I stayed two weeks at Felippe's place and loved it. It's well localized in a side street to Tijuca's main commercial road Conde de bonfim, a 5-10 minutes walk to the metro and major bus stops. By metro, it takes 10-15 minutes to get to the Center and 25-30 minutes to Zona Sul. The Tijuca neighborhood offers an authentic slice of middle-class Rio off the tourist path. There are lots of restaurants and bars with significantly lower prices than in Copacabana and Ipanema. The area appears to me to be as safe as the Zona Sul.

Felippe, his mum and the dog Cacau live in the house. The room they rent out is part of a separate leisure area with pool and BBQ that you can access without passing through the main building. There is breakfast and you can wash clothes whenever needed. Thus, the place offers privacy and comfort, even for a longer stay.

My hosts did everything to make me feel at home. When I arrived, they showed the neighborhood to me. Whenever I needed something, they were available and helped me out. Further, Felippe has a car and is always keen to travel. For example, I went to Petropolis with him and we shared the cost for the gas.

In sum, I recommend this place to everyone looking for an affordable, private, well-located and comfortable place to stay in Rio, whose main priority aren't the beaches of the Zona Sul.