Residence Carioca

A good spot for a summer stay.

The location is excellent, right by the sea and 10 minutes from the resort I booked. The receptionist was kind and waited a little past check-in time because of problems on my trip. The apartment had several problems. The floor and restroom weren’t very clean when I arrived, and I found someone else’s hair in a towel. Only one of the two burners worked, and it needed a lighter. There were no tea towels, tablecloth, or dish soap to get started. A strange smell hit me as soon as I walked in. I left the window open all day and washed the floor with the provided mop and dish soap, and luckily the smell went away. The reception guy asked the maid if the room was ready when I arrived. She hesitated before saying, “Yes, go ahead, I know how to do it.” The kitchen sink filter needs cleaning, since every time I washed something, I ended up washing the floor too. The blind is broken and stuck at the top, and one side of the bathroom toilet lifts off the floor. If you’re ready to ask guests for payment, which is fair enough, remember they’re paying for a service. Please pay some attention to the property.

The only real advantage of this place is how close it is to the beach. For the price, the stay was poor value. We stayed at the Carioca Residence for two weeks in August 2024. We booked two rooms, both advertised with sea-view balconies, but only one had that. The other had a small balcony facing the sea. I reported this as soon as we arrived, but nothing was done, neither a room change nor even a small discount on the balance. They had asked for the balance by instant bank transfer before I could see the room, despite my raising the issue promptly. The listing said there was a special agreement with the beach opposite, but when I called a few days before arrival, I was told it didn’t apply in August. Our rooms were for three people, yet the third bed was a camp bed. My daughter slept on it for two weeks with her feet sticking out. I reported this too, but nothing was done. They provide only one bath towel per person, with no replacements even for stays longer than a week, and there’s no weekly cleaning. The kitchen is minimally equipped. One bathroom had neither a toilet paper holder nor a hook for towels. In one bedroom, the fridge bottle holder was fixed with rusty screws and came loose as soon as we put in the first bottles of water.

The one thing I found uncomfortable was the double bed, which was very arched and hard on my back. Otherwise, I had a great stay and would happily return. The owner we spoke with was incredibly kind and helpful with the booking, the beach, and any other requests. The hotel is practically on the beach, and my room had a sea view. It had two air conditioners, a bathroom, and a kitchen, with everything needed for a week.