We stayed here in the Easter holidays( 2 adults, 2 kids) and we would definitely recommend this place. Lisiene and family were wonderful hosts and the apartment is fantastic. The views are great and the outdoor shower was very welcome in the heat. The balcony is a great place to sit out or sunbathe as you are able to have a cooling shower outside or pop inside where there is a brand new air con unit which keeps the place nice and cool. You also don't need to worry about being overlooked as the Sheraton hotel is a good distance away. We found the location genuinely interesting as you can feel the bustle of Rio without it bothering you. Leblon beach is only 10 minutes away on foot and there are plenty of places to buy food or eat out, Leblon is definitely the most affluent part of the city we saw and the whole area feels safe. The apartment has everything you need and Lisiene puts some cold drinks in the fridge for your arrival plus a selection of snacks, this was a really nice touch. The shower is great and the Tv has a good selection of channels (not just the minimum) and the apartment is very secure ( 2 locked doors and 105 steps between the apartment and the street) The steps didn't bother us, they only might be a problem if you are injured or very out of shape, but with the steps comes a great view. We were naturally worried about insects but we didn't see a single mosquito inside or on the balcony in the 4 days we were there. We were also worried about getting there, but Lisiene arranged for her neighbour Mauro to pick us up and drop us off at our new place, for a relatively small premium to a normal taxi cost. All in all we had a great experience, thanks very much Lisiene.