Dirty and the photos represent what the apartment was years ago. Found multiple live cockroaches during the stay, both adult and babies. (Sorry, swept one under the bed because it was huge and I wasn’t touching it!) Also had a variety of other bugs such as mosquitos, ants and moths. When the host met me in person he was immediately spraying bugs in the kitchen and wiping them up. I know we are in a tropical environment but it’s not an excuse to be bug infested. There are professional exterminators and measures you can take. He left the bug spray for me to use. Also a lot of cockroaches by elevator and trash. Much of the apartment is very aged, the tile in the shower is entirely falling apart with loose pieces and the grout is both dirty and has mold growing in it. The marble is also in pieces and has not been taken care of. The entire marble lining of the sink shown in the photos is entirely missing and broke at some point, so now the water spills everywhere. The sheets on the bed are a dark yellow, which for me is an easy disguise for stains and most would agree isn’t a clean feeling. Most hotel and Airbnb provide white sheets for this reason to show they are clean. On the topic of the bed, one pillow is rock hard, the other is lumpy, both seem very old and uncomfortable and difficult to sleep with. Found long gray hair on the apartment floor. The host is very nice, but the host is a formality of greeting you and communicating to arrange things, unfortunately this review is not based on whether or not I liked the host. Although he is very nice and communicates well. As stated, you do pay for electricity. I did this and it was not an issue and is clearly stated on the listing, although I think it would be better to charge a couple dollars extra a night and not make the guest pay at the end. I was there for a week with most things on regularly and it cost 15 USD (but is a random number he has you pay in cash and doesn’t show how he equates). Although the location is two blocks from the beach, I wouldn’t stay here based on the cleanliness and state of the apartment. Also, I think being over a couple more blocks makes a difference as more is around and nicer store shopping at the super prix. A couple blocks is not much, but in this heat the convenience makes a big difference. Also, everything in Ipanema is only a couple blocks from the beach, so that’s not really a selling point. It should have been a red flag that the reviews were from many years ago. Shame on me for taking a chance, but shame on the host for listing this as a newly renovated apartment with old photos that don’t represent what it is now as time has gone by. At one time it was newly renovated, it no longer is. I seldom leave a bad review, especially one to this degree. I am a digital nomad and I travel living out of Airbnb year round so I experience a lot of properties of all levels. Also as a note to the host during a pandemic, you should not be meeting your guests in person. The host spent an extended period of time in the apartment with me touching everything to show me. Kind gesture, but not needed, especially during the pandemic. Self check in is usually preferred anyways, especially in a pandemic. Best to get a keypad entry for self check in. Also makes sense with theft that commonly occurs in Rio, if all of your belongings are stolen including your key and your phone, you’d have quite some trouble getting inside the unit. Sorry to write such a sour review, but the bugs, especially the cockroaches in addition to the outdated photos is unfair and frustrating. I thought a lot about whether or not to even write a review for this property, but I believe other guests should be made aware before booking.