Rafael’s place is amazing. And he truly is a SUPER host. He managed to strike just the right balance: graciously respecting my privacy as a guest on vacation AND being always immediately available for any concerns that arose. I really felt at home. The kitchen functions well, and the apartment has a clean and spacious feeling, especially because of the glass walls and the large, private outdoor deck. The apartment is in a wonderful neighborhood in Ipanema, just across the street from arguably the nicest beach in Rio (Arporador). And Rafael's place is astonishingly quiet for where it is located. Being in the back of the building makes all the difference. I was there on a writing retreat, and got a tremendous amount of work done because of the setting. Also, great wifi for connecting to work, etc... never had any issues with it. Any concern or question I had, Rafael responded immediately and was always extremely helpful. As i was there for a number of weeks, he offered to have the apartment cleaned midway through my stay, and even did a load of my personal laundry for me. Honestly, I can't think of a single thing to suggest for improvement. I would whole-heartedly recommend Rafael's apartment for anyone looking for an awesome, quiet getaway in Rio.