I had a very nice and comfortable stay at Ricardo's place. The flat is very spacious, clean and quiet. The building is secured in
a gated community, so I felt very safe. The neighborhood is also reasonably safe. I walked day and night and had no issues, and the people were very friendly. The apartment is in south Rio, close to Barra da Tijuca, so you get a chance to visit the many shopping malls.
The apartment is a distance from the main attractions in Rio. It is easy to take the Bus Rapid System (BRT) and metro, but it takes over an hour to get to most places of interest. I was there for a month so I could come and go at my leisure; so, taking public transportation wasn't a problem for me. But, if you don't have the luxury of time, then the distance could be an issue.
Ricardo was an excellent host. He responded quickly to all my requests and was very helpful in providing information on things
to do and see in the city. I highly recommend his place.