Marcelo's place is AMAZING!! It is perfectly situated in the heart of Copacabana, walking distance to the beach and great restaurants & bars. There are also a ton of taxis & Ubers nearby, so it is always really easy to get anywhere in the city. The apartment itself is very comfortable with AC units in every room & spacious bathrooms, and the artwork within it is as impressive in person as it appears in the photos.
Beyond that though, Marcelo & Sandra are perfect hosts. They were in constant contact with me at all times, making sure that we were set-up to maximize our time in Rio. (Don't forget to ask Marcelo to forward a copy of his guidebook before you check-in!). As the primary purpose of our trip was to celebrate a birthday, Marcelo & Sandra even had a birthday cake from the neighborhood bakery ready for us at check-in!! From the moment we booked, it honestly felt like we were going to visit close friends in Rio, even though none of us had ever been there before.
Do yourself a favor & book Marcelo's place right away, if you are lucky enough for it to still be available!