I have stayed at Belmond Copacabana palace in early October 2019 in an avenue suite facing the adjacent boulevard.
The hotel was very considerate in allocating me this large suite of more than 60 sqm as I advised them that I am very sensitive to noise and a light sleeper.
Indeed this position is the calmest they have.
The rooms facing the beach and swimming pool are rather noisy.
The choice of Copacabana palace proved to be a good one. The suite they allocated me due to my aversion to noise was wonderful and very excellently appointed with high quality everything. the service the attitude were outstanding. The hotel was originally built in 1923 and is one of the most beautiful buildings in Brazil dating to that era.
The staff is very nice and attend to guests requests.
I saw other more expensive hotels in ipanema and consider Copacabana palace to offer much more in every way.
Breakfast was great and so was room service and food I ordered to my room.
This was the occasion of my birthday and the hotel left high quality champagne and other presents in my room.
Given the quality , service and security I find it’s pri very reasonable.
I am very well traveled and whilst I am not always staying in luxury hotels I sometimes do so and I consider this hotel on a par with the best luxury hotels I visited.
I was worried being an older single traveler of safety in Rio.
Therefore I used the great service of Eduardo Diogenes whose fees were reasonable and without him I would not have been able to see as much as Rio as I did both day and night.
We always used public transportation: taxi, bus, tram and underground and walked a lot.
In this way I was introduced to a more real Rio-not confined by a tour group constrictions.
I was especially impressed by Lapa and its music scene at night and by a trip to the San Marco favella.
The guide on several occasions advised me to stay away from locals who may be trouble and so for the entire duration of my trip I never encountered any danger annoyance or mugging.
Eventually I walked on my is in the Copacabana area with no worries at all.
Rio can be managed and is worthwhile.
I highly recommend visiting centro and especially the wonderful public library (it’s free) and the great modernist architecture.
Rio has much to offer to any taste but a local guide may be quite a good idea in Rio.
Normally I like walking a lot and using public transportation on my own.
I do not like tour groups much and so in potentially dangerous cities I would look for a reliable and nice guide. Eduardo was outstanding. It was like walking with a local friend.
