Subtopic	Posts		Updated
	-Pictures-	1		2004/01/19, 10:52 pm
	Archive 01	50		2005/06/10, 12:05 am

Xenono:
You are correct you need to come into contact with the cold virus, but we do that all the time, especially when DFKing garotas. However, not everyone who comes in contact with the cold virus gets a cold, it depends on your resistance. Cold air blown on you all night causing you to wake up, get bad sleep, etc. will have its effect. It is no coincidence that nearly every time I pull an all-nighter (fortunately rare these days) I get a cold afterwards. I think it is a similar thing here. Anyway, that is my understanding of things, but I am not a doctor.

LAguy's post did remind me of the AC. Mine turned out to have a directional adjustment so it wasn't too uncomfortable. But yes, AC blowing on you all night can be hell on your sinuses at least, possibly leading to a cold.

The AC in this hotel has three fan speeds, an adjustable temperature dial as well as the the directional air flaps. That said, I still think all of our colds come from human sources or contact with surfaces that hadn't been cleaned in decades. I stayed in an apartment in May and never used that air conditioning. I got sick that time too.

As for LAGuy's specific illness. I hung with the guy quite a bit this month and am almost sure his sickness stems from human contact, or the handrail on the spiral staircase at 85. The air conditioning at the Princess was probably the most sanitary thing he came in contact with all week. And that includes shaking hands with my filthy self.

Sterling

I agree with Sterling that shaking hands with him was probably the most unsanitary thing I did during my stay in Rio (or possibly in my whole life). As to the directional air flaps on the air conditioning, despite trying to use them,I wasn't able to get the air directed away from me even when I fiddled with them. And also, during the many times I woke up during the night because of the air conditioning, I fiddled with the various controls but never solved the problem. I suppose it is also possible that because Sterling and Robewarrior were in a different type of room than me, the position of the air conditioner was a little different, or maybe mine just wasn't operating well.
Also, when I referred to pulling an all-nighter above, I meant staying up all night (e.g., to do work), if that wasn't clear.

You are correct. The A/C unit is not placed in a good location.

I stayed at the Princess on my recent trip in a back room. I had a standard suite and it was very quiet. This was the first time I stayed in Copa, I usually stay in Ipanema. BTW, the Princess is not charging $60 reais per guest during "low season". I highly recommend this hotel.

I stayed there in Mid August. Their weekend rate was BR$165 and BR$215 for weekends and weeknights respectively. Prior to check in I made sure that there were no "guest fees" and not once did they try to charge me a penny for guests during my ten day stay. I would strongly recomment this hotel due to its proxmity to ground zero and the janitorial staff. You're probably thinking what the fuck is this Dumbass on...well heres the story. I realized 3 hours after leaving the hotel that i didnt have my safe keys on me. So i run back like a raped ape t find that they were attached to the safe lock that was sitting on my nightable and my safe was wide open with about 2k in cash,and 2k in cheques in addition to rolex, camera, pda bla bla bla.

That housekeeper got a nice tip for the record as she well deserved!

The only downside to this place is that they only allow one gues at a time OINK OINK

Been staying at this hotel for the past few trips, and generally very satisfied except for the a/c unit that is right next to the bed. This trip had a big problem with the hot water. Many days NO hot water. I actually heard them giving different excuses to different guests ??? I noticed some guests checking out due to this problem. Some tried to get discount at check out time but hotel would not give any discount. I strongly suggest asking if hot water is working before checking in.

The hot water problem was certainly unusual. After several stays at this hotel, this is the first time this had happened to me. I was fortunate that it only effected my first night there (11/21). Otherwise, I continue to enjoy staying here.

Stay there one week ago, real nice place, clean and the Jr.Suite are kind of design (garotas like the place). Small but clean bathroom, no hot water pb.
Room could be noisy if you are on the street side, prefere the pool side.
Guest friendly, no charge for guests but one at a time. I called girls from Karla's Model and the desk called me when they arrived, they even send the girl to your room with a guy to sign a paper. Sometimes they call your room when the girl leaves.
If your date don't have her ID then she can't come in, ID is necessary!
Nice location, near to a nice internet cafe (todo e facil), near the beach, near Help and terraçao Atlantico/ Meia Pataca, near a little agency of Banco do Brasil, very convenient, i definitly recommand the place!
A ride to Centaurus from this place is less than R$10, but always ask the cab to put on the "metro"!(less than R$2O for sugar loaf and R$30 to Corcovado)

Dude, if you take a taxi to Centaurus, why did you pay him R$10? You got screwed bigtime, since you paid the house R$20 (or is it R$30?) in "tourist tax" to pay the taxi. Overall, you spent 30-40 reals for that 9-block taxi ride.

Princess vs Atlantico Report

Catocony, taxi was around R6$ to go from Princess copa to Centaurus, it's cheap! I don't understand the thing about the "tourist tax", what is the link with taxi?
Overall i spent R12$ to go and back.

centarus pays taxi's a R20 comission which they add to your bill automatically and if you are a "tourist" they add it regardless of a taxi or not as they charge you for everything up front. if you frequent C enough and get to know them and leave the taxi around the block they won't charge you for it and probably won't ask you to pay up front which is to me the major detraction aboutC. a small gratuity at the counter when you leave seems to improve their memories.

Lou, how much did you pay upon entry to Centaurus? If they made you pay upfront, it was R$310 I believe? That R$310 included 20-30 reals as commission for the taxi driver who brought you there. If the taxiesta never comes in to claim it, then it goes to the house but either way, you're paying it. If you're going to Centaurus and know you have to pay the tourist tax and pay upfront, then you may as well tell the driver where you're going and that in lieu of you paying him, the terma will and to keep the meter off on the ride over. They will all agree to this because the commission from the terma is a good-sized chunk of change.

Remember, Centaurus is where the concierges at the expensive hotels (Marriott, Meridian, Caesar Park, etc) send their "special" guests who have probably already paid the concierge US $25-$100 - yes, one hundred US dollars, I sat on the plane in first class next to a guy who told me him and his buddies stayed at the Sheraton Leblon and paid the concierge US$100 every day to take them to the ladies - just to find out where to go. It's the biggest tourist trap in town for your average non-CH educated traveler, the guy who goes for business or whatever and "gets an itch" while there and just asks "where are the girls?" That's why the garotas do the hard and fast sell in the boite, why they have garotas as attendants and why they try and move you in and out as fast as possible. That's why, unless you know someone or are Brasilian, you pay upfront for entry, room, 40-minute session and the dreaded tourist tax to pay the cabbie or the house.

If the front desk knows you and they don't charge you upfront and will only charge the tourist tax if the taxiesta comes and asks for it, then take a taxi to a nearby hotel and walk the final block or two. You'll save yourself R$20-30 that way.

So, to recap, you paid the taxi driver R$6, and if he dropped you off at Centaurus, he waited until you went upstairs then went in and collected his R$20-30 commission, which the terma charged you when you paid at entry. So, you paid R$26-36 for that taxi ride.

Catocony, i understand, so you are right, i paid R310$ but the price was written on the menu so i didn't feel like paying a tourist price...Next time i will ask the cab to drop me near Centaurus and walk for the last meters, i just have to know another place near C to ask the cab to drive me (any idea?).
It's the same in thailand when you go to a massage parlor, if you tell the cab that you go to a mp he will run at the desk and ask for a comission and sometimes right in front of you!
I usually avoid this when in bkk but as it was my first trip in Rio i wasn't completely aware and maybe too in a hurry to go inside C!

Lou,

You did pay the tourist tax - it was part of the R$310 you paid. I didn't keep either of my receipts from this month - the only two times I've been to Centaurus out of 8 visits to Rio - but I seem to remember that the price breakdown was R$150 for the girl for 40 minutes, R$70 for entry and R$70 for the room. One of my bills was R$295 (70 + 70 + 150 + 5 reals for a soda and a water) and the other R310 (a few extra waters and sodas that time). I didn't pay upfront and didn't pay the tourist fee, thanks to my amigos.

have the taxi drop you at milano DOC restaurant around the corner and half a block away . read menu board till taxi long gone. upon entrance say did not take taxi , walked from apt. and been there before and only paid wheh leaving. be ready to head to solarium or lluomo if they call your bluff. be polite and low key , they should let you in. or call hemp and have him meet you there it will be automatic. if all goes well , thank them when you leave with small grat.

Only pay R$290,00

The best way to avoid the tourist tax at Centaurus is to find another terma to spend your time at!

Are there any decent restaurants around Princess Copa? I know TA has good chicken soup, but I'm looking for other recommendations.

Sweet Mesquite, you mentioned jacuzzi. Is that in the room? If so, which kind of room?

New place on Aries Saldanha and Bolivar called Belmont is doing a gangbuster business. Local Br food at reasonable prices and is always packed. Maybe 2-3 blocks from Princess.

jacuzzi is by pool and exercise room not in room. good cheap rest on miguel lemos , one block up and over towards ocean and help. forget name but open air with grilled chicken in window ,starts with a g also pharmacy next door and fish rest on corner. bakery on opposite corner has cheap rotessorie whole chickens, great for room. crepe rest next to blame it on rio travel is always packed and only a block toward ocean from hotel. turn left on copa ave and great liquor and wine store 1/2 block, zona sul grocery next block. best advice if at princess is take a walk in am for about a 2 or 3 block radius and you will find rest, little bars , etc. great change of pace in early evening is modern sound on bara riberio[sp]. huge cd store with cafe within with good food and excellent live jazz nightly til 8:30. about 4or 5 blocks from lluomo.

Any idea what the current prices at the Princess are? DO they still have weekend specials?

In September, the special was R$$248 per night M-F and R$190 per night Sat-Sun...No guest charge and 1 guest at a time.

Solid, what rooms is that for?

elgrancombo, that's for the "apartment" (as oppose to the studio and suite selection)

We just returned from Rio last week, the special is still running, no guest fee,

Staying here in March-April 06. Anything I need to watch out for?

Also I hope that the beds are large. (i'm 6'5" and sleeping on a twin bed by myself sucks) let alone with someone else in the bed.

Tallirish,

IMHO, you may want to select a different place. The Princess seems to not guarantee a full/double bed if you have a regular room, so your chances of getting 2 twin beds (Europe-style) are higher than elsewhere. You could reserve a suite, I guess, and eliminate the risk, but the cost goes up.

Last Time I was at the Princess Copacabana -Xmas 2004-I was given two twin beds put together and told there was nothing else they could do for me.

So the suite they give you a bigger bed or can you ask them for a large bed in the room? I am hopeing that this place has more then just twin beds. I am locked into being here so it is out of the question for going to another location. Is this a good place to stay or am I getting myself into a situation by staying here?

This place has become expensive. I emailed them for current rates and got back "...la
tarifa es de R$ 279,00+5%ISS...". That's almost $140 now.

I stayed there a few weekend nights last month. I stayed Fri-Sun and was given the weekend rate which I don't remember exactly, but it was under 200R. Breakfast is included and is pretty good. They have no issues with guests. In fact I had one girl leaving and another one showed up 5 minutes later. They make the girl sign in and show ID, but that is typical. They always call when the girl is leaving.

If you get a room facing the street you can pick up a wireless internet signal.

Personally, I prefer to rent an apartment. But all things considered, it is a good place to stay. I would not recommend eating anything else other than their breakfast.