We (a group of 4 friends, late 20's to mid 30's) just stayed at Alastair's home for 7 days and it was wonderful. Coming from New York City it is definitely spacious from large city standards. The flat itself is beautifully decorated and helps bring alive the spirit of Rio. Ellie & Alastair arranged a driver to pick us up from the airport and drop us right at the Penthouse in Ipanema, which was kind and helpful. Ellie met us at the door & we were warmly welcomed & got to leave our belongings with the doorman, since we arrived on an early flight. The roof and terrace are wonderful perks of the flat and the washer/dryer were particularly useful during our stay. All of the doormen were friendly & kind and always available. The neighbourhood is perfectly located, a few streets from the beach of Ipanema (between Posto 8 & Posto 9) and a few from the metro stop. We never needed taxis unless we were returning from Centro/Lapa in the late hours. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes right around the neighbourhood, so you don't have to walk far. Since we stayed in June the area was fairly quiet (by Rio standards), but by no means empty. The flat has plenty of books and guides about Rio, which was very helpful. Although Ellie was available by phone & a short distance away, we found ourselves with everything we needed in the flat, so we didn't have to bother her. Alastair put together an even more comprehensive guide book than what is on the Airbnb site, so anyone staying should check that out for lots of tips/advice. I would certainly recommend this place to anyone from a couple, a family or to a small group like ours. It was exactly what we needed and were looking for. The views on the roof are such a treat to wake up to as well! There is some sort of school/nursery next door (and a few floors below the bedrooms) and, while the location is no fault of Alastair's, the children do get very loud from an early hour of the morning. The situation is nothing that should deter anyone from staying here, but just something to note, in case you want to sleep in late. Looking forward to coming back to Rio and would certainly stay at Alastair's lovely home again. Warmest Regards -Mark