Hotel Atlântico Tower - SOFT OPENING

The internet was the last straw for me. The WiFi was so poor that even sending WhatsApp messages took minutes. I used mobile data on my computer until I ran out and had to buy more. When I complained, they said there was maintenance, but nothing had improved since I checked in at 2 pm. They told me to go back to my room because they’d bring a router, but that never happened. I called reception again and got the same story. I didn’t enjoy the stay. Service had been poor from check-in, though I’d let that go. I was also given a room with two single beds even though I’d booked for one adult.

The rooms look decent enough, and the location is good. The reception staff were the best part, but the restaurant staff were rude. The restaurant also lacks ventilation, and it was too hot in every corner of the hotel. The place needs renovation, even if I guess all the rooms have been updated. If there’s a hotel manager, they should deal with the staff’s bad attitude, especially in the restaurant.

The facilities and breakfast were okay, and the hotel is conveniently close to the City Tram and Metro Carioca. But the WiFi was easily the worst part. I stayed two nights in a row and never managed to connect. They called it a one-day issue, but earlier reviews suggest it keeps happening. There was even a sign at the desk saying the WiFi wasn’t working properly, and it looked like it had been there a while. Don’t expect to get online during your stay. When I asked reception when it might be fixed, they had no idea and didn’t seem interested. They also charge over 30 reais to store luggage after checkout, which is a lot.

The price is fair. Rio has better hotels, but not at this rate. The best part is the central location: it’s a couple of blocks from some of Rio’s best museums, about five blocks from the subway and half a block from the light rail. There are plenty of restaurants and bars nearby, though they aren’t fancy. The building doesn’t feel old and seems to have been renovated a few years ago. Rooms and bathrooms still look new and are very clean. Mattresses and linens are about what you’d expect for the price. There’s a rooftop pool with a bar and a nice view, but the water isn’t always clean. Breakfast is only fair, though reasonable for the price. Some AC units are too old to cool the whole room, and water may not be warm enough if you shower between 5 and 9 pm. The area calls for some caution after business hours. It’s not terrible, but I wouldn’t recommend women walking alone there after 8 pm. The reception is short-staffed, and both times I stayed I waited around 10 minutes to be seen.