Philippe was a very attentive and organized host. Since he was out of town for our arrival, Philippe arranged for us to be greeted by a friend of his and given a tour of the apartment. The view truly is spectacular and is worth the trip alone. The apartment is very clean and stocked with a Nespresso machine, a nice touch for weary travelers. In the event you do decide to venture outside, you will find the metro, shops, restaurants, and, of course, Ipanema beach a maximum of 10 minutes walk away. I would highly recommend Philippe as a host and this apartment in particular. Merci beaucoup!