Hotel Atlantico Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro

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: Beaches, gorgeous tropical islands, unbelievably great value.
Disadvantages: Having to keep your wits about you, but no real problem.

...They call the city of Rio de Janeiro "Cidade Maravilhosa" (The marvellous city), I have to say that visiting Rio was an eye opening and awe inspiring experience. This review is a selection of the best parts, with a few pointers on what not to do there. SAFETY TIPS ------------------ **Hotels First of all, it is recommended that tourists stay in a Hotel that is on the coastal road of Copacabana beach - Avenida Atlantico, or one of the coastal roads that run adjacent to Ipanema beach. Or choose one that only a short distance from the coast. This is because if you want to go out at night, you will not have to walk down any side roads, where you are only asking for trouble. Therefore it is much safer to take a taxi. Take 'Sul' taxis. They are yellow, with a blue strip down the sides. We were tricked a few times by other taxi companies... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: One of the most beautiful cities in the world
Disadvantages: Not the safest city in the world

...for us by Audley Travel (www.audleytravel.co.uk) and they had arranged someone to meet us with a driver, which was probably unnecessary, but quite useful when tired after a long flight. We did however have to put up with the usual hard sell of various additional tours on the way to the hotel. Hotel Luxor Regente, Rio de Janeiro We stayed at the Luxor Regente which is a pleasant modern fifteen-storey hotel, in an absolutely wonderful location overlooking Copacabana Beach and very near Ipanema Beach. We had fantastic views of Sugarloaf Mountain and the beach from our room. Rio is divided by the Serra da Carioca Mountains into a northern and a southern zone and the hillside occupied by shantytowns on both sides. Rio de Janeiro fills a narrow strip of land between the mountains and the sea. It is a stunningly beautiful city and any good hotel... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful