Originally Posted by
Jeffmiyagi
I may opt for Belmond or JW Marriott. Both look pretty nice.
Between those two, I'd pick the Copacabana Palace. It'll be a more unique experience.
With regards to safety, I find the beachfront promenade in Copa to be safer in the evenings than Ipanema, as there's always a lot of people (Ipanema gets deserted after dark). 10pm should be a cut-off for the promenade, and you shouldn't wander on the sand towards the sea after dark (typically that's where muggings happen). Same for walking the back streets after dark, but this applies to Rio as a whole: uber and taxis are plentiful, safe and cheap.
Don't get put off though: we live in Copa and my wife looks like a total "gringa" and has been walking around/catching buses within Zona Sul for the past 4 years without any incidents (touch wood).