When we booked this we were concerned because there a few bad reviews. After staying there, I feel obligated to give it a great review. Compared to, say, Kansas, It is a bit pricey, but this is because you're staying in the nicest and safest spot in Rio. For the price, we were completely happy, and our local Brazilian friends agreed it was the best deal you'd get.

The staff was really friendly and helpful. They went out of their way to help me with my really heavy bag, and to find a sim card for my phone. You also get a caipirinha when you arrive! The room was clean, bright, cool, and perfect for our trip. It's small, but we never spent much time in there, trying to take advantage of everything outside the hotel. It reminded me of a hotel you'd find in Southern Europe -- I swear I've stayed in identical rooms in Barcelona or Cinque Terre, Italy. The breakfast was free, and not excellent, but fine for starting the day, and the location was great for getting to the beach. The internet is free on the first floor. I couldn't have been happier, and would recommend it to anyone.

A group of friends booked this hotel based purely on its great location in Ipanema. It's near Posto 9 and that's about all the good I can say for it. The mind boggles how this can be rated a 3*, it is barely better than a hostel with a shiny reception. The rooms are spartan and delapidated, but clean, however somewhere along the line they must have run out of space because the toilet was IN the shower - this was not a wet room, it was in the ACTUAL shower cubicle! The lights didn't work on our floor, and the lift numbers are incorrectly labelled in the elevator, so you end up getting out at the wrong floor..?? Pretty amusing after a few Caiprinhas...

The staff are pretty nice but I was livid when I handed in my posessions (wallet/passport) to be put in their safe, only to find them left out on the counter the next morning!!!??? All I received was a bemused look rather than any kind of apology.

Having said that the breakfast was a standard Brazillian breakfast with breads, fruit and eggs, and was of a good quality (for Brazil). We've also been dining out on these tales for a few weeks now, and isn't that what makes a memorable trip?

It is outrageously overpriced for the standard of the room and facilities though, you are only paying for the location and nothing further. I actually only stayed one night and moved out to a local girl's apartment which rang rings around this supposed 3*.

For the money I reckon there are much better options although Rio is so expensive.

Spent a couple of nights at this property since I couldn't find any better deal in a better location. Service at front desk is pretty good, breakfast is simple but ok. Rooms are clean and are enough, if all you pretend is to take a quick shower and sleep. Lifts are to small and slow and in-room A/C is noisy. Don't expect much of it.

Fell over the hotel in one of the best locations in Ipanema - thought the price was a little steep especailly with the 5% extra tax added on top which is apparently required to pay the government (since learnt this does not exist and it is really a tourist tax) but decided to stay anyway. The hotel turned off the hot water at 6pm in the evening without notifying guests, when tried to call down to reception to report the problem the phone did not work. Next morning there was no food or drinks set out in breakfast buffet, had to ask for clean crockery and for a table to be cleaned. Coffee took 10 minutes to be refilled and in the end frustration took over and we left hungry. Upon check out we complained to the incredibly rude "manager"who found it a struggle to apologise before offering a 5% discount on our return visit. What an insult! Don't stay there - there are much nicer hotels in the same area