Casablanca 3 is a stunning retreat just a few minutes outside of Rio. It feels like your own cliff-side retreat at the edge of the city. I fell asleep each night to the crashing waves on the beach below. Amazing. The neighborhood was perfectly safe for walking to and from the bus, and into Leblon (about a 20 minute walk).

The apartment has two beds, a small bathroom and a clean, functional kitchen. The views to the beach are incredible from the main floor and the balcony up top. Yes, you earn these views with many, many steps but they only make you stronger, right?

Jeanne was very responsive prior to the trip, and super helpful in connecting us with Mauro (who only speaks a little English) for multiple rides during the trip. After our arrival and orientation, I didn't see Jeanne for the remainder of the trip, which was fine because she was still responsive on messaging us anytime we needed something.

The only thing we could have used ahead of time was more information on the bus schedules (use Integrada 2 to travel to Leblon/Ipanema). We found lots of useful information at the Sheraton nearby and managed to sneak into their pool a few times (shhhh . .. .its a secret). Also, one final note. The apartment is NOT beachfront. In the US, this definitely means walking out of your door onto the beach. For the Casablanca 3, its about a 5-10 minute walk down approximately 200 stairs. Keep that in mind. Beach view, yes - an amazing at that - but definitely not beachfront.