We truly enjoyed the trip of a lifetime on this vacation and it was in large part to our incredible experience with our hosts. Not only is this an emaculately decorated and impecably clean condo, the hosts trully made us feel at home. From suggestions of sights to visit, places to eat, and tips about safety, we were treated like family visiting from out of town despite never having met before. The bedroom is spacious, gorgeous and, the rest of the apartment, tastefully decorated. The bed is extremely comfortable and there is ample closet space for those traveling for longer periods of time. The bedroom also has a fan and powerful AC unit that you are able to control to your prefered temperature. The bathroom is just steps from the bedroom door, incredibly clean, and equipt with everything you might need. There is also a washer/dryer you are able to use, which was a huge bonus.
The kindness, generosity, and openess of our hosts, allowed us to enjoy aspects of Rio's culture that we would never have been exposed to had we stayed at a hotel. Through our hosts, we were also able to meet other expats living in Brazil with whom we connected. Just to drive home the gregarious nature of our hosts, they kindly shared the delicious brazilian coffee they would make in the morning.
The location is a dream! Literally three blocks from Copacabana Beach, we were able to easily walk to nearby restaurants and stores. Since our stay included New Year's Celebration, it was incredibly convenient for this event in particular. The streets to Copacabana begin to close to traffic in the early evening of the 31st. People traveling from all over the country/world, therefore try to get into the neighborhood early in the day in order to be there for the amazing firework show at midnight. We, however, were invited to join our hosts' private party and walked with them to the beach 15 minutes before midnight! Once we returned to the condo, we were able to continue to enjoy observing the festivities from the comfort of our bedroom window!
Not only did we capture memories we will have for a lifetime, we made lifelong friends and have already begun to make plans to visit in the future. As queer women of color, we are particularly happy to have found a host with whom we felt safe and could enjoy countless conversations.
If you're thinking of booking with Rod, do it soon! He fills up quickly and with good reason. This is not just an AirBnB, it's a dream.
OBRIGADA PARA SEMPRE!