Quote:
Location is beautiful, but be aware that this place is surrounded by the favelas. Maybe a good idea to avoid rooms that face them, because in the "not too rare" situation where you hear gun shots, you will be safe (there was a time that it was so bad that hotel suggested guests to sleep on the floor to stay away from the window)
Either an ignorant comment on TA, esp. given current conditions, wherein most favelas now have 24 hour UPP (police pacification units) installed, a program designed to cut down on drug gang related crime. Most gunshots in the past were wars between the drug dealers and the police, so now that the dealers are gone and the police installed, this sort of thing has ended. Or indeed a very old and outdated one. Originally Posted by doreenmc
I have to admit this recent comment in a Tripadvisor review would put me off the SheratonLocation is beautiful, but be aware that this place is surrounded by the favelas. Maybe a good idea to avoid rooms that face them, because in the "not too rare" situation where you hear gun shots, you will be safe (there was a time that it was so bad that hotel suggested guests to sleep on the floor to stay away from the window)
In fact, you can find on TA a lengthly and detailed trip report from a young woman who stayed at that Sheraton for Carnaval 2 years ago and spent quite a bit of time in the shops and restaurants of that favela (Vidigal).
There is even a youth hostel in the favela now, which seems to have a sufficient number of foreign guests choosing to stay there to be able to stay in business, so I guess the guests all must somehow manage to stay alive, hmmm. This booking page also has a number of good reviews of the guesthouse and the favela. http://www.travellerspoint.com/accom...al-Guesthouse/
As mentioned, the primary drawback to the Sheraton is inconvenient travel back and forth.
It's a good hotel, with decent restaurants, and a good little beach. I've stayed there many times while in Rio. It is not Copacabana, Leme, or Ipanema. Think of this location as a bay away, just around the corner.
The TA article sounds dated. VidaNaPrais is right on the money.
The TA article sounds dated. VidaNaPrais is right on the money.