Iris's place is very well situated for exploring Copacabana and the surrounding areas. The beach is a couple of blocks away and there are plenty of bars, cafes, restaurants and all sorts of other shops within easy walking distance.
The apartment itself has everything you might need, including umbrellas (which came in handy for us). You don't have air conditioning, but there are ceiling fans in both main rooms, so even in high humidity periods it is bearable. a big plus is the 24hr doorman, but this seemed a pretty safe area anyway.
For us, getting around was usually Uber. Easy to book without having to know Portuguese and significantly cheaper than the standard yellow cabs. the nearest Metro stop is about 3 long blocks away and would be quicker to use during very congested times.
Iris communicated exceptionally well and fast, and we were very grateful to be allowed an even later checkout than the already generous 2pm standard, as our flight wasn't leaving till 7.30pm.