Jorge Luis great and communication perfect. The place is cute with a great view , and the experience to live in Vidigal is definitely different from other parts of Rio or Brasil for that matters. HOWEVER it is NOT worth the price at at (65$ canadian a day) or what i paid close to 6000 reis per month - it was extremely overvalued and lacked many many basic considerations. From the reviews I have noticed I think people are more enamoured with the experience and do not want to be honest vs really reviewing the apartment. Here are the issues and you must know these before renting
- Apartment was listed as a ONE bedroom- in which it is a Studio - VERY DIFFERENT and even airbnb argued with me on this point ( where they specifically have the two options in their app- an issue i have with airbnb as well)
- Three beds?! there is a couch - a single cot which squeaks - a chair that is long ( i wouldn't exactly classify it as a sofa chair, and then a double mattress on a wooden box directly in front of the window- not comfortable)
- Half the apartment does't have curtains - curtain by the double bed by the massive window to the patio has translucisdcurtins - let the sun in at 6 am every day ( doesn't allow for much sleep)
- Noise from the Favela - non stop - if the sun does't wake you that will
- they are renovating apartments down stairs - noise even on weekends
- will always have to pay the mototaxi 5 reis to go up to your house and 3 to go down - on rainy days you cannot mototaxi and will have to taxi - NOT ALL taxi's will go up (actually very few) so you will be waiting a while and come into many problems.
- carpets and furniture are old and beat up (Picture of listing is photoshopped ! a lot )
-Jacuzzi is a plastic pool, it is not hot, water is stagnant, water was not changed in front of me, I was expected to put a scoop of chlorine in the morning everyday and then got reprimanded for not - NOT my job - i am not paying 1k Canadian a month to clean your plastic pool. a pool i am too disgusted to go in
- Jorge is awesome understanding and helpful, wife is RUDE and doesn't know anything about how to handle customers. In one week their fridge, a stove and internet broke down - she blamed it on me saying she is a "good person" and it never happened before. How does your personality relate to a faulty stove or an old fridge?
- I had to negotiate free cleaning ( where the lady came once) I was thankful for this
- to give an idea average rent in vVdigal is maybe 1/8th of what i paid -= so the profit on the apartment is huge where the service and what you are getting is definitely not up to the standard,
- Your money is not appreciated and at this price it is not worth the time, and money.
I hope they take this advice to make the changes to the apartment, price and service and that people give more honest reviews and do not be extra nice since it is an "experience"- it needs to be judged by its merits.