The very positive reviews on Airbnb are all true! This studio really is very nice – Alan and Catherine have taken time and effort to choose the design and decoration with lots of tasteful, local art work. The place has everything necessary for a very comfortable and secure holiday with a very well equipped kitchen, including toaster, tea/coffee machine and bathroom with a very large and powerful shower.
Alan and Catherine got in touch immediately with helpful advice in their lovingly compiled guide to local bars, restaurants, tourist attractions etc. I felt I knew Copacabana before I even got on the plane ! They helped with any questions I had immediately.
On arrival, I was greeted by Hugo, their friendly local and long-term friend, who gave me a warm welcome and gave a very comprehensive run through of all of the amenities and features of the studio and building, including concierge security and bike storage etc. Alan and Catherine had also thoughtfully provided a welcome pack of basic groceries, fruit etc. Hugo was also on call throughout my trip, and although I didn’t need to contact him, it was comforting to know that there was a local contact who could help out in an emergency.
The studio it is ideally situated in central Copacabana. The local area is very nice, a quiet tree lined avenue, but only yards away from the bustling but safe Copacabana area, with all its busy restaurants and bars. The world famous Copacabana beach is only a few minutes away on foot, and realistically one could spend a week or more locally. Alternatively, you can easily walk to Ipanema, Leblon, the lagoon etc. However, all of the other Rio attractions can easily be reached by by means of the metro system (the nearest station is 5 minutes walk away) or by taxi. My personal preference was to travel by bike all over Rio, taking advantage of the very comprehensive network of cycle paths.
In summary, I had a great visit, and really enjoyed living in the studio. It fully met all my needs and I would definitely recommend to anyone seeking a pleasant and comfortable stay in central Copacabana.