Host:
Alfredo was an excellent host, meeting me on the street outside the residence and helping me to carry my bags up and down the many stairs. He was happy to give directions and order me a cab when necessary. He was very nice and pleasant.

Area:
Santa Teresa is a nice area with character and quiet compared to the Copacabana area. Its has nice bars and restaurants and a few grocery and souvenirs shops. The people in the area where friendly and helpful and accepted the presence of tourist in the area. Its an area you would like to visit even if you don't stay there.

Santa Teresa is a 30min taxi ride from the Copacabana area so if that's the area you plan to spend majority of your time, you may want a closer area. However if you want to be close enough but in a quietish area, this is the place for you

Transportation:
The Santa Teresa area is mainly on a hilly area and we mainly used cabs to get around. However there is a good bus service to the area and there is a metro further down the hill but with that, there's the pain of walking back up the hill.

Security:
I never felt insecure even though there were some areas that could do with more lighting. There always seemed to be people in the area when I returned late, once around 3am and the area felt safe. However I suspect that my wife, who did not accompany me, may have been a bit more concerned with the low lighting leading to the steps of the property.

Accommodation:
The reminds me of a grandfather annex where grandparents are accommodated outside the main property.

The accommodation comprises of a kitchen area, a dinning/loft area and a bedroom with another off it.

The loft area has a single bed, the first bedroom has another single bed and there's a bedroom off the first and this has a double bed. The arrangement means that only the area with the double bed has true privacy has the loft area shares the dinning room area and you have to go through the first room to get to the second. The accommodation would suit a close family or a close group of friends.

The bathroom area has a toilet, sink and shower which has electric heating. I would have prepared the water from the shower to be hotter.

The kitchen area has a cooker but I never used this area as I ate out everyday. There is a washing machine in the utility area outside the property.

Summary:
In all I enjoyed myself at the residence, I had my privacy and was able to move freely. If I was travelling with a group of close friends or alone, as was in this case, I would gladly re-book. However if I am travelling with my wife and my girls, who like to have their privacy, it would take some convincing.