Simone was an excellent host! The apartment is adorable, true to the pictures in the listing, and my four girlfriends and I were greeted with Brazilian treats, fresh fruit, and plenty of towels and sheets on our arrival. It didn't even feel like a squeeze for 5 girls, which was a pleasant surprise!

The apartment is one block from the beach, but the street itself is a bit nondescript and there aren't many good food options nearby (though there was a Starbucks down the block for us lame Americans!). We always left the neighborhood to explore Rio, so be prepared to take taxis - which were very easy to get from Simone's apartment.