Massape Rio Hostel

The staff were great, really kind and cheerful. There are lots of places to eat nearby, including a bakery downstairs that sells excellent food for about 10 reais. Towels cost extra, so bring your own if possible, which is generally a good idea for Brazil. It's a good, cheap hostel near the Centro of Rio, handy for a few days in the city if you're on a budget. The air conditioning is centrally controlled and only runs from 10pm-7am. We were there near the start of autumn, so it wasn't as bad, but the airflow on the second floor is poor and it gets warm. Sleeping was never a problem since the air con came on like clockwork. If you can, ask for a room on the ground floor, where it's breezier.

The staff were very friendly and helpful, and the hostel is in a great spot close to Lapa. Breakfast on the balcony, with coffee and a view of the busy intersection, was a nice touch. The rooms were spacious, and lockers were available for valuables. We were a group of 28, though, and it could be hard to fit everyone's needs. Sometimes there wasn't enough breakfast, and the showers always seemed to be occupied. I'd recommend it for a short stay in Rio, especially for the location and staff.

The rooms and bathrooms were completely dirty, and we couldn't even open the window for fresh air. They said breakfast and air conditioning weren't “allowed” because of COVID restrictions, yet the cleaning was absolutely 0/10. The pictures are misleading, so be careful. The neighborhood felt very unsafe, and you can't walk around after 8pm. Worst place ever.

The location was great, and we just used Ubers to get everywhere because they were cheap. The staff were super friendly and absolutely not at fault. The rooms were okay and big, but very dark colors made them feel dated, and they could use an update. There was no fan, and the air con was supposed to run only from 11pm-9am. It didn't come on the first night, and the room was extremely hot. I felt very sick. I tried three showers that were meant to have hot water, but only one worked. That one seemed a little dangerous, with what looked like a switch and exposed wires above the shower head, so I didn't feel safe using it. It was an okay to good stay, but the place needs updating.