If you're traveling to Rio, Copacabana Palace is the place to stay. The service, amenities, and…read moresmall touches all add up to a restful and restorative stay. The resort has something for families, singles, events, conferences, couples and more. Located directly on the beach there is no where better to stay. We booked with Chase Sapphire Reserve and had quite a good amount of specials. A resort credit, an upgrade, late checkout, and free breakfast. The suite had beautiful high ceilings, spacious bathroom and living room, and we were met with a bottle of champagne upon our arrival. Concierge and hotel staff took care of everything for us from restaurant bookings to attractions to attraction and spa bookings. I can't say enough about the friendly and helpful nature of everyone we encountered. We enjoyed breakfast each morning with a beautiful buffet of fruits, pastries, meats, cheeses, fresh fruit juices, eggs, sausage, and more. We also could order off the menu for specific items. Coffee, sparkling wine, and juices included. The pool was the perfect temperature(its temperature controlled), and well attended with bathrooms right there. Outside on the beach the hotel has its own tent, chairs, and towels. Complimentary beach bag and flip flops upon your arrival. Turndown included fresh water and treats, and I loved the scents of all their products. Great restaurants on site as well as nearby.

This is what you call an EXPERIENCE. My stay at the copacabana palace changed my life and I will…read morenever again settle for anything else. The vibe is pretty old school, but the staff are all pretty young, so they really make the place feel more alive! Breakfast is pretty good and they have lots of options, 24hr pool, and tennis courts! What I really liked was that they had a section reserved right on the beach, where you can sit, leave your stuff, and even get a massage! Will definitely be back! They have my heart!!

This was a very nice, small, functional hotel in Niteroi, a 20 minute ferry ride across the bay…read morefrom Rio de Janeiro. Our room was clean and neat. A complimentary buffet breakfast is included in price of the room (the restaurant only serves breakfast). Hotel Village Icarai is centrally located in Niteroi, close to stores, bars, and restaurants. It is not a "fancy" hotel; but, it is a very nice hotel at an affordable price. It was the perfect location for our visit, during the Rio 2016 Olympics. We would gladly stay there again. Ours was a family of three Americans, traveling from the United States. What we liked most about this hotel was the staff. The personal touch provided by the hotel staff was "A+"! It was top notch! Specifically, I'd like to note the excellent service of Carlos, Diana, and Leon! They were very good at providing us with information about Niteroi, which casual first-time visitors might not know: where to find taxis, good restaurants in the neighborhood, convenient shopping, etc. We had the sense that they were concerned about our overall welfare while in the Rio area. Example: we arrived at the hotel well ahead of the normal check-in time, early in the morning, and we were very tired. "Nao ha problema!" ("No problem!") We were allowed to check-in early, at no additional charge, and go up into our room. That set the tone for our entire stay. My one small critique: by late morning, most mornings, the hot water in the shower was gone (until later in the day). That's it. Having lived elsewhere (in Africa and the Middle East) that's not such a big deal for me, personally. Some Americans might consider that a problem, in some cases. For my wife and I, that minor criticism with hot water was more than offset by a staff that had superior hospitality skills. Diana was the one person on staff who had advanced English skills; but, using Google Translate at the front desk computer facilitated translating all basic questions and answers. For those from the US seeking a small, well-run, friendly hotel, in a very convenient location (across the bay from the actual city of Rio de Janeiro), I would recommend Hotel Village Icarai very highly.