Ricardo was an incredibly kind and accommodating host, and through his agent Beto (as he was outside the country), very attentive and helpful.

The apartment is just a little bit away from the main beachfront of Leblon, and features simply breath-taking views. I recommend going up on the roof too for a 360 view of Leblon, Ipanema, the western zone and the Rocinha favela.

The apartment is very nice indeed, and with 4 beds (2 are trundle-beds tucked beneath the 2 singles) could be incredibly economical if you are travelling with a few companions. Everything was whie marble and clean lines, and it features floor-to-ceiling windows to give great views. The proximity to ocean also means that although the sun heats the apartment, opening a window to let in the breez is a sufficient remedy.

The apartment did have a couple of quirks, such as the window into the bathroom, and the location of light and fan switches (they're in the cupboard next to the beds!) but these did not detract from our wonderful stay here at all.

I cannot overemphasise the generosity and friendliness of the host and his agent Beto, who even gave us a lift to Ipanema in his taxi the day we checked out! If you want a 5 star Rio experience for a steal (the apartment is literally opposite the Sheraton!), you can't go past this place.