

[Blonde]

Is there anyone out there knowing anything about this company http://rioresidence.com/

I,m planning a trip to Rio for the carnaval and are planning to rent an apartment. All the companys I have been in touch with demands from 30 to 50% deposit for the rent. Rental prices wary from 2800 to 4000 US$ for a 2 bedrooms apartment
I this the normal rentalprice during carnaval or is it possible to get something less expencive.

Regards

[Bartonsky]

I wanted to report back as my Rio hotel/ apt searching saga has come to a close. I finally decided to book a hotel. The hassle and slimy feeling I got from dealing with these Rio apt guys was too much.

I do have an interesting angle. I basically confirmed what I have thought all along. That these apt guys are just colluding with each other. Every other city I have been to quotes prices on the website or somewhere, high season, low season etc. Except Rio. They claim because it’s to seasonal but this makes no sense. The seasons don’t change every yr. You can easily just quote your prices at the beginning of every yr for each season.

Well I had been coorespoding with a guy about an apt for while. Same crap, slow to respond, only would answer half my questions etc. Then I get an email from him today that is addressed to someone else. It sounds like another apt person and he is trying to get the ok to rent the room to this guy. The thing that really floored me was the prices he was quoting was during carnival and it was 25% CHEAPER than he was quoting me for after carnival.

Man these guys make me sick.

[Garotalover]

Thanks,

I might try Atlantico Copacabana on my next trip in March. Gonclaves is the perfect location. Its a block from Help and close to the beach. I stayed on 50 Gonclaves a few times and the location was great. The apartment was ok, but the drama and hassles of the apartment took away from my adventures. Things like. No hot water, bad toilet, 1 towel, no change of linen. Things that effect you.

[Poucolouco]

Rua Almirante Goncalves

I've made enquiries about an apartment and have been told it's located on this street. I've tried looking for it on the maps I have, but can't find it.

Can anyone tell me what posto it is in or landmark it is near so I can find the street. Is the area relatively safe for a 2 week stay?

Thanks

Nice location. It is one block to the east of HELP. It is the street where you find Hotel Debret, a short one-block street with a little park. Perfectly safe and friendly. There is a little botequim with live ad-hoc music there named "Bip-Bip."

[Koolkid]

Rua Almirante Goncalves

I've made enquiries about an apartment and have been told it's located on this street. I've tried looking for it on the maps I have, but can't find it.

Can anyone tell me what posto it is in or landmark it is near so I can find the street. Is the area relatively safe for a 2 week stay?

Thanks

[Viper10]

If anyone has any leads on a 2 bedroom furnished, available for a year, please PM me. I am looking to spend no more than 3000R/month. I am looking ASAP. Thank you.

Viper10

[Member #4378]

Could someone help me with a list of Garota friendly hotels. I am just tired of all the hassles of trying to rent crappy apartments and having "bad" experiences! Trying to get what you were promised in Rio is like is like pulling teeth. I just don't want the drama anymore.

what is your budget?