Golden Tulip Ipanema Plaza

The location is great for both the beach and restaurants, and reception were very helpful. We also appreciated having plenty of towels and chairs for the beach. Our room was okay, but the bathroom clearly needs updating. Some rooms may have been upgraded, though ours hadn't. The air conditioning made a dreadful noise in the middle of the night and woke us, but they fixed it straight away. The morning water wasn't very hot.

As a Brazilian-born traveler, I know this is a perfect location, and I've stayed here several times. Booking this year was difficult, though the travel agency fixed the 100% advance payment I selected without really reading the fine print. I've booked again and will pay after my next stay. I'm raising my rating from 1 to 3 stars for now and will update it after the visit. I hope it goes well.

The location is hard to beat, just a quick two-minute walk to the beach. The security guy can lend you towels, a beach umbrella, and folding chairs to take along if you need them. Definitely get a room with a sea view, and lunch here is yum.

I was there for four nights on a business trip in May/June 2012, and I'd stay again. The room was spacious and clean, with bedding that was very comfortable and seemed new. The shower curtain was clean and the rest of the bathroom spotless, but there was too much mildew in the grout for American standards at a $225-a-night hotel. The shower was so powerful that water got all over the floor, making it very slippery. Breakfast was part of the room price and quite ample, with fresh fruit, eggs, and pastries. The restaurant has an indoor area and a comfortable patio deck overlooking the street, with potted plants. You can see the beach down the street, just a close half block away, and there are plenty of people walking around. In the evening, six to eight restaurants and bars are within a short half-block, with a good variety of prices and food, so there was no need to go elsewhere. It's convenient for walking to the Metro station, and there are always cabs on the adjacent street. I did have an annoying reservation mix-up: the hotel had promised me an upgraded room, then gave it to my travelling companion instead.