Alex was a great host; he was friendly, welcoming and communicative. He even took us on a beautiful tour of the Barra beaches. The apartment is a very cool remodeled space. While the neighborhood is safe and the place is a quick walk to the sand, it was a bit lacking in style and in options for dining, etc. We found ourselves spending most of our time in the southernmost part of Copa, or in Ipanema/Leblon.