We had a fabulous time in Celia's Arpoador apartment.
The property is great. Large, bright, clean, well-equipped, and just great for families with children. It's a beautiful living space with comfortable bedrooms and a large living room. The penthouse terrace is lovely and allows for impressive views over the water at Copacobana and Ipanema.
The best thing about this flat, however, is its location, which is just perfect for holidaymakers. It is 5 minutes to Copacabana beach and 5 minutes to Ipanema beach (by foot). There are loads of good restaurants within a stone's throw, several supermarkets, a metro station (Gen. Osorio) and plenty of shops. Being this close to the beaches, with easy access to the rest of the city (taxis available everywhere), was perfect for us.
Celia is a gracious, helpful and generous host and I can't rate her highly enough! She went well out of her way to make our stay special and those extra touches were really appreciated (especially the leftover carnaval costumes!) (oh yeah, and the delicious mountain cheese). She was very helpful when we arrived, and made herself constantly available to us during our stay if we needed anything. She had plenty of good tips for restaurants and other activities in the neighbourhood.
Overall, a hugely positive experience for me. Recommended!