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There are Avenida Atlantica hotels with nice views and pools. The JW Marriott has a rooftop pool, is quite new, and has the views that Copacabana Beach has. The Copacabana Palace has a great pool, but the views suffer because the hotel is quite low.
Ozstamps is quite correct that balconies are more rare. They are mostly in older properties, but there are a few. His warning about Othon is a good one. Other is similar to other chains in that there are business hotels, resorts, economy hotels and a few quite nice ones also. Thus make certain you remember the name he recommends and use his managerial pull. That really helps. |
Hotel Santa Teresa
As JBcarioca mentioned, it's not the greatest neighborhood to walk around, but in my opinion Hotel Santa Teresa is probably the best boutique hotel in Rio right now.
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Originally Posted by ozstamps
(Post 15680071)
LOCATION is King in Rio.
And Central Atlantica Avenue, with a large balcony is king of them all! :) Took these photos a few weeks back from Rio in a wonderful Junior Suite right in the centre Of Ave Atlantica, looking over Copacabana Beach. Hotel was the Olinda Othon Classic - be mindful of the exact name - Othon is a large chain, with a ton of hotels in Rio - all with the word Othon in them. To the left, they are setting up on the beach the world's largest NYE gathering (1 or 2 million people) and doing a fireworks test run, and next to it is an impromptu beach soccer match as can be seen. This very room was $US5,000 for a minimum 3 night booking for NYE. Opposite the stage you see being built, at the Palace it is $US5,000 a night for ocean view suites. And sold out. I somehow made friends with the Manager before we got here, as we had a messed up booking in July, so he did this very nice top floor Junior Suite for about the same cost a Holiday Inn type room would run. :) email me if you need his name and contact to set up a deal. Not so sure you can book these Junior Suites on line, as they only have 2. Remember just booking a hotel along Atlantica for a "bargain" price means ZIPPO, if you get allocated a side facing room or one facing the central courtyard, which of course most rooms do. Only a few rooms have balconies, as near all Atlantica Hotels are very narrow. BALCONY is king, and high level balcony as you can see is the ultimate .. remember Atlantica is not Miami Beach or Cancun ... most buildings are not more than 10 stories. Nice breakfasts, and breakfast area and bar looks right onto Atlantica and beach. The in-room internet worked fine for us. Staff all spoke great English during our 4 day stay .. even in Brazil tourist spots never assume that is the case, even in Hotels. The luxury airport bus from GIG stops literally at the front door - cost was about $US4 per person - 6 reales as I recall. Ditto for the trip back to airport. Cab was about 10 -15 times that. But you MUST pay cash in Reales for bus - odd for It'l arrrivals. Rio (and GRU) airports should both be dynamited of course but will not be, so the **ONLY** ATM at arrivals is a floor or 2 up, next to a Pharmacy. That no-one seems to know is there. Central Atlantica is as safe as you'll ever be in Rio as a tourist. A ton of eating and drinking places within a minute or two walk. I've stayed in Rio many times and always on Central Atlantica ... a few streets back I would not walk at night EVER. I do not like Ipanema or Leblon. I live in Sydney which also has superb beaches, and have a waterfront harbour home. So to fly literally 15,000 miles to Rio, I am not going to "save" 25 bucks a night, and get stuck in a dingy inner Courtyard view room! Americans need to get through their head that near EVERY hotel on Atlantica is 50 to 75 years old. Come expecting a Waldorf Astoria, or a gleaming new Hyatt Regency, and you'll luck out. They are near all narrow frontage, and there are NOT Olympic Pools (or generally any pools!) half acre Gymnasiums, obese 'American size' Buffet breakfasts, Beauty Spa Salons, Michelin rated restaurants, or Golf courses as part of the deal as you'd find in Maui. You have the world's best beach across the road, so go swim and pump weights over there. :D It is very much a property where if you contact the management up front, and pay a little more than the basic room if they have availability, you'll be absolutely delighted you did. To sit on the balcony sipping a champagne watching the EVER changing Copacabana beachscape is endlessly fascinating. Early morning is vastly different to noon, and the evening changes totally again. http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...20TWO/2-82.jpg http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...20TWO/6-28.jpg http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...0TWO/11-16.jpg Glen . |
Originally Posted by Orlando Vic
(Post 15686258)
Their recent Tripadvisor reviews are underwhelming http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...e_Janeiro.html Well you will now, as I just added a review along the lines of the above. :cool: That was entirely my point. This hotel is a lot better than number 61 out of 177, IF folks try it out, and are savvy about room type. http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...20TWO/4-54.jpg Atlantica older hotels near all have a central internal courtyard. Be cheap and book a Hotels.com lowball rate, and get one of those and of course you are not going to be writing great things. @:-) This thread is to assist FT'ers visiting Rio get a guaranteed safe, memorable great hotel experience for minimal cost over the cheapest deal. If you are not on Atlantica with a superb view, you are short changing yourself. And missing much of what Rio has to offer any tourist. jbcarioca correctly points out the JWMarriott IS new .. indeed it is the only US Chain along the entire strip pretty much. This is NOT Cancun. So they charge insane rates as Americans are like Lemmings, and only book US chain hotels when in doubt about safety etc. :D Check their Balcony room rates, or the Palace, and come back and then check the Othon Olinda rates, and you'll be flabbergasted! Glen . |
I booked the JW Marriott for US$87 on a corporate promo rate. It can be done, but if you pay rack rates anywhere in Rio (or anywhere else for that matter) you'll pay far too much.As ozstamps points out you can know someone, otherwise you need good corporate rates. The rates that make Rio inexpensive for hotels are sometimes accessible for all the chains, with Accor having more properties and alternatives than anyone else. Those rates cannot be had during major events including, but not limited to, the periodic free concerts on Copacabana beach (the Rolling Stones, for example), New years, Carnival, major football matches. Outside those times it usually is possible to find quite good deals.
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I have been able to get some good rates thru www.riocharm.com.br - they don't advertise their hotel offers (only tours), but send them an email at [email protected]
They have so far beaten any online price I have found! They are featured in the "Rio for Partiers 2011" guide book, and if you bring that book with you, you are guaranteed room upgrades at a number of hotels in Rio!
Originally Posted by Carioca
(Post 15685060)
As JBcarioca mentioned, it's not the greatest neighborhood to walk around, but in my opinion Hotel Santa Teresa is probably the best boutique hotel in Rio right now.
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