Does anyone have any info on this hotel?

For a Sheraton, okay, not great. A distance from everything, so be prepared to use taxis. It is directly across the street from a favela, but it appears there is an accomodation whereby this is not a threat. It has its own beach. Guest friendly, I believe (not sure) but it is a better place to stay at if you already have a garota in tow than if you plan on using it as ground zero for mongering. On the other hand, it is fairly close to VIPs (love motel).
Bottom line is it probably should only be considered if you are planning on using Starwood points. OTOH, I myself would conserve the Starwood points and find a place closer to the action.

Smirker the other Sheraton is in Barra da Tijuca where I live in the resident section. Very nice and right across from the beach. It is about a 30 minute ride by taxi. Expensive on a day to day basis though as the rooms range from $180 to $300 US a night. Expensive but very nice. The apartments rent for about $3500 real per month everything included and no guest charges. Recommended if you want to get away from Copa area. - Hemp

Due to the Brazilian air traffic controllers strike in late March 07, Continental Airlines put passengers from cancelled flights up at the sheraton. Damn nice gesture on Continentals part for a problem that wasn't their fault.
Anyway - after staying at an apartment in Ipa for two weeks, I was put up at the Sheraton for two nights and I hated it. Place is sterile, detached from the real brazil and full of middle aged american and european tourists - it was like being in a hotel in the middle of a US city. The "babes" around the pool hurt my eyes as there was enough cottage cheese to put a small wisconsin dairy out of business. Cab rides to the real brazil were about 5 minutes but you are marked when you take a cab to or from that place. I never had a problem with cabs in the previous two weeks but magically whenver taking a cab from the sheraton to copa - the cabbie never had anything smaller than a $10 when it came time for change and likewise on the ride home. I'm not knocking Shertaton as it is a fantastic hotel with fantastic staff - its just not brazil. Even if the apartment in Ipanema and the rooms at the sheraton were the same price (which they definatley are not) I would still take the apartment.

I only stayed there a couple of times when I had Starwood points to burn, i.e., when it was free. I agree it is not a good place to stay for the reasons given. Also, it is just across the street from a favela, which can cause problems like periodic roadblocks leading to the hotel, and so forth.

I just noticed after posting this that I said similar things earlier in this thread (brought to you by the Department of Redundancy Department).

(Message edited by LAguy on April 06, 2007)

not to beat a dead horse, but since laguy could respond twice to the same thread, i figured i should be able to get away with a fresh post, lol...

i haven't been to brazil in a few years (girlfriend...now i'm single and it's time to mingle...in the termas...) but i've been there 3 or 4 times prior...each time i've stayed either in the arpoadar inn or rental apartments...

this time, i'm looking to go on the cheap, so i'm using miles for the flight (200k miles on american...ouch!) and sheraton points for the hotel...i plan on mongering, but to be honest, i was always more into termas than TLN anyway...

just a couple questions: do we know if the sheraton is currently guest friendly in case i DO decide to bring someone back? have they remodeled at all, or is it still a bit of a sterile dump? how is the "private beach"? do you think it's worth staying there for FREE, since i'm just using the miles? or should i suck it up and see if i can get a room at arpoadar?

thanks in advance gang...

Sheraton;
guest friendly, remodeled West wing 2 yrs ago, main building sterile/same, private beach same (nice)the cost/free is your call........

CFK

[Rooms on W. wing much quieter and nicer, excellent view of the beach/ocean, you can lv sliding doors open and hear the ocean if you like. Much nicer furnishings. Recommend

(Message edited by copperfieldkid on November 22, 2008)

Totally agree with CFK. I stayed there for a week in March (no points "ouch") $200 US + a night. Very expensive, food, room service, etc. Pools and beach are great though and place is excellent. I would save your miles for something else and stay at another hotel or apt. Have a good trip Rexxx - Hemp

If I may ask permission to post for a third time in this thread . . .

I stayed there perhaps six or eight months ago. No problem with bringing a girl up although I have no idea about duplas. The room was good and I did have a balcony overlooking the ocean which was cool.

They also have a shuttle running to Copa every 30 minutes or so during most of the day and early evening. Unlike my experience during some visits a few years ago, this time the taxis waiting at the hotel turned on the meter rather than insisting on "reaming the gringo staying at a hotel away from everything with no other alternative but to pay an inflated fixed fee."

Unfortunately, it was raised to a Starwood Category 3 hotel from Category 2, meaning more points necessary. I believe I used the points plus cash option which wasn't too bad and helped conserve some points. If you go for points only, remember if you stay for five nights, you get the fifth for free.

Overall, I liked the hotel more during the last stay than I did previously although it is no closer to the action than before.

FYI, no duplas, only one guest allowed at a time[which resulted in me having to use a lifeline a couple times in order to get a second Garota into the room!]

"If I may ask permission to post for a third time in this thread . . ." I object!!!!! CFK

thanks guys...great information...i think i'm going to spring for it and just use the miles...they'll upgrade me for an extra 1k miles per night, which works out with the fifth night free thing...so i'm just going to request a room in the west wing (henceforth please refer to me as mr. president rexxx)...

though it's a bit of a ways away from the action, i'm more of a termas guy anyway, so where i sleep isn't all that big of a deal, and i take cabs most everywhere anyway...just can't rationalize letting my miles sit, and spending exorbitant rates on accomodations during the peak peak new years period...

again, i appreciate the insight and well-wishes...