Elisa and Frank were easy to get a hold of when our group of six had questions. Pros: Location, location, location! It's awesome and right on the beach with tons of places to eat and drink right around the corner! We were granted an early check-in and a late-check out. The view of the beach is fantastic and the lighting in the apartment is reminiscent of The Max from Saved By the Bell! Elisa, who helps you get the keys and communicates with you when you arrive in Rio, is welcoming and always reachable by WhatsApp. The doorman, Simão, is delightful and super friendly. We miss him already!
Cons: This is advertised as a five star penthouse, however, we think it is more of a three star. Our group is all good with a three star, no problems...we have all stayed at a many Motel 6 before and hostels, but the advertising was not quite accurate. The space does not have the same furniture as pictured in the living room. We had previously contacted Frank about the "pool" because we saw prior guests write that it was not working. Frank assured us that it was, however, it did not work. Ivo, a maintenance man, came by twice to help and ultimately, it never worked. We felt bad, as it was not Ivo's fault and he also came by later because the second bathroom did not have hot water. Overall, we had a lovely time exploring Rio and we would have appreciated an honest representation of this space.