Live like a local in this basic but functional apartment.
The Good: Excellent Ipanema location: secure building on quiet street close to beach and restaurants; wonderfully prompt communication from host; fair value; fantastic view.
The "just-ok": Furniture needs updating (sofa is uncomfortably hard + the living chair easily tips over); 2nd bedroom is tiny with no A/C or window; apartment faces West so was unbearably hot all day and night.
((The two small window A/C units in living and master bed simply couldn't cool the apartment. *Note: we stayed in February, the hottest month, and the large windows are old and thin.))
As stated in the listing description, you will be 'nickel-and-dimed' for electricity at check-out. Better if this was just included in a higher rate.
An "OK" apartment that could be "Good" with some improvements. I wish we would have splurged for "Great". As they say, "you get what you pay for."