I had a great time staying in Heinz apartment. Heinz was a great guy and went out of his way to ensure I had an enjoyable experience. He did so much more than I expected of him. He even met me at airport which was not necessary. He also has a great family who were very nice to me. I don't think you will find a better host on air bnb. He has a lot of useful tips about Rio and Brazil and always responded to me with more helpful information than I expected. Heinz is now a very good friend of mine. The apartment itself is very nice and comfortable and is good value for money. The location is in a favela of Rio called Babilonia and is very convenient to Copacabana. I did not feel unsafe or threatened at any time but I felt I had to be careful, as I guess you do in Rio in general. There's a bit of noise around the favela so if you want a tranquil environment, this is not the place for you. I'm quite sensitive re noise but it did not bother me a great deal. I was there for carnival too so that is to be expected. As Heinz informed me from the outset, this is a great way to get to know the "real" brazil. Some of the views you get from the favela are amazing. Make sure you check out the Alto bar. Best bar I've ever been to for the view and the atmosphere.