The positive: Brunello's apartment is in a fantastic location that made getting around Rio very easy. There is lots of opportunity to run and bike along the beach; Cariocas seem to take their fitness very seriously. There are lots of restaurants and bars in the area and it feels very safe, even late at night. In fact, the whole city felt as safe as any large city - if you can handle NYC and LA, Rio (outside of the favelas which we did not visit) is very much the same. Don't be an idiot (i.e. wearing expensive jewelry and stumbling down dark streets drunk at night) and you're going to be fine. There was yoga nearby and Ipanema beach is SO CLOSE. Rio is expensive - we found it as expensive as the US, so be prepared to pay for food and drinks. Also, the air conditioning was VERY much appreciated.

The negatives: The space is VERY small and can be quite dark because of the metal shutters outside the front windows. We were reluctant to open them because then people can see inside the apartment. It has only the very bare necessities - plates, forks, etc. In previous Air BnB's we've had hosts stock the shelves with spices and coffee. The floor is concrete so it gets sandy/dirty feeling pretty quickly. A broom to sweep up would be a nice addition. The bed feels like a futon and can be rather uncomfortable. Still, if you're mainly using it as a crash pad and don't plan on doing any cooking during your trip to Rio, these are minor inconveniences.