Real Residence Hotel

The gym was a welcome surprise, probably the nicest around at this price, and I say that after looking at every nearby hotel. Staff were genuinely kind and respectful, and I felt safe the whole time. The location is great, right among everything and just a short walk from the beach. Cleanliness was about as good as it could realistically be given the state of the place, but it could still use some extra care. Wi-Fi problems cost me a day, which was frustrating, though they did fix them. So I don’t agree with the reviews saying the staff aren’t attentive, unless they’ve read those reviews and finally stepped it up.

The gym was a real plus, and it was usually quiet outside the morning. You’re meant to reserve an hour, though they let you stay longer when fewer than six people are using it. The room itself felt old and basic in an old apartment building. It was fairly clean, and the TV was new, but most of the furnishings were dated. Cleaning happened daily during my four-night stay, but the towels weren’t changed. I didn’t mind that, but the cleaner kept moving the towels I’d hung up for the gym and bathroom, so I stopped using theirs in the bathroom and used my own travel towel. The beach and mall are nearby, though I didn’t enjoy the feel of Copacabana much. If I return to Rio, I’d choose Ipanema.

We were four friends in Rio from April 30 to May 5, 2024. The apartment was handy for getting around: Copacabana beach was a five-minute walk away, with supermarkets and restaurants close by. Taxis were easy to get, tour buses mostly picked up at this spot, and we felt safe walking alone by the beach. The apartment needed better upkeep, though. Its cistern was faulty, the AC wasn’t working, and the cleaning wasn’t good. They sorted the problems after we followed up several times.

I grew up spending summer holidays at this hotel, where my father lived for 20 years, so it feels like a second home and holds a lot of my history. The sauna area is nice, the restaurant is very good, and there’s a small pool. It’s only three blocks from the beach, with restaurants, a shopping center, theaters, supermarkets, and local bakeries nearby. Next to the local greenery, you may spot small monkeys coming for bits of banana the employees leave out. A good option if you’re planning a trip to Rio.