My friend and I are trying to find an apartment in Rio. Can anyone recommend the best way of finding something nice? Thanks for the help.

Contact Kenn at ez-riorentals.com or Don at amerioca.net.

I suggest that you get a copy of the Bwana Dik's guide to Rio available on this site.

Here a good site called
www.aluguetemporada.com.br
It´s really fantastic and have lots of apartments,
also in many brazilian cities.
Greetings.

thewonderfulcity.com is a very good company that rents apartments in Rio. Most of them are near the beach and they offer great services (airport transportation, tour guide, etc).

Check them out!!

Direct Ocean View duplex Penthouse in Copacabana, sleeps 6, available for Carnaval 2006. Contact me here or at louisgcori@hotmail.com if interested. I will respond promptly with details.

I've contacted Kenn at www.EZ-RioRentals.com. For a one bedroom in Ipanema in August with an ocean view they quoted 180.reais a night and for Airport pickup and drop off 100 reais.
The blurb on the unit read "This 1 Bedroom apartment is located only 2 blocks from the beautiful beach in Ipanema. Take advantage of all that Ipanema has to offer especially the Beach and Nightlife. Taxi's, Busses, Cafe's, Restaurants, Fresh Juice Stands, Banks and Money Exchanges (Cambios), Shopping and just about everything else is nearby. You can rent this apartment for about 40% less than what a comparable Hotel might charge. "

I am still waiting for the quote on maid service. Any suggestions, comments and advice would be appreciated

Kenn is a good guy to deal with, I recently had a great oceanview studio apartment with broadband internet in Copa at posto six, just a short walk to Alcazar and Help and a nice restaurant out front. I had no problem bringing back girls there.

Wow. Rentals and airport pickups are quoting in reals and not dollars now. People don't want to caught will falling dollars.

Downandup
Ipanema vs Copa were is the better to stay?

It would be helpful if someone could recommend an apartment or building with details,agent, costs and codes ect.

Isawal,

It depends on what you are looking for, I have never gotten an apartment in Ipanema, always in Copa. I prefer Copa for the accessibility but Ipanema is richer and nicer than Copa. Crime is supposed to be less but I have never had any problems in Copa in 10 trips.

Downandup
Thats pretty much what I have been told and that is why I have chosen Ipanema. I was also told that Ipanema and Copa are about the same distance from the action Help 4X4 ect is that true, BTH what do you budget per day incl Mongering but excl Hotel?

Help and the Zona Sul termas are in Copa, so Copa is closer to the action. As far as going to Centro, you're going by taxi, which means you drive through Copa to get there, or you take the Metro, which ends in Copa. Basically, if you stay in Ipanema, you have a nicer location, quieter and much less dangerous, but you're a cab ride away from everything. In Copa, you can walk to many of the places, depending on where you stay.

If you look at the maps, Copa is about four kilometers long, and about 3-6 blocks wide. There are many different areas within Copa, and one block can be very different from the next one over in regards to noise, crime, etc.

Thanks Catocony

Safety in Rio is a major concern of mine, so Ipanema seems to be the place to stay. Its funny I live in South Africa not exactly the safest place on earth but some of the stories from Rio have me concerned.

I agree with Catocony BUT I wouldn't get too complacent about safety in Ipanema either. Last time I stayed in Ipanema, in a very good part of town, someone was mugged 1/2 block away (near the Garota de Ipanema store). It is safer than Copacabana though.

I always recommend that newbies stay in Copa, because on your first trip at least, you'll be spending most of your time there anyways.

I am beginning to think that the trick is to have enough fellow mongers in country so that you can travel in a pack, like all good hunters. Thanks for all the advice after the trip I will post a TR thats if I survive:-}

Isawal,
It's safer and more fun. That's an additional thing that make Rio so enjoyable. There are always a good group of fellow mongers to hang with when you need a respit from boning the chicks.

Elgrancombo

Thats the plan. I just want to make sure I get a good deal on accommodation and location. There is nothing worse then being in a new city and staying in the a shit hotel far from the action.

There may be plenty of shit hotels, but you're never going to be far from the action.

Bill and Mel finally completed their much anticipated Rio Adventure - what a trip in so many ways - but firstly I must do a bit of housekeeping first - Mel you please feel free to chip in with your comments at any time.

Firstly the apartment we rented was an ABSOLUTE FUCKING DISASTER - we used Gringo Management (GM) to book this apartment and I will NEVER EVER use them again.

I did contact GM on my return to Australia and requested recompense for this disaster but it was refused so I will now post my honest and accurate impression of the fiasco.

Here is how the apartment is described on their web site - Modern Luxury Duplex Penthouse Apartment - here is the url - http://www.gringomanagement.com/2bedroom.html and we paid US$170 / night.

When Mel and I first discussed this vacation we kinda decided on going for a 'top end' place with 'double showers' in both bedrooms so we could play with the girlies.

After I found these so called "Modern Luxury Duplex Penthouse Apartments" I had a number of emails between myself and GM and I specifically asked the question "Are the showers double showers – as in can 2 people comfortably shower together?"

Hers is the response I got from GM - "Are the showers double showers – as in can 2 people comfortably shower together? Yes"

OK after much discussion with Mel and considerable review of the Apartments we decided to rent 1 solely on the basis that they had "double showers" as we both love playing with the girlies in the showers.

BIG MISTAKE.

The response from GM that they were double showers and that 2 people could comfortably shower together was an absolute LIE in relation to the shower downstairs - it was as single shower. No big deal you might be saying - well let me continue.

The beds were absolute CRAP - they were almost impossible to sleep on. El cheapo wooden slatted bases with 5 inch foam mattresses on top - no sprung base - no support of any type or form - like sleeping on a morticians slab - I would suggest these beds would be buyable at any flea market on any weekend for $20 - hardly becoming of a "Modern Luxury Duplex Penthouse Apartments". These beds were almost impossible to sleep on - were totally unsatisfactory for fucking on - it was totally out of the question to have a girl sleep the night - it just did not work.

But wait there is more.

There was totally insufficient curtaining / blinds to stop daylight filtering into the room as soon as the sun started to rise - they had these pissy bamboo type slatted blinds which may have been decorative but were totally inefficient at stop light entering - once again hardly good enough for a "Modern Luxury Duplex Penthouse Apartments".

The level of traffic noise from early morning on was unbelievable. Yes the apartment faced a main road - yes maybe I should have checked this - yes it is / was world cup football time - BUT - I still would have thought a "Modern Luxury Duplex Penthouse Apartments" may have had sufficient glazing / noise prevention that might have allowed some sleep after 6am each day.

The aluminium windows and doors rattled incessantly as soon as there was any wind / air movement outside - which there was most of the time once again hardly what I think would normally be the case in "Modern Luxury Duplex Penthouse Apartments".

And now for the toilet upstairs - IT WOULD NOT FLUSH FOR 4 FUCKING DAYS. The first time I tried to flush it just would not work. I literally had to bucket water into it for first 2 days to get rid of the turds.

I contacted the GM representative next morning who arranged the 'fix-it' man to visit - he left with the problem still existing. I finally had to remove the lid from the top of the cistern and I finally got it to a situation where I could get it to flush but only by physically putting my hand inside the cistern EVERY TIME and manually operating the flush system - once again hardly what I would have thought one would be required to do in a "Modern Luxury Duplex Penthouse Apartments".

Finally after 4 days 'fix-it' man returned and did get it working.

Oh and the main light in Mel's bedroom downstairs did not work and it took 3 days to get 'fix-it' man to change a globe.

OK OK I can here some of you saying this is just Rio - maybe so - maybe not.

Here is a link to the apartment I stayed in last October - http://www.rioapartments.se/default.asp?c=...subcat2=421&id= - it is the first apartment listed on this page. This apartment - unlike the one we rented through GM - was exactly as described on the site - but it only had a single shower - so I did not rent it again.

The point I am trying to make with this comparison is that the false and misleading representations that GM made as to the quality of the "Modern Luxury Duplex Penthouse Apartment" that we rented turned what was going to be my 'trip of a lifetime' into what was almost a disaster. I was trying to survive on something like 2-3 hours sleep per night - it was fucking impossible to sleep in THAT APARTMENT with all the problems associated with it.

If GM had been honest with that initial question - "Are the showers double showers – as in can 2 people comfortably shower together?" - where they answered YES - which led me to rent this apartment - had they been honest and said NO - then none of this negativity would need to be appearing and it would have saved a lot of embarrassment to a lot of people.

NEVER EVER AGAIN WILL I CONSIDER USING GRINGO MANAGEMENT TO BOOK AN APARTMENT.







Guys I REALLY REALLY did not want to have to post what I posted above - but I feel so aggrieved by this whole affair I just had to do this - there is a final 'kicker' to this whole affair but you will need to wait to the final day of this report - UFB.

I also did a lot of thinking whislt I was laying in that CUNT of a bed not sleeping most nights - I have many pics to post but I will certainly be no longer posting pics of faces.

If and when this site returns to a paid site I might reconsider then - but for now no face pics.



My first reaction to the apartment that Gringo management described as a luxury apartment was that the place was more or less a dump. Words having meaning and in Rio luxury suggests almost as good as the Marriott. The apartment we were provided was terrible in many ways. The bed was just a thin mattress on a wood slab-not even a queen size bed. The aircondtioner was set way up out of reach so you could not adjust the temperature controls without standing on a chair! The Ac was from two old loud wall units. The floor was not carpeted at all. We were promised that we would have two walk in showers. This was a must for me but we were simply lied to and told we had two walk in showers when we did not. The pool is little more than 5 by 6 more a cold tub than a pool. The street noise is horrible. The lobby is out of the 1950s. (the front desk staff were nice) The living room furniture (a small plastic covered counch and a chair) is way below low end Walmart Quality (I think you could find it for 10.00 in a yard sale) The TV was on a stand like out of a college dorm. In Order to run that a lap top you
end up with cords everywhere as the number of electrical outlets is too small (I am sure the electrical outlets are way below American codes.) The door keys were a pain to use. We had as BBB said problems with the lights and the toilets-the repairman said the problems came from the fact that the fixtures were all of very low quality. We came to see the apartment as more or less a joke. I can see why Gringo management wants payment in advance as I cant imagine any one paying 180.00 or so a day for this place after seeing it. It is way below the quality level of tthe Princess Copacabana hotel. I attach some pictures of the hotel to validate my point. (it should be noted that Priscilla is not included in the rent) The picture of the TV set shows the tv in one of the bedrooms-the ceiling fan shows how cheap the fixtures all were. The TV set and its stand speak for them selves. IF BBB and I did not both have a good sense of humor we would have been even more upset by this worse than a motel six quality apartment. it became a standing joke with us and others who saw it when we told them it had been advertised by Gringo Management as luxury. The beds were so small you really could not have a comfortable sleepover if you wished. The beds were low to the ground and would work well as the set for a remake of "Animal House". We bought our own toilet paper as none was provided. I would not stay there again for $100.00 a night let alone the $180.00 we paid. Everything BBB says is correct and if anything he is to kind!

everybody is looking for a bargain that doesn't exist.. the other agency you mentioned has a good reputation. stick with them. don also has some quality units.

I've had nothing but good fortune dealing with Kenn from ez-riorentals. In fact I just finished booking an apt. for my trip in July.

"everybody is looking for a bargain that doesn't exist-" we were not looking for a bargain at all -we wanted a nice place and were willing to pay a fair price for it -some people have evidently had good experiences with Grigomanagement but here is a PM I received from a member concering a studio he rented

"I only rented a studio for 35.00 but it was a nightmare with roaches mildew smelling place. The bed was terrible like you said, The furniture was useless. The toilet would have backed but I could tell it was bad so I only put a little toilet p"aper in there."

Gringomanagement had a shitty reputation a few years ago - I can't remember, is that John's agency? - but nobody has posted much negative about them lately, until now. Nobody should ever pay anything in Brasil until they've inspected it personally. No brasilero would ever buy/rent something unseen, and neither should you.

Kenn, Bobby, Don - those guys are all reputable and there are guys from this board using their places every day of the year.

I think everyone has the same apartments more or less some may own some themselves or have exclusive deals or whatever but im sure they have alot of common units, in 10 trips Ive gone with vera campos the first time the apartment was ok then bobby had a few real nice places that were just renovated and I stayed there the next 2 or three times but the owner sold them, then I rented from a brazillian guy for 5 weeks and the apartment sucked the location was great but it hadn't been redone since the sixties , I was there for 5 weeks and for the price it was the best I could find without spending a ton of money, then I used vera campos again and Ive been staying in that same apartment ever since and its fine for me , everything is new , R150 per nite posto 9 no view though but what can you do , the days of getting a nice 1br for 50 bucks are over and hotels are looking like the way to go especially if you wanna stay in copa , the extra money for the princess is money well spent imho unless you wanna have orgies , I think the suites at the visconti residence are beautiful and are around R300 per nite was a great deal at R3 for 1$.

If you find a place you like at a good price stick with it usually if it has a bosch water heater youre ok, they take care of the place. 80% of the apartments are shit and gringmanagement , don , bobby , vera, john thompson cant do anything about it , they can only control how much they mark the place up , and I dont think ive seen one that wasnt listed as a luxury apartment, remember in a 3rd word country things like indoor plumbing are considered a luxury you have to use your head a real luxurious apartment is gonna cost you at least $300 a nite

I would argue that the term "luxury apartment" should mean luxury for Americans/Europeans, not Brasileros, since the guys we would rent from are marketing 100% to tourists. The most important thing is to never accept a place before seeing it, and to make sure you have an out. You may agree to a week or two in advance but don't pay for more than a day or two ahead of time, and even that should be avoided. I've seen absolutely kick-ass apartments in crappy buildings on bad streets - the apartments that Sandmand/Diversity/SweetMesquite/etc rent on Sa' Farrera are a prime example. I've seen shitty apartments in great looking buildings on good streets - I walked into a two-bedroom "luxury" tourist rental on Republica de Peru that was pure shit. A newbie had emailed me and wanted to know what I thought of the place before he rented it for two weeks and I wouldn't have paid 40 bucks a night for the place, but the owner wanted $125.

Pictures are mostly bullshit, you can't feel a bad mattress in a photo, or no hot water, or toilets that barely flush, or air conditioners that don't work. Those are the most common complaints guys have for apartments.

Yes Luxury means luxury to the market you are renting too-it does not mean luxury to people without hotwater-if these are the only type of apartments available in the 150.00 to 200.00 range that is ok just give an honest description of them-Gringo Management cant be excused by saying the apartments are Luxury to a Brazilain

I haven't read this thread but I want to add that I rented a "luxury" apt. in Ipanema last year after 8 trips staying in hotels. I will not make that mistake again.

The apt. was nice by Rio standards but there were too much little bullshit things that detracted from a luxury experience, along the lines of what Cat posted. Examples: need to meet up with the manager in person to pick up keys and walk through- a hassle when you can just show up at hotel anytime.

"If you use too much AC we will charge you for excessive electricty use...:

AC broke mid-stay

No automatic hot water, needed to light pilot flame every time I wanted hot water.

No cleaning, need to do that yourself or pay extra.

Only 1 little towel for each bathroom (I had 3). I mean little towel, no joke.

Disgusting bed linen provided. Also, beds were very uncomfortable but not dealbreakers. Just not as nice as any decent hotel (I'm not talking the Debret).

Much more; I suspect that these things are the norm for Rio.

I tried the apt. thing because I hated having to check girls in and out and run them by the front desk (always feel like a cheap pervert). Well the apt. bldg. did same thing- tight security.

I paid about 300 US per night; not worth the hassle. Stay in a hotel and live carefree is my attitude now.

I ALWAYS rent from Don and Ken. Super nice apartment and easy to work with. Nice bed, etc. Owner is super nice but has a bit of ALL TIMERS disease according to the Don.

I will have to plug one for Don as he does access to 2 very modern apts on almirante above his office. outstanding location and most of the doormen are pretty cool. he has another one in Leme thats nice also.

If your looking for a good place, there is a guy named Eduardo who rents apts. He's local, speaks 6 languages(including English), can help you with the girls, and is an extremely hard worker. He has several apartments on the same corner as Help Disco (8 Miguel Lemos). He can also handle any other non-mongering interests you might have. www.welcometorio.com

He has made many of my trip to Rio easier. Just thought I would try to return the favor and bring him some business.

Sorry its www.welcometoriobrazil.com

You have to use Don & Ken,
Not just for the apartments but for their knowledge and service as well, they are second to none and I am pretty hard to please. If I lived in Rio I would still use them, they are that good.

You can reach Don and Ken through their website

http://www.americoa.net

or via email

Riodon@gmail.com

Good guys with some nice apartments...

Actually, it's http://www.amerioca.net/

Carnival apartments 1, 2, & 3 bedroom apartments available. Reserved buy Travel Club for members.

Email:jlrybox@hotmail.com for more information.

rented an apt in Ipanema through Don this past Jan & Feb. The apt was not a "luxury apt" by US standards, but was more than adequite for my needs. Along with this the location was great.
The few problems that did come up were quickly handled by Don. Although I did not use his guide service, he was very helpful with tips about restaurants and other things in the area.
I would not hesitate to use him again, and highly recommend him to anyone looking for an apt.

Somewhere in this thread someone mentioned $300 USD for an apartment rental? Wow, that is very high unless it really is a super luxury apartment. On average you should be able to get something nice in the R$150 - R$200 (i.e. $75-$100 USD range). 'Nice', however, is in the eye of the beholder. You will have to lower your standards regardless!

There are many apartment rental brokers in Rio and you can find some very nice apartments in the Ipanema and Leblon area for prices less then hotels. An Aparthotel is another option - a full service apartment. When I get some time, I'll post some contact information. I have two very good ones now, plus I got to know one of the owners directly and now make arrangements directly through her. She owns about 20 apartments...all very nice. This lady got some cash! However, I will only refer people to her that I know and feel comfortable with. I now have a yearly rental in the heart of Ipanema (on Vinicius de Moraes, close to Garota de Ipanema).

It is important for first time visiters to Rio to understand, however, that US standards are often not aligned with the apartment standards here. As you move from Copa into Ipanema, the apartments usually get smaller...then smaller yet as you go to Leblon. A/C is generally only available in the bedroom. Furnishings for the most part are almost always simple by our standards.

Also it is very common to pay for excessive A/C use Some owners charge electricity seperately by marking the meter reading. Electricity is very expensive here - I run my A/C in my bedroom only at night time, turn off most of my lights, and take other steps to preserve energy and still pay R$300+ each month. Imagine some guys running the A/C all day... the owners would go broke if they did not charge extra for excessive use.

Most places have automatic gas heaters, but again it is common to turn off the heater when not in use which requires igniting the pilot light - again a practice to save money. Heaters attached directly the shower head are also very common and kick on automatically.

Also be aware that some owners are very scared of gringos bringing GDP's back to their place. Many apartments have been trashed because of an out of control and pissed off girl, or police called when the deal went sour. This is much more common then you might believe. Hence having good security and check-in procedures is in your best interest and that of the owner.

It is best to lower your standards before coming to Rio and that includes so called 4 star hotels as well as apartments.

Location wise, Copa is certainly closer to the action, but Ipanema is safer and has a nicer "feel". Also Ipanema is much more compact from a restaurant and bar perspective. The beach is certainly superior. Leblon, in my opinion, is a little inconvenient for mongering. I live in Ipanema and typically go back and forth to Copa on the bus...ok, not the safest at night, but cheap. What can I tell you, I love Ipanema!!!

Cleaning is usually not included - only when you stay in an Aparthotel. The current average cleaning rate is R$50 ($25 USD).

Aparthotels also usually have Internet access.

I go to Rio 3-4 times per year and use various different agencies. I actually had a BAD experience with Kenn from EZ-Rio Rentals. That guy was rude after I told him that the $190 "luxury" apartment I rented from him on Rua Bolivar did not look AT ALL like the photos on his site. Not even close! He would not refund even a day (I stayed there, unhappily for 9 days) and would not discuss an upgrade or another settlement. Also, the A/C in the bedroom did not work 8 out of the 9 days and nobody could fix it. I've been to Rio 11 times now and had better experiences with apartmentsrio.com and rioholidays.com.

Gentlemen,,

Does this post seem suspicious to anyone else, or is it just me? Believe it or not, this was his very first post after opening the account yesterday.

After getting ripped off by the four preganant women yesterday, I guess I'm suspicious of everything.

Jag

Jag your right as usual. Looks funny! Kenn has been doing business in Rio for a long time. - Hemp

Isn't Bangbro one of those online sex sights.

Isn't Bangbro one of those online sex sights.

(Message edited by scooby_1781 on October 05, 2007)

I'm as real as can be, my friends. And I have lots of experience and knowledge when it comes to Rio. Just ask me. Kenn may have been doing business for a long time, but he screwed me big time, nevertheless. And yes, Bangbros.com is an online sex site. One of my favorite porn sites.

$190 usd a night. GOOD GOD! It's been 2 years since I last visited Rio. Has prices gone up that bad or are people just more lax about spending. There was a time when mongering wasn't simply about how much pussy you could get. It was also about traveling the world and not busting the bank to it.

The latter, GZ. You have to be insane to spend that much. Very nice apartments can be found for $60-$90/night, and you can get a servicable place for less than that. You can also go way upscale, but I'm hard pressed to see the virtue of spending $$on an apartment that could be spent in a terma.

$50 a night apartments can still be had in the usual places. It helps to know several of the apartment renters though. You can catch most of them here and there where they will offer you a very good deal, particularly during the down times which run at various times throughout the calendar year. It's just like a rental car business. If it's just sitting there on the lot, it isn't making money. Some of the best deals I've ever gotten were after I arrived in Rio. I didn't wait to book a place until after I arrived of course, but I tend to move a lot and there are options to be had on any given day.

Rio and Brazil in general is very expensive at the moment. I've been looking for cheaper options and just returned from a trip to Colombia (Cali and Medellin) and Costa Rica. The verdict: Nobody fucks like Brazilians. Not even close. And for me, this is priceless.

I've already stayed in apartments for $60 - $90 a night, but they are just not good enough for me. For me, sex is not much fun on a thin, narrow, old mattress. I'm also not happy with used old linen, which is typical. I don't like bright neon lights and bare walls. For me, the ambiance of a 20" TV is not a proper replacement for dim lights and a great sounding stereo. I find it absurd that guys spend $200 - $500 or more per day on the best and sexiest girls in the world don't care to spend an extra $100 for a luxury apartment. Most importantly, the girls are far more impressed with your style of living than by your old dick. Bringing them into a really beautiful, clean, comfortable environment inspires them. Makes them feel better about what they do. They don't want to leave you. They want to continue to have sex after you've already had enough... And for me, this is priceless.

As Bwana said, very nice apartments can be had in the $60-$90 range. And if you know who to talk to, and are lucky, you can get those same apts for $50 a night sometimes.

As for making them feel better about themselves, from my experience, they feel better about what they do right after you hand them the cash.

I sure would like to see some of these $60 - $90 a night apartments that are nice. I'm in 405 right now and it's nice compared to the $150 hotels, but it would be entry level basic in the states. Nice is Rio is alot different then Nice in USA.

I know of $75 a night apartments that are awesome. Plasma TV, nice stereo, washing machine, full kitchen, internet access - admitedly there are some crappy places down there but there are plenty of excellent apartments in that price range. Best advice is to look around on one of your trips - contact the apartment folks and ask to look at some units, if any seem to meet your needs then give them a try next time.

As far as what the garotas like, I think a nice apartment is good but that's not a primary concern of theirs. Any place we stay in is most likely better than her place. As far as the mattresses go, that's a very common complaint and I agree to a point but like a lot of other things, what we are mostly used to in the states is not the norm down there. Other than the Marriott and the place I used to rent full-time, where I plunked down over R$2000 for a mattress and springs, almost all the beds have been less than or at best equal to what you would find in a low-end US chain like a Fairfield Inn or Hampton Inn or something. But, a lot of it is cultural - there aren't a lot of people with top of the line Sealy and Simmons and Serta mattresses down there.

It's easy to throw numbers around. But after 11 trips to Rio, I find it really hard to believe such a place exist for $75. I have not found anything with Plasma TV for less than $120 per night. And I mean ANYTHING. I've contacted just about every agency. Add a Jacuzzi to that, and if on a good block, you are already in the $200 - $250 price category. If you really KNOW cheap apartments that are awesome, please send web links. I'll be most grateful to you.

As a rule of thumb, it's not good to show-off wealth in Rio, and that includes where you stay. You seem obsessed with plasmas. All of that stuff is just props. You don't want a woman that could be impressed with all of that stuff anyway.

Sitting in a nice large Jacuzzi, together with 2, 3 or even 4 beautiful girls, sipping Red Bull and vodka, is something I often experience when in Rio. And usually, the girls compete for my attention. I love it. This environment separates me from other gringos and I become a cool guy for the girls. I get to feel like a Hugh Hafner for about $300 - $400 a day rather than $25K - $30K a day which would be what I'd have to pay to re-create this in the US. The kind of apartment I'm renting tells the girls about who I am. Girls do fall in love (or lust) with props, and what the props represent, rather with our dicks or our broken Portuguese jokes. Obviously, not every monger thinks he can afford spending $400 a day, but I find many spend this much anyway on girls, only they do it in a run-down environent. I think this is a shame. Its like going to a great restaurant but eating the food in the toilet.

Who is Hugh Hafner?

Ok, you're going for the whole pamper experience, which most of us don't. There are plenty of apartments north of US $175 a night that fits that bill, you should probably stick to them. If money isn't an object then just don't worry at all about spending it. It sounds like you've been very happy with what you've been doing, so I wouldn't try and change that to save a few bucks.

Bro, I want to be in your next rap video.

Shit, the Love Motel Lucy and I stayed in for R$60 a night had a large jacuzzi, mirrors everywhere, 24 hour porn, and room service. Not bad, you'll have to agree.

Jag

AND JUST WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER MOTHER!

Lucy and Charlie Brown in a Love Motel? And a mother? Please draw a comic strip of this.

Plasma TV is not a good thing to insist on in Brazil. Can't you do with a plain TV for 2 weeks?

Imported Hi Tech stuff is very expensive here. Enjoy nice apartments and nice girls here. And nice technology in the US.

Same thing with cars: drive a Porsche in the US and get by with lesser cars here.

About Matresses: you guys are welcome to check out my matresses at my apartment. They are all in the R$1200 to 2400 range, see if these meet your standards.

If not, let us stop over at Ortobom matress store to show what type of mattresses you envision.

Don't go to Ortobom if you want a good mattress. go to the Simmons store in Barra shopping.

Brazil Specialist has a king size nice mattress at his apartment. An american style mattress at that, not one of those euro six inch flimsy jobs.

Does anyone have any experience with the following agency?

http://www.rentflat.com.br/agente/

I found them on Craigslist and they seem to have the best deals around.

Thanks!

(Message edited by milo on April 15, 2008)

Gents,

I'm finally going back to Rio next month after a 3+ year hiatus (Dollar-Real exchange rate finally decent again)! I need a recommendation for an apartment to rent in Copa. Based on what I've read, it still looks like apartments are the better option for price and chica-friendliness.

I've found a number of Rio apartment websites, but I want to know which one(s) you guys feel are the best to do business with.

Here are my needs:

- A/C
- in-room safe
- Cable/satellite TV
- Hot water
- Telephone
- kitchen

I'd like to stay in 'ground zero' -- meaning within walking distance of MP, TA and Help.

I'm looking to pay no more than USD $60-65/night (if that's still doable for good spot).

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Juga1

All your gonna get is a tiny dump far from ground zero for $60. Spend a little more and get a nice crib. Look on www.vrbo.com for a rental.... To be within high heal walking distance to Help is gonna cost at least $80 for a small shithole.

The phone is the toughest thing, I assume you mean a land line? Most rentals aren't going to have that at all, you need to just use a cell phone which is a much better option anyway.

Thanks JRoc and Cat. The landline phone is not a big deal for me as I used to get a free cell phone to use from the people I rented from back in the day.

Is there a consensus on what are the best rental companies to use? I've seen some good reviews of Amerioca Tours and EZ-riorentals.com. I prefer to deal with a middle man who knows how to facilitate the hobby.

Amerioca Tours - Contact Don or Ken and they will take good care of you! - Hemp

Oh the joy of renting an apartment online!! Looked great on the internet! Sat on the fucking bed and 3 of the wooden slats moved and i damn near fell to the floor. I had to mopve the thin foam mattress to the floor to sleep.

Plus the fucking air conditioner is one of those energy saving machines. every 15 minutes it cuts off with a super loud noise, sounds like it is banging against the wall frame!! Wakes me up routinely.

I am giving this woman one day to fix everything or else i want my money back. I know it will be ugly, cause i get the feeling she is no going to want to give me my money back!!

hey Thumper.....where and how much is that place and where did you find it? i have always found that the beds and ac suck in small apts in Rio. i cant seem to understand why they dont get good mattresses and linens. and why is it so hard to get an ac that works properly? i always splurge and get a 3 bedroom penthouse .....fuck it. the comfort level is priceless and the garota's love it.

I am in a one bedroom near sousa lima on atlantico, in front of the beach. They also did a piss poor job of hanging up the reflective drapes, the sun pours in at 7:30AM, looks like mid day!!

I also cant understand why brasilians justdont understand that tourists want solid bed frames with good mattresses!! Sleep on that foam shit if you want, but i like a matress. I wish i could afford to spurgle on a penthouse, but i am staying down here for a couple months, so i cant afford to spend that type of money.

Dude, you're still expecting common sense after all these years of going to Brasil?

For my tentative trip in Feb, I've already got an 8-night Pointsaver award at the Marriott. My spring Marriott stay is about the only time I expect a really good night's sleep in Rio.

The pimp pad 2-bedroom place on Souza Lima, that place has great beds in it, I slept very well there back in September. But at US $150 a night for one, I think I'll tough it out in my $80 a night place. New mattress, and only slightly harder than a sidewalk. With a nice R$5 pillow that's filled with what appear to be palm fronds and corn kernels, very comfy

Catocony - No common sense involved anywhere, just $$$. Most Brazilian owners want to rent their apartment with as little investment as possible and as barebone! They do not tend to think very strategic in that a nice apartment will rent more often and for more money! Gringo owners tend to have a little more foresight (but not all). I have a friend that rents apartments and often gets asked for apartments with Internet - a pretty common request. Even after telling certain owners that having an Internet connection in their apartments will rent their apartment more often with a little investment (a decent internet connection runs less then USd $50 a month), most don't want to spend the money - even after losing rental after rental! it just makes nooooo sense! One lost rental can easily pay the Internet for a couple of months!

Cable tv. The lady who rented my apartment, didnt tell me until after i had paid that the place does not have cable tv. I told her that it was important that she have it installed. Is it true that you have to sign a 12 month contract to have cable put in? You cant just have it installed for a couple of months?

Thump, I don't know, but I think it's time to bail on that place. I hope you didn't pay her up front for anything more than a week or a few nights.

LM, I agree, I stayed in one apartment four times over a year, and it got worse every time. The first time was fine - basic, but cheap. Shower was fine, bed was shitty but doable, internet was good, full cable, kitchen was usable. Nothing fancy.

Well, second time, a lot of the little paintings on the wall and the decorations were gone, but still ok. A little more spartan, but all the important stuff was good.

Third time, the cable TV was reduced to just a few channels, and the mattress was shitty painful to sleep on without a few sheets and blanket on top of the mattress. So I decided to give the owner one last try....

Fourth time, no TV, no internet. I got in on a Friday, and his excuse was "his secretary" forgot to pay the bill, but it would be on by the end of business Friday. I was furious, Don was furious for me. Also, I think they put a new mattress in, but rock hard. Also, now the hot water heater was acting up big time, and the tile floors were so dirty, if you walked from the kitchen to the bedroom your feet would turn black.

We fucked around with the owner all weekend, nothing was fixed, so we said fuck it and I bailed.

Now, usually, repeat customers are given better service. What I've found in Brasil, with hotels (Atlantico, Princess, Parthenon, Ipanema Tower) is that usually, my first time there is good, the second time ok but not as good as the first, the third time, I'm getting fucked. Shit doesn't work in the room, I go from high floor to low floor, bigger room to smaller room, in the case of the Princess, from double bed to two twins jammed together. Billing issues, that kind of thing. It's almost like "they've stayed here before, so they'll keep coming back even if we fuck with them".

Maybe common sense wasn't the best word. A lack of business sense certainly, personally, I put it down to general stupidity and laziness.

HAs the above happened to anyone other than Cat? I've had the opposite experiences. I think Cat should take it personally

Yeah yeah, maybe I should start staying at the Favela Arms instead. When's the next police shootout scheduled for that corner?

It's CG (and Jag) who have to dodge the gunfire. I don't even hear it in 202. They have all the fun and excitement!

Cat,

That was part of the fun of living there.

Garotas got a little extra excitement at no additional charge......LOL

In the past, many people had "catch net" - illegal cable. But Net TV - the local Cable company - has been significantly upgrading their systems (including analog to digital) plus many of the open channels that could be picked up without a box are now scrambled. As a result, cable without paid service and descrambler box is very basic indeed. Previously hooking up a "catch net" connection only cost about R$100 - one time! The owner is correct in that Cable TV does require a one year contract, which is the same with Internet service (I speak from experience).

Now, I am not too sure how much you guys have been paying for your apartments, but for about R$190-R$200 a day I know of a couple of very nice apartments in Ipanema, right of Visconde de Piraja. Very nicely furnished and remodeled, i.e. new furniture, with cable TV, and Internet. Might not be all that cheap (i.e. around $90USD at today's currency exchange rates), but at least it is quality and in a great place, Ipanema.

Sandman,

I think it's gotten a bit hotter over there since you left. It seems every time I'm in town - about every three months - there's a police invasion up the hill.

As long as you sleep in the back master bedroom, you're fine at night. In the front two bedrooms, well, sleep tight!

Catocony - Have you been up the hill for the Baile Funk? Quite surreal.....guys dancing around with guns.

Looking for a nice apartment in Rio with a pool and or hot tub. I have been to Rio a couple of times and have searched some of the internet sites for apartment. Want a girl friendly apartment with 3 or more bedrooms and a pool or hot tub. Doesn't matter if it is copa or ipanema.

I am planning a trip to Rio in the Sep-Oct-Nov, 09 and would like any information on the cost of an apartment for about a month during that time period.
An information that you can provide, would be greatly appreciated. I want to stay in the Copacabana area. Thanks, in advance.

That's too far out since no one knows what the exchange rate will be. You can go ahead and reserve a place and will get a general ballpark price per night/week, but if the currency swings hard either way that number will most likely change.

Maybe someone can answer this for me. Why are apartment renters trying to force people to reserve thier apartments for 10 days during New Years?!! New Years falls on a friday this year, so it makes sense that most people will com in for a 5 day trip and then leave on sunday night. I have called about 4 American agencys and 3 brasilian ones, they all insist that you pay for a 10 day stay!!!!

Even when I counter and say "Why? This isnt carnival, NYE is one fucking night! Why should I pay for 10 days, if I only plan on being in town for a long weekend?" They all swear that there is nothing they can do and that they have to rent for 10 day period or else they lose money!! Its so damn fustrating!!

10 nights now? The one and only time I was down for New Year's, the minimums were about 4 nights at double rates. 10 nights at double rates means a lot of thieving apartment owners are trying to make up for a shitty business year by shafting people who want to come down for New Years.

I was there a few years ago for 2 weeks during that time. It basically boils down to this.

They can rent it for 4 or 5 days to one of you, and then blow off several of the days leading up to, and after New Years because no one wants to rent it then because New Years Eve is already taken, or they can rent it for 10 days to a couple from Europe. Which would you choose?

I undertand your point Arellius, if I had both options in front of me , of course I would take the pople who are going to stay for 10 days over the ones staying for 4 days. I would be an idiot not to.

However, the apartment owners are taking a big gamble! There is no gurantee that a "couple from Europe" will rent their apartment for 10 days. Remember, this isnt Carnival!! There is absolutely no reason to stay in Rio for 10 days to celebrate New years.

Mybe the best technique is to just show up on the 30th. I am positive there will be a number of people who didnt rent thier place because they insisted on 10 day rentals.

You are right to an extent. I'm sure as crunch time closes in, more apt rental agencies would take what they could get if one was still empty, but from what I understand from my renting experience, and from talking to the people I have rented from, it usually isn't an issue if it's a decent apartment near the beach in Copacabana near the New Years action. I think you underestimate the market for a New Years experience in Rio. There is a reason for their cockiness on the rentals. Experience with the season.

I spent 3 consecutive New Years eve in Rio in Copa.
Mostly at TA and Alcazar with Don and the gang. One thing for sure try getting a Taxi out of Copa that night! Very difficult and if you can find one forget the meter - you will pay what they want! - Hemp

If you are not staying in Copa then heed the following; over 2 million+ people will be converging on Copacabana and remaining until approx 1AM. Thus you need to be on your way by 7PM just to only suffer through a 1-2 hr taxi ride, and plan for a 'first available' taxi around 2/3 AM [And Hemp is correct, you will pay what they want!]

I will emphatically state however that everyone should experience a New Years in Rio at least once. I have spent several and they were some of the best trips/times experienced.

(Message edited by copperfieldkid on October 31, 2009)

Anyone ever used Decio Martins for apartments in Copacabana?

MM

Am looking for a nice place in Ipanema, has anyone used this service before?


http://www.rentinrio.com/index.htm

there are some very nice condos listed here. If I was staying in Copa, it would be with Amerioca, have always had a great experience renting from Don, but he doesn't seem to have anything in Ipanema . . .

thanks!

I have seen some signs for them....doesn't hurt to get a quote from them and go from there. For a decent (nothing special) apartment in Ipanema expect to pay in the R$160-$R$200 range for a 1 bedroom. Expect to find much less availablity of apartments in Ipanema....the good ones go fast!

I cannot say enough about Kenn at ez-riorentals.com.

He recently found me 1 bdrm apartment in Ipanema, and then the apt owner welshed.

At Ken's own cost, he found me a 2 bdrm apartment at the same price one block the beach in Copacabana.

Great guy Ken.

Thanks again Ken.

MM

(Message edited by majormajor on March 11, 2010)