We stayed at The Marina All Suites Hotel for 6 nights (12/19 to 12/25) on the recommendation of our Brazil travel specialist (who made the booking).
The location is EXCELLENT; you really want to be either in Leblon or Ipenama as they have the best and safest beaches, all the good and hip restaurants, bars, shopping etc. Plus you can walk at night and feel safe (not so in the Copacabana area).
You cross the street and you are at Leblon beach. The hotel has its own stand with chairs, umbrellas and towels.
The reception staff and concierge speak excellent English, they are very helpful, make good recommendations and are nice. Since it is a small hotel, everyone gets to know you... The hotel has a laid back atmosphere, and is popular with Brazilians. It really feels like you are part of the neighborhood. We really liked that.
The hotel has a happening bar and restaurant scene (we tried it one night, the food was average). The breakfast buffet included in our rate was quite good.
Every floor has three rooms, with one room only facing the beach on each floor. We stayed in a renovated room (be careful, some floors have not been renovated) with a MAGNIFICENT ocean view. Our children were in a room with a partial ocean view. The rooms were very spacious. They each had a kitchenette area with a fridge. The beds were very comfortable, and the sheets and towels were marvelous. Bathroom amenities were decent.
Why the mixed feelings?
The building on the outside could use a "lift". The lobby, bar and restaurant area are decorated in a cute whimsical fashion, but the room decor was very basic. Even the updated rooms could use some sprucing up. Also, while the size of the rooms was very generous, the bathrooms were on the smaller side. Lastly, while the rooms and bathrooms were clean overall, they were not spotless (i.e, the rooms were dusty etc, etc,etc....).
- Marina Hotel Rio De Janeiro
