Grande Hotel da Barra, Salvador

Advantages: Not so full of tourists, plenty of variety of resturants, good beach
Disadvantages: Can seem "simple" to those who are not accustomed to the area.

...Heading a short distance west from the central part of Rio, away from Copacabana and Ipanema, you end up in the slower-paced, less tourist area of Barra da Tijuca. Because it is not as such a tourist spot as the more well-known areas, the beach along Barra is cleaner, calmer and the water in the area is cleaner too. There are plenty of Posto's and Kiosks so you can go to the toilet, have a wash and grab yourself a fresh, chilled coconut to drink, while laying on the beach. During the week, the beach is only busy in the morning and evenings. The rest of the time (from about 10am until 6pm) it is calm and perfect for visitors. However, as can be expected, during the weekend it is packed with many inner-city carioca's (residents of Rio) who want to escape from the main tourist spots. One key part of the beach is the area known as "Pêpe... Read review

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Advantages: Crazy town
Disadvantages: Violence

...Rio de Janeiro is probably the most known city in Brazil. The statue of Jesus on top of one of the mountains is one of the main attractions together with the beaches. My advice is NOT to go to Copacabana, which is where only tourists and thieves go. Some of the main hotel are just in Copacabana and when you walk on the beach you find many fat Americans lazying around. Instead, you can go to Leblon, which is more fashionable with the young elite from Rio. Another part of Rio I liked is Barra de Tijuca, where you have a tropical forest, just in the middle of the town. I stayed in a chap but not very clean hotel in the borough of Flamengo. There where plenty of cheap hotels there. Out of the Carnival period you should find something without major problems.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Investment
Disadvantages: nothing

...I can tell you that one of the best investments in the market is not put your money away in savings account or another kind of thing. It is very simple to make money in a very short period of time buying a flat in Rio de Janeiro and do not worry because can be anywhere big or small. The thing is ... because the inflation they have there everything has to be updated in price wise, so do flats. Rio has the best value for your money and one of the best Estate Agency is Odeon in Barra da Tijuca, they are very professional and can find for you what you want. You do have a good investiment because the difference of currency, the pound is about 3 times more that the brazilian real, so you can buy easily and in return when you would like to sell you are going to have as twice as much that you invested. There is no such a big deal like this one... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful