This was a perfect home base for enjoying my stay in Rio. The apartment was clean, light, and quiet. It was a nice spot to immerse into the culture more (vs. stay at a hotel). Building residents and staff were very friendly, there are plenty of restaurants, grocery stores, and shops in easy walking distance and the metro is 2 blocks away which provided an easy way to head to the beaches and other areas of the city. The apartment is equipped with the basics in the kitchen (which is very tiny!) It was easy to make simple meals. To avoid the ants I took out my trash daily and never left any opened containers of any type of food out. I also kept the bathroom window open and the door closed at night to let air circulate and prevent any smell from the drain (I think the source talked about in other posts is from the shower drain?) from building up. I didn't encounter any problems from this. I couldn't get the gas stove burners to light when I first tried and Anna Maria was very prompt to address it- she came over and found the issue (the gas hadn't been turned back on after the last renter) and was gracious about me not figuring that out myself! I loved the views- Cristo Redentor out one window and the bay/beach/city below out the other. A lovely spot!