Absolutely wonderful apartment. And the hostess is the best. She lives outside Rio but can always be reached for information and assistance. Practically every evening we went to the pool to enjoy the perfect sunset over Ipanema beach. The apartment is roomy and very comfortable. The kitchen has every thing you might want and more. Excellent washer/dryer so you don't have to bring a lot of clothes. The views from the deck are wonderful because you get to see Ipanema, Christ the Redeemer, and Sugar Loaf all in one sweeping perspective. The air conditioning works very well. One bedroom has a large table for putting your laptop computer and the wireless network system works perfectly although I found that in the early morning and around 6 pm it gets a little slow but this is probably because everyone else in the building is using the internet at those times. Marcio, the building manager, is extremely helpful. I strongly advise using him to to get taxis if you are not fluent in Portuguese. He does not speak English so you write down the time (24 hour system) and destination on a piece of paper and he will get the taxi. He will make sure you get a clean taxi with a courteous driver. Marcio is ready to help on anything else to do with the building and apartment. Jane arranges for a maid to come and clean the apartment, The maid does a very thorough job. On the front of the building is the Astor Bar which is a great place for drinks and dinner. It's also open for lunch on weekends and holidays. The fish filet was fabulous. The Arpoador Restaurant is about 200 yards north along the beach and is a five-star restaurant with fabulous views and beach side seating. The Zona Sul grocery is a two-minute walk out the back of the building and has everything you could need including a fabulous selection of fresh fruits. The building has 24-hour security. In summary, if you want to stay in a fabulous apartment with great views, perfect location, security, excellent facilities, etc.etc. this is the place to go.