Casa Del Mar

To

The room had plenty of space, a good bed, and an excellent bathroom. The hotel's common areas and elevators, though, show clear signs of age and oxidation. Noise makes it hard to rest: from early morning you can hear children shouting in the corridors, housekeeping carts passing each room, and doors slamming hard. Furniture being dragged upstairs is common too, sometimes in the middle of the night. The hotel itself is good overall, and the staff's service and professionalism really stood out, something rare to find in Rio de Janeiro. For the price, it's not unreasonable.

The best part is being right by the sea. You can open the door and enjoy the ocean and the whole Barra da Tijuca shoreline from the balcony. Our double room had a dirty floor, and there was no extra bed for my son, so he slept in an old crib. The TV signal kept dropping, the internet was slow, and breakfast was ordinary. The security system wasn't good either. For a similar price, you can find better hotels, including in the Promenade chain. They may not be right on the beach, but they're better.

I keep coming back to Casa del Mar because I love the beachfront suite. I do wish the shared area were larger in some ways, but I still love the hotel. You can hear noisy neighbors next door, though. When that happens, I call reception and ask them to turn the music down.