Rua Gustavo Sampaio 854, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | (251) 219-4428
Conveniently located a block away from Copacabana beach
Stylish and spacious lobby lounge and a bar
Clean rooms with 32 inch LCD-TVs and minibars; some with balconies
Free Wi-Fi in all areas
24-hour room-service
Good buffet breakfast serving hot dishes, fruits, juices, and sweets
Free parking on first-come, first-serve basis
No swimming pool
Most rooms have no views or balconies
This mid-range hotel in the Leme district of north Copacabana offers clean, basic, colorful rooms, including large Family Rooms. The most appealing part of the hotel is its bright, stylish lobby with fresh orchids and a tropical feel.** **Amenities include free Wi-Fi and 24-hour room service. There is no swimming pool, unlike at some other mid-range options (Windsor Martinique or Ibiza Copacabana), but the hotel is just a block away from Copacabana beach. The nearest metro station (Cardial Arcoverde) can be reached in a 10- to 15-minute walk.
Scene
Comfortable, mid-range Copacabana hotel near the beach
The lobby lounge -- which was renovated in 2009 with a fresh modern look -- is spacious, well-lit, and features light grey ceramic tile floors. It has elegant furnishings, two streamlined gray sofa sets, colorful pillows, some local artwork, copies of photographs featuring 20th-century Rio de Janeiro, and fresh orchids. Tables and chairs offer space for business clients to meet and work. The lobby lounge has a bar, where guests may enjoy drinks until midnight, and a Internet corner (with two desktops).The spacious breakfast room is adjacent, but the hotel has no full restaurant. There are three guest elevators, but some quests have reported long waiting times during peak breakfast hours. The hotel targets both business and leisure guests.
Location
In the mainly residential Leme district of north Copacabana, just a block away from the junction where Copacabana meets Leme beach.
The closest metro station, Cardial Arcoverde, is a 10- to 15-minute walk away, and buses running to the_ _Centro business district stop at the corner of Avenida Princesa Isabel. This neighborhood features some popular theaters, restaurants, and bars visited mostly by the locals. Supermarkets, laundry services, money exchange locations (called "Gambio"), and several car rental offices are in the vicinity. Leme is a bit less touristy than the rest of Copacabana. The Botafogo district -- offering a good restaurant scene, theaters, cinemas, and shopping malls -- is only five minutes away by taxi. The popular Lapa district (known for its wild weekend nightlife) and Centro (the city's business hub) can be reached by metro, bus, or taxi within 30 minutes. As metros do not function after midnight it is recommended to use the taxis that are readily available in Rio de Janeiro.The Christ Statue and Sugar Loaf Mountain -- some of Rio de Janeiro's most popular attractions -- can be visited as part of an organized tour, or not. Both visits require a half day. By taxi, it takes 15 to 20 minutes to reach the domestic airport (Santos Dumont) and 30 to 40 minutes to reach the international airport of Galeão.
Rooms
Basic but colorful air-conditioned rooms with minibars and 32-inch LCD TVs
The room design is Brazilian tropical featuring bright yellow, orange, and green shades. The materials are typical for a mid-range hotel (wood cabinets and wood laminate floors). The rooms are clean and start at a small 15 square meters (160 square feet); it's worth upgrading as many categories are quite spacious. The hotel has a total of 200 rooms; categories include Standard, Deluxe, and Superior, and there are also two large Family Rooms (for four quests) and six spacious suites. The rooms were last renovated in 2012.Double Deluxe Rooms have king-size beds. All rooms have soundproof windows. Rooms feature a 32-inch flat-screen LCD-TV and the suites have 40-inch flat-screens LCD TVs in addition. Free Wi-Fi is available, but some guests have complained of poor signal strength. All rooms have mini-fridges (empty except for soft drinks and water in the side), safes, and desks. There is some noticeable wear and tear in some rooms. Bathrooms in Standard Rooms are quite tiny. Bathrooms in Deluxe Rooms, Suites and Family Rooms are of a good size. Materials used include ceramic tiles and granite countertops, but the overall look is quite simple, and tile grout can be dirty. Toiletries are available, but are basic (not much more than shampoo, soap, and plastic combs). All bathrooms have hairdryers.Most Deluxe Rooms have small balconies, each with two rattan chairs and a table. The majority of rooms have urban street views. The Family Rooms -- on the upper floors -- offer partial sea views. The Deluxe Rooms with balconies appear to offer the best value for the money.
Features
The hotel offers 24-hour room service and free Wi-Fi.
The lobby bar serves coffee, tea and cocktails, such as the famous Brazilian Caipirinha. The hot buffet breakfast -- often raved about by the guests -- is available in the adjacent breakfast room. The breakfast has a good selection of hot dishes, cold cuts, fruits, tropical juices, fresh French bread, and sweets. Conference facilities are available in two medium-size meeting rooms. The hotel offers free parking on first-come, first-serve basis, as well as laundry service. There is no separate concierge desk, but the reception staff -- most of whom also speak English -- can assist with tour plans, such as buying tickets for football matches in the world-famous Maracanã stadium or visiting local samba school rehearsals.