Apartment Rental vs Hotel in Rio

[Guest tomcal]

For the first 50 or so trips to Rio going back to 2001, I always have stayed in Hotels, since 2003 the The Atlantico Hotel in Copacabana. But...as the Atlantico has become more run down and the rates have continues to climb, the incentive of it being one of the few hotels to allow "guests" back to your room waned! When it was $73.U.S. a night it was Ok, this past year the rates have climed upwards of $200. a night and when I was in Rio last month, I stopped by to say Hi to one of the desk clerks I have gotten to know well over the years and he said "the next2 weeks we are almost full and they are charging $300. U.S. a night! and he agreed the hotel has not upgraded or gotten new beds or pillows/towels/etc over the last decade!

Starting last spring we started renting apartments and have really been happy with that choice! Several guys have emailed me asking who did we rent through. There are several choices but we have been really happy with http://www.rioapartmentrental.com/ they speak fluent English, are easy to work with and are very professional and have a U.S. telephone line.

another source is http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/south-america/brazil

As long as you are not having parties/making noise, there is no problem with guests.

the downside for some regarding apartment rentals, is you have to pay 1/2 down at the time you reserve it and the other 1/2 when you arrive plus a damage deposit. Also you are responsible to the electricity used during your stay, so if you rent a large apt during one of Rio's hot spells, you can easily have a $200,+ elect bill on departure. We turn the a/c off when we leave the apt, as the bedrooms have individual units and cool down in a few minutes on your return.

[axiom2001]

Tom, thanks for posting this, especially about your being highly pleased with http://www.rioapartmentrental.com. I know Barr and I were quite satisfied and intend to use this agency in the future.

When I arrived in Rio last month, I took a taxi, which I thought was to our apartment. It turned out to be the apartment complex where the agency was located. I went to the 12th floor and was rung in. I addressed my concern and was escorted to our rental property which just happened to be a mere block away on the same street. ...can't remember the guy who assisted me, but he was patient and explained everything to me and left keys for Barr since he was to arrive later.

Periodically, when we needed any sort of help and when Barr wanted to use his wi fi--he would go to the office of said agency to do so.

A few days before checkout, I went to the office to relay time and date again and to confirm. While there I asked one of the men to ring the taxi facility for me to schedule a pick up since English was not spoken at this firm. I tried first. The gentleman did, and the taxi came promptly.

Upon our day of departure, one of their employees came to our apartment to return the $300 deposit. When he came into the apartment, he talked a little with us. I asked if he'd wanted to check the apartment to see if it were as we had found it. He looked at us and told us that we were quite trustworthy, gave me the money, left his backpack in the apartment, and left. <I presume he did his inspection after we had left; I don't know; I know he had two sets of keys.>

But, at any rate, in looking back and in our discussing our apartments in both Buenos Aires and in Rio de janeiro, I do know that Barr and I had the most wonderful experiences while residing in both places for our 25 days. We can also vouch for what Tom relayed: it definitely beats living in a hotel room or rooms for all of this time.

You have the privacy; you feel as if you belong; you begin, somewhat, to live as locals do: we went grocery shopping, Barr cooked some of his breakfasts; we had company without being hassled or having to pay any type of additional money; the doormen and Barr related well since my friend can speak and understand some Portuguese, and for us, everything, or almost everything was right in our neighborhood; thus we did not have to take public tansit or buses or taxis or walk extensively to obtain what we needed.

Men, as Tom highly suggested, if you plan to stay 10 or more days--an apartment rental is the way to go, and with the one that he and Barr and I recommend, the apartments which have a liberal visitors' policy are specified on the site along with photos, neighborhood location, prices, etc....

Tom, you are all right! Thanks, man! AXiom

Barr and I stayed in the SERAFINA apartment in Copacabana which was near the Hotel Copacabana Palace and only a block from that long, long (major) Avenida Atlantica and the beaches proper.

[axiom2001]

It's Sunday, May 12, 2013. I'm spending the day at home and am looking at apartments to rent if I manage to be in Rio for 10 days in August of this year. Also went to www.booking.com to check out hotel rates during this time. Damn, everything listed on the first three pages was over $1000. I stopped after that. Did not check to see what The Atlantico Copacabana Hotel was asking; I do know the hotel which I recommended in the first thread here had rates way over $1050 for a ten day stay! I'll continue to stick with renting apartments. But I want ambience! Many of the apartments don't offer that unless I go to the site which was recommended by another poster. It's something about "Exclusive Apartments."

[Guest lurkerspeaks]

I suggest you contact Ana at www.rioapartmentrental.com . Tell her your travel dates, your budget, and your requirements and let her see what they have available. It is the agency I used after Tomcal's referral. They have everything from budget studios to penthouses. It all depends on your budget and the availability for the dates you choose.

[axiom2001]

I suggest you contact Ana at www.rioapartmentrental.com . Tell her your travel dates, your budget, and your requirements and let her see what they have available. It is the agency I used after Tomcal's referral. They have everything from budget studios to penthouses. It all depends on your budget and the availability for the dates you choose.

My friend and I used the same agency in 2011 and were relatively pleased. This time I think I'm going with www.Airbnb.com and stay in Ipanema. Have six apartments in mind from which to use. But thanks anyway!

[ihpguy]

I hate to give out any recommendation, but the best and least expensive method, with the largest variety is definitely

http://www.aluguetemporada.com.br/

Many of the renters do speak English. Initial contact is often via e-mail as many do not want a ton of phone calls. Also, do not be afraid that prices are not listed. Down here, the lessors want flexibility depending on supply and demand. Also the strength of the market and booking interest. And one needs the willingness to bargain and the balls to offer the price that you wish to pay. But right now in the state of Rio de Janeiro there are over 4500 listings. In the Metro Rio area, 2488 at the moment to wade though. Copacabana with 989 and Ipanema with 439.

[Lucky]

One valuable example of how this site can come in handy occurred recently when I was planning to rent an apartment in Ipanema. Lurkerspeaks informed me that the Ipanema subway would be closed then. That was very valuable information to have.

[ihpguy]

Whether the General Osorio Metro station is/was closed or not, the metro system operates a number of bus lines that are included in your fare. Called Metro Na Superficie. The transfers are good for two hours. INTEGRACAO. So you can hop on one of the Metro buses going towards a station, bop around and then board a metro or vice versa. Price currently is 3.50Reais. Lines go to Cosme Velho for the ride up Corcovado, ditto to Urca and Pao de Acucar, from Siqueira Campos to Gavea and Barra da Tijuca. On the north side out to Jacarepagua from Del Castilho/Shopping Nova America(and close to Norte Shopping where there is even a Sam's Club.)

[axiom2001]

For the first 50 or so trips to Rio going back to 2001, I always have stayed in Hotels, since 2003 the The Atlantico Hotel in Copacabana. But...as the Atlantico has become more run down and the rates have continues to climb, the incentive of it being one of the few hotels to allow "guests" back to your room waned! When it was $73.U.S. a night it was Ok, this past year the rates have climed upwards of $200. a night and when I was in Rio last month, I stopped by to say Hi to one of the desk clerks I have gotten to know well over the years and he said "the next2 weeks we are almost full and they are charging $300. U.S. a night! and he agreed the hotel has not upgraded or gotten new beds or pillows/towels/etc over the last decade!

Starting last spring we started renting apartments and have really been happy with that choice! Several guys have emailed me asking who did we rent through. There are several choices but we have been really happy with http://www.rioapartmentrental.com/ they speak fluent English, are easy to work with and are very professional and have a U.S. telephone line.

another source is http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/south-america/brazil

As long as you are not having parties/making noise, there is no problem with guests.

the downside for some regarding apartment rentals, is you have to pay 1/2 down at the time you reserve it and the other 1/2 when you arrive plus a damage deposit. Also you are responsible to the electricity used during your stay, so if you rent a large apt during one of Rio's hot spells, you can easily have a $200,+ elect bill on departure. We turn the a/c off when we leave the apt, as the bedrooms have individual units and cool down in a few minutes on your return.

.