Hotel Carioca

We couldn't sleep until a samba party outside our window finally ended. It sounded as if it were happening in the room. The person at reception was pretty blunt when we checked in, though the breakfast staff were all lovely.

The location is great, but the hotel was terrible. The bed was extremely uncomfortable, and the pillows felt like hard plastic, almost like gym bags. There wasn't a blanket or duvet, just a regular sheet. Such a disappointment.

I spent a month here and felt treated like a VIP throughout. Luciano at the front desk works hard and really cares about helping guests enjoy Rio de Janeiro. He gave me great tour recommendations and sometimes helped with translation. Marta, the housekeeper, was wonderful too. She picked up on my cues and learned my daily routine, so she cleaned my room just right. The hotel is right in the heart of Centro, and food delivery apps worked without issues. I'll be back.

We'd definitely stay here again, including for Carnival or a weekend. It's clean and felt safe, with a police station right next door and Lapa just a two-minute walk away. The staff were really nice, breakfast was great, and there was hot water and a pleasant balcony. Even with our windows facing the street, it stayed quiet, with no parties outside. They even had very cheap last-minute tickets for the sambodromo parade, which was amazing.