Villa Laurinda

Rio is lively, but villa Laurinda felt like a peaceful little haven when we arrived. Daniel and Christina gave us great advice and made us feel so welcome. A lovely first taste of the colorful local culture. We had an amazing stay and absolutely recommend it.

The villa has lovely 1920s architecture and a restrained vintage interior, and our room was tucked away from the main group of rooms. The neighborhood was quiet and within walking distance of Santa Teresa’s highlights. We could leave our luggage for the day and shower before heading to the airport. That said, compared with other B&Bs we stayed in around Rio, this felt average. The linens and towels were worn, some furniture was run down, and breakfast was a letdown: tables had other guests’ leftovers and the buffet was nearly empty. We waited 15 minutes, then had to ask for refills because no staff member seemed to notice. The staff could be friendlier, even across a language barrier, and the owners might get a better sense of service by staying at other B&Bs. There are bats in the garden that fly low, and dogs nearby bark at every little sound. The villa is also in the domestic airport’s entry lane. Getting a taxi at night was difficult. There’s a nearby taxi stand, but the cabs disappear after dark, and the police do too. I’m not sure why, though I wondered if they were wary of activity near the favela. This part of Santa Teresa is said to be safe. Getting around at night was much easier in Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon. The decor isn’t everything, and the place could use improvements. We might suggest other places to friends and followers.

We brought a group from the UK for a yoga retreat, and I’m glad they didn’t speak Portuguese, so they couldn’t understand how the owner and manager spoke to my husband and me. The house itself was all right, but the service was appalling. Even though we had arranged things beforehand, the manager argued with me about requests, including our use of the covered space for yoga. We had asked for gluten-free and lactose-free breakfast options. Instead, the other breakfast choices were removed, and the meal was so bad that we canceled it and took the group elsewhere. They did refund the breakfast cost. When I asked the manager to call a nearby spa for one of our guests, he didn’t do it until after I’d asked three times. In front of the guest, he said it “isn’t a spa,” though it was. It took around two hours to get him to make the call. My husband also asked the owner to help book a group dinner at a restaurant. The owner told him it was “not his problem,” and my husband had to ask him to speak more respectfully. After years of working with B&Bs and hotels, this was our worst stay. I wouldn’t recommend the property to anyone after the way we were treated.

A basic B&B in a beautiful historic building, with a quiet neighborhood and Santa Teresa sights within walking distance. This isn’t a full-service hotel, and the amenities are sparse. Room and bathroom functions were hit or miss. Breakfast was basic.