We just completed a weeks stay at this hotel/resort in Rio de Janeiro. I have mixed feelings…read moreregarding our stay and will outline a few key points here. The hotel staff was extremely friendly and helpful and most went out of their way to ensure we had a good stay. Several of the staff recognized us and would greet us by name, which was very nice of them. I was also very pleased that a good majority spoke enough English to be able to adequately assist us. We spoke to the concierge desk several times to have them help us with some things, and they were more than willing to give information to provide assistance. They even helped us book a private tour of the rainforest, which was absolutely wonderful.
Where I feel that things were lacking was in the upkeep of the rooms and some of the facilities. Small things go a long way to making your stay seem more enjoyable. Such as replacing old and tarnished fixtures in the bathrooms, replacing warped flooring when moisture or humidity has caused it to bubble, and ensuring there are not piles of dust and debris along the baseboards. Also, the breakfast buffet, which they added to our room for free, could have been much better if the food was hot. The pancakes and French toast were cold every day. However, being able to have an omelette made fresh and how you wanted it was a nice touch and one of the best parts of breakfast.
The pools could really use some updates as well. The tiles are visibly aged, and the grout was rather dirty looking. Also, the wooden stairs that they lift each evening that lead to the beach should be replaced as they were very rickety and felt unsafe.
The ultimate question is, if I were to go back, would I stay at the same hotel? My answer is no. I say this, not just because of the need to upgrade some things and do some deep cleaning, but also because the location is not the best. I thought we would be able to leave the hotel and be within walking distance of many things. That is not the case. While you could walk from the hotel to some of the areas along the beach, it would be quite the trek and through some areas you probably shouldn't be walking in.
All in all, we had a wonderful vacation, but simply wish we had booked better accommodations.