My partner and I spent 5 weeks in Ricardo's flat and we had an excellent time! I would like to touch on some points that we were personally looking for prior to making our booking:
1. Internet - it worked really, really well. We both worked remotely during our stay (having video calls at the same time) and we had no problems whatsoever. This was a huge plus!
2. Cleanliness - the flat was in prestine condition when we arrived which we really appreciated. There were also extra towels and bedsheets available to use.
3. Location and safety - awesome location, super close to the beach and the metro, 24/7 security, many bars, restaurants and supermarkets near by (the best prices are at Mundial but the downside is that the supermarket is always incredibly full). The security guys are very friendly and helpful. The area is safe. As a female, I walked around the streets in the evening without feeling scared. Common sense applies, but that's the case all over the world.
4. Ricardo - he is such an amazing host! He was available to assist with anything we needed and was always super fast to react. He made us feel very welcome and we felt like he genuinely cared about our well-being.
5. Other - I really like the fact that there was a shower operated by gas (as opposed to the typical electric showers in Brazil) because it was possible to regulate the temperature as needed. Ricardo also provided beach chairs which we put to good use as well as a filter coffee machine, a blender, a pressure cooker and a bunch of other useful kitchen utensils.
I think this sums everything up pretty nicely.
Thank you again Ricardo for making our stay in Rio very memorable!
All the best,
Sabina & Michel