Américas Barra Hotel

I booked the Master suite, but its headboard was ripped. At breakfast yesterday, was I the only one who got sick? They’d laid off the kitchen staff and had maintenance serving food that seemed old or had been sitting out all day. The owner shouldn’t be mean to the workers, because customers end up feeling the effects directly.

Please take the other reviews seriously. The place was so dirty I was afraid to sit on the bed or use the bathroom, which also had a terrible smell. I can’t understand how they charge $300 a night or call this a four-star hotel. It felt like a low-class motel. Avoid it at all costs.

The city of Rio was perfect, but this hotel could easily have ruined my first visit to Rio de Janeiro. I wouldn’t stay here again and would tell others to avoid it. My room was dirty, missing obvious furniture, and felt neglected. I asked for clean sheets and they remade the bed with the same ripped ones. The only water from the sink and shower was boiling hot, which felt uncomfortable and unsafe. The Wi-Fi was nearly useless, so working or streaming wasn’t possible. Most gym machines were broken, the pool was filthy and unusable, and I waited 20-30 minutes for the elevators every time. This was beyond unacceptable. I don’t understand how the hotel is still operating.

The receptionists were nice, and the buffet was good, with vegan choices like rice, beans, vegetables, and fruit. The lifts were slow, though, and cleanliness was a problem for our larger group when we stayed in December. My room wasn’t clean on arrival: the floor hadn’t been done and the shelves were dusty. Everyone was complaining, and I think they may have been short-staffed. Even on the second day, our towels were barely changed.