My wife and I stayed 8 days with Denise and Roberta during Carnival time. I also stayed on an additional 2 weeks to take Portuguese classes at a language school just downstairs from the apartment. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Denise`s and are delighted that we ended up deciding to stay at Denise's apartment while in Rio. Denise is a great host and she and her daughter Roberta are very warm and extremely welcoming. From the moment we arrived, and during our entire stay, we felt at home and very comfortable at Denise's. The apartment is cosy and clean and is located in the upscale and very safe neighbourhood of Ipanema., The apartment is also conveniently located within easy walking distance of the metro, beach, and Lagoa. There is also an extensive selection of excellent restaurants and bars to pick from, all within a few blocks of the apartments.

During the whole time that I was planning our vacation in Rio, Denise was always very prompt to respond to my e-mails and questions and she provided lots of helpful information on visiting and getting the most our of Rio. When we were at the apartment in Rio, Denise was always very available when we had questions or asked for suggestions. At the same time, she was always also very respectful of our privacy and our individual time.

Using Denise's apartment as our home base, we were able to visit many of the key attractions in beautiful Rio. We also went cycling along the beach and around the beautiful Lagoa, walked to Copacabana, went hang gliding at Pedra Bonita, and went hiking in the nearby mountains. We also attended the Carnival parade at the sambódromo and attended several of the neighborhood parties (blocos) in Ipanema and nearby Copacabana.

My experience in Rio could not have been better and I would highly recommend this apartment to other Airbnb members. I will cherish for a long time the great memories of the time I spent in Rio at Denise's apartment. In the process, I have made two good friends in Brazil with whom I will surely keep in touch with for a long time and who I hope to see again soon.